the big 7

I'm not sure how braden convinced me that he should invite his whole class to his birthday-

the day before we had to move.

But he really lucked out- i caved since Nana and Papa were coming in to help us move.

We rented out the skate rink and had his party on the last day of school- making it 

an end of year party too.  He loved it. 

I think everyone had fun- papa busted out the skates and had some great moves. 

the biggest bummer is i forgot my camera- so phone pics are all i have.  bummer

braden and trinity

Gianna, cecilia, caroline and trinity

e going for a fast ride with troy.  not sure that she liked it!

pizza and cake

we finished with the hokey pokey- which was hilarious and so hard for the kids

the class and sibling

sami, jyn, matt, camiron, abigail, cecilia, jianna, caroline, braden, ben, trinity, laurence,

james, millie, william, samantha

2nd grade here we come

B's last day of school. 

So proud of you!!

end of first grade

The first grade had an end of the year luau  that involved volcanos

the limbo, a dance party, bowling, making lei's.  the whole works.  

broadens amazing teacher mrs eichhorn was pregnant and due the week after school got

out.  The poor thing.  So the parents chipped in and we did a baby shower basket for her.

She really was an amazing teacher taking braden from sight words to chapter books, memorizing his math facts, telling time, power point presentations the works.  I am so grateful to her.

What he won't learn for me- he does with a smile for her.  

braden and his cutest friend ever Caroline.  

they are best of friends and darling together. 

This was followed up with the first grade awards ceremony.

Braden received the most awards in his class.

he got the linx leader, art award, reading award, most improved, class leader. 

thats my little class president. 

tae kwan doooo

we had debated putting braden in a martial arts for a long time.

he is an obsessive hitter and kicker at home so we couldn't decide if it would help or hurt (us that is)

We finally gave in.  he loves it.  i am not sure that the rest of us do. it really is a bit

painful at home.  I know they aren't meant to practice it on anyone...

nice try.  but like i said.  he loves it. He started out without a belt, got his white belt, and now he is at high white.  

zoo round two

the kids were dying to head back to aloha zoo

 troy was gone for another long weekend so the kids and 

i decided to take on the zoo on our own.  We had a great time but since they had

both been there before it didn't have the same excitement.  :) 

It was still fun.

boys night

i never thought braden would actually be old enough to go to a father and sons

campout.  but here it is.  its official- he is old enough and loved it.  

troy even got to bring braden's buddy ben with him because his dad is deployed.  

this is of course the only shots troy managed to get of the whole event.  

But they did a service project- went fishing- camped out- ate junk food- stayed up late

and had a perfect night.

preschool graduate

my sweet little girl is growing up.  i can't believe she will be headed to kindergarten.

She is ready and excited.

this was her last day of preschool.  Such a grownup little girl.

With her teacher Ms. Leslie.

Graduating class

After getting their diplomas they came back out to sing for us. 

Pretty cute.  they sang this little light of mine and your a grand old flag.  

(and even crazier- when we were leaving for graduation- there was a big storm going on.  We heard a crazy explosion- turns out the house right across the street was hit by lightening.  It blew a huge hole in their roof.  We didn't realize that the lightening really hit and that close until we got home for the graduation.  Now the kids are terrified of lightening storms and tornadoes.  thank you north carolina.)