Judson's First Birthday Party!

 The day after Judson turned one, we had his first birthday party here at our new house.  It was a very small party- just our family of 5 and then the two sets of grandparents- but it was a fun time!  The theme was kind of an outdoor/beach theme with beach balls, sand pails, and polka dots in primary colors.  Scott grilled hot dogs for dinner, and then we let Judson open his presents next.  He got a little swimming pool, a beach towel, a bubble mower, a build-a-bear dressed in an OU football uniform, a truck, a singing Elmo, and a little car to ride around in from Scott and I.  He loved all his presents and had a ball playing with the wrapping paper.  He went a little crazy swinging it around and rolling around in it!  After presents we sang "Happy Birthday" to him while he just smiled at everybody and stared at his cake.  We decided to take him out on the back porch to have his smash cake because we knew it would be a huge mess, and he did not disappoint!  Unlike the girls at their first birthdays, he stuck his hands right in and started flinging icing everywhere.  It was on the porch, on us, even on Josie (our dog).  Scott said it was like a helicopter the way he was shaking it off his hands.  After a few minutes of that, he started fussing and holding his little hands out for me to pick him up.  Yuck!  So, after a little break from the party action to get him cleaned up, we went back out on the porch for dessert.  Judson sat in Scott's lap and fed himself cake and ice cream, and then said "Yum!" for the first time.  Priceless!  We finished up the night by playing with all his new toys.  I say "We" mostly because of the bubble mower-- Scott and the girls were running all over the yard with it trying to get it to make bubbles.  It ended up being a perfect evening for an outdoor birthday party and we all had a great time together celebrating our sweet Judson's first year of life!  What an awesome, blessed year it was!

Avery's Kindergarten Graduation

Avery's last day of Kindergarten and last day of school at Harvest Christian was Friday, May 25th.  That morning, they had a Kindergarten graduation ceremony that all the elementary grades as well as friends and family of the Kindergarteners attended.  They all looked so adorable in their little white caps and gowns, doing a step-together graduation walk down the aisle of the church auditorium.  They did the 3 pledges- to the American flag, the Christian flag, and the Bible- and then sang a pretty song for everyone.  There was a slideshow with pictures of the kids throughout the year, and then the chapel teacher and the principal said a few words.  With that day being Judson's first birthday as well as Avery's graduation, it was kind of an emotional morning for me.  Especially the slide show with the tear-jerking music! As the kids walked up to get their diplomas, one of the teachers read what each child wanted to be when they grew up, which was really fun to hear.  Just like at her Pre-K graduation, Avery said she wanted to be a speech pathologist like me.  The room mom presented Mrs. Hayes with our end-of-year/birthday gift, which was a 2 night stay for her and her family at Great Wolf Lodge.  Mrs. Hayes was overwhelmed with the gift and was holding back the tears as she said goodbye to the kids and took pictures with them.  After lots more picture taking, many of the parents and kids headed over to McDonald's across the street for a little graduation party.  Although it was too early for Happy Meals, the kids had a great time playing with one another and having cake and goody bags.  It was a fantastic, fun way to wrap up a great school year and to begin a new chapter in Avery's school career.