Davis' Kindergarten Graduation

Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten



Most of what I really need to know about how to live and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten.

Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at the elementary school.



These are the things I learned:

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don't take things that aren't yours.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life.

Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together.

Be aware of wonder.

Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup -- they all die. So do we.

And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all: look.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living.

Think what a better world it would be if we all -- the whole world -- had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.



Well ~ it's official! I am the mommy of a First Grader.....where has the time gone?

The Graduating Class of 2011



Davis got an AR award for reading and testing (and passing the tests) on 63 AR books - pretty good for a kid that only attended one semester.



Each child received a diploma........



Then walked off that stage into First Grade.



Or more importantly to Davis: staying up late, camping out in the living room with Dad, sleeping late, swimming with buddies, getting swimmers ear, visiting with family in Georgia and Anniston, a Barons game with the t-ball team and VBS - and that was just the first two weeks (which would explain the lack of blogging recently)

So - happy summer to you! May your days be filled with sunshine and your nights be filled with lightning bugs!

Field Day 2011 ~ Part 3 ~ Tug-of-War

The most anticipated event of the day (at least for Davis) was the Tug-of-War. Now let me remind you of Matt's job - to meet me in the stands and take the kids to Mrs. Anderson at the gate. Check out where Matt ended up for the Tug-of-War.....yes - on the field!



And not only on the field, but also scoping out the competition - the competition from Kindergarteners! Ha!



I think at first he was just going to "watch"



But once they started, he took on the role of coach! He said he just couldn't help but yell for them to "PULL! PULL! PULL!"



And......a victory!



Look at these sweet faces!



And now my most favorite picture of the entire day......



Is there anything that brings a parent more joy than seeing pure happiness on your child's face? I don't think so!

Field Day 2011 ~ Part 2 ~ Redskin Relay

The first relay Davis participated in was the Redskin Relay. (that is just a fancy name for a baton relay)

A few reminders from Mrs. Anderson before the race began. I found out something about this sweet little lady on Field Day - she may be just as competitive as me.



I can't look at this picture without getting tears in my eyes. This is a perfect example of what Mrs. Anderson has been for Davis in their short time together. A constant encourager reminding Davis what needs to be done, assuring him he can do it and she always does it with that gentle hug. She has been our answered prayer!



Davis got the Baton.....



And Ran.......



And Ran......



And Ran.....



And passed it to the next little girl......



I think it was a success, at least if you go by the looks on Mrs. Anderson and Rhett's faces



Up next....the Tug-of-War and possibly some of my most favorite pictures of the day! Stay tuned!

Field Day 2011 Part 1

Yesterday was Field Day at Oneonta Elementary School. Now, the Elementary school that I attended did not have Field Day, so this is a new adventure for me. But Matt's Elementary school had the Field Day of all Field Days. So as you will see in some of the pictures to come, Matt was VERY excited about Field Day!

I have SO many pictures from Briana, Wendy and yes - even a few from my own camera. I will post all of these pics in three posts as to not overload blogger, so just remain patient.

Davis sitting with his classmates, getting ready for the games to begin.



Davis and Mrs. Anderson.



Mommy and Wendy - I have mentioned Wendy so many times and she finally made the blog! This is the best friend a girl could ask for! It doesn't hurt that our boys are good buddies as well!



Davis waiting in line to start the Redskin Relay



Daddy giving Davis a few tips



Now, before I move on to a second post, I need to let you know that Mrs. Anderson asked Matt and I to help out with the "shuffling" back and forth of students. I sat in the bleachers with the kids and got them lined up for their individual events and also lead them in cheering on their classmates. NOW Matt's job was to meet me with the kids that are about to compete and take them to the field. But somehow that quickly changed into Matt being on field during the Tug-of-War.....don't worry - you will see pictures soon enough!

The Dream Team In Pictures

My sweet friend Briana took some wonderful pics at the T-Ball tournament. Somehow I can NOT remember a camera for t-ball and the one time I remembered my camera I took not one picture!

In my mind you all REALLY want to see these pictures, so here you go!

Davis playing First Base



Tournament Round 2 - VICTORY!



Championship Game Day:

A little Pre-Game Speech



A little encouragement (and a few reminders) from Dad



A swing and a hit



The BEST first base coach in the known t-ball world! AJ is such an encourager!



One more trip to first base



And a little more encouragement from Coach AJ - see - he really is the best!



A smile for the camera......



And then ready to run



A win and a trophy! I love Coach Matt to the left. He is so good with the kids! He was constantly telling the boys to take a drink of water and to remember to have fun. But I think maybe on the inside he takes this a little more seriously!



One last time....



The best coaches around!



Number One!



Here they are - the 2011 Oneonta T-Ball Champs!

