Ending a Great Preschool Year!

Wow, we're already one week into summer break!  Everyone has survived  :) Gia spent the last week with us here, making the transition a smooth (and busy) one. 

As I frequently say, we just love our little preschool.  I joined the board this year, and have enjoyed getting to know more of the teachers and staff, too.  It's a wonderful program!

First, their last day of school pictures.  So much growth from last August (comparison pics here!)

The kids enjoyed a water day to end the year.  Maryn liked to sit with her Mama and little friend while watching from the shade, as JB and some of his friends ran hard for a solid two hours before diving into the pizza.

The evening the kids had a year end program, and Gia got to join us!  We were so impressed by the songs, scriptures, handbells, and the PreK 4 class telling the Gospel story.  Quite an accomplishment. JB received a perfect attendance award, as well as a "great attitude" award from his teachers, too.

Ms. Stacey and Ms Shirley have been a dream team for JB this year. He has learned and grown a tremendous amount, and he is so ready for Kindergarten.

Miss M gave quite the performance when her PreK 2 class entered the stage.  What a difference this year has made.  I remember in the Thanksgiving and Christmas performances she shyly hung her head and didn't make one peep. Fast forward to the Grandparent, Mother's Day and Year End shows, and she sang louder than most anyone on stage! 

These two ladies, Ms Angel and Ms Heather, have the sweetest, most patient personalities.  I told them to please stay put in PreK 2 until Wesley gets there in 2020!

Speaking of Wesley, he absolutely adored watching his siblings.  He would yell "Bubbies! Sissy!" from the pews.  I took him out between performance so we wouldn't disturb the other families. 

he found a bug to watch...

After a wonderful performance, Gia and I took the kids out to eat at a "fancier" place.  Disaster. Complete disaster.  :) 

But, as this year has shown me, the kiddos are growing up so fast that I need to cherish the toddler times (even the challenging ones).  They're not going to last much longer!

 

Wesley Robert - 20 Months Old!

Oh this little blondie of ours.  He's just the cutest little thing.  I could eat him up, but only if Wesley would sit still long enough for me to catch him. He's a busy little thing.

Let's see, what to report on 20 months.  I've been capturing a few things along the way that I want to remember about our "baby" at this stage:

• Wesley could swing for hours. As long as someone is actively pushing him in the swing, he's a happy camper.

• He also entertains himself quite well with a car or truck to push around, the little lawnmower that he swiped from our neighbors, books, etc.  People frequently compliment us on how well he plays.  As I always say, I never know if it's just "third child" or "Wes", but he's very content being a busy little bee by himself.

• Speaking of trucks, Wesley is obsessed. Along with truck books, he also loves his truck toys and wearing clothes with a truck, airplane or boat on them. 
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• He would eat yogurt all day long. Right now we limit him to 2-3 containers a day. He must have billions upon billions of probiotics in his tummy.

• This month I just offered him a sippy cup of cold milk in the morning, instead of a bottle of milk of warm milk, and he took it happily.  End story.  As Ina says, "how easy was that?"

• The paci, however, will be with us for a while longer. :)  

• Wesley still loves food and has the best appetite and palette of the whole group.  But, if we're approaching a mealtime and he doesn't see food, he will get quite upset. He screeches "Eat eat!!! Eat eat!!!" when he's hungry. 

• He also asks to "dip dip" all his food. We have to give him ranch dressing, ketchup, or maple syrup - though I don't really think he likes the dip as much as the act of dipping. 

• He loves to read books, but only if he picks the book and only if we read the book at least 7-10 times in one sitting. For some books (like the Let's Talk About Trucks book) he only wants you to read one particular page (the garbage truck page).  We will seriously read one page of one book for 10 minutes, and he'll still cry when we put the book up. 

• He's also not wanting to cuddle as much as night.  (Makes me so sad!!)  

• Wesley loves to pretend he's sleeping. Sometimes when you get him out of his carseat, he squeezes his little eyes shut while grinning widely.  When you say "is Wesley asleep??" he laughs uncontrollably.  He'll walk up to you, squeeze his eyes, and wait for you to say "oh no, Wesley fell asleep!" It's the funniest thing!  

We're hearing more words, seeing more preferences and personality, and watching him get bigger, stronger and more adventurous every day.  We love this little guy!  Still can't believe he's truckin' towards two...

