Taft's VPK Graduation

Thursday was Taft's Pre-K Graduation.  He was so excited!  He talked about it for weeks.  About the songs that they were planning to sing, about the song's that would play when they walked in and out, and about partner dancing.  He was truly counting down the days.
I was so blessed that I work in a place that allows me to take off work for things that Taft has.  I was able to take off the entire day.  My mother in law and I went to school with Taft that morning.  We were able to talk and play with kids in class.  I have helped in class with some of these kids for over three years.  I know that not all of them will be in Summer Camp together this summer and only about four with will be in the same school with us in the fall.  It was truly bitter sweet since I have grown to love them all.
The first part of graduation was the class performance and the kids walked in to The Greatest Love of All.

 Taft loves, I mean LOVES, saying the pledge to the flag.  So I was thrilled that it was in their program.  Even though he still keeps the wrong hand over his heart.

 Two classes graduated together.  The other class sang Dinosaurs Here No More and Taft could not help but make the T Rex hands while they sang.

 He also got a little sassy during one of the songs his class sang.

 One of the cutest things that the kids did was partner dancing.  I Hope You Dance started and one boy at a time got up and got his girl.  He was very lucky to dance with Sienna.  They danced and the boys spin the girls.  You can tell he was having a great time!

 Finally it was time to get those diplomas.  So in they came.

 He had a little trouble with that hat and tassel.

 But it was all straightened out in time to get his diploma from Mrs. Linda.

 And here is what you do with diplomas if you are 5.

 And after we left school, Taft got to decide where to go for lunch.  He picked Panera Bread.  Everything was perfect even though we got soaked due to Tropical Storm Andrea.  ;0

Taft's 5th Birthday | VPK Party at School

Yesterday we had Taft a little birthday party at his school.  I have loved having him there.  Mom's and Dad's can come on the day closest to their child's birthday and have a party with them.  They always make you feel like you are welcome and enjoy the parties with the children.
Last year, Taft had a SpongeBob party at school.  We were going for another theme this year, but when Shane and I went to order cupcakes and saw the little burger ones, we knew he needed another SpongeBob party with Krabby Patties.  He was completely surprised.

 First bite of a Krabby Pattie.  We told him that SpongeBob made them.

 The kids loved them!  I loved how great they looked.  No detail was left out.  They even had real sesame seeds.  We got 24 for $15.99 at Target.  ;0

 Taft's hat from Mrs. Linda.

The birthday boy himself.  Now we are gearing up for his "big" party next weekend.  And of course, VPK graduation this week.

Senior Portraits

Taft is in Pre-K and graduation is coming up fast.  They finally got their photos back and we loved all three options, so we bought them all.

 Taft as the All-American football player.

 

 Very prep school.

And the classic cat and gown.

We also have another graduate in the family for this year.  My niece, Mallory Elizabeth, is graduating from Kindergarten.  A big congrats to her too!!

End of School Celebration

Taft's class did an End of School Celebration yesterday.  It was lead by their music teacher, Miss Phyllis, and they sang songs that they learned this year.  Here are the songs that sang:  Oh What a Miracle, Learning Shapes, Dinosaurs, Months of the Year (in English and Spanish), Save the Earth, and The Number Rock.
They started by showing us all that they know how to Pledge the Allegiance to the Flag.

And then they started to sing.  They were really good and of course there were times that they were just funny.

 Showing all the ways that he can move for Oh What a Miracle. 

 Being a T-Rex for the Dinosaur Song

 One of the very funny parts of the performance.  Poor Triston had a bug get on him and run off through the kids.  They all seemed to love it, with the exception of Triston.

 Taft must have thought that it was wonderful.

 But the show must go on and they sang Save The Earth without anymore excitement.

 The entire class wore sunglasses and danced while they sang The Number Rock.  Brandon got roll of the lead guitarist.  

 And Taft completely rocked out.

 And showed us some attitude.

They were all adorable.  It is so hard to believe that Preschool is over.  On Monday, Taft starts Summer Camp which is Pre-Pre-K.  I'm thinking it is a little like a college prep course to get them ready for August.  Most of his class is moving up and going to school this summer and that makes the transition easier.

