We Have Moths!

All 7 of the moths that made it to the cocoon stage have now come out of them and are pretty white moths. It was really interesting when they started to "mate". Lots of questions. Which we were prepared for with good answers! Now they are laying eggs and soon will be with us no longer... This was a fun, interesting experience. It gave us lots of chances to look things up on the computer and to write and draw the cycle. Will I do it again...not anytime soon!

Summer Lovin'

Our trees have become so overgrown that our poor yard was suffering! So we spent this whole Saturday morning cutting, chopping, and dragging tree limbs to the curb. We all five love spending time outdoors so it wasn't too much of a stretch to ask them to help outside. Our curb is completely full, no room for anymore. And it is piled high. Thanks to the kids who drug most of it. Now my flowers and my grass and my flower beds can get some sunlight and will perk up.

We weren't all work and no play. We worked from 9 to about 2, ate a quick sandwich and then let the kids run around in the backyard in new swimsuits and play in the sprinkler. They love to get on the trampoline with the sprinkler coming up under it and jump.

Summer lovin' had me a blast...

Memorial Weekend

This year for Memorial Weekend we had NO sports events in our family so we took full advantage and had a family cookout. Jack and Bailey had gone to Oklahoma with Memaw and G-Dad for a French family reunion so we only had Connor for Saturday and Sunday. It was way too quiet! Connor had a fun birthday party for his best buddy Tedy on Saturday and Sunday we just let him play outside alot. On Monday the kids came back and we had Mimi and Papa and Aunt Tammy and Chris and Larry and Joy and Gretchen over to cook out burgers. After a yummy lunch, several of us headed up to Allen Outlet Mall to fight the crowd for a few things. After that we headed home and played a game called "Washers" that Chris had brought for the kids to play. We had so much fun that we played it out front for hours. Of course, we had to have some more watermelon to help us play better!

Ist Grade at the Dallas Zoo

Last week I got to go on a field trip to the Dallas Zoo with 1st grade. I didn't have to ride on the bus, Oh Drat!!! I got to ride with a mom of a boy in Bailey's class, and it was fun to get to know her better. Mrs. Collins class had so many parent volunteers that the groups were really small. I only had Bailey, her best buddy Isabella and another little friend. It was such a fun, easy going day with these three girls. We saw what we could see and didn't rush around trying to see everything. The penguins were being fed while we were watching them and they were so cute. They would swim right up to the glass and show off for the kids.

We made it to the new Ghost of the Bayou exhibit and it was worth it! The albino alligators are really spooky looking. Outside of the Reptile House we met up with two other friends and took some pictures.

These girls were all about posing!

Well, here we are at the end of another year. I can't believe my little girl is so grown up. She is more than ready for 2nd grade. I just hope that mommy is ready!

Flashback to the 80's

In Richardson we have a fun festival every spring called the Wild Flower Festival. It a fun weekend of concerts, food and booths set up in Richardson. We have been several times in the past. One year Greg surprised me with a trip to the festival to see Rick Springfield. Well, he was back this year and we decided to take Jack and Bailey to see him. Here is the flashback part... Rick Springfield was my very first concert in the early 80's. I loved his songs and watched him on General Hospital. A really good older friend took me because I wasn't even old enough to drive. Well, we loved the concert and now he was going to be my kids first concert too. Ok, this guy is 60 years old! He can still rock with the best of them. He was all over the stage. The kids loved the whole experience of a concert. They could even sing along with several of his 80's songs. Of course their favorite was Jessies Girl!

At one point, a girl climbed onto a guys shoulders and raised her tank top over her well endowed chest and flashed Rick. Jack's eyes got huge! Greg covered his eyes immediately. Security took care of her!

Our little flashback to the 80's was well worth it! I had the most fun watching my kids rock out to Rick Springfield.

Fish Dish

One of my favorite Mother's Day gifts was this cute homemade fish dish that Bailey made in Art at school. Jack made me one too, but his got put into the display case at school and he didn't get to give it to me for Mother's Day. They worked so hard to make them perfect for me and were so proud of them. I think I'll use one of them in the kitchen for my sponge to sit on. Thanks Bailey and Jack!

End of Year Preschool Program

Last week Connor had his end of year program at Sunshine School. The theme was "Camping" and the kids all wore their Sunshine school shirts and shorts and the teachers wore these camo t-shirts with camp counselor on them. My kids thought it was funny that mommy had on camo and not daddy for once!

After a cute program of camping and Spanish songs we went to Connor's room to see his work and then to have yummy ice cream sundaes!

This has been a wonderful year for Connor. He loves his teacher, Mrs. Laura, and his sweet friends. He will miss them all this summer and can't wait to go back to school in the fall.

We Have Silk!

The silkworms have begun to spin their silk. Now, they will try to climb the tub to get into a good position to spin into their cocoons.

Every morning the first thing Connor asks me is if the "wormies" need leaves. Then he asks to see how much poopie they left overnight. It has been an interesting experience for all of us!

Next, I'll get pictures of the cocoons!

Our Silkworms

We inherited silkworms from Connor's Enrichment teacher at Sunshine School! She told me Connor loved them and we should take some home to watch. Well, I did and we are enjoying watching them grow and grow and grow! They only eat mulberry leaves and we are raiding a neighbors tree daily to keep up with their feeding habits. They started out smaller than our fingernail and have more then tripled in size in a week! You can actually hear them crunching on the leaves while they eat.

