KINDERGARTEN!

Cooper is a kindergartener!

We're blessed to be at the same school! Me teaching kindergarten and him, well, learning kindergarten! I'm going to love our car rides to school, seeing him at lunch and recess, and watching him blossom. He has a great teacher (and they're right next door!) and he's lucky to have a special friend of mine working with him as his "assistant" throughout the day.

Cooper was very nervous about starting school and I was afraid we'd have to drag him to his desk. Last week he even told me that "Kindergarten is a ZERO, Mom. I'm NOT going." Hmmm... Mom was right and it was a "ten" - he went! I was thankful that he had peace and he really did a wonderful job!

He's going to be just fine! I'm so proud!

This is a look a my class -

They're movers and shakers for sure and we're going to have a fun year!

Yay for kindergarten all around!

Monica's Baby Shower

My dear friend, Monica, is expecting her first baby this fall! I was thrilled to help welcome the new little one and bless Monica with a baby shower. I loved our "Bee is for Baby" theme - perfect for a Saturday morning brunch!

{Invitations}

{Guest of Honor :: Monica}

{Blessings Book}

This was my favorite contribution to the shower. Our hostess "committee" was multi-talented - Lisa and Kellie cooked and baked and Laura decorated. I'm not naturally gifted in any of those ways, but I love to capture memories and make crafty little keepsakes. All the guests at the shower shared their hopes for the new baby on a "fill in the blanks" style card. (I wish I'd taken a photo!) Now they're saved in a special book the family can enjoy!

{Decor}

*Laura gets ALL the credit for these amazing decorations!

{Sweet Treats & Diaper Cake}

*Kellie whipped together that diaper cake like it was nothing - incredible!

*Monica's favorite "pregnancy" beverage is a combination of organic mango lemonade and citrus Perrier. It sounds fancier if we call it a "spritzer"*

{Food}

*Lisa and Kellie were the chefs!*

{Special Guests}

Monica with her sister in law and mother in law

Monica with Pam

{Hostesses}

Laura, Kellie, Monica, Lisa, Me

Congratulations Monica! I am excited for the new joy you will experience as you begin on the journey of motherhood. Your little girl is so lucky to have you as her mom!

Lost :: First Tooth!

You've never seen a kid more excited about a loose tooth. He wiggled that tooth like a pro.

And finally, FINALLY, it came out. Cooper pulled it out, to be more specific. I desperately wanted to have that honor - I LOVE pulling teeth! I have pulled seriously hundreds of teeth as a kindergarten teacher and I've been just waiting for my own child to let me do my thing! Not this time...

He was so proud of himself. I wish you could have heard the squeals of delight!

Now he has a window in his mouth - and a new PRECIOUS toothless grin!

This is the moneymaker... well-brushed for five years. (Most of those, may I point out, were handled by yours truly!)

The Tooth Fairy only trades shiny, clean teeth for money - that's a fact. Cooper dictated a note to her to make sure she knew that she could keep his tooth and leave the "monies". He refused to put the tooth and the note under his pillow - "She's too tiny to lift my pillow, Mom." Gosh, why didn't I think of that?

The sweet Tooth Fairy left Cooper a note and five crisp dollar bills tied with a shiny silver ribbon. Her note reminded him to save one dollar, give one away, and spend three on something special. What sage advice from the Tooth Fairy!

I wish I would've had my camera handy at 5am when little boy discovered his treasure. Oh, the joy! And for his momma - a joyous moment also. My little boy is growing up!

Summer Picnic

Lunch with our neighbors... nothing better!