Last Day Of Preschool

Today is the official last day of Preschool for Taft.  He will still go to the same school this summer for Summer Camp and he will be there in the fall for Pre-K.  But - for seeing how things changed this school year, it is the last day. 
Do you remember this photo from the first day of Preschool?  He looks like such a baby compared to today's photo.

He is standing taller and no longer needs Bunny every second of every day.  He also was wearing a size 2T in the first photo and is now in a 4T.

I am so glad that I decided to take these photos.  A year of school makes a huge difference.

Happy Pre-Birthday Taft!!

Taft's birthday is tomorrow.  Shane and I both took the day off today to get things ready for his big party on Sunday.  We had shopping to do and lots of prep work on the house and the food.  So far, so good.
We also are very lucky to have family here to visit.  Shane's mom, brother, SIL, and children (Izzy and Evan), got here last night.  Taft is completely loving them being here, so it was hard to get him to go to school this morning.  I had to remind him that we were coming to get him early and do his school party.  He was fine with that.
Taft decided on his theme himself.  We looked at a few different things and he went with SpongeBob.  I myself am not a huge fan of SpongeBob, but I love to see my sweet boy happy.  He also wanted cheese puffs and yellow icing on the cupcakes.  Done.  I did add apples slices to have some healthy choice on the little ones plates.
Here are just a few pictures from his school party.  He has a great looking group of friends and they are invited here on Sunday.  I hope that they all get to come.

 

Ode To School Pictures

Thank you school pictures for always making me feel bad if we don't buy you.  I mean how can we not buy photos our child?  Don't get me wrong.  I know that not all people take photos of their children on a weekly or monthly basis, and for them it may be the only photos of that time in a child's life.  But - we take lots of photos.  The school photos are good, but they are so posed.  My child never stands like that.  He never smiles like that.  And I am pretty sure that he never puts his hands on the back of a chair that no one is sitting in while his other hand is in his pocket looking like an old Southern gentleman.  It seriously reminds me of prom photos from high school.  Yet - here you are at my house staring me in the face....

I am linking up to Mingle With Us at Joy in the Jumble.

More Gran and Aunt Rejene Fun

As mentioned before, Gran and Aunt Rejene came to visit over the weekend.  Monday was pretty calm.  Taft stayed at home and spent the day with Gran.  Gran, Taft, and Shane came to eat lunch with me and my co-worker, Yvette.  Then they went shopping and I worked.  Later - we just ordered a pizza, ate, and relaxed.
The only major event was Gran giving Taft his piggy bank money.  She keeps a little pig at her house and puts change in it.  She has one for Jenna, Izzy, Evan, and Taft.  She emptied it out for him and he was able to load up his pig we have here.  I think that there is almost, or even enough, to get a bike before long.

On Tuesday, Taft went back to Preschool.  He needed to get back into a bit of a routine and I am pretty sure that Gran enjoyed being able to stay at the house and get some sleep and rest herself.
Aunt Rejene made it back to our house before time for dinner.  The adults came to pick me up from work and then we went to Taft's school.  He was very excited that Gran was going to come pick him up.  We met his teacher on the way out and went to the room where he was waiting.  It was great that the kids were already out of his main classroom so he could take Gran there and show his room all alone.  He then took her out to see Miss Phyllis, the music teacher, on the playground.  Miss Phyllis had a surprise for us.  She had taught the kids a new dance and song about the Number Rock.  The two of them preformed it for us.

Then we drove across the bridge to eat on the beach at The Golden Lion.  It is one of Gran's favorites down here.  Everyone loved their food.
We decided to drive down the beach on the way home and show Aunt Rejene some of the sites.  We went through Hammock Beach, the old side of town, drove by our old house, and then to get ice cream.  Taft was still short enough to get a free baby cone with sprinkles (which he loved).  And I think that by the photo, so did Gran and Rejene.

 We really enjoyed the visit and hope that they can come again soon.  Hopefully at a time that I can take off work and spend more time with them.