Anything you can do...

Anything you can do I can do better...

I can do anything better than you...

No you can't, yes I can...

No you can't, yes I can...

I'm not sure how excited my boys are that school's out, seeing as how some child labor laws might have been in question when their daddy put them to work on Friday laying sod in the backyard.

They worked steadily all day long...

but they got it done...

Rest assured we didn't work them all weekend long...

There was still plenty of time for all the fun stuff.  Thanks for checking in on us.

Welcome Back Summer

Hello old friend, so good so see you again.  No matter what the weatherman says, when the kids get out of school it's officially summer.  We're done here...how do I know? Well, water balloon fights have taken the place of math homework and hanging out at friends houses has taken the place of writing vocabulary sentences and staying up late has taken the place of early bedtimes which were all too often accompanied by weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.


Welcome back mornings with no particular place to go and eating breakfast so late that we might as well call it lunch (not that we have ever really done that, wink wink).  Come on in and stay awhile pool days that wear my kids slap out to the point where they don't have the strength to aggravate each other around the clock.  Nice to see ya movie nights where we stay up way later than we should and then sleep until...well, until we find ourselves eating breakfast so late that we should just call it lunch (again...not that I would ever really do that).


I've missed the smell of sunscreen, freshly cut grass, warm southern summer nights and dinner cooking on the grill. I've missed SK's sweet sun dresses and her chubby little bare feet.  We're looking forward to gatherings with family and friends, lake trips and some stress free, laid back summer days.  


Now please children don't make me change my opinion of summer by forcing me to endure things like..."Mama, make him stop" and "Mama,______ won't listen/share/play with me" and my personal favorite "Mama, I'm bored."  It's things like that that are going to cause the weeping, the wailing and the gnashing of teeth (mainly by me) and I'm afraid that won't go well with you, dear ones.


Here's to a happy summer, glad you're back!!   

For the Last Time

For the last nine years one or two of my children have been attending the preschool program at our church.  It started with Cooper then Jacob and has now come to an end with Grey's graduation from 4K.  

  

Grey and Mrs. Diane...

Grey started preschool when Sophie Kate was born.  None of the other boys went to preschool before they were 3, but circumstances dictated otherwise for our youngest son, who was only 17 months old when his sister was born.  I tried to squeeze in all of SK's appointments while the boys were in school so that I could be there for them when they all came home.  I hated it, I was torn up having to leave him.  Grey soared and thrived though, he loved school and never cried when I dropped him off.  Thanks G, you made and extremely difficult time easier b/c of your laid back, easy going attitude.

Jacob's graduation, May 2008

Each one of the boys has spent anywhere from 2-3 years there learning colors, shapes, numbers and letters as well as forming first friendships that have stayed with them through their early school years.  They learned to write their names and  I loved when they would come home singing silly songs that they had learned at "school."

  

These two have been friends since they met in 3K...they're 10 now, yikes!


This fall all four of my kids will be at the same school for one year. I will have a 5th grader, a 3rd grader, one in Kindergarten and one in 3K.  I hope the walls can withstand the onslaught and that the teachers are left with their sanity intact (for the most part).  All of the McManic kids are headed to Paine in August, hope y'all can handle it!    


Thanks for checking in on us.

Shifting Gears

Grey playing catcher.  That is some stance right there, no doubt dude is headed to the majors.

Sophie Kate watching ball games from her favorite spot at the ball park, her backpack carrier.

There's no place like home...

Grey with his buddy Riggs...

Our end of the season Pirates party...

They are so cute, although they would sooo not like me saying that about them.

 So proud of his trophy

So proud of his boy

Does it get any better than coaching your son in little league baseball?  I wouldn't know cause I'm a girl, but from the looks on their faces, it seems to be pretty good stuff.  

 One, Two, Three...

Pirates!!!

Now that baseball is officially over, our focus is shifting from running crazy to games and practices to a slower pace and lazy pool days.

Remember this gem from last summer...

Can't Wait!!

Thanks for checking in on us.

Keepin' it Real

In two weeks we will have completed 4th grade, 2nd grade, 4K, and the first year of preschool.  It is entirely possible that I am happier than the kids that there are only 10 days of school left, you know my love for all things unscheduled.  As a side note I wasn't always like that, I think all of SK's doctor and therapy appointments have turned me against a life of schedules, I like to "buck the system" like that.


There actually might be one of us that actually misses school and I really can't blame her.  Sophie Kate's class is one of a kind and she will miss the interaction with her friends desperately over the summer.  I have some pictures to share from Sophie Kate's first egg hunt with her class.  I know I am a few weeks late on these but I just couldn't let them go without sharing the love first.

    

Why so many pictures of SK's class?

Because I love her expression, each one is different, each one genuine...

Grey tagged along to help SK hunt eggs...

SK with her teacher...

Her teachers have such a calling on their lives for these children.  I was recently informed that SK could attend her class 3 days a week next year (she currently attends 2 days a week).  Well actually her teacher said "We would like to offer y'all 3 days a week next year, if y'all would let us have her." No wonder SK loves her class so much, she feels loved and accepted there.  It has never been about duty or requirement for them, she is wanted, cared for and included.  It has been a great first year for our girl.  I know I have said it before, but this class is such a blessing to us. 


Nothing new to report with SK's hip, no decisions have been made mainly b/c I am dreading the whole thing.  It's just been clouding everything lately, I've been more weepy, more sad.  I don't want to make this decision, I don't want to have to deal with this at all.  Certainly the upside is that Sophie Kate does not appear to be in any pain at this point, which makes it even harder to choose something (like surgery) which will undoubtedly cause her pain. 

Oh my do we need some clarity, I feel like it's the only thing I can think about and the only thing I don't want to think about.  I realize that makes absolutely no sense.  It's a fine line I am walking right now between prayer and just flat out worry.  If I'm honest, I'm probably walking a little closer with the worry right now.


Just keepin' it real, thanks for your continued prayers. 

The Boardwalk Trail

The past couple of weeks have caused me to get off track in the telling of our Desoto Park adventure on Good Friday.  I know I left you hangin' a couple of posts ago and I definitely want to do that fun day justice. 

On the suggestion of a friend we were told not to miss the Boardwalk Trail b/c it was wheelchair accessible.  Ok, I'll be honest I was thinking, it will probably be boring and the boys will be begging us to go and do something fun in no less than 5 minutes.  Wrong...this is what we found at the end of the trail...

Well, let me start at the the beginning...

This is what the trail looks like, it is totally wheelchair accessible.  We could all go together, no one had to be left behind.  This trail was the vision of a former superintendent of the park to allow people of all abilities access to the beautiful surroundings of this park.  It was wonderful and was so enjoyed by our family.  So now that I have showed you the end and the beginning, I'll show you the middle cause that was where all the fun was.

Cooper helping Grey until he got used to things...

The sun was coming and going that day, it was perfect weather and our girl was so content to be keeping up with the brothers.

Is it cold G?

Because these two don't seem to mind...

 

One of my favorites, it totally captures the spirit of our little Grey...

My favorite of Miss Sassy...

Here's one I took on the way home.  I think we'll call this one a success...

The only reason Cooper is cut out of this picture is because he was sleeping with his mouth wide open.  I just couldn't do that to him, but trust me when I say he was out of it as well.


What a blessing a day away can be especially the hour and a half drive back home in silence, ha ha.


Thanks for checking in on us.