- End of the Year: H -

L to the O to the L that I am just now getting around to archiving end of the school year photos [literally as I'm simultaneously uploading "back to school 2022!" photos to my laptop], but always better late than never in my book!   

The long story short is: 1st grade was truly a MAGICAL year for this girl right here! From the first day to the last day, she changed and grew and blossomed sooooo so much! I'm talking huge progress here, like going from having ~50 sight words mastered at the end of kindergarten to reading full blown chapter books by herself at the end of 1st grade! Get it, girlllll! We are so proud of the "strong and courageous of heart" Bluejay that you have become! <3

A few "1st grade favorite" worksheets/homework pages I collected...

   

 

 

 

 

...["swert"/squirt, "shert"/shirt, "sgert"/skirt, and "serkis"/circus...I LOVE THEM ALL!]... 

...and a few more photos with classmates and 8th grade buddies sent via the class portal messaging system [last week of school Field Day pictured above ^^]!   

Also!  I absolutely treasure these photos of Harper reading the intro for Chapel Mass [on the 7-year anniversary of her baptism in the same beautiful place, no less!] + posing with her sisters after May Crowning.  So much beauty on so many levels here!!!

 

AND FINALLY!  The last day of school arrived! Goodbye at morning carline one last time [to Harper and our neighbor boy/carpool buddy for the year!]...

...and hellooooo, party at the park after school dismissed for the summer!

 1st grade, we will remember you SO FONDLY!!! :)

- Out of the mouth of babes: VOL XXXV -

On the way home from school:
Harper:  "Mom, why did the chicken cross the road?"
Me:  "Hmmmmm, I don't know!"
Harper:  "You have to guess!"
Me:  "To get to the other side?"
Harper:  "No!  ...To lay its eggs in its nest!"
Me:  .....

Still on the way home from school, while attempting to explain everyone's last names:
Me:  "....So if you marry _____, then your last name would be _____.  Or if you marry _____, then your last name would be _____."
Harper:  "But MOMMM, I can't marry ANY of those boys in my class!"
Me:  "Why not?!"
Harper:  "Because!  They are all my age!"
Me: "Oh... Well what's wrong with that?  You planning on marrying an older boy?!"
Harper:  "Yes.  Of course!  So then they'll be really tall and can reach high things for me."
Me:  .....

As a falcon was flying by:
"WHOA!!! MOM!  I just saw a huge bald eagle fly by the side of the house!"

While getting ready for bed:
"Mom, can you wake me up tomorrow really early before you leave for work so I can get all ready and surprise Daddy?  Because he'll be busy taking care of all the other children in the morning."

While overhearing a conversation Brian and I were having in the kitchen about someone who died:
Scarlett:  "Hawpa, what does 'passed away' mean?"
Harper:  "Like...past?  Like in the olden days and stuff?  OH, passed away.  Well, actually...'passed away' is another word for DIED, because that person they're talking about went up to Heaven and died."
Scarlett:  "Oh."

 

 

While Brian was wiring up 20 remote boxes for his fireworks show:
"When will Daddy ever take a break on the 4th of July just to watch the fireworks?"

At Scarlett's birthday as she was unboxing a shiny new [knock-off] American Girl doll:
"I want an American Girl doll like Scarlett because every time I play now I just feel like I always have to take care of littler baby dolls."

 

As Juliette was screaming her head off while we were getting gas:
"Juliette!  You just need to wait a little bit more patiently, ok?  Because we need to get gas, or else we'll have to get a tow truck to take us home!"

A few months after the Winter Olympics finished:
Harper:  "Are you going to be in the Olympics when you grow up, Scarlett?"
Scarlett:  "Yeah.  Are you?"
Harper:  "Yeah.  What are you gonna do?"
Scarlett:  "I'm gonna do 'dat ting [thing] where they go around 'da cones.  And tap dance!"
Harper:  "Oh!  That's nice!  I'm gonna do gymnastics!  I think it will be nice to win a medal for the United States."
Scarlett:  "Yeah. Pob-ee [probably] so."

While unknowingly walking into the bathroom where an unnamed family member was going #2:
Harper:  *shout yelling* "POO! IT SMELLS LIKE POOP IN HERE!"

After spending the afternoon at her friend's house:
Harper:  "Mom, what's my trouble name?"
Me:  "Your what?"
Harper:  "Like the name you're supposed to use for me when I get in trouble!"

Randomly:
"Mom, has your period ever bleeded?"

On the way home from school:
Harper:  "It was so hot at school today that my legs turned red!  .....And you're probably about to start getting sunburns!"
Me:  "Oh, yeah?  Why?"
Harper:  "Because!  You're always trying to get a suntan and instead you get a sunburn!"
Me:  .....

After passing a homeless woman and her three kids at a stoplight in town:
"Why would she stand there and ask us for food when she could just ask a farmer for one of his tomatoes or something?"

