Bowlin Beige

Today will be my last "Momming Hard" labeled posts. I feel like the end of the school year signals the end of this phase. Although we are definitely not out of the pandemic, I am no longer juggling homeschool with work. Instead I'm just juggling my kids at home... while I work. Sigh... not much different I supposed. Still no camps, they still can't go anywhere. Maybe it'll just be "Momming Hard in the Summer?"  Honestly momming is hard all the time.  So today was 'officially' the last day of school for the kids. Parker finished 2nd grade and moves to the Tall Hall next year. In a normal world, Ainsley would've had a lovely 5th grade recognition assembly at school. She would've dressed up and had her picture taken. She would've walked across the stage. She would've celebrated with her classmates at a fun dance party that night. But she doesn't get to do any of those things.   We tried to still celebrate the end of her lower sch...

The kids had their holiday program at school last week and were adorable as usual! The play was based on winter/Christmas stories and books. I am so proud of them for learning their songs, and especially proud of Parker for making it through his first big stage performance! See videos below of their songs. Merry Christmas!

I didn't think four years ago that both of my kids would get to come to work with me everyday, yet that is exactly what is happening this year! Parker is starting junior kindergarten and is so thrilled to join Ainsley and I at Steward.  He is so ready for school, although he will need to adjust from his daily 3-hour nap to a shorter 1-hour nap. We'll have lots of early bedtimes this year!  I can't tell you how fun it is to be walking to a meeting and stumble across a class of ten 4-year-olds all rushing to hug me. Or to watch my daughter on the playground, teaching her classmates how to master the monkey bars.  I am so thankful that they get to have this amazing school experience, and that I can be a part of it too.  Parker with his senior buddies. Parker's JK class!

It's so hard to believe that the school year has ended. Parker, my little baby boy, is finished with pre-school and will join Ainsley and I at Steward School next year for junior kindergarten. He and Meredith had an end-of-year party at MOPS (the church program they attend each week). Ainsley had some fun activities to finish her year also. She picked vegetables from the garden at school with her friends,  And she had a dance party at our end-of-year field party. Parker had a picnic on his last day of school.  Celebrating his last day of preschool with milkshakes at Chick-Fil-A. How is it possible that she is going into 2nd grade next year??   The whole 1st grade had a pizza and slip-and-slide party at one of the family's homes.  And water balloon fights too! Now that school has ended we begin our summer of fun. I get lots of questions about what the kids are doing this summer. Our college nanny, Chloe, has watched t...

What a show! The Lower School did a great job this year in their winter program. The theme was all about candles and light.  Here are some photos from the first performance (last night) and then a video from this morning's performance. You can tell she is tired by how many times she yawns during the song...   Kaelyn, Ainsley, and Nora Ainsley, Sarah Grace, and Alyssa Kazoos!!!   And here's the whole performance! Sorry for the jiggly filming - I was trying so hard not to laugh! 

This time of year means lots of kids singing! Last week was Parker's program at preschool.  We were lucky enough to get there early and get front row seats. When they walked in I mouthed 'I love you' to him. Unfortunately he doesn't know how to mouth words without saying them out loud. So he just kept [loudly] whispering 'I love you' back to me. His class sang two songs, and then all the kids in preschool sang two songs together. He was such a handsome little man. Enjoy!  So much fun watching this little guy sing with his class. 

Parker is returning to our church preschool again this year. He will be in the 3 1/2 year old class, attending Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for half days. He was excited to go to Meet the Teacher Day to see his classroom. One of his teachers, Ms. Donna, is a teacher that Ainsley had when she was 3!  Here he is after seeing his classroom.  First day of school! We found the hook for his backpack, he took out his folder and snack, and found his name on the table. He sat right down and started playing with play-doh. I had to ask him to come over and give me a kiss before I left - he was just ready to start his day! Traditional fro-yo treat after the first day. 

What did you say?? I'm in FIRST GRADE?? Yep - it's hard to believe we now have a 'firstie' in our house! Ainsley started her second year at The Steward School today. So what does it mean to be in 1st grade at Steward? Well, some pretty exciting things happen when you move up to a grade with a number. Last year all the kindergarteners had a Steward School tote bag with her initials. This year, as a first grader, she gets to bring her own backpack. So she spent about 25 minutes in Target last week selecting the perfect one - dark purple with pink hearts and six (yes, count them, SIX) pockets. She is so excited to see how much stuff she can fit in the pockets of her backpack. I'll have to check it each morning to make sure she hasn't hidden the toaster or the dog in her bag.  Another perk of moving up with the big kids is that she can now play on the playground before school. Last year she had to go straight to her classroom when she arrived. The b...