Mother's Day Tea and Mother's Day

Every kindergarten class hosts a Mother's Day Tea.  It is a really sweet time where the kids serve the mothers, perform some songs they've learned throughout the year, and give a short presentation to their mothers.  They were told they could not eat anything-that the food was for the moms- and Pierce was so nervous when I offered him food from my plate.  He kept saying, "Mrs. Booth said we couldn't."  So, I stopped asking.  Here are some pictures from the morning:

Pierce serving me food.  He was so serious about this, and it was hard to get him to smile:

 The sweet boy and me:

Pierce reading "My Mom is Special":

 

 "My mom is speciel be cos she helps wehn I am hrt."

This was on the other side of his booklet:

We had a very nice Mother's Day.  The girls gave me their gifts (Pierce gave me the booklet and a flower pot with lady bugs painted on it.  The body of the lady bugs were his thumb prints.) -a sweet hand print on a tile from Isabel and a canvas with a painted butterfly made with Madelyn's foot prints.  We went to church and my in-laws came for dinner, which JD mostly prepared.  We took some pictures after church.  The kids were somewhat cooperative.

 

Madelyn Events

 Madelyn has had a busy May with several events at school.  She was chosen to be a reader at the school's fundraiser.  Here she is getting ready to read a story authored by an older student in the school:

She did a great job and handled her nerves quite well. Here she is reading the two stories:

 The second grade class "raises" butterflies every spring.  They receive them as caterpillars and study and record their development.  After a few weeks, they emerge from their chrysalises, and they have a Butterfly Release Party.  Here are a few pictures from the party:

Getting ready for the release in her butterfly mask:

 Fly away:

 You can do it:

 

As part of the party, they give each student a character award.  Madelyn's award was for understanding:

Here's a video of her receiving the award.  She seems so shy:

Last weekend, she had her piano recital. Here she is with a friend just before the recital:

Getting ready to play:

 Playing her piece:

In March, Madelyn participated in a piano festival, where she memorized and played two different pieces.  She performed one of those pieces for the recital.  She received a "Superior" rating (the highest) for the second year in a row.  She works hard at piano, and we are glad she has been rewarded for her efforts.

Pierce's Field Trip to Hidden Pond

Pierce went on a field trip to a local park and nature center, Hidden Pond.  Here are some pictures from the trip that a fellow kindergarten parent shared with me.  It looks like he had a great time!

They're learning about frogs:

Getting ready to learn outside:

Pierce with a couple of friends:

  Okay, seriously?  Pretty brave, buddy!

AWANA Achievements

The three big kids all participated in AWANA this year.  They all worked hard memorizing scripture and references, and the end of the year achievement ceremony was last Sunday. 

Isabel completed her first year of Cubbies, and she did such a great job memorizing her verse with its reference every week. 

Getting her award:

 

Julia and I were there to cheer them on:

But, Julia needed a break:

Madelyn and Pierce were in Sparks.  Madelyn completed her third and final year of Sparks, and Pierce completed his first year:

They do love each other:

It is our hope that they will all hide God's word in their hearts so that they might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11) and that they will do their best to present themselves to God as ones approved, as workers who do not need to be ashamed and who correctly handle the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

And I would be remiss if I did not thank JD, who took the kids every week and helped in the kids' Sparks group.  I'm so proud of all of them!

Isabel needed a post

I realized that it has been way too long since I posted something about Isabel.  Isabel is our little pistol and can be so head strong but she can also be so sweet and cuddly.  I've noticed that she's starting to care more about other's feelings, and I love that that quality is developing.  Just yesterday she was with a friend and said something to the friend that hurt her feelings.  She ended up being so sad that she hurt her friend's feelings and kept saying "I'll never say that word again."  She loves school and is doing well there.  Her teacher told me at pick up last week that Isabel is such good helper, especially when things get a little crazy in the classroom.  She's finishing up her first year of AWANA and has done so well learning Bible verses, and she can explain the Gospel so well.

Today she went to a friend's birthday party, and she had such a good time!  She loves the sword that she got as a party favor.  She played with it much of the afternoon and even felt the need to threaten to remove a private part of Pierce's anatomy with it.  She lost sword privileges with that comment.  Here are a few pictures from the party: