- Scarlett's Pre-K Graudation -

Very veryyyy opposite from Harper's preschool graduation on our front porch in May 2020 during the "laxed lock-down phase" of COVID, Scarlett and her preschool classmates got to experience the full shebang!  Luckily for the mommas, there was graduation practice/dress rehearsal that morning; hearing a run through of all of the songs allowed us to get [almost] all of our tears out during practice so as not to embarrass ourselves with the dreaded ugly cry during the evening program! [Thanks, Mr. Hentz, for bringing the box of tissues to our rescue!]

At 6:00pm sharp, the spring program and graduation ceremony began! The 4-year-old preschool class sang a few songs [link here!] before pausing to change into their caps and gowns...

...and then marched into [a very emotional] Pomp and Circumstance to present themselves as the St. Boniface Preschool Class of 2023!  *heart-eye emojis*

When Scarlett was awarded her diploma, her teacher asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up, to which she immediately replied, "A NURSE!" The crowd roared and cheered as her momma teared up only a tiny bit! ;) :)

Congratulations, Scarlett!!! We are proud of you!

Thank you SO MUCH to the best preschool teachers in the world!  Mrs. Burns and Ms. Emily: you made this year absolutely incredible. We were in awe of the ways that Scarlett grew and blossomed this year!

When we got home from the graduation ceremony, Scarlett sat us all down on the couch to show us her gifts from Mrs. Burns and Ms. Emily, which included this adorable memory book: 

What a wonderful year it's been!  Just as one of their songs during the program said, they're "movin' UP! ...to kindergarrrrr-ten!"  It's hard to believe that it's already time for this amazing group of Little Jays to fly the nest!

Congratulations, class of 2023!!! YOU DID IT! 

[Scarlett's video here!]

 

- Congrats to the GRAD! -

.....DRUMROLL.....

We have a preschool graduate in 'da HOWSE!  

Yayayayayay, Harper!
 
In lieu of the official graduation ceremony that was supposed to take place last Tuesday evening at the school, Harper's teachers came to each student's house individually last week to present the diplomas!  I've said it once, but I must say it again:  no matter what curveball COVID threw at the school this year, the teachers swung back and knocked it out of the park every time!  I am sooo impressed and in total awe of the teachers [and administrators] and their dedication to the students through it all!  The preschool teachers especially have both been so steadfast and ever present to Harper [and all of us, really!] over the past few months, and I hope they know how loved and appreciated they are.  This "Graduation in a Bag" porch visit thing they planned was just the cherry on top!  

On "graduation day," Harper woke up very excited!  After breakfast, she put her favorite dress on then came to my bathroom for makeup and hair. :)

 We finished teacher treats and cards just in time...
...because pretty soon after that, Ms. Leah and Ms. Nicole arrived to our home!  They brought two custom cookies for Harper along with the sweetest memory book and Harper's portfolio of schoolwork...and OF COURSE, the long-awaited graduation gown and cap!  *cue the Pomp and Circumstance*
I held it together perfectly during the actual "graduation" on the porch, but putting the video together later on was another story!  Hellooooo, ocean of waterworks!  I've never been a crier, but I guess motherhood has turned me into a sap... We are soooo proud of this little human and all she's accomplished!

After a lot of talking, a couple hugs, and a few pictures...

 ...Ms. Leah and Ms. Nicole left, and we headed inside to look through the memory bag and also give Harper our gift.

Cheers to our grad!  

Harper decided she'd like to have Lion's Choice for her celebratory dinner, and she fell asleep in the car on the way to pick up the food! What an eventful and exhausting day!

 The next day, we went to take a few photos with Maggie in her front yard...

...and also to drop off a little gift for one of our favorite babysitters who graduated from 8th grade this year!  Congrats, Grace!  We are so proud of you, and Harper thought it was pretty special that you girls had "matching" caps and gowns! :D

Over the weekend, we continued the celebration with some very special Grammys and Papas who we haven't been able to hang out with for WAY too long!!! It was so great to see everyone, and Harper was extra proud to show off her garb to all of you.

 Annnnnnd justlikethat, preschool is over!  Onnnnn to kindergarten!

Congratulations, Harper!!! We are so proud of you and all of your classmates!  The future is yours! :-*

- COVID Diaries: Week 10 -

[In my best Alice Cooper shout/scream...]  SCHOOOOOOOOL'S OUT! FOR! SUMMER!

Done done donezooooo.

We kind of "let loose" with our routines this week and really settled into the ultra relaxed schedule that will be summer break.  Add a little quarantine into the recipe, and we're over here like:

Many of the details of last week have already slipped my mind, but the photos prove that we syringe fed our ants on Saturday afternoon...

...and also took baths and probably had some sort of family movie night on Saturday evening!

Sunday [all] morning was for wearing PJs and sipping coffee and giving manicures!  We've used these nail stickers from Wal-Mart a few times, and the kids love them.  #weekendvibes #girlmom #nailart

The entire weekend was chilly and rainy, but chicken and broccoli casserole with rice and banana nut muffins really hit the spot! Yummmm to one of our family favorites! :)

Monday evening was Rozalyn's 5th birthday parade and garage party!  Happy birthday, sweet girl! 

Made official on Tuesday at 2:00pm: we have a preschool grad in 'da howseeeee!  We are so proud of Harper and all she's accomplished this year!  Congrats to our very favorite Little Jay!  [More to come on this in another post...but for now...check out the video here!]

On Wednesday evening, Dana and I talked Brian into getting a mop buzz in her yard!  While I finished up scissor cutting the top of his hair in our master bathroom, the kids stayed occupied in the living room with a movie and popcorn!

Thursday was a full day at the hospital for me...

 

...and Friday was a full day of fun for all!  We hit up the bicycle shop in town to [finally!] buy Scarlett a helmet.  The store wasn't open for browsing, but there was a worker manning a card table outside and she happily brought toddler helmets outside for Sissy to try on. 

The choices were yellow with lightening bolts, lime green with monsters, or neon blue with planets and stars; Scarlett chose yellow without hesitation!  I think it's pretty fitting, too, because as soon as we got home she was off like a lightening bolt and she's been making laps around the subdivision on her balance bike ever since!  If you see a bright yellow streak buzzing through the subdivision, it juuuuust might be Scarlett! ;) :)

Cheers to the weekend!