One evening as we were watching a Disney movie:
Harper:  "Ok, Juliette, let me tell you a story.  Once there was two parents who loved to look at their phones and sleep a lot."
Brian:  "That sounds like your parents!"
Harper:  "Yeah!  I'm telling her a story about you two nut jobs!"
Brian, me:  .....

- Grandparent's Day [OUR WAY!] -

Who are our very favorite people in the world?!

What's that you say?

Oh yes, GRANDPARENTS, GRANDPARENTS! 

They're always here to save the day!

Due to being on quarantine last fall during the school's Grandparent's Day celebration, Harper sadly had to miss the long-awaited day.  Then, this winter, Scarlett's preschool had to cancel their planned Grandparent's Day celebration all together due to a surge of COVID cases in the community.  Both kids were sad about missing the special events with their grammies and papas...

...so we said, "TO HECK WITH IT!" and decided to throw our own Grandparent's Day bash from home in February!  [And yes, I know it's now June...........but #life.]

Alas!  Coupon books and crafts and coasters for the grandparents abound:

We had the very best morning full of feasting and fellowship with our favorite people!  The kids were so excited to share the gifts they made and took extra special care in setting the dining room table juuuust right.

Next year's school calendar was released last month, and we have Grandparent's Day 2022 onnnnn the books! Fingers crossed that second grade/4's preschool is THE YEAR to celebrate these very special people -- in the flesh and at school -- as planned! :)

 

- May I love on MAY?! -

MAY!  The month we celebrate teachers [and Teacher Appreciation Week], nurses [and Nurse's Day], and Mary and all mothers [and Mother's Day].  <-- As if each one of those categories of fine humans don't deserve their own entire month or year of recognition, whoseeeeee idea was it to jam pack all 3 of them into the very same weekend??!  ...I digress.  

 But!  Sending all the love in the entire world to my kids' beautiful teachers...

...and a set of wonderful nurses I am blessed to work alongside... 

...and the nurse at our pediatrician's office who talks me through so many things over the phone...

...and a handful of mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and godmothers that we are SO LUCKY TO LOVE! 
{ H A P P Y   M O T H E R ' S    DAY ! ! ! }

Still May!  The month of long-awaited spring and new life and warm sunshine.  The month of graduations and goodbyes and new beginnings.

May, we're only 18 days deep into you, and you've certainly taken us for a ride around the block -- and a fast ride on two wheels with no seatbelts, at that!  So much to celebrate!  So much to still look forward to! 

Spring is here...

...summer is on the way...

...and the best is yet to come!  

I can't wait! 

 

- A Most EGG-cellent Easter -

Scarlett, on Palm Sunday, as Harper was studying/reciting the Stations of the Cross in anticipation of her test at school: "WAIT. A. MINUTE. ..........  Jesus DIIIIIIED????!!!"

And that is how we kicked off Holy Week 2022 at the Fleming abode!  After we picked her jaw up off the floor, I had to briefly stop and wonder where I've failed as a Christian mother... But!  All in all, I have to admit that I truly am so proud of the way both Harper and Scarlett have really taken an interest in learning about the foundations of our religion this year, and watching them begin to unbag all that Holy Week is was really something beautiful!  We're still trying to explain to Scarlett how "Jesus died but rises at Easter EVERY YEAR," but maybe that concept will come in time. ;) :) While we obviously continue the conversations at home, I have to give a huge shout out to the parish school for really getting the ball rolling!  We are so pleased with all that the girls are learning this Easter season in both regular academics and religion!

 

^^ Scarlett, pointing to second row, first egg:  "And dere's [there's] 'da cross 'dat Jesus was STUCK on." ...

After a short week [Monday/Tuesday] at school, Easter break commenced! On Saturday, we participated in the Children's Museum Egg-stravaganza, and the girls loved going to 12 different businesses around town to collect eggs and participate in games, win prizes, etc. We even got to meet the Easter Bunny at the last stop.  And!  The girls were interviewed by a news reporter and made the front page of the local newspaper! #claimtofame

 

After the egg hunt around town, we hit the road for Easter lunch with Brian's family...

...and then hit the road again for dinner with my mom's side of the family [where we also got to meet/snuggle the newest member of the family!]!  Harper was sure to leave a note for E.B. before we rolled out...

After the party wrapped up, we loaded up the van to head back to Grammy and Papa's to spend the night.  All fingers and toes were crossed that the Easter Bunny would find us at our new location...

...and he DID!  We heard Sarge barking loudly around 3am, and the kids are thinking he must've woken up and seen E.B. hopping away into the darkness.  When the sun rose, everyone was thrilled with their loots!

We hunted eggs and cleaned out the Easter baskets and sorted candies until it was time to skip off to Easter Sunday Mass...

...and then turned around and came BACK to Grammy and Papa's for a delicious lunch and another egg hunt.  

The kids were off school on Easter Monday, but Brian and I were back to work.  You know, I think our employers need to build in some PTO days next year for all of us adults who actually need a breather/recovery time after an eventful holiday weekend, haha! 

I hope you all had a blessed and joyful Easter with your families!   

Alleluia...HE IS RISEN, just as He said!!!