Last day, hurray!

Ben on his very first day at sonshine and on his last. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!  He was just a baby and now he's my big boy!

Graduation cupcakes to celebrate the last day. 

Best pre k teacher we know!

Ben and Colby. The only kid in Ben's classes all three years. They are very good friends!

Hugs to Briggs' first teacher ever. We adore mrs brom!  She taught him so much and has a huge heart. 

We continued the tradition of ice cream on the last day with Addie. A side by side of the first day of the 2's and the last day of sonshine. I still can't wrap my head around these two not going to school together next year. 

And a side by side of the boys' first and last day this year. Briggs lost his little fat ankles!

Graduation

Sadly, graduation fell exactly when aunt Tina was getting married in Mexico. All year I knew this and it bummed me out. And then The Lord blessed me with sonshine and their amazing directors. One request to his teacher to just watch them practice led to an invite, Ben wearing his cap and gown and mommy getting a front row seat to Ben graduating early.  It was perfect!  And because I'm such a strong person (ha), it was probably better I missed the whole pomp and circumstance. 

I will forever remember the kind gesture from sonshine academy. They are the best! 

They were all in red because they had gone on a field trip. It was easy to find my little man in the sea of red!

Think he will frame this in his office one day next to his medical or law degree ;)

Mrs. Reck- a truly amazing teacher with a heart of gold!  We LOVE her! 

And just like that we have a kindergartener in the house!  Say what?!?!?

Wrapping up soccer

In May Ben finished his third season with the Titans. He's improved a bunch, but still so timid and shy out there. Not the aggressive kid I know he can be. But- we love our Titan family and will return for another season next month. The boys finished the year with a party at Chase's house. 

End of Sunshine fun!

The end of the school year FLEW by!  And when you're in the 4's, it is jam-packed!  Lots of fun things going on. Ben had TWO field trips. One to the park and the other to Double Dip for ice cream. Mommy may have been a little emotional about my baby ring on a field trip. And se may haves one a couple drive by's to see how it was going. Maybe ;)

There was a wedding!  The letter Q married the letter U!  It was ADORABLE!  Afterwards the kids had a reception with cake and punch. 

Balloon release!  The 4's had a reading incentive throughout February and March. If they read so many books they got a balloon for that month. Each balloon had a card attached with the name of the student. 

Adorable!!!

Mother's Day Tea

They played the sweetest video and slides how. It was so darling. And the boys came in wearing their daddy's ties and the girls in hats. The thought that this cute, fun stuff may be over makes me very sad :(

And the Tuesday after another's Day, I had brunch with this little guy!  Such a ham!  But man I love him!

Ben got to bring the letter bag home and fill it with his favorite letter on one of the last days. He was so happy. 

Chapel!  When Ben was in the 3's, I had Briggs and couldn't make his chapel times. And then this year something happened EVERY time (flat tire, sick kid, out of town, etc). I FINALLY made Ben's last chapel of the year!  He was soooo proud and happy!!!

Mommy and Daddy go to Savannah

Trying to catch up...

Way back in April, we left the boys with gramma and boots and went to savannah for my cousin Jennifer's wedding. It was the first time in almost 10 years we were all going to see each other. It was also the first time we left te boys and went out of state. Good thing they were in great hands!  

They had a blast and B and I did, too. Lots of walking and enjoying the quiet. And of course, the wedding was GORGEOUS!!! 

Last pic before they drove off!

Our plane selfie for the boys

FaceTime rocks!

Mommy and her cousins

Mimi and her brothers and sister 

Pool party- Lego style

After attending a couple parties at Emler Swim School, Ben BEGGED to have his party there.  It was a BLAST!  Everyone had lots of fun.  The boys LOVED having Daddy in the water with them.  I loved having lifeguards and helpers so I could enjoy the party and visit with friends.  Lego doesn't license to any supermarket bakeries so I was having a hard time finding a Lego cake.  And then B said he'd make it.  He had NEVER worked with fondant before.  It took him about 4 hours, but I'd say he did a pretty good job!  Ben loved it.  Next year, though, he will be taking a few friends bowling or something!  This mommy isn't a party planner so it stressed me out!

Good job, Daddy!

If you weren't in the pool or behind that glass, it was SO hot and humid.  

Owen, Zac and Ben 'surfing'

NO one was more excited than this little guy to have daddy in the water with him!

He's a ham!

I tried to make the yellow plates and buckets look like Lego heads.  The buckets were filled with snacks.  And we ordered pizza for everyone since it was at dinner time. 

Sitting between Austin (his first bff) and Briggs

Very thankful for all the friends who came and loved on our sweet 5 year old!

FIVE YEARS!!!

FIVE!  Sweet Ben, today you are five!  Five isn't an infant, or baby, or toddler, but a kid!  Five is a BIG number to this mommy!  And I thank the amazing Lord we have that he has given you to me for FIVE years!  I lived a very happy, very content 28 years before you arrived and didn't think life could get much better.  Boy was I wrong!  Being a mommy, your mommy, is the most amazing thing that will EVER happen to me.  And your daddy.  We can't even remember life without you, although we are pretty sure we slept better!

Ben-you are, and always have been, ALL BOY!  You think burps and farts are funny and love to be naked.  You take all your clothes off to poop and love to talk about poop.  You wrestle, run and act like a ninja all the time.  All of these things are very weird to me.  You are very into ninjas, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, cars movie (still), superheroes and legos.  You could play with toys all day.  You still have your make believe family and talk about them daily.  Sally (your wife), Girl Fruit and Boy Fruit (although he was eaten by a polar bear in the jungle), Jojo and Amy.  I LOVE how you talk about your family.  

You are super, super picky.  You HATE milk, but love salad.  You are super shy and hate being in the spotlight outside of home.  Briggs ADORES you and emulates you all the time.  You enjoy bossing him around and telling him what to do or play.  Half the time you are great together, the other half is constant fighting.  

You are a loyal friend and can't get enough of your friends.  You sleep pretty well.  You're very responsible with going to bed when it's time and actually falling asleep and if you get up before mommy or daddy, you will play by yourself for awhile quietly.  

We love you to the moon and back 1000 times.  Last night I put a magic spell on you to stay 4 and little forever, but God has big plans for you because he cancelled my spell and made you 5 today!  I can't wait to see what big plans are in store!!! LOVE YOU!