Christmas Pictures

It is that time of year.  It is the week before Thanksgiving.  That means it is the time to take our Christmas card picture.  As we have done in previous years, we went to Daddy's work and took them in the grass around a set of pretty fall trees.

Here are the pictures that are being used for our Christmas card:

Christmas Card Picture

Once again, we got our personal photographer to go to SAS to take our Christmas Card picture. Grandpa and his assistant Granna did a good job taking our picture for the Christmas Card.  We had a few really good pictures and it was hard to figure out which one to use.  We like them all.

Here are some of our pictures that were taken:

Week at Granna and Grandpa's

With the boys no longer in preschool, and school not starting till Friday, and Mommy and Daddy at work, the boys got to spend the days at Granna and Grandpas.  They had a really fun week.  They went to Pullen Park on Tuesday.  The next day they came back to SAS and had lunch with Daddy before going to Children's House to say hi to their friends and teachers.  Also, there were some trips to Target and other stores to get last minute items for kindergarten.

I am not sure who had a better time, the boys or the grandparents.  Here are a few pictures from the week with Granna and Grandpa:

Grandpa, Jack, Mark, and Granna (along with the boys' favorite stuffed animals)

The happy DeVault family.

Jack and Mark helping Granna water the neighbor's tomato plants.

Time to get the trash out.  

Saying hi to friends at Children's House.

Fun times at Pullen Park.

The boys even wanted to eat breakfast up at Granna and Grandpas.

Last Day of Children's House

On Friday, August 15, known as Aunt Janet's birthday (along with Napoleon Bonaparte), Jack and Mark ended their time at Children's House.  They are getting ready to start Kindergarten and it was their final day in preschool.  It was such a sad and happy day.  The boys have learned and grown so much over the past two years (and even more if you include the infant building) in the Montessori approach at Children's House.  They have made great friends and really have loved their time there (as have Mommy and Daddy).  The teachers have been wonderful and it is hard to say goodbye.  But here we were, at that moment where it was really happening.

That morning, we went in and took each class a gift of 3 floor puzzles that Jack and Mark had already mastered.  Of course, most of them were sports related.  We also got the teachers a little gift as a simple thank you to everything they had taught our boys over the past two years.

After lunch, we went to Jack's class as they were finishing up lunch, to have a little treat with this being Jack's last day.  Jack wanted us to bring marshmallows.  One teacher told us they had never seen anyone bring that gift in until Jack did.  That made us laugh.  The kids all enjoyed the marshmallows.  And the teachers liked it as it didn't bother any of their friends' food allergies.  

After nap time, Mommy and Daddy went to Mark's class to have a celebratory treat.  Mark, just as Jack did, selected marshmallows as his class's snack.  This made it easy on the parents and the teachers again.  The kids in Mark's class all stated one thing they were going to miss about Mark.  Not surprisingly, many of them said that they would miss playing games with Mark.

The entire family enjoyed their time at Children's House.  It seems like not long ago they started out there.  Man, they looked small compared to those 5 year olds.  But now they are the big boys and the 3 year olds look up to them.   The true circle of life.

We now look forward to their next big step...Kindergarten.

Here are several pictures from the last day at Children's House, including shots with their teachers:

Mark on his last day of Children's House.

Jack on his last day of Children's House.

How cool is it to go through every stage in life with your best friend?

Dee and Jack

Dianne and Jack (cue John Mellencamp).  Dianne is the lead teacher.

Debbie and Jack

Michelle and Mark

Eunie and Mark

Kersten and Mark.  Kersten is the lead teacher.

Party time in the cafeteria after Jack's class finishes lunch.  Jack is on the far left.

Mark's class waits to eat the marshmallows until Mark eats the first one.

Mommy, look at me! - Mark

Mark, chew with your mouth closed.  - Mommy

Mark and his good buddy Colton.

Pamm and Mark.

Jack and Clare.

Ben and Jack.

Walking out of Children's House with their paper mache giraffes, which are now proudly displayed in Daddy's office.

Bye Bye Children's House.  We loved our time here.

Children's House Graduation Picnic

On Wednesday night, there was a Graduation Picnic for all of the graduates at Children's House.  Families were all welcomed to come.  At 5:30, and after a storm threatened to put a wet damper on the festivities, the graduates walked up from Children's House wearing their graduation caps.  Once they arrived, they sat with their classmates.  Then, Mr. Rick lead them in singing a few songs.  Next, each head teacher called out each graduate's name and they came to the front and was given their diploma.

After all six classes had gone through their list of graduates, there was a potluck dinner for everyone.

We are so proud of Jack and Mark.  They have excelled at Children's House and Building K.  The Montessori approach has been really good for both of them.  It is hard to believe that in only a couple of months the boys will be going to kindergarten.  Unbelievable.

This was the 2nd annual graduation picnic put on by Children's House.  It was done first class. Very impressive.  We were so happy that we were able to be there for this event.

Here are several pictures from the picnic:

Mark walking up to the picnic.  He and Cole are holding hands.

Ben and Jack take a glance at all the family members that are at the picnic shelter.

I am sitting at the front of this blanket.  - Mark

See, I told you!  - Mark

I am pretty serious during this ceremony.  But I am really happy to be here.  - Jack

Mark gets his diploma! 

Jack gets his diploma! 

Mark and his teacher Kersten

Look at that graduate!

Granna and Grandpa with the graduates.

Mommy and Daddy with the graduates.

Mark and Cole.

Jack and his teacher Dianne.

Look at that face of a graduate!

Jack is now a graduate.

Mark is now a graduate.

SAS Spring Festival

SAS has an annual spring festival, which is a family friendly event that has things for all ages.  When we got there, the boys automatically wanted to go play on all of the bounce houses.  They started with a horse race, then also went on a slide, shot basketball, and just had a great time.  After we ate dinner, we found some their friends from Children's House.  It was so cute to see how excited they get when we see their friends from preschool.  They then want to hang out with them.  It isn't like they didn't just spend the previous 8 hours with them, but of course this is different and they want to be with their buddies.  How cute!  This year, they wanted to stay for the fireworks for the first time.  They enjoyed watching the fireworks with their buddies.   Everyone had a really good time at the SAS Spring Festival.  Thanks SAS!

Here are a couple of pictures from the event:

And we're off.  Jack has the early lead over Mark.

I think my horse didn't get the memo to go fast.  - Mark

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! - Jack\

Here I come! - Mark 

After dinner, it was fun time with Alex with Ben.

Fireworks time.  Notice that Alex is prepared for loud sounds.

Alex isn't the only one with hands over their ears.  Look at me! - Mark