When they get large enough they will spin themselves into a silky cocoon and I'll post pics then!

From what I remember of them from teaching 1st grade, I need to make sure closer to spinning time that the box is covered or they will climb my wall to spin!!!

Connor's Neigh Neigh Party

Connor has always loved horses. He yells neigh, neigh every time he sees one and loves to feed the horses at Memaw's carrots. So, when we began to talk about him turning 3 I asked him what kind of party he wanted. Thinking he would say something like Backyardigans or Superheroes, but no, he said from the beginning he wanted a neigh, neigh party. I started looking online for horse barns that hosted parties and found a great one, but it cost a great price too! So, back to the computer. After searching for a while I happened onto this site called Dallas Pony and I knew it was exactly what I had been looking for. They bring a pony, catered to your party, for the kids to ride. We rented Prince for an hour and they actually put blue glitter in his tail and mane and painted his hooves blue with glitter too! Everyone loved riding Prince, especially my two older kids who wanted to ride every time! We invited Connor's preschool class and a few other friends from church and had a wonderful Cowboy party in Mimi and Papa's backyard. It was a perfect day and a perfect setting. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect party for my special 3 year old.

Words can not express how truly blessed we feel each and everyday by this miracle that God gave us. We love you Connor Reid!

We are so Blessed!

This is not Connor's birthday blog, that will come later. First, I need to praise God and count my blessings as Spring begins! Two years ago we found out our sweet baby had this really random, scary illness. We didn't understand it because he seemed so healthy and happy and it hit him like a ton of bricks! After being in and out of the hospital with him having everything from pneumonia several times to lung infections and ear infections and being severely dehydrated from stomach flu we have made it this whole winter without one trip to the ER or hospital!!! His white blood counts have maintained a "good" level all winter and he was able to fight off several colds that last year turned to pneumonia overnight. We go to the Oncologist next Wednesday and we will know how his blood counts are then.

So, as Spring begins and as Connor turns 3 we are praising God and counting our blessings at our home!

The Aggie Experience

We packed up and headed to College Station this last weekend. Well, all but Connor, we left him here with his Aunt G to have his own fun. We were going to a Veterinarian Dinner and Fund Raiser/Auction. Since we were going this weekend I got online and looked for sports events to take the kids to. Instead I found a FREE Football camp for Jack. The boys got to watch the Aggie Football team hold their spring Offense/Defense game then they toured the facilities and received a whoop towel. After that they got to run onto the field through the end zone with the band playing. All the players slapped their hands as they ran onto the field. It was truly an amazing experience.

Then the players and position coaches ran the boys through drills. He had a great time tackling the players.

He got to catch some balls too. It was obviously just as much fun for the Aggie players as for the kids! We will definitely try to go again next year.

We also walked around a bit and took some pictures with the 12th man.

And saw where all the Reveille's are buried.

Sunday Papa took us to the Vet school for a quick visit. Our Bailey says that she really wants to go to A&M and be a vet someday. We love to hear her say,"It is so... good to be back in Aggieland!" Maybe someday...

Rock 'N Roll Dude

Today was 50's day at Preschool. Connor wore his best Fonzie outfit. Isn't he cute?

More Surprises!

Friday's surprise was a trip to Dallas Blooms with Mimi. The flowers were amazing this year and they have these cute Storybook houses set up all over the arboretum for the kids to walk through or just hang out in. Each house is based on a famous storybook. It was lots of fun to tour these houses as well as see all the beautiful blooming flowers. It made me antsy to go out and buy flowers for our flower beds. I think our favorite houses were Alice in Wonderland, The Jolly Roger and The Lorax. Here are a few of my favs from this years trip. Each kid wanted to take some pictures also and I let them. It kept them happier and I got more pictures of them by letting them take some too! This one Bailey took right at the end of our trip. These tulips were so bright and beautiful.

This was Jack's favorite he took. He has always liked cactus. I love bluebonnets. He did a really good job.

This walking away pose was Bailey's idea. Just wish there were more flowers in this section.

This believe it or not, was Connor's picture! He needed my help only to find where to push the button!

I like this one the best, I loved the orange tulips, they were spectacular.

Bailey took this one too. I think my kids might be good photographers!

And yes, Connor is bald! You would think after so many boys haircuts that I would know not to ask for a 1 1/2 and 2 inch blade at this time of year. She actually only used the 1 1/2 and it is short!
All in all it was a nice relaxing Spring Break! Now we jump into the rest of school. It is so busy from now on, it was nice to rest a little this week.

Spring Break Surprises!

This year for Spring Break all kids were out at the same time so I planned a few surprises for us! Last Saturday we met Memaw and G-Dad in Greenville and dropped off the older two kids for a few days of fun on the farm. We also let Aunt G. take Connor home with her and mommy and daddy had a little Spring Break for ourselves! We took in a fun Clint Eastwood movie and dinner. Wednesday afternoon Aunt Stephanie traded her kids for mine and delivered them to me in a McDonald's parking lot. From there our adventures began. I took them to see Race to Witch Mountain. An awesome movie, all three kids were mesmerized. And I like looking at The Rock!
The next morning we packed a lunch and headed to the Dallas Zoo. Yes, we go there a lot. Not much of a surprise, but the zoo had gotten several new animals this month. A new cheetah family, two new giraffes, a new baby monkey, and two new albino alligators. Here are a few of our favorite pictures from our Zoo day.