That's a Wrap

Another school year is in the books. No pun intended :) 

May 21st t'was a big day at the Hicks house.

This handsome dude graduated Kindergarten! 

Can you see the excitement in his face as we loaded for carpool? I could reach through this screen right NOW and plant a smooch on his adorable face! I'm so.not.ready for him to lose that baby face :(

This may be thee only picture I got of Dawson with his teacher, Mrs. Anita Davis.

Dawson's class grew from 16 to 18 at semester with twins, Will & Addison moving into the district. They were a great bunch of kids who were energetic but eager to learn.

The following day was Gabrielle's last day of 3rd grade. Unlike Dawson, she was NOT ready for the school year to come to an end! Any guesses why? Let me give you a hint. She is pictured above ^^^! We couldn't have asked for a better teacher for G. Ms. Lindsey was fun, full of energy (she had to be with a class of 27 rowdy, rambunctious, non-stop talking kids), encouraging, edifying, and an absolute treasure of a Christian example for our girl. She prayed regularly for and with Gabrielle.

As their mom, I was really looking forward to time at home with them this summer so was glad to say goodbye to the school year. We're keeping our summer carefree with minimal commitments. I somewhat chuckle as I type that as the kids have MAD camp this week, VBS next week, baseball season running through July, Gabrielle will attend her 1st overnight summer camp in early July and an online program that is occupying much of their time. Add doctor appointments, necessary errands, swimming & play dates to that and our weeks are full to overflowing!  

Look out Summer, we're out for some fun!

My Special Mom - A Mother's Day tribute by Dawson

My mother is the most wonderful Mom in the world.
She is as pretty as roses.
She weighs 30 lbs and is 1 foot tall.
Her favorite food is pancakes.
In the old days, when my mother was little, she used to do what normal babies do.
I think Mom looks funny when she changes my sister's diaper.
Please note she is fully potty trained and diaper changes are so last year :)
My mother is happy when we clean.
^^^ AMEN! ^^^
I wish Mom would snuggle with me everyday.
I wouldn't trade my mother for a piece of junk.
I'm so glad to know I'm valued more than a piece of junk. Rolling in laughter!


Top Five Reasons Why I love My Mom

1. My Mom gives me hugs and kisses
2. I love my Mom
3. My Mom loves me
4. I love my family
5. My Dad is awesome 

{I'm not so sure how #5 describes the top five reasons why he loves ME, but we will roll with it}

- My Mom -
My Mom is good.
She likes to give me hugs and kisses.
She always cleans.
Sometimes she takes me to the pool.
But the best thing about my Mom is she gives me hugs and kisses.

Happy Mother's Day!
Love,
Dawson

These.
Keepers for sure!
I want to remember these sweet, yet hilarious "love notes" from my Boo.
I adore that his primary love language is so apparent in his answers given above. He is my little lover and professional snuggler. I often joke that he needs to stop making out with me or his Daddy will get jealous :) Secretly I hope his affections don't wane in the years to come. I love his genuine hugs and sweet kisses. I love when he crawls in bed with me and isn't satisfied until his arm is underneath my back and his head rested on my chest. I love that he never fails to profess his love for me when I tuck him in even when he is sour at me (or me with him). I love this boy of mine and where he fits in our family. He is rough & rowdy but soft & sappy at the same time and oh so cute! Man alive is he cute!

Back to School

I feel as if if summer was over before it even began. Circumstances prevented us from doing many most of our usual summer break activities. No trips to Deanna Rose, no strolls around the Overland Park Arboretum, no berry picking, no picnics at the local parks, no day trips to the water parks, no time spent at Okoboji, no long weekend "vacations" as we had planned for. And you know what? The kids never complained. Not once that I recall. They were troopers playing nurse to their Daddy. They enjoyed pool time when I took them or they were invited with friends. They crafted and played in the house and out of the heat. When it wasn't horribly hot and humid they would get "lost" for hours in the backyard digging, building and playing in their "clubhouse" or in the cul-de-sac out front riding scooters and bikes. I feel as if I blinked, summer is over and and it's the beginning of a new school year.

Life has a way of doing that at times.

Flying by at warp speeds.

