Peyton's Last Day of Kindergarten

Friday was Peyton's very last day as a Kindergartner.  He has had such an awesome year!  Friday's "last day" festivities began with an awards presentation in the classroom.

 The Kindergartners showing off their counting skills to the parents.

Mrs. Hendry presenting Peyton with his certificate.

 After the awards presentation, the kindergartners headed to the gym and surrounding fields for their party.  Peyton is getting ready to play "Red Rover" with classmates.

 Playing Red Rover.

 Drawing with chalk.

 Enjoying watermelon, which was followed by cupcakes and Capri Suns.

Using the scooter on the obstacle course.  The kids also got to play parachute games, jump in bounce houses and play Duck Duck Goose and other games.  After the morning-long party, the kids went back to the classroom for lunch and a movie.  Before we knew it, the day was over and so was Kindergarten.  This year has REALLY flown by!  But it has been an incredible one for Peyton!

All Nine Weeks "Respect & Responsibility" Party

The final and biggest of the "R&R" parties - the All Nine Weeks party (for kids who were able to attend all 4 previous "R&R" parties) - was held on Wednesday of the last week of school.  It was a water party!  The PTA rented two large water slides and had other fun water toys and sprinklers to play in.  They also got snow cones!  Mommy and Reagan were also helpers at this party.

 Peyton waiting in line for the slide.

 Wheeeee!

 All wet and enjoying snow cones!

Reagan and friends enjoying lollipops and "helping" to make snow cones!

Dance Festival

The last week of school at Specht was full of parties and celebrations!  On Tuesday morning, the annual dance festival was held.  Each class prepares a dance to perform for the parents.  Peyton's performed a sort-of hip hop version of the Chicken Dance and Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.  It was really cute!  

Soccer Season Wrap Up

Last Saturday was Peyton's last Upward Soccer game of this season.  Thank goodness - because it's starting to get HOT outside!

The kids taking a break from running hard in the hot, muggy weather!

After the last game, the team headed over to Beefy's Backyard for a party.

Each player was presented with really cool Upward backpack!  Peyton requested that Daddy be his coach again next time!

Last Nine Week "Respect and Responsibility" Party

At the end of each nine weeks, the school and the PTA hosts a "Respect and Responsibility" party for all other the kids who had limited or no behavior issues during that time period.  Peyton got to go to each "R&R" party this year!  Woo Hoo!  Mommy and Reagan helped with the last 9 week "R&R" party on Friday.

The "R&R" parties are held in the gym.  The kids get to play in bounce houses, play various games and enjoy popcorn and lemonade!

Reagan and a few little friends (whose Mommies were also helping with the party) enjoying their own popcorn and lemonade as the wait for the big kids to finish bouncing in the bounce houses.

Comments of the Week

Peyton: "But Mommy, why do you ALWAYS run into problems with EVERYTHING?"

Reagan (while looking at a mini photo album with pictures of her and Peyton): "This is me when I was a baby and Peyton when he was Peyton."

Mommy: "Peyton, what happened on the Friday before Easter?"
Peyton: "I don't know. We weren't there!"

Mommy sneezed.
Peyton: "Bless your heart!"

Reagan humming loudly.
Daddy: "What are you doing, Reagan?"
Reagan: "I'm playing a cd in my mouth!"

Peyton: "What's more important... firedrills or learning math?"

Reagan (while riding in the car with Mommy): "I want a pink car."
Mommy: "When you grow up you can have a pink car."
Reagan: "And I will drive and you will ride in the back."

Peyton: "Mommy, what does Comet run on?"

Reagan: "When I have big arms, big legs, big shoulders, a big nose and a fat tummy, I'll be a grown-up!"

Reagan (looking at a magazine): "This is a cool picture of dirt, Mommy!"

Peyton: "Why did God make kitties so cute?"

It Finally Fell Out!

Peyton's loose tooth finally came out tonight as he and Daddy were brushing his teeth before bedtime.  Dustin heard it hit the marble and, for a moment, was afraid it fell down the drain!  Fortunately, it fell on to the counter top, not in the sink!  Peyton's pretty excited that it's finally out, and he's relieved that it didn't really hurt.   He said it didn't bleed too much and that he didn't taste the blood.  He keeps sticking his tongue out through the hole that is left!

 Peyton was excited to get to use his tooth pillow from Granmommy for the very first time tonight!  And, in case you are wondering, the tooth fairy will be leaving $1 and a Chuck-E-Cheese coupon for 10 tokens (when asked if he'd rather have money or Chuck-E-Cheese tokens, Peyton requested the later!)

Reagan Loves Chocolate!

Peyton's First Elementary Field Day

Specht's Kindergartners and First Graders were supposed to have Field Day last Thursday.  Unfortunately, this is what it looked like outside over the "field" as Field Day was supposed begin.

Since San Antonio was already in Stage 2 drought restrictions, none of the adults were really complaining!  All of the games were moved into the gym.  

After about an hour of 220 Kindergartners, First Graders and adults squeezed into the gym, mass confusion, and kids screaming from excitement and fear of the storm, Field Day for K and 1st was cancelled!  I think Peyton's class actually got to do three games!  So much for his Kindergarten Field Day!  But thank goodness for the rain!

Mother's Day 2011

We had a wonderful Mother's Day - the celebrating actually started a few days before, as the kids brought home gifts from school.  Reagan made a butterfly magnet in her class.  Her teacher also did a Mommy interview with each child.  This is how Reagan's went (Reagan's answers in italics):

My Mother's name is LeNan. (Reagan really did get it right!)

