End of the Year

I created Beth and I matching shirts for our "One in a Minion Day" during teacher appreciation week.  She is truly one in a minion and I'm really going to miss working under her.

Our third grade teacher is retiring so we all headed to the GIEA banquet to celebrate her 41 years of teaching.

Such an awesome group of people to celebrate with.

Then of course we had to continue our celebration at the Chocolate Bar.

It's a Stolley tradition to have the teachers take on the winning 5th grade team in tug of war.  The two teams face off first; best out of three and then the teachers take them on.  This year we faced Mr. Lucas' class.  The 8th grade helpers even joined in to help them, but still couldn't defeat us.  

The last week of school my para and I worked hard on creating this special gift for Beth.  The counselor from Newell painted me this beautiful canvas and I had every Stolley student paint their fingerprint inside.   Then the staff all put their prints on the mason jar.  She LOVED it!

These panthers are definitely going to be missed!  

Going into this year I was very uncertain if I was making the right decision as of course change is always hard. However, I trusted in the Lord and his plan for me and I feel it was a great fit for me. The staff was so welcoming and super fun.  I look forward to expanding on my coaching skills next year!

May Day

Growing up, delivering May Day baskets was always a fun time for my mom and I.  I've been wanting to keep that tradition going with my kids and this was the first year I felt that Landon was old enough to do it.  So, even though it was around 6:00 that evening before we got started we got them all delivered.  Nothing like a little sugar before bedtime.  Landon loved being sneaky and seeing how fast he could run back to the car without getting caught.  

April Photo Dump

Wow, as I reflect back on April it was an eventful month!  

Came home one day to kids cruising in the driveway.  They said they were going to Grandma's house.

Celebrating Audrey's BIG 3-0!  

I was gone for math task force and my staff thought it would be funny to rearrange my entire office.

Sweet baby Tessa turned 1!  

Taylin loves her cousin!  

Mikki started doing Wildtree, so I attended her first workshop.  It was amazing what I walked out with.  We've loved all our meals so far and it's so nice they are all just hanging out in my freezer.  Our plan is to do another one in June and hopefully invite some more friends.  

I prepped all the meat and veggies prior to going and then added the other ingredients once I got there. I left with 11 meals! 

Can anyone else fit in Avery's bed?

The struggle is real.  I give her two choices each morning and this morning she wasn't liking any of them (she even had an extra this day)

The kids were playing in the backyard while I was working in the house.  When I went to the backdoor this is what I found.

"Look at me mommy I'm dirty!"

Such a stink

The district wore orange one day to stand up against racism.  I of course supported the cause by wearing my Team DeLong shirt.  I had to take a selfie to share with my team as another consultant wore hers that day too.

Day at the races with the Stolley Staff.  The guys were too cool to join in the picture and two were missing in action.  

Kurtis picked up the kids that day from daycare and we swapped children prior to him heading off to work the Danger game that night. There was one race left and the kids wanted to watch so we parked in the lot.  The last race was intense as a horse got spooked and bucked off the jockey which then caused a huge commotion among the other horses.  

Let's try this again

So, I'm completely obsessed with the new Ink Joy Gel Pens.  I scored two new green ones that I had to share a pic with my principal and Mrs. Wolfe (who's also obsessed)

Another road trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house

Lots of room to fly kites.

Avery missed her puppy

Landon's signature when he was little and now that he can write his name he updated it on the door.

All these fun family times and times outside make me super excited for summer.  It's fast approaching!

Another Step Closer...

About a month ago I prepped Landon by mentioning his kindergarten checkup.  He has not been to the doctor for a wellness check since he was two so I figured I'd better give him somewhat of a warning so he wouldn't "freak out" even worse.  The whole experience did not go as planned, but when we look back on it he'll laugh someday.

Nikki had mentioned that he would possibly have to pee in a cup, so she didn't let him go to the bathroom after nap.  However, typically at Family Practice they call you to lab as soon as you get there.  That was not the case...we sat there for at least 10 minutes when he decided he couldn't hold it any longer.  Of course as soon as he's ready to flush they call his name.  Luckily he has a small bladder so drinking water was not an issue.  

Then it was blood work time.  (I didn't know about that part)  They pricked his finger and he was a trooper.  

Then it was time to pee in a cup... needless to say he FREAKED out!  The idea of peeing in a cup scared him and he couldn't figure out why I was shoving that thing in the toilet to catch his pee.  

When we got back to the waiting room the nurse came in with a bummed look on her face and said we had to go do blood work again as it clotted the first time.  Once again he was a trooper!

Waiting for the doctor

He was making bank on all the minion bandaids!

His checkup went great.  

He is 47" tall and weighs 46 1/2 pounds. 

 Dr. Steinke said he fits the kindergarten square where kids his age are typically around the same height as weight.  

Then it was time for shots...once again he FREAKED out!  It took myself and another nurse to hold him down while the other jabbed him. The funny part of the shot experience was that he kept yelling "don't do it" not even realizing they had already done it. I just had to laugh.  Of course we were dramatic leaving because our legs were going to fall off, but we made it. 

Our agreement afterwards was that him and I would have a mommy and me date afterwards.  He was able to pick out a toy and of course he chose a $5.97 toy so I was nice and let him pick two. 

Now a few weeks later we are all registered for kindergarten!

FUTURE NEWELL KNIGHT