Bolshoi Benefit Weekend

Friday night, we hooked up the camper and headed for the ATL. We had a super night grilling out and camping with several of Kinsey's riding buddies (minus an almost trip the the ER.) Then on show day, Kinsey racked up with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and claimed overall Reserve Champ of her division.





Her pal Katie Reserved her division as well. Nice job to all the HP gals!

Buzz Buzz!

Max's Spring Showcase was Sunday afternoon and he had everyone BUZZING! He did a great job and was grinning from ear to ear the whole time. Although I was nervous that he would get a case of stage fright and freeze up, he really seemed to enjoy himself and the spotlight!

Movie in the Park

Saturday night, our community hosted an AWESOME event called Movie in the Park. All free to the public, there were bounce houses, face painting and games followed by the showing of Despicable Me on a huge, inflatable screen. The crisp weather that the weekend brought in made for a perfect picnic while the sun was up and a great chance to snuggle up with a big blanket for the movie. I can't wait to do this again!

Friday Night Lights

A picture from our great seats at the Braves game Friday night with Cousins Alex, Anna and Baby Wookie-on-the-way! Thanks guys--we had a ball!

Super Star(fish)

Yesterday was Kinsey's first grade play at school. She played the role of a starfish and did a fabulous job of "singing and dancing, showin' off and prancing." Congratulations to all the little fish!

Beachy Bash

Today was Max's last day at preschool! I can't believe how fast time has gone! He was so lucky this year to have the same two preschool teachers that Kinsey had, especially since one of them started the year Kinsey did and is retiring after this year!



At lunchtime today the kids had a huge end-of-the-year bash with water slides and water toys and games. Then they had a picnic lunch topped off with popsicles for dessert. All the kids had a big time and although we are looking forward to Pre-K next year, we certainly close this door with a bittersweet goodbye and say farewell to Mrs. Rose and Mrs. Susan. We love you!

Picture Day

After Max's soccer game today, we decided to take our official team picture since on the real picture day it was storming bad and not all the team showed up.

Bridge

Tonight, Kinsey graduated or "bridged" from a Girl Scout Daisy to a Brownie. The area troops celebrated with a spaghetti dinner and cake followed by the bridging ceremony where each girl walked over a bridge and then received her next level pin.

Good Kings Highlights

Celebrate!


Kinsey's solo (the CD player died just after her part!)

Musicals and other May Madness

So the weekend began probably the busiest (and most exciting) month of the year as school and activities are winding down in preparation for summer. Friday night, after Max and Jack's fishing afternoon and Kinsey's "Royal Wedding Party" we had a fun time supporting the cure at the local Relay for Life. Saturday morning took us to Kinsey's second away (fourth total) horse show. Another great job in the books as she Reserve Championed her Pre-beginner class and made a nice show of 3rd out of 7 in the 9 & under division that her trainer let her try. Max chased the ball at yet another soccer game and that was just the morning! Kinsey hit the town (Atlanta, that is) with the Griners on a "date" to the Fox Theater to see Shrek: The Musical while Max got to stay home and go the Strawberry Festival that he'd been dying to go to all week long. Fish Fry and Homecoming at church Saturday night and Sunday morning and the weekend was topped by a PRECIOUS Kidz Praise performance of "Good Kings Come in Little Packages" musical and celebratory dinner with Nan and Grandaddy afterward Sunday night.

15 days and counting...

AWANA graduation

Another year of AWANA at church has gone by. We celebrated the ending with Closing Ceremonies tonight. Max completed his first year of Cubbies, while Kinsey completed her first of three books in her second year as a Spark. I also should note that Jack received an award for 6 years as a AWANA leader or helper. Way to go, guys!

GOAL!

OK, so he's no Pele or Beckham. And the picture above may very well be the only quality time he spends near the goal, but he does have fun chasing after that ball!

He Arose!

After a busy Saturday of teaching Kinsey how to muck horse poo, picking starwberries, cooking Easter dinner (new fave, key lime cake) and a fun Motown date night with Jack and my running pals, we looked forward to celebrating on Sunday. Egg hunt, baskets (disaster, don't ask), yum church breakfast, lovely musical service, my evil vacuuming accident (again, don't ask), and a WONDERFUL lunch with Nan and Granddaddy was our line up today. Best of all, the kids went home with the grands leaving a GLORIOUS lazy afternoon for Jack and me.

My favorite thing today was in the service, while we were singing "Up from the grave He arose," Max's eyes got big and he said "Ooo, a rose? Like Beauty and the Beast. Except Beauty and the Beast rose is ENCHANTED!" Sweet!

Weekday fun

After school today, we had an impromptu swim (brr!) and delish taco dinner at the pool with the Griner pals. Thanks to our buds!

Self-sufficient

Apparently, my kids think they are old enough to be left home alone. This afternoon, I had planned to go on a run once Jack got home from work. I told the kids of my plans. At 5:15, Jack came in the door and they were so involved in the movie they were watching, they didn't notice his arrival. So Jack and I schemed a little. He decided he would stay (hidden) in the kitchen and see how long it would take them to notice he was home. I went into the den and told them I was going to go ahead and leave and asked them if they felt comfortable staying alone for just a few minutes until Daddy got home. They assured me they were fine. I reminded Kinsey to call Jack's cell or go next door if she needed anything and she said OK. I asked them one more time if they were OK to stay alone and they said they were! So I left! Turns out, 10 minutes into their "alone time", Max asked Kinsey when Daddy was coming home and she told him, "Not yet, he'll be home at 6:00!" Max decided he'd go check the back door and after he ran right past Jack, he turned around and saw him and they realized he'd been home all along. Good to know they THINK they're big, huh?!? ;)

Max's new "Easter Egg"

Check out Max's new look! He had a run-in with a metal monkey bar on the church playground this morning. Ouch!

Kids Say...

Being 6 and 4, there are not too many things left that the kids can't pronounce, but there are a few sweet words that I will miss as they get older.

Max:

"Breaktist" = first meal of the day
"Plugger" = anything having to do with electricity (outlets, cords, etc)
"Sammurch" = as in "I want a peanut butter and jelly sammurch for lunch, mama"
"Madrick" = Daddy pulling a coin out of my ear is "madrick"
"Nunnents" = Max's favorite food is chicken "nunnents"
"Basagna" = another favorite italian food
"Opsee" = a game where you roll 5 dice and try to get the best hand
"Commersation" = a talk between two or more people
"Musegic" = singing, playing instruments, listening to songs, etc


Kinsey:

"Lenomade" = sad that "Little Maid" is no longer in her vocabulary
"Coursely" = when something is very obvious; as in "of course"
"Ahind" = if you're not in front, your "ahind"

Grand Champion

Kinsey's third show was this weekend. After a huge rain storm Friday night, the start of the show was delayed, the ring was muddy and it was very windy. Kinsey and her buddies did a wonderful job overcoming the obstacles. She got to ride her best little pal, Haze again and this time won her division and will get a try at the next division in two weeks at her next show. What fun!

SB2011: Sullivan's Isle

We spent our last morning of spring break on Sullivan's Island. The weather was overcast and the kids fussed so much with each other we had to draw a line in the sand to separate them! But in the end, they each found their own little hole to go sit in and play and the day was ended with some splashing in the surf and an AWESOME dolphin watch! Check out this cool picture...

SB2011: Pool Fun

The pool wasn't NEAR warm enough to swim in, but that didn't stop Kinsey and Max!