End of the Year

Sydney had a great year in K4. She was a Palmquist Puppy and loved her sweet teacher. She has grown and learned so much this year. It is hard to believe she will be in kindergarten next year. When I reflect on my time with this little girl, I get a little teary-eyed. She has the kindest heart and such a gentle spirit, yet she is strong and driven. She has never met an acitivity she didn't want to try. Next year she wants to do ballet, violin, soccer, swimteam and I am sure something else. I guess we need to make sure she fits in school! Bart and I look forward to watching her grow into a little lady. We are just trying to soak it all up.

Memorial Day

Our area has a tremendous amount of activities for families. We took the kids to Freedom Weekend Aloft on Memorial Day. Every year they have hot air balloons, carnival rides and live entertainment at the amphitheater. Unfortunately, the rain kept the hot air balloons grounded on Monday, but they had one tethered to the ground for people to take a quick ride. We had a great time, but ended up soaked. Two years ago a balloon flew right over our street. Maybe we can see more balloons next year.

Picking Strawberries with the Ways

We went to the strawberry patch with the Ways. Our kids are the same age and have so much fun together. It has been so special and fun for us moms to watch their little friendships grow. Kristy and I have a great time together and it is nice when you can bring the kids along with you.


The harvest.

Ms. Kristy showing the kids how it is done. Our first year picking strawberries, Kathleen was obsessed with the Wiggles and I have some great pictures of her with a Wiggles DVD in the strawberry patch.

Mac just adores his sister and loves to watch her do just about anything.

I think Parker and Mac look like farmers in this picture. I can just hear them asking each other about their crops. In reality, they are probably talking about Lightning McQueen.

Mac had a lot of fun picking the strawberries. Ms. Kristy brought water to wash the strawberries before we ate them, but Mac preferred to just pop them in his mouth, stem and all.

Ballet Recital

Ballet is another activity Sydney really enjoys. This was her second recital and she had so much fun. This year she was a little princess. I thought they had the most adorable costumes. The recital was at the Peace Center for Performing Arts, which is a beautiful venue. We were blessed to have both sets of grandparents come for the big show.

 

Our little ballerina

 

I enojoyed being a Dressing Room Helper again this year.

 

Making their way to the stage.

 

Hanging out backstage with the other girls in her class.

Sydney's Birthday!

Manicures and Pedicures

Blowing out the candle on the Barbie cake, which kind of looked like Barbie in a coffin, but it was really a sleeping bag.

Playing "what time is it Mrs. Ladybug?"


Sydney with two of her oldest buddies, Grace and Ava.


This is so overdue, but I still wanted to post some pictures. All birthdays are big, but for Sydney turning five was really big! She has wanted to be five since she was three. We had an "almost slumber party" and invited eight little girls. This was the first "girls only" party and it was great. Everyone arrived at 5:30pm dressed in pajamas ready to play. It was a beautiful night so we spent most of the time outside. I have found that kids just want to play, and that is what we did. After pizza and cake, we went inside for the movie, which held their attention for about 15 minutes, and manicures and pedicures. At 9pm the parents arrived to claim their sweet little girls. It was nice for the parents because they had a few hours to go out without kids on a Friday night.

Sydney had a great time and thoroughly enjoys being five!

Dominican Republic

Bart and I just got back from the Dominican Republic. We were celebrating our 10 year anniversary early. It was great and we accomplished just what we wanted to, nothing! We did a lot of sleeping and laying out on the beach and by the pool. We both finished one and a half books. We needed to get away and have some couple time, but I must say we missed our babies.

It didn't take long to get back into our mom and dad routine. We arrived home Friday night at 10:30 and on Saturday we had a soccer game at 9am and three birthday parties. So much for easing back in to reality.

Soccer Girl

Sydney has a new passion and it is soccer. With this passion, she throws me into a special demographic, Soccer Mom. I am loving watching her learn and play this game. She is having a ball. Bart is the coach and I must say he is very good. He is patient, encouraging and organized. I am very impressed with both of the Streets on the field. Last week, Sydney almost scored. She got a breakaway and dribbled the ball all the way up the field by herself. She didn't score, but to look at me you would have thought she won a gold medal. My heart was beating fast and I had tears in my eyes. I thought, 'oh no here we go!'

In Clanton, AL in the 1990's we didn't have soccer, so it is all new to me. I am a fan!

Coach Bart, Sydney and Grace (my future daughter-in-law - she is marrying Mac so she and Sydney can be sisters)