Joyland Finale!

Jack graduated from Joyland on Tuesday night.  It was really quite sweet.  Below he is pictured at the door to his school on his last day.  

 

Later that evening we went back to the church where his school meets and had an "official" ceremony.  They did several songs during the first part of the program and then they took a brief intermission to put on caps and gowns.  

Jack was the daddy duck in the song Five Little Ducks.  He has come a long way.  This is the kiddo that barely sings during any circle time.  Ms. Donna and all our story hour pals would have been floored at his performance!  He had to say, "Quack, quack, quack!" at the end and he did it quite loudly.  I was impressed. 

We had a great year at Joyland and would like to thank all the teachers!  We are excited about what the future holds for our sweet Jack!  I would like to close with one thought...how did we get here?!?  Wasn't he just born yesterday?!? 

Jack's done with training wheels!

Five on Friday

1.  Some exciting things are happening at our church.  You'll have to stay tuned for more details. 
2. My friend and I are having a children's clothing sale this week.  It is going really well.   
3.  Clayton will be leaving our beloved Rhea School this year.  He will go to Paris Elementary in the fall.  He got to go this week, tour the school and get a taste of Wacky Workout.  I think he is going to like his new school. 
4.  Lately Jack has been in a stage where he compares everything to the size of God.  This week he told Fred, "People and God are DEFINITELY bigger than mice, right dad?!?"  Deep thinker, huh?!? 
5.  Andrew has been staying in Jackson with Aunt Janice, Mun and Mimi.  I went by to see him yesterday on my way to teach at 8:15 a.m.  He had Oreo crumbs on his mouth.  To quote Aunt Janice, "He ate a good breakfast so I gave him a cookie."  Ha!!  He will be in for a rude awakening once he gets home.

Ode to a Tree

To the tree that fell on our house,
You have always been a good tree. I've enjoyed your shade from my living room windows.  You fell so gracefully, just missing our fence...actually straddling our fence.  For that I'd like to offer thanks.  I'd also like to offer thanks to you for not coming through our roof and into my youngest child's bedroom, while we all slept so soundly.  Nice job.  However, I do have a few bones to pick with you...
#1--Our roof?!?  It is only seven years old and now our insurance company will only replace the back half.  Will it match?!?  Well, according to the adjuster we just don't know.  In his words, "It'll be close."  Close?!?  I just bought that roof and it matched perfectly.  It was fine and lovely before you fell on it.  Thanks a lot.
#2--My living room?!?  I'm going to have to repaint it.  I actually like the color of my living room.  Could you not have fallen on the kitchen or master bedroom?  I've really been wanting to paint those rooms.  I'm tired of the green. Really, one of those rooms would have been better.  Which leads me to my next topic for discussion...
Suggestions to the next tree that falls on my house:
-Land on my circa 2001 desk top computer.  I'd like a new one.  And while you're at it take the printer as well.
-Don't just drip water through the ceiling, let it pour...on my living room carpet.  The carpet needs to go.
-Bust a window or two or twelve.  They are from the 1970's and gross. 
-Hit my circa 1998 television.  I think it is the only one left of its generation.  It would like to go to tv heaven with all its other family.  Put it out of its misery.
-Take out the sliding glass door in my living room.  There is no word other than "yuck" for it.
Again, thanks so much for protecting the family you so lovingly provided shade to for the past seven years.  You were one of my favorite trees.  Every time I look at the sad little stump I'll think of you.  You will be missed on Nance Circle.  Please pass on my suggestions to the next tree.
Love and many thanks,
Jennifer

Five on Friday--Fish Fry Edition

Today is The World's Biggest Fish Fry--the biggest day of the year here in good ol' Henry County! We're super-excited to have Mimi, Maw Maw, Aunt Elizabeth and our cousin Zachary up celebrating with us today. I'm sure pictures will come soon. In the meantime, here's our 5 for the day:

1. Yesterday we took the boys (along with Dan and Harrison, 2 of Clayton's buddies) to the Fish Fry Carnival. While we were there, Jack decided that he wanted to ride "Superman," a "big kid" ride that goes around and around REALLY fast. We weren't sure he could handle it, so Fred went with him. Turns out, Jack handled it just fine. Fred, however, was SUPER nauseous afterward. He must be getting old.
2.  Yesterday was the World's Biggest Reading Celebration at Clayton's school.  It was awesome!  To view pictures from the day, click here.
3.  Clayton is going to be riding his bike in the Fish Fry parade today with his triathlon club, the Paris Tri-Eiffel-etes.  He is excited!
 4.  The ride that was mentioned above...once we got home we realized Jack did not handle it as well as we thought.  We won't go in to it, but...he got really sick when we got home.
 5.  Andrew must be going through a growth spurt.  He is eating all the time.  One day this week Fred said he was going to make pancakes.  Andrew cried for a pan-pake until we put one on his plate.  (about 30 minutes total)  When we finally got him one he ate it so quickly that Fred and I literally looked around him to make sure he didn't just drop it.  He ate another one and got down.  Once he was down he grabbed one off the plate and carried it around the house, eating it like a cookie. 

Hangin out in the storm

 Monday the boys and I (plus a friend) hung out in the bathroom during the storm.  Jack did not get his shoes on, but we did have a Nerf gun, about 20 cars and a parking garage.  All is well!

Easter

We had a great weekend!  Fred had to preach twice in Paris on Good Friday so the boys and I headed to Jackson with my parents.  Saturday morning Fred arrived and we all participated in a Resurrection Run at my home church.  Clayton and I did the 5K and Jack and Fred did the 1 mile.  Clayton and I both finished 2nd in our age division.  Fred and Jack only did half of a mile (more on that later).  After the race we rested for a while and then headed back to church for a Resurrection Day family festival, but before we left Jack got sick.  Not too unusual for Jack, but sick none the less.  He came with us to the festival and eventually perked up a little, but after about 2 hours he was fading.  When we walked into dinner I could tell he wasn't doing well so I took him to my grandmother's house to rest.  Well...when I got back he was pitiful.  He had gotten sick AND he had a fever of 104.  Needless to say we ended up at Convenient Care in Jackson.  He missed Easter services at church.  Aunt Janice came to stay with Jack so the rest of us could go to church.

All of the kiddos sang and played bells as the service started.  (I could only get half of them because I had to sit on the front row.)  They were really sweet.  

 We headed to the egg hunt/gather after the service.  Clayton was on it!  He got a basket full of eggs and then some for sick Jack.  Jack was really pleased. 

Andrew, however, was a little overwhelmed by all the can-key.  He went straight for a ku-ker, stopped gathering and gave me the above pitiful face.  I opened his candy. 
After church we headed over to a friend's house for a delicious lunch!  It was a great day/weekend celebrating the resurrection of our Savior!