pinterest pick of the week | memorial day inspiration

Surely even I could do this:

via

Or this:

via & original source

And what to wear while dining on these culinary concoctions?

Good Lord, not this.

What about this?

via

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day! While the weekend is full of fun and frivolity, let us remember the sacrifice of so many for our freedom and happiness. We are blessed.

PS: When I switched to Google +, I became a No-Reply Blogger again, which was seriously un-cool. I believe that I have that fixed, with help from here. If you have recently gone to Google +, you might want to check and see if you have been switched without knowing. Now if I can get my template to accept modifications again, I will be sitting pretty.

school's out FOREVER!

Well, more like twelve weeks.

But for Little Kid, preschool wrapped up this week. I did not cry, but Miss Tenderhearted did. Bless her sweet heart, all of her friends are scattering to different elementary schools and she was sad. I reassured her that she had two buddies that would be going to kindergarten with her and she will see most of her girlfriends at dance class in the fall. Once again I am thankful for facebook, and that we can keep up with friends and teachers that we love.

First day of preschool, August 2009:

Last day of preschool, May 2013:

I can remember buying that little purple and green outfit at Baby Gap right after we moved to Huntsville. We had only lived here for a little over a month when the kids started school. I splurged on the matching striped shoes because it was her first day of school ever!

First day of Pre-K, August 2012:

I love comparison photos. 

Pre-K graduation program:

We had the best teachers this year. Alexa's teachers, Ms. Amy and Ms. Lisa, were wonderful. 

The whole four years at Asbury were a blessing to our family. Ms. Rosemary, Ms. Marlee, and Ms. Kathryn in the main office...Ms. Sue in the library...Ms. Karen the music teacher and all of Little Kid's teachers over the years have been such caring, nurturing souls. We love them and thank them.

Sweeties on the last day. The two boys on the right have been with Little Kid since Day 1.

Little Kid and I went up to help with her brother's class party yesterday. Oh my. Let's just say that they were enthusiastic about the upcoming summer.

Our class mom made a life-size Angry Birds game for the kids!

Someone was very excited to sit with the big kids. Little Kid is so ready for kindergarten, she would go tomorrow if she could. I wish that I got a pic of Big Kid's teacher who is lovely and so kind, but it was a little crazy in there (and when I say little, I mean pandemonium). How such a tiny lady kept control of  that motley crew I have no idea, but she did! Teachers have nerves of steel. The boy had a good year, thank you Mrs. Williams!

Big Kid's first day of third grade, August 2012:

Last day of third grade, May 2013:

He insisted on posing with his two certificates. He won the class, "Super Scientist" award. He gets that from me.

And because it is Thursday and we have not done a T4T yet this week, I thought that this was appropriate. Any child of the nineties will recognize it.

Let summer commence!

time to dance!

This past weekend, Little Kid participated in her third dance recital! Here, have some pictures - I have plenty.

Dress rehearsal on Friday was bananas - The Engineer was out of town on a business trip and I was juggling dress rehearsal and a baseball game (that ended up being rained out). Recital is always held at the gorgeous concert hall downtown.

These girlies have been together since their first year.

I got so tickled at this pic.

On dress rehearsal day, we were juggling another baseball game that again was rained out, so my mom came to help with the boy while I got Little Kid ready.

The Green Room - all of these pretties are in the same class in school and their school teacher came to the recital, which I thought was super sweet.

Showtime!

Anna Banana. I love this girl.

Their dance routine was to Disco Duck, which was awesome. Little Kid did not care much for her costume which she deemed itchy and scratchy.

After the recital, Granddaddy and Grammy took us out to lunch. We were so happy that they were able to come down!

Shenanigans.

Every year I am blown away by the talent at The Dance Company. I watch the older girls and I imagine Little Kid as a tween/teen up there dancing her heart out. I hope that she continues with it. Little Kid and I are different - she has the personality of her dad and is a super girly girl, while I was more of a tomboy as a child. But I danced, and I like that we have that in common.

 A little squinty, but a picture that I will treasure.

Thank you for another fabulous year, Julie and Beth!