This summer was without question one of those times in our lives.

Gabrielle 3rd grade at Meadow Lane

Teacher, Mrs. Maci Lindsey

Dawson morning Kindergarten at Meadow Lane

Teacher, Mrs. Anita Davis (her 1st year teaching at ML)

McKenna "attends" McKennagarten 

Teacher, me if I count as one :)

This picture was taken on Dawson's 1st day of school. The girls were just as excited for him as he was to be starting school and asked if they could take a picture with him. Heart swoon!

These last two pictures were images I shared on Instagram with a fun retro filter applied.

Somehow I had a false sense that the busyness of life would slow down with the bigs in school and my mornings home with Little Miss. 

I consume myself with busyness filling my days to the point of exhaustion where I collapse in bed the moment the kids are tucked in exerting only enough energy to mindlessly watch a bit of TV before giving way to fitful sleep.

Just this morning as I read my daily devotional in Jesus Calling this stood out to me:
"Spending time alone with Me {Jesus} can be a difficult discipline, because it goes against the activity addiction of this age." 

True dat! 

I love being back in a weekly Bible study that has me in the Word daily and is challenging me to make space for quiet time to listen. 

"Bring your moments to Me, and I will fill them with vibrant joy." Sarah Young Jesus Calling 

To our kids,

We wish you the best school year possible!

Do your best. 

Be an awesome friend. 

Learn lots and come home and share with us all that you have learned. 

We love you lots!!

Embrace the Camera: May 9, 2013

Dawson embracing the camera with me and Ms. Andrea during his preschool Mother's Day Tea. 

Photos taken Tuesday, May 7th

Ernie Miller Nature Park Field Trip

Little Man had his preschool Spring field trip to Ernie Miller Nature Park on Monday, April 1st. I realize that was a month ago but life happens and the days slip by in the blink of an eye, so here I am logging our time together in early May. Better late, then never :)

This was Dawson's expression when he walked into the Nature Center and saw that I was joining him. I know he is mine, but I love this kid! I love his fierce independence, his often times boyish personality & play antics, his willingness to share lots hugs and kisses and the fact that he still remains my baby boy. My Boo. 

The teachers guided them on a walk throughout the center hitting each site and feature allowing the kids to ask questions and take it all in. They then took part in a meet and greet with this wonderful volunteer and several of the rescue animals - a turtle, a bird and the star of the day, Henrietta the beautiful rabbit. They sang songs and played a really cute game. It was very apparent that the kids enjoyed themselves.

This is D's 2nd year Heartland Early Childhood Center class (minus Gloria)

From left to right: Connor, Jonah, Keelan, Kai, Brandon, Molly, Celes, Macy, Dexter, Jeremiah & Dawson

This photo is the icing on the cake for this momma. Dawson has had a little crush on Macy since the beginning of the school year. Her mom has said many times that she is one spunky little girl FULL of sass. It seems she draws several of her boy classmate's attention :) It brings me full circle to when Gabrielle was the same age and had a larger than life crush on her preschool mate, Logan Meyers. Young love. Oye!

K Enrollment

Last Friday was Kindergarten enrollment for our little man. It's truly cra-zay! to think my baby boy is old enough to be starting school this coming Fall.

We are unsure whether D will be in morning or afternoon Kindergarten as the enrollment numbers only substantiate for one 1/2 day class and the district hasn't made a decision on hiring a part-time teacher or sharing with another elementary school within the district. So for now, we wait. This momma's fingers are crossed that it will be afternoons for a couple of reasons. 

1. He currently attends afternoon preschool five days a week and we are very accustomed to our "schedule."

2. Little Miss naps in the afternoon and I use that time to pay bills, blog, check e-mail, do my devotional and other reading, etc. 

Regardless of what the outcome is, he is elated to begin Kindergarten. 

Dawson was pumped to get to visit "sissy's school" and drop into her classroom for a quick hello and hug. It was an added bonus that I got to witness a group of fun and energetic Olathe NW Ravens Football guys reading to Gabi's class. Several class moms were there, so we all snapped a quick photo with our phones.

D Man!

This little dude had school pictures taken last week so I snapped a handful myself before he headed out on the bus. Can you tell he isn't a fan of the sun?

