Fall Party

On October 30, Peyton had her fall party at school. Here she is participating in the Candy Corn Relay Race:
Getting her food (check out Angela's cute cheese tray):

Group shot:

Peyton with Molly and Sydney:

And, with Mrs. Phelps:

Monsters in the Closet

On October 23 - Peyton's 9th birthday! - the third graders had a field trip to BHS to watch their production of Monsters in the Closet.

I Have A Dream

Peyton's third grade musical was held on October 22. Here she is getting ready for her speaking part:

Sunday, September 27

When Jason was busy working in the yard and Mackenzie was at her youth church group, Peyton and I went with her class to see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". Mrs. Phelps organized the outing and the class is going to compare and contrast the book to the movie (love this!). Sydney, Peyton & Molly:

Peyton with Mrs. Phelps:

TailGator

Last Friday night (September 25) we attended our first TailGator at Peyton's school. Peyton had a great time (and got information for her school newspaper article).
This was her favorite part of the night, the camel ride:

There was so much more but I got there late with the camera!

1st Day of School

The girls had a GREAT first day of school yesterday! Peyton loved everything and Mackenzie really enjoyed Jr. High - she said she did feel a little overwhelmed, but she was still so happy about the day.
Mackenzie said we could go in with her but no camera - so here is a picture in the car with Emily. I can't wait to hear how Day 2 went. Mackenzie will meet more teachers today since they are on an A Day/B Day schedule.

New (School) Year's Resolution

The girls are tucked in bed - wide awake, excited about the first day of school tomorrow. They both are starting at new schools, Peyton in 3rd grade and Mackenzie in 7th grade - Junior High! Mackenzie will be in a school with about 1000 students (7th & 8th grade) and I am so nervous (I went to a very small school). I know it's going to be a great year!

So, here is my New (School) Year's Resolution: Every Sunday I will bag up a weeks worth of food for lunches. We did this tonight for the next few days (no, we won't win any sustainability awards but we'll turn off extra lights and recycle and reuse as much as we can in other ways - the convenience will keep me sane). We've done this in the past but never consistently.

I had to take a picture in case it doesn't happen again! Ha. Look at all those colors (that's good, right?). Their lunches for tomorrow are already packed and then they'll replenish their bags afterschool for the next day from these containers. Fruit dip, veggie dip, grapes, cheese, chicken, tomatoes, crackers for Peyton, Doritos for Mackenzie, and Oreos. Juice added in the mornings.

In the past they ate at school quite a bit but we've been told the lunch line for Mackenzie is pretty long and with it being so important for her to eat, she's going to take hers and eat then if she wants to go through the line towards the end and get even more food she can. If you pack one it's easy to pack another so Peyton will take hers this week too.

I'm going to go get a little laundry done and then go to bed (where I'm sure I won't be able to sleep either). I'll post 1st day of school pictures tomorrow.

Back to Everything Week

Last night Peyton had Open House at her new school. She met her teacher Mrs. Phelps and we walked around CPE. We loved Mrs. Phelps and we all have a great feeling and think this is going to be a fantastic year!
After Open House, the girls had their first night of dance. Peyton had ballet:

Mackenzie had Jazz and Hip Hop (here she is with Samantha):

Tomorrow is the first day of school. Today we are going to go walk every aisle of Walmart to figure out something for lunches. I hope the day goes by very slowly - I'm sad to see the girls go back. I'm going to miss them. They on the other hand, seem to be very excited to start and I guess it will be nice to get back into a routine.

End of the Year Party - Luau Style

After Fun & Field Day yesterday, Peyton's class had their end of the year party - a Luau. Complete with fruit kabobs, hula dancing, and limbo.
Peyton got a little sad during the party thinking about not being with her friends next year but I reassured her that we will still keep in touch and they'll still be able to get together.

Fun & Field Day

Today Peyton had Fun & Field Day (rescheduled from yesterday due to the morning downpour). Her class was won two relay races and were runner up in tug-of-war. They played on the obstacle course, played kickball, volleyball, rode on scooter boards and so much more! Since Mackenzie is already out for summer she went to help out - here she is with Elise, Mason and Morgan at the slide.

And with Jenna, Mason and Alexis at the bounce house. She was cracking me up telling the first graders the rules...you could tell she had been giving the same rules all day.

One more day until both girls are on summer vacation!

