Welcome, Sweet Summertime

The start of our summer 2014

(lake of the ozarks

grandma and grandpa allen's lake house) -

FISHING 

mason loved it, makayla enjoyed it but was desperate to get the fish back in the water asap because they were babies and she didn't want their gills to dry up and have them pass away, and mia was cool with it from a distance.

SWIMMING 

swimming in ice cold water, playing in the sand, and looking for cool rocks.

BOATING 

i loved watching the kids get pure joy out of riding on the boat...especially when grandpa went fast!

TUBING

makayla was comfortable going tubing with grandpa...and mason was brave enough to go all by himself.  it brought lots of laughter to see his little body bobbing up and down in the tube as he hit the waves all by himself!

FEEDING FISH

the kids love feeding the huge carp that hang out by the restaurants.

SETTING CATERPILLARS FREE

makayla found a caterpillar and decided to keep it as a pet for the morning.  he had to go on the boat with us, we had to take food out to him on the boat to eat while we were at breakfast, and we had to keep him sheltered with towels and shoes while we were going fast on the boat so he wouldn't blow away.  makayla said she could tell by the way his eyes looked that he was just born.

...just imagine the sadness and tears that seeped from her when we told her that she couldn't take him home because he needed to stay at the lake with his family and friends...

WATCHING FIREWORKS OVER THE LAKE 

picking a spot high on a hill, over the lake, and above the city lights, we enjoyed 8 minutes of fireworks at dusk.

BEING A "GUY" 

funny how proud daddy and grandpa get when mason pees off of the deck.

RELAXING 

fun in the sun wore my babies out.

ENJOYING COOL DRINKS 

nothing better than refreshing drinks under the sun.  

kiddie drinks and grown-up drinks...

BEING HAPPY 

WATCHING SUNSETS 

life is good

 MAKING MEMORIES 

looking forward to many more summer trips with the kids to the ozarks throughout the years...

LOVING LIFE

our "normal"

Here's to celebrating summer - sun drenched days and starlit nights!

-Gooseberry Patch

P.S. 

WATERMELON
what's summertime without watermelon?!
mia enjoying a slice of watermelon at grandma and grandpa curry's house and can't "CHEESE" big enough or loud enough!

Growing Hurts

Pre-K at Carroll Catholic for Makayla (2014)

From the first day of school....

to the last day of school! 

My, has this child grown this year!

She's lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, and learned.
She's lost her first tooth, made her first boyfriend(s), and read her first books.

She has spent the year blossoming into a beautiful and smart young lady!

And who knew that watching Makayla's  Pre-K graduation last night would make me so weepy?

Our experience at Carroll Catholic School this year was better than I could ever hope for.
It's a family that I'm so thankful to have been a part of.  

We will be forever grateful for the way the teachers and staff have touched Makayla's life.

The teachers, the parents, the routine, the love, the education...
I wish it could go on indefinitely.

As sad as it makes me to leave all that we've come to know over this past year, I get very excited when I think about Makayla and her future.

It's crazy the strength of my yearning for our days to stay just as they are -

my five year old going to Pre-K with Mrs. Sharp and Miss Martin...

with her same friends...

in the same classroom...

Yet, at the same time, my desire for her to grow bigger and better is bursting at the seams.

*sigh*
growing hurts

Thank you Carroll Catholic Pre-K Class of 2014!
Thank you for an exciting year of fun, learning, and making memories!

 

Congratulations!! 

P.S.
Starting with Makayla and following through with Mason and Mia,
each of my kids will be given this book -

At the end of each school year, from Pre-K to 12th, I plan to have their teachers sign their book and to leave a little note if they so wish.
What a special gift that will be at their high school graduation!

Oh, the places you'll go, baby girl!!