Little man started expressing interest in learning how to read thanks to his friend Brandon who was a very early reader. We introduced him to some early readers and over the course of a couple of days he was comfortable reading several of them. It has been so rewarding seeing him advance in his word recognition.

Dawson's current loves include: Legos, Tom & Jerry cartoons & his Nintendo DSI. He will sit content for looooong periods of time engrossed in playing his DS if we allow it. Too bad it couldn't magically teach him to read, write, encourage his weekly scripture memorization, etc. Wouldn't that be a beautiful thing?!

Fall Preschool Field Trip

Friday October 5, 2012

I joined Dawson and his afternoon preschool class on their Fall field trip to the KC Pumpkin Patch in Gardner. It was a very chilly afternoon which had its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage being we virtually had the entire pumpkin patch to ourselves which made for no lines or waiting turns on the attractions such as the slides, train, bounce bag, etc.

Jonah, Kai, Dawson & Connor

Picking the perfect pumpkin

The choices can be a tad overwhelming!

Dawson has the cold face grimace in this picture. If you look closely you can also see that his poor little hands are red from the cold. Next time I will go better prepared with a stocking hat and gloves.

Wheeeeeeee!

Celebrating 5!

This handsome little man of ours turned FIVE last Friday.

Five.

Excuse me while a go cry a moment.

..........................................................................

OK, I'm back.

This sweet, lovable, ball of fire is so much fun. It is almost midterm of the first half of school and we can't believe how much progress he has made already. He is doing much better with color, number & letter recognition and can write his name on his own. He loves riding the bus and attending school. His love for his sister is steadfast and unchanging. He goes where she goes and does what she does. This is both good and bad as I'm sure you can imagine.

He loves playing in the yard or out front and has become quite the proficient rider on his razor scooter. He learned how to ride his bike without training wheels way back on Mother's Day but hasn't shown any interest in riding again since then. Go figure.

Dawson loves to be his Daddy's helper. The morning of his birthday the two of them spent in the front flower beds trimming back the rose bushes, ornamental grass and {gasp} pulling out all the mums.

Ms. Kiersten baked and decorated Lego sugar cookies for both Dawson's classroom celebration as well as his party that evening at the park. 

(I'm hungry for one right now as I look at that photo)

We had a small party/celebration at Black Hoof Park Friday evening with just a handful of friends.

Dawson with two of his classmates, Dexter & Brandon. Oh, Dexter buddy. That face!

Little man had a short wish list this birthday. It consisted of a dream lite (see above picture and his excitement), a replacement DS, a robot toy and a new remote control car or truck. He received each of those as well as added to his Lego collection.

This was the face we got when he opened his "new" DSI, case & Lego game. He was thrilled to say the least.

I do my best to remind D often that although he is getting bigger and isn't the baby of the family anymore that he is and always will be our baby boy. He soaks it up when he hears us say it. I'll continue carrying him to bed and letting him crawl up in my lap as long as it will last! 

We love you Boo! Happy 5 years little dude!

Back in Session

Summer is over and that means a few things for us. The kids are back into the swing of school, school related activities, & Awana. It also means we are back into a routine which makes this momma happy happy happy! Here are a handful of pictures commemorating the kids 1st day of school 2012.

Gabrielle 2nd grade at Meadow Lane Elementary School 

My favorite food: pizza

I love to play: outside!

My favorite singing & dancing song: anything by Francesca Battistelli

A place I'd like to visit: Washington, D.C.

My favorite storytime book: Dolphin Tale

My favorite treat: Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

My best friend is: I have a lot of best friends

I love the color: yellow

Dawson 2nd year of pre-K at Heartland Early Childhood Center as a peer model

Dawson with his amazing teacher Ms. Andrea

My favorite food: oatmeal, hot dog on a bun, macaroni & cheese

I love to play: my D.S., watch TV and play outside

My favorite singing and dancing song: whatever Sissy likes best

A place I'd like to visit: camping

My favorite storytime book: my  Bible Storybook

My favorite treat: candy & gum

My best friend is: Kellen

I love the color: orange

And sweet McKenna Jane, age 19 months who gets lots of loving at home with momma!