Awards Ceremony and Kindergarten Graduation

I am backtracking a little bit this week to catch up on some posts that I have been putting off.

Rascal graduated from kindergarten at the end of May. I wasn't a huge sobbing mess but that was due to a toddler keeping me very busy in the tiny bleachers.  Man, is it hard to do things like this with a busy toddler.  I wish I had better pictures but the bleachers were not easy to move in and out of so I couldn't get close to get better pictures.

Rascal is on the very front row in the navy and white striped polo.

Waiting for the ceremony to start

 receiving his kindergarten diploma.

Walking back after getting diploma (it's blurry)

Rascal at the reception in his classroom

Rascal had a great year. He did AWESOME on all his school work and had so much fun meeting new  friends. It was a year filled with fun parties, activities and celebrations.  I was able to help with the parties and made approximately 300 oreo truffles (per request from Rascal and his teacher) for them. I was scared to death to send him out from under my wings due to his peanut allergy but God is SO GOOD. Not only did God send us the BEST teacher, but we got to see his friends rally together to help keep Rascal safe from what they called "evil peanuts". We are so proud of Rascal and all that he has accomplished this year. He is officially a first grader now :) !

The day after Kindergarten graduation we were back at the school for Scooter's 3rd grade awards ceremony. Now let me just say... that only a handful of students get awards for each class so I am so proud that Scooter was one of them.

Here is a picture (above) of him receiving his citizenship award, sorry it's blurry.

Here he is standing with the others from his class that got awards.

It makes me so proud that he has been chosen the past two years for the citizenship award. He is such a great kid and definitely deserves that award! This was a VERY tough year for him (and me) and there were so many times I told him to take the "high road" and it would pay off eventually. This was the pay off in our opinion. His teacher had some wonderful things to say about him not just to me but to the entire audience before she announced his name for the award. She told me several times how sorry she was for the rough year (due to SEVERAL misbehaved children in the classroom) but I told her that it was all part of God's will and that God used Scooter in some way this year that we may not ever know about. It's very clear to me that he was the light that so many kids his age need to see.

And because I don't want to leave out sweet Baby A, here she is right before the awards ceremony in her cute ballerina monkey smocked dress.

This year was my first year to have two children in school. It was not easy. Every holiday party was spent going back and forth across the school to spend equal time with each boy at each party. I made a total of approximately 500 oreo truffles for both of the boy's classrooms and even though it was A LOT, I would do it a thousand times just to see their smiles. I feel so extremely blessed to stay at home so I can do things like make oreo truffles, go on field trips, be at parties and field days and even pick them up from school (sometimes I even surprised them and checked them out early just for fun).

Scooter and Rascal,

We couldn't be more proud of you two boys and how precious you are. Our hearts swell with pride when we see you excel in school and in life. It was SUPER hard not to stand up and yell "that's my boy" as you both walked across the gym to receive your award/ diploma. Congratulations! Once again you have made us feel so honored to be your parents and oh how we want to let everyone know just how special you are. Thank you for being you. We love every single little thing about you boys and watching you grow up is so amazing and a little bittersweet. We love you more than you could ever comprehend!  Love,

Mom and Dad