playschool

Today was graduation...

click here to catch up on the program and see last year's adventures in playschool!

This was, indeed a whole different story from last year. Sam was so excited to go twice a week and see his friends, learn new songs, play games and have snacks...

We were very proud of Sam's experience -

he accepted his "diploma" and was happy to sport the cool cap

(which he found out later made him look like he was in college!)

It helped that his favorite buddy was by his side the whole time.

There were some very sweet moments shared:

We most enjoyed the superlatives presentation -

especially when Sam was named "Most Athletic".

I can only assume that is either because of his awesome dance moves, or because he plays a mean game of duck, duck, goose!

(and I love that his favorite friends were named

"Most Outgoing" and "Most Humorous")

It was a lovely and very funny little celebration... and it would not have been properly ended if the group had not been able to run the high school's green. This was always a regular post-playschool practice no matter the weather!

I love this picture! It makes me imagine them on their last day of high school...

So we celebrated with ice cream and more time with friends!

I think they might all be ready for preschool... after a nice long, warm summer of course!!!

"adult prom"

Well, that's how we very fondly refer to the annual

Hospital Scholarship Fundraiser dinner & dance!

It is a themed event that everyone enjoys getting ready for... and this year was no exception. We thoroughly loved planning for the "30's speakeasy" idea:

Besides all the fun accessories, the great food, the scholarships and the fun times with friends... this year the best part was the entertainment!

We LOVE dancing to our favorite friends' music!

I love spring!

I know that will sound like a very hypocritical blog post title coming from me - the one who routinely whines all year long about how miserable March - June is in Colorado... but there is the late snow, the wind, the mud, the rain/sleet, the dirt, the cold, the occasional teaser of a nice warm sunny day in March and then lots more cold, windy, sleety, dirty days!

Then there is also the fact that every time I get my March Southern Living magazine I have pangs of homesickness when I read about the blooming azaleas!

But there is one redeeming quality about Spring in Colorado - the GREEN!

Nice weather this weekend has encouraged us to finally get out and get the yard looking nice - mowing, weeding, and digging in the dirt! I just love the budding leaves and newly sprouting plants and the overwhelming color green that we haven't seen since August...

Yaya wanted to see how tall our aspen tree in the front yard has gotten - I think it has grown a few feet in the six years it has been in the front yard!

Funny how even though the boys are also encouraged by the warmer weather, it's not to do yard work... they spent the morning on the trampoline!

HAPPY SPRING!!!

dancin' show

Sammy's first dance recital!

He has been telling me since his first class that he was NOT going to participate in the recital, and that he was NOT going to get on stage. I categorically ignored these comments throughout the past few months of dance classes and went into the recital with pretty low expectations of seeing him on stage!

Initially, Sam was still skeptical about going backstage to get ready for the show. So here he is sitting in costume, in the audience seriously contemplating the idea of performing!

Eventually, though he found the courage to part from me and head backstage to "stretch" and get ready... and the result was absolutely delightful! I could not have been more proud of sweet little Sammy on stage!

And here is the "grand finale" where all the show's participants come back out for a final bow. The little guys (Sam's class) come out right at the end... and I think it's worth the wait to watch!

weekend

Oh, this weekend could NOT have been more beautiful!

Due to great weather, we were mostly outside all day Saturday... and so were several of the boys' friends! Here is the only shot I could get of everyone (and there are even some missing!) from Saturday's all-day play date... after this they all dispersed in five different directions!

It was such a great day even a couple of superheros decided to stop by and check on everyone!

The highlight of the afternoon was probably building "the fort". It had taken many forms and locations throughout the day, but here is a picture of its final (for now!) design. Note the couch cushions for comfort and Sam's "cupcake set" for provisions. I mean, they thought of everything!

But my proudest moment was sometime in the afternoon, in between play dates and fort set-ups and bike rides and other adventures... Hamp decided he wanted to finish his book report!

He did such a great job and worked very hard on it (I swear, I didn't do anything but encourage and cut out some shapes!)

And after a beautiful, fun-and-friend-filled Saturday, I got to spend Mother's Day with my favorite boys! We went out for a lovely brunch and that afternoon I got exactly what I asked for:

Sam got on stage and danced in the recital! more on that soon...

invitation to tea

Friday, Sam and I were invited to have Mother's Day Tea with Hamp's first grade class!

The students shared their mom-themed poetry with all the guests, then enjoyed homemade cookies and apple juice (a bit more appealing than "tea" to seven year olds!). We were then able to hang out and read with our sweet kiddos...

Naturally, Hamp ended up fooling around with some of his best classroom buddies...

... then making his mother incredibly proud with his great tongue-to-nostril skills.

farm day

Our latest adventures involved the High School FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter showing off all their animals to the elementary school students. Sam and I tagged along with Hamp's class to check out the menagerie of livestock...

(penned, instead of wandering the highway this time!)