Great Strides 2011

It is that time of year!  Great Strides 2011 in Northwest Arkansas is fast approaching!  This year's event will take place on Saturday, August 27.  A few helpful links:

Join TEAM MACKENZIE or donate! 

Either Click "Join My Team" or "Click to Donate".

Like TEAM MACKENZIE on Facebook! 

For updates on Mackenzie's health and fundraising efforts.

Click "attending" on the Great Strides FB Event Page! 

KDA Dance Recital 2011

More dance pics!  The girls had their dance recital and got to spend the entire day doing what they love!

I had to steal this off Kerri's Facebook page of Abby and Mackenzie.  I love it!  And, at the same time, it makes me so sad that Mackenzie looks so grown-up in it.

The girls in some of their dances (they also performed all their competitive dances but since I've already posted pics of all those, I thought I'd give you a break!).

Lunch break, between Recital 1 and Recital 2!

This picture was taken at some point right before the fire alarm was pulled and everyone got to go outside for some fresh air! :)

Peyton walking to recieve her Very Important Dancer award.  This was voted on by her peers, one for each level.  We are very proud of her!

Funhouse, one last time.  I loved this dance, and going to miss watching them perform it!

Some of our awesome KDA teachers!

Ms. Barbara Jean & Mackenzie.

Ms. Arissa & the girls:

Ms. Laine and the girls:

At the end of the night!:

Helpers

As soon as the girls were out for summer vacation, they decided to go back to school!  They went to their old school (where Mackenzie attended all through elementary, K-4, and Peyton went K-2 until we moved to a different zone) and helped our friend Amy with her 1st grade class (there are two schools in our district that are on a "non-traditional" or "year-round" calendar).  Amy teaches in the class that both my girls had when they were in 1st grade!  It's crazy they were both in the same room - Mackenzie with Mrs. Cooper and Peyton with Mrs. Burrow since there are 5 or so 1st grade classrooms.

Here are the girls with the class.  

We ran into Lydia - also there helping -  while we were there.  Mackenzie and Lydia went to school there together.  

Below are pictures of Peyton with two of the teachers she had while she was there - Mrs. Burrow (her 1st grade teacher) and Ms. Lange (her 2nd grade teacher).  Her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Gauthier moved to a different school a few years ago.  Two of Mackenzie's teachers are still teaching there - her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Chambliss and her 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Robertson but they were out that afternoon, so no photo.  Mackenzie's Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Malloy retired, her 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Cooper went to a different school, and her third grade teacher, Mrs. Bingham moved to the school where Peyton just finished.  Mackenzie job shadowed with Mrs. Bingham a couple of months ago.  

Here are the girls with Amy (Mrs. Ford).  They had such a great time!  I think they want to go back and help again when Elm Tree starts back up (a couple of weeks before they start back).  

Goodbye...

...to Junior High and Elementary School.  Here are the girls on their last day of school.  Next year Peyton will start Middle School and Mackenzie will be at the High School (OH MY!).

 

Gator Roundup

Peyton's Fun & Field Day included lots of fun activities!  Bingo, Movie, Magician, Minute to Win It, Face Painting, Limbo, Dance Party, "Cow Chip" Tossing, Relays, Hair Painting, and so much more.  I stopped by for just a little bit and got a few pics.

Mackenzie's Awards

Mackenzie received a few awards at her last Awards Assembly of Junior High.  She received an award for all As for all of 7th and 8th grades,  the Outstanding Artistic Achievement award, and Achievement on the Explore Exam.  Always, so proud of how hard Mackenzie works! 

Soccer Party

Peyton had a party with her soccer team - the Breakers - to celebrate a wonderful year.  They only lost two games throughout the fall and spring seasons.  They had awesome coaches and played really well together.  Coach Tom provided pizza, drinks, and cookies and we had took photos and the girls got their medals and trophies. 

Red Liner Party

Peyton's team participated in a Red Liner Party for the students who passed all their addition, subtraction and multiplication facts.  Lots of red fun!  Red water balloons, red hula hoops, red sprinkles...I think you get the picture.  

This was a successful attempt (finally) of bursting a water balloon over the head.  

4th Grade Celebration

On Tuesday, May 31, Peyton had a 4th grade celebration followed by an awards assembly in the classroom.  Peyton made all As for the year.  On the last day of school she brought home a neat math worksheet that they did at the beginning of the year (with problems they had not learned to solve yet) that really showed how much the students learned this year.  I'm always very proud of what a hard working student Peyton is and how much she loves to learn.