The Perfect End To The Perfect Season

I know I have been MIA recently - this is possibly the busiest time of year for a youth pastor and his family: the end of school. I promise to update more later, but I could not let this day end without sharing this:



THEY DID IT! This sweet group of boys went undefeated for the perfect t-ball season! (I think that may be very much like the perfect storm.....just a thought) These past few months will remain as some of my most favorite memories when I am old and gray! The look on my child's face as he crosses home plate, the way he pats his team mates on the helmet as they cross home plate, and the sight of my husband as the "dug out dad" - PRICELESS!

Lots more updates to come later, but just couldn't not stop in to say...........



"Boys, baseball is a game where you gotta have fun. You do that by winning." ~ Dave Bristol

And winning they did today! They won the 2011 Oneonta T-Ball Tournament

Before I go, here are our thoughts on the situation:

Stephanie:
"A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings" ~ Earl Wilson

Matt:
"You owe it to yourself to be the best you can possibly be – in baseball and in life." ~ Pete Rose

Davis:
"The saddest day of the year is the day baseball season ends." ~ Tommy Lasorda

So, its all over for us. I will miss spending my Tuesday and Thursday evenings with these precious boys and their families. There have been new friendships made, old friendships strengthened, and three lifetimes worth of memories made. So, farewell T-Ball season 2011 - you have been a dear friend!

The Sweetest Days Are Spent With You

Mother's Day 2011 is now in the books.

It started out with sweet gifts from Davis that he made at school. A painting, handmade flowers, a hand-drawn picture of me sleeping and underneath it were the words "If my mommy had five minutes of peace she would rest" hmmmmm. My favorite was a cookbook that each child in his classroom contributed too. Here is Davis' recipe:

"Chicken Noodle Soup

Noodles the straight ones
Chicken
Yellow stuff

Last night we didn't have chicken noodle soup. We had Toy Story macaroni and a pickle. But if she makes chicken noodle soup she makes double noodle soup from Wal-Mart. She puts in the noodles that looks like long sticks. My mom has yellow stuff that looks like water and it goes in there too. The chicken came with noodles so then she puts it in the microwave. It takes 20 minutes or if it is not I don't know what minutes. The soup is hot and I wait for it to cool off to eat. Then when it cools off I eat it, just chicken noodle soup."

I started feeling really bad that the only thing my child could think of that I cook for him was chicken noodle soup, but then I read some of the other recipes from other children (NOT Davis):

"She cooks some nights at my house but not a lot."

"My mom isn't a cook, but my Grammy cooks really good stuff like pecan cookies."

"All my mom cooks is pasghetti but she cooks some other stuff but I don't like it very much."

Maybe I am not such a bad cook after all....SO sorry to all those other moms. They probably slave away on a daily basis making five course meals, not realizing the key to success in your child's eyes is either double noodle chicken noodle soup or Toy Story macaroni and a pickle!

My boys also gave me Just Dance. You know all the running experts say you need to cross train on the days you do not run. Just Dance is the Scott family version of cross training. I mean really have any of you ever tried dancing to Rasputin. It is a workout!

Then we were off to church. This next little bit had nothing to do with Mother's Day but I have laughed so hard over and over today, I have to include it. After large group with the students and they break off into small groups, I head down to the bed baby room to see my friends Janna, Rosemary and Andrea - but most importantly that sweet child Charlee Ellen. Well, today Charlee Ellen and another little girl were fighting over this plastic doughnut:



I picked Charlee Ellen up and we went for a little walk looking at the playground. I never thought of that silly doughnut again until I sat down in church and the service started in prayer. As I bowed my head to pray I saw that sweet little doughnut down my dress. Well I started laughing and then leaned over to tell Matt what was going on. You know how when you were a teenager, everything that happened in church was always a billion times funnier than in real life? Well, that was what I was experiencing. People must have really thought I was emotional today.....not so much - I was just laughing until I was crying!

After church (where Davis made me the sweetest little potted plant) and the doughnut incident, we headed to the Birmingham Zoo, where I was surprised with another Mother's Day gift......a family membership to the zoo. What fun days we will have in our future. What a great little treasure tucked away in downtown Birmingham.

Here are a few pics of the day.......

First on the agenda - the train






Next up - those funny little otters





On to see the elephants



Then the funny little masks




After the zoo, we headed to PF Changs for a yummy dinner

It was the most perfect Mother's Day with my most favorite people on earth! Wouldn't have traded ONE second of it!



(And yes - Davis is wearing a Florida Gators Football tee! And NO - he was NOT allowed to wear that to church! Not sure why he wanted to wear that, or honestly where it even came from. This whole Auburn business was beginning to grow on us, and now we have to wear Florida clothes?????? I think Davis is just going to one of those people who can cheer for anybody. But regardless - he is our little football fan)