My Mother is 16 years old, has green eyes and pretty black hair.

My Mother's favorite food to eat is spaghetti.

My Mother's favorite color is purple.

My Mother loves to get clothes on. (Did she mean get new clothes on - as in shopping for new clothes?! 'Cuz I do love to do that!)

My Mother is so special to me because she hops around.

Something special I could do for my Mother is help her cross the street. (Something I sure she will be having to do in about 60 years!)

Peyton brought his gift home on Friday.  He teacher had each student dictate their favorite recipe to her.  She typed them up and made a "Class Recipe Book".  Here is Peyton's recipe as dictated to Mrs. Hendry:

Brownies

by Peyton

My mom opens up the brownie mix box.  She gets a large bowl and puts the brownie mix in it.  Then she breaks 1 or 2 eggs in it.  She puts one-half cup of oil in it.  Then she puts a full cup or a half cup of water in it and stirs it.  She pours it into a rectangle pan and puts it in the over for about 10 minutes at about 375 degrees or 400 degrees.  The oven beeps when the brownies are done cooking.  Mom takes it out and lets it cool down for a few minutes.  Then she cuts it into pieces with a knife.  I get to eat 1 or 2 pieces.  They taste good.

Dustin and the kids gave me flowers on Friday as well - roses!  On Sunday morning, they let me sleep in (woo hoo!) and gave me cute Mother's Day cards (and a coupon for an evening off!).  Then Daddy and Reagan went to church (Daddy was teaching a Sunday School lesson) while Mommy and Peyton stayed at home to get ready for company.  Stephanie came over and she and I cooked a Mother's Day luncheon for her parents and my parents over here.  We even got out "the good China" and borrowed my Mom's silver!  We all had a really fun time!  Dustin even washed all the dishes - HAND washing and HAND drying all the China and silver!  Later that evening, Peyton came to us with big, crocodile tears falling down his cheeks.  When we asked him what was wrong, he said, "Today was so wonderful!  I just don't want it to be over!"

Sleeping in the Swing Set

Peyton's reward for scoring four goals in last Saturday's soccer game was to get to sleep in the swing set all night with Daddy.  The reward actually began as a bribe prior to the game.  Peyton was promised a "treat of some kind" once he scored a total of three goals (could have been in more than one game).  He asked to sleep in the swing set (something he has asked to do before and we seemed to always have a good excuse to not do!).  So we agreed...  thinking it would probably take him most of the rest of the season to get three goals.  Boy, were WE wrong! 

But we couldn't be happier about being wrong!  So tonight, Daddy and Peyton are camped out in the swing set - complete with the mosquito net, portable DVD player and iPhone!

"Spechtacular Fine Arts Evening"

Thursday evening was the second annual "Spechtacular Fine Arts Evening" featuring Specht Elementary Students at the nearby Summit Christian Center.  Grandma and Grandpa came up to see Peyton's artwork and watch him perform.  Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Brett participated in the evening's festivities as well!  Everyone got to see a piece of artwork Peyton created this year and chose to display at this event.  (Our art teacher is amazingly talented!)  

A big attraction at The Summit is a two story carousel.  The kids rode it with Grandpa, and, of course, chose to ride on the second story horses.

The Kindergartners performed "We're Going on a Bearhunt".  When Reagan realized that Peyton was going to get to sing on stage again and that she was not, she said, "Ohhhhhh!  I NEVER get to sing on stage!" 

 The Kindergarten classes performed first, following by the remaining grade levels.  At one point near the end of the show (once most of the Kindergartners had already been picked up by parents wanting to leave early), Mrs. Hendry came back to our seats and "stole" Reagan from us to go sit with her and the remaining kids.  Reagan loved being a "big kid"!

After the performance concluded, we all headed back to our house to celebrate Daddy's birthday one more time!  At some point today, Reagan pointed to Daddy's birthday cards on the fireplace mantel and said, "I just love Daddy's birthday parties!"

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today we celebrated Daddy's 35th birthday!  We kicked off the day with a sausage roll breakfast - complete with a birthday hat and candles in Daddy's sausage roll!  We also gave Daddy his birthday cards at breakfast.  This year, for the first time, each one of us gave Daddy our own card - and we each signed our own name!

 After school and work, Daddy opened his birthday presents.  Peyton and Reagan had helped me wrap them yesterday.  Reagan CANNOT keep a secret!  Each time she handed Daddy a bag she would say, "Here you go!  It's  __________!"

 The kids gave Daddy a bag full of his favorite snacks - and they definitely had fun "helping" him go through the bag!

After presents, we took Daddy to play miniature golf.

Peyton was very persistent about hitting the ball over and over until he sunk it!  He actually had a few good putts!  However, I think Daddy's hope of Peyton ever making a professional tour faded as Peyton tripped over his own golf club!

Fishing Peyton's ball out of the water.

 The kids personalities were very apparent on the course.  Reagan was all smiles and bubbly - just out there to have fun.  If she couldn't hit the ball into the hole after a few tries, she just moved on to the next hole.  Peyton had a more serious approach.  He insisted on sinking the ball into every hole and wouldn't give up unless he made it or until we set a stroke limit.

 The "righty" showing the "lefty" how to putt.

After golfing, our next birthday destination was Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner.  Then it was on to Chili's for dessert.  In a manner of minutes, the four of us devoured a Peanut Butter Chocolate Molten Cake and a Paradise Pie Cookie!  

Happy Birthday Daddy!  We love you!