Last Day of Preschool! Bring on Pre-K!

Today was Sophia's last day of 3-4's preschool!  Next year she will be in Pre-K!  I can't even believe how quickly the time has gone!!  This time next year, I have a feeling I will be an emotional mess with the thought of her going off to Kindergarten!

Looking back at her picture from the first day of Preschool, I can't believe how much she has changed over the past year!  Wow!  What a difference!!

1st Day - 9/2012

Last Day - 5/2013

Looking at the two pictures ... I have GOT to do something with her hair now!  It is a mess!  Looked so much better back in the fall!  Ha!! Ha!

Excited to go to school today, but she was VERY sad it was the last day!

Sophia had the best preschool teachers this year!  I am so thankful for their amazing influence in her life!  She has such a sweet relationship with both of them, and is really sad that she can't be in their class again next year!  She loved playing "doctor" and taking Miss Heather to the hospital!  During playtime, Sophia would always end up on Miss Heather's lap, just to talk and hang out!  She and Miss Pam had a running joke that made her day ... One day Sophia wore her BUTLER cheerleading outfit and Miss Pam called her a "Bulldog!" From that day on, every day during the bathroom breaks, Sophia would ask Miss Pam "Do I look like a Bulldog?"  Miss Pam would always say YES and Sophia would giggle!  Miss Pam called Sophia her favorite Bulldog Princess!  I am so thankful for these two ladies and am thankful for all the time, effort, and love they poured into her over the course of the school year!!  

Miss Heather and Miss Pam!

Sophia and her buddy Isaiah!

Isaiah, Cooper, Sophia, and Maya -- some of her classmates!

Wow, what a fun year it has been!  I can't believe she is going to be old enough to be in PRE-K!  I am excited about our summer together and hope we will make so many wonderful memories!

Anyone graduate in your household?

Happy Birthday Nate!

Happy Birthday to my WONDERFUL husband, Nate!!  To a companion and a best friend anyone could ever ask for!  Thanks for all the wonderful memories and we look forward to the many more to come!!

Excited Daddy is home and anxious to celebrate his birthday!

Daddy's Birthday Cake!  Homemade GF Chocolate Cake with
 fresh raspberry puree and homemade icing!

Daddy LOVED his cake!!  

In other HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE news .... (Yes, I am screaming loudly) ....

I think Sophia is FINALLY fully night trained!  She has been day potty-trained since 22 months, but unfortunately, she is such a hard sleeper, the night training has been quite stressful and taxing!  We have tried everything in the book and nothing work!  I finally broke down and did what I said I would never do ... We have been waking her up before we go to bed (usually about 10pm) to go to the bathroom!  She is like a walking zombie heading into the dark bathroom to pee!  It is hilarious!  She is so out of it that she NEVER remembers us coming in the next morning!  Since we have been doing this, she has been dry!  Below you will see a picture of her "reward" for 10 straight nights of dry panties! :)  She picked out a new Barbie at the consignment sale and she also received a trip to orange leaf!  (The awesome part was the Barbie only was $3.50!)   I have come to the conclusion that this poor girl cannot hold her bladder the full 12 hours she sleeps, but she can hold it 9-10 hours!  So, we will take that stretch and consider it done!

Thrilled with her reward she picked out!  I would love to know where the consignor got this new Barbie b/c it was definitely from 1996!  But still NEW IN THE BOX!  Ha!!

This morning we headed to the Children's Museum with one of my closest friends, Erin, and her two girls!  We had to capitalize on the last few weeks while the big kids are still in school!  The CM was pretty bare this morning, which we LOVED!!  I am not ready for the summer crowd!  We get spoiled during the weekday mornings in the school year!

Farmer Jackson!

Lovin' the carousel ride!

Silly girls!

Two peas in a pod!

This picture explains it all!!  

Love these kiddos!  Such a fun trip!

Treasure Hunting!

I know I have blogged about it before, but I am seriously a GARAGE SALE addict!!  I get so excited when the middle-end of May rolls around b/c it is the start of garage sale season!!  It is always the thrill of the HUNT that is the most exciting!  I am always looking for a good deal to make our hard-earned $'s stretch the furthest possible!  Also, I am always looking for stuff the kids can use for a bit and then I can turn around and sell them at a local consignment sale for a profit!  It is a way to bring in a little extra money for savings!!

$25 will buy you ... almost new wooden rocking horse (that even neigh's), Cozy Coupe, 2 pairs PJ's, girls sweater, 4 nice long sleeve shirts, hello kitty "bling" shirt, BRAND NEW bottle with all original packing, 2 brand new (in wrapping) DVD's, 3 used dvd's, princess dress up shoes, and Tonka tow truck and 2 cars! 

I think I made off pretty well this morning huh?   Do you like garage sale season?  Or is it more work than it is worth?  

It is so much fun with the kids, especially Sophia!  She is always looking for a treasure!  She is also learning the value of money too! :)  

Playing a sweet tune ...

Sophia loves playing her harmonica all throughout the house!  She especially enjoys playing it first thing in the morning when this mommy is still trying to wake up!!  Sophia and her Grandpa Long really enjoy playing it together!  Jackson isn't quite sure what to think all the time!

Enjoy!

Singing, dancing, and twirling ...

Here are a few pictures from Sophia's Spring Program at school as well as Mother's Day!!

Can you find Sophia's face?  Her teacher's are on the watering can!
  Oh how we LOVE Miss Heather and Miss Pam!

Yes, she is "cheesing"! 

"Thank you Lord"

"Rrrr"

Aligators saying Thank you Lord!

Sweet Girl!

 Mother's Day with my BLESSINGS!!

Love this girl so much even tho some days she drives me crazy!

Best one of all three of us!  One day there will be a great picture ... until then ...

Love her!

 

You can tell these three kids were THRILLED to have their picture taken!
  Sophia is the only one we can bribe with dessert for a smile!  The other two could care less!

Happy Mother's Day to a WORLD CLASS MOTHER!

Mimi and her grand kids!  

I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating the blessings and "Mothers" in your life!