I caught these pictures of him at the beach last weekend. Grammy brought us red noses for Red Nose Day, and he loved it!

Another Great Trip to Tybee Island!

We love Tybee Island, GA, particularly since it's only 2 hours from our house.  Such an easy, short drive to a pretty good beach. It's not the biggest town, and (my opinion) lacks in good restaurants.  BUT, for the kiddos, it's perfect.

We took our first trip to Tybee last May with our Gia, and had an absolutely fantastic time with the small exception that we missed the Beach Bum Parade that Friday night.  (This is an annual event that kicks off the summer, and is advertised as the world's largest water gun fight.)  JB was devastated and has talked about his disappointment for an entire year.  He sadly told me in March "I know sometimes bad things happen in life and we have to get over it, but I'm still sad that we missed that parade."  That night James booked a condo for us - I can't take those puppy dog eyes!  :)

For this trip, Grammy and Gran Gran flew over from Texas - surprising the kids who had NO IDEA!  JB said "Guys, I am IN SHOCK" when he saw them. Such a wonderful surprise.

Since we arrived Thursday evening, I told the kids we could see the beach but would not get in the water. That lasted about 5 seconds until they were soaked.

Although Wesley went to the beach twice last year, he had much more awareness of the surf and sand this year.  And he did not like it.  I give him another 2 years before he's in the waves with his siblings.

would NOT put those feet down!

Even at dinner we had to watch those (2 older) stinkers, who kept tiptoeing back into the sand and asking to return to the beach.

Friday morning we explored the Tybee Lighthouse and Museum. We walked up the 174 stairs to enjoy the views from the top.  JB let us know quickly that he "has a fear of heights" (which I never knew), but he put on a brave face the whole way up.

Showing off her commemorative penny :)

For lunch we fell into a tourist trap that had decent food (again, I'm being snobby here about the local food.) The kids ate shrimp while Wesley got every last kernel off of a corn cob. After feeding ourselves, we fed the alligators - who were so stuffed that we had to force them to take our treats.

Still got that corn!

That afternoon we spent a lot of time on the beach, this time in swimsuits so we could fully enjoy the water.  Grammy and Gran Gran got a work out in the waves, while Wesley finally decided there is fun to be had at the beach (as long as he had his wagon and shovel.)

You better believe I watched the clock all Friday afternoon.  I knew the parade started at 630, but I made the crew get down to the route at 6PM sharp.  We had no idea what to expect. Absolutely no idea.  We were smart enough to wear our swimsuits, and James filled up the cooler with water so that we could refill our water guns.  Within minutes of setting up, a group of kids to our left started to attack. Then a group of women (on a girls trip, all in matching shirts) joined in.  One sweet lady had to convince JB it was okay to shoot them - that "all's fair at the Beach Bum parade".

I left Wesley in his normal clothes, thinking 'who would shoot a baby with water'.  Let me tell you...everyone. It.Was Nuts. Eventually Wesley figured out what was up, and he would actually chase people with his little water gun.

Maryn also got in on the action, soaking her own mother and grandmother before turning the guns on the kids next to us.  Savage.  (She also got a bit nervous when the parade started out with firetruck sirens, but quickly recovered!)

Y'all, again, this is hard to explain unless you're there. SO MUCH FUN FOR ALL AGES.

The rest of the trip we enjoyed the pier, the Marine Life Center, more of the beach, the playground, the pool, cocktails and beer on the balcony, plus lots more eating. (Kerrs like to eat.)

The big kids love to play games so we also enjoyed Monopoly Jr. and lots of dominoes.  Gran Gran brought JB a new Lego set, and they spent 2 hours completing it together.

And, because I can't help myself, I tried to capture some cute pictures of our trio in their matching PJs - just like last year!  The bright sun made it a bit hard, plus three silly personalities made it harder.  Still, I love these little faces.  :)

On Sunday we left the condo for a quick stroll and bite in Savannah before saying goodbye (sad face). We hate goodbyes!  But are thankful for the fun memories.

Truly a wonderful weekend - and it may be a new tradition to kick off our summer.  Let's hope we see you next year, Tybee!  (Until then, I'll research the best Super Soaker guns so that the Sassers can dominate the 2020 Beach Bum parade...)  :)