THE PARK POST

I got this outfit for Mother's Day and I decided I better document it because the older girls said I looked "really pretty."   (That doesn't happen very often)  Mike and I actually did go to a wedding reception this night.  That's about as fancy as we get. The girls got Jackson involved this week in their famous Sunday make-overs. I think he kind of enjoyed it.

Jackson made up this poem for me at school.  I had to choke back a few tears after realizing how far he has come this year and how tender his heart really is underneath his rough and tumble exterior. I'm savoring each piece of art that Sydney makes me, because I know that with each passing year they will get fewer and far between. 

It never ceases to amaze me the way little kids can find pure joy in simple things.  Sydney and Brooklyn threw themselves a picnic party and enjoyed it as much as a Disneyland ride. The cleaning up part they did not enjoy as much, however.

Last week I was asked to watch Jackson's class for an hour and a half while his teacher went to lunch with the rest of the staff.  I thought it would be fun for them to make a candy gram for her while she was gone, so I wrote out the words and they had to figure out which candy went in each slot.  After finishing the candy gram we played heads up seven up.  I was exhausted when I walked out.  I think every parent should substitute their kid's class at least once a year to fully appreciate what our elementary teachers do every day.  It is not easy work and reminded me that it takes a lot of talent to just keep the kids interested for an hour.  A big shout out to all the teachers out there!

Last year we had the "Easter melt-down" and never finished coloring eggs.  This year Sydney was determined to finish what she started and everyone cooperated pretty well.  My favorite thing we did this year was read about the last week of Christ's life everyday during our scripture time and then hang pictures of the various events from his life on the fridge. Mike and I spent the night before Easter morning in Atlanta at the Temple Open House.  We were able to serve as tour guides and take groups through the temple.  The experience was awesome! Luckily the Easter Bunny showed up that night as well to hide our eggs.  He always makes it one way or another.

At Britt David last week, the Kindergartner's had a big party celebrating them reading one million pages.  They called it the millionaire bash and treated them like millionaires for the afternoon.  They arrived in a stretch limo, walked down the red carpet and even signed autographs.  It was adorable!!