Memorial Day

I hope you were able to pause your day and in some way give honor and remembrance to those who have died for our freedom. We took Daniel to a Memorial Day service at Cave Hill cemetary. It was a good time for him to learn about the sacrifices that have been made for our freedoms.

We also planted a tomato plant. I thought this would be a good science project for Daniel this summer - to care for the plant and see how much it might grow:

And we did a little bit of swimming at the local pool. This child is an absolute fish - he loves the water!! I didn't want to put him in swimming lessons last summer and completely overwhelm him, but he is totally ready this summer. He has no fear. He approaches swimming the same way he has the rest of life - jumps right in with total enthusiasm!

On Saturday we went on a canoe trip. It was Daniel's first time in a canoe and he did great! He was a bit timid at first, but it was a beautiful day. We took a picnic, skipped rocks, splashed in the water and paddled 7 miles down the Blue River.

Kindergarten is done!!!

I am constantly marveling at this amazing boy and today is no exception. His year of kindergarten has come to a close. They had their 'graduation' today. Really it was just a small moment of being handed a certificate. That was about the extent of the graduation. But we're just so proud of him and all he has accomplished this year we could burst. It was so cute - when that curtain went up and all of the kids were there. They were all smiling and waving and we could see Daniel looking around saying 'where's mom and pop?'. When he finally saw us, he was all smiles and waving. Everyone at his school from his teacher, the assistant, the ESL teacher, the principal all just rave about what a smart boy he is. We've struggled here in the last few weeks with behavior and making good choices, but we just couldn't be prouder of this big boy....

All of the Kindergarteners (Daniel is on the back row - left side)

Getting his certificate:

With his teacher Mrs. Parr and the assistant Mrs. Stallings:


With the Principal, Mrs. Deeley:



It's been a great school year!

Winding down

We're just hanging in there - trying to survive until the end of the school year! Daniel has been on a frowny face streak since Spring Break. It is so frustrating! We talk about the rules, stand in the corner, lecture until we're blue, take away toys, write sentences, we just can't seem to straighten up and make good choices. Some days it is little things (talking in the bathroom, really?) and some days it is big things - hitting a kid, fighting the library, running out ahead of the class into the parking lot, throwing scissors - Yay! I went to the school to speak with Daniel's teacher on Friday. She said it's not just him, it's the whole school! She said they all have summer fever and are just trying to hang on until school is out (2 weeks!). She said the whole class has been bad. Well, I guess that makes us feel a little bit better.

Other than that, we have been treasure hunting, going on family bike rides, sword fighting, playing baseball, playing Uno, reading books, and just staying busy. Academically Daniel is doing so great. He is actually reading!! We're so impressed. He reads everything - books, The Bible, the newspaper, there are words he knows everywhere and we love to hear him read. It's amazing!

We have to wonder if all of the punishments don't seem to faze him because life is just simply so great! He is in a family, we have fun no matter what, he knows he is loved - what could be better? So what if we take away his toys? Life is good!!

Happy 6th Birthday

Does it feel like we've been celebrating Daniel's birthday forever? Well, we were planning to have his birthday dinner and party last Friday. Babushka and Dadushka came down from Cincinnati for the big event. And then, 15 minutes before we walked out the door to go to the restaurant he spiked a 103 temperature! After some Motrin and some time, he was OK but we cancelled the party for that night. The best laid plans, right? So we left all of the decorations up and had our make up party on Thursday. It was still great fun and we capped off the evening by popping all 50 of our balloons. We sat on them, we stomped on them. The boys loved it! And now he is six. I tried to convince him to just stay five years old, but he wouldn't go for it.

The Kentucky Derby