Ardis Larson-Cole Bump In the Road Award

Yesterday was Mackenzie's last day of 6th grade and during the awards assembly, in addition to straight As all year with all Pre-AP classes (have to recognize that, she worked so hard!), she was the recipient of the Ardis Larson-Cole Bump In the Road Award.

Mr. Manes presented the award and I'd like to pull some of what he said to share with you:

"Ardis was a very special person who worked at this school and others for one reason, her students and her teachers. When talking with her about this award before her death, she told me that she wanted to honor students whose road down life took a journey similar to hers. Ardis always said she had bumps in her life that she had to handle in her own way, and go on with her life to make the very best of it. She overcame those bumps with a positive attitude and she always used those bumps to help others. Even when she faced the biggest bump of all at the end of her life, she never changed her positive view or her wonderful smile"

"Today, it is my privilege to recognize a student that Ardis would be very proud of. This year's recipient has had to travel the bumps of life since the day she was born...Even now her daily routine is one of early rise and extra medical attention so that she can have the same opportunities in life that many of us take for granted. But when you see this student you would never come close to guessing that she is dealing with such a life changing obstacle, or what Ardis would call a bump. In the classroom, she stands out as one of those students who is eager to learn, who works hard to maintain that high "A", who has a respectful sense of humor that can brighten any teacher's and students' day, and who can forget to mention that infectious smile that can turn anyone's bad day into a good day. With her friends, she is the one who has everyone's back, and she is also the one her friends love to be close to...This year's recipient does not let her bump in the road slow her down; she goes over her bump in the road each day and comes out shining as a true champion."

"This year we are proud to honor a student, who at first glance, appears to be like all other hard working students. We honor a student who spends two hours a day taking part in treatments to make her as healthy as she can be. We honor a student who each day takes different medications so that her body can undergo what most bodies do normally. We honor a student who visits Arkansas Children' Hospital four times per year to make sure she is overcoming the bumps in her road successfully. We honor a student who battles a bump in the road each and every day of her life, several times throughout the day. She battles this "bump in the road" trying to beat and overcome the fact that experts say her bump in the road has a shortened life expectancy. I have no doubt that she will continue to go over her bumps in the road with grace, and she will overcome any odds her big "bump in the road" give her"

Her name on the plaque at the school:

Mackenzie with her wonderful Team Champions teachers, Miss Mertz, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Coffee and Mr. Manes.


Oh yes, I cried like a baby - we are so proud of that girl! I can't believe she is off to Junior High next year and we celebrate each passing day, even if they pass too quickly! Spring Hill is an amazing school with wonderful, caring teachers and staff and we are going to miss it so much.

SHMS's Got Talent!

I am so impressed with all the talent I saw this morning from fifth and sixth graders at Mackenzie's talent show. Singers (and singer/songwriters!), dancers, pianists, guitarists, funny emcees and great teachers made it a very entertaining show! I'm going to miss this school so much!

Mackenzie and her friends performed a little dance. Video from dress rehearsal:

May 28, 1905

Peyton had a field trip back in time last Thursday. Ms. Lange and Ms. Cheatham's classes went to the old Rocky Branch Schoolhouse and spent the day learning how a school day was in 1905. They were invited to dress the part so Peyton wore her dance recital costume from last year (I'm not sure it went with 1905 but Peyton was excited to wear it).

A New School

With the move to the new house Peyton will be changing elementary schools for the next school year. Since she was on a break from the non-traditional calendar and the school she is going to is on the traditional calendar she was able to go spend a few hours there last Thursday. Mrs. Beckham was so nice to let her sit in during her class and when we got there Peyton was greeted by two of her friends - Avery (a friend from preschool) and Sydney (a friend from dance). She also saw other friends from preschool, dance and soccer so I think it will be a pretty easy transition for her. She stayed for lunch and recess and when I picked her up we went on a little tour, and took a pictures on the stairs (that's a change from ETE).

Pops on the Lawn

On May 11, Mackenzie had an orchestra concert. It was a beautiful day to be out on the lawn of Old High. She gave the violin a try and has decided not to continue next year but I'm glad she got to have one year to learn.

Songs of Hope

On May 7, Mackenzie had her final choir concert at SHMS and it was my favorite! Wonderful songs sang by a great group.

I'm laughing at Mackenzie's jeans all rolled up - she gets so hot up there and tries to say as cool as possible to not start coughing during the concert.