Teacher's Gift Idea

When Matthew had his last day of preschool last week I wanted to make sure I spent my final, all by myself, two and a half hours doing something I enjoy.  I decided to go to one of my favorite places.

Home Goods.

I love to window shop. I may pick up something here or there with the intention to buy, only to talk myself out of it a few minutes later.  I think Bill should be very grateful for this trait of mine.

Anyhow, I did come across something that I thought would make a cute end of year teacher's gift. 

These tumblers with a summer motiff came two in a box for only $7.99.  Then I filled them with a bunch of packets of tea and lemonade.  Cute, no? 

 

I may or may not have kept one for myself.

NYC: Year 2

This may just become an annual tradition.

Last year, the seven of us traveled to New York City on Memorial Day weekend.  It was so much fun we decided to do it again this year.

There was no Fleet Week celebration this time because of the sequester, but we headed to Fox and Friends Weekend and were on TV, (link below), went to mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and spent the afternoon in Central Park.

I will let the video and pictures tell you all about it.

Click right HERE to see how we started our day at 6 a.m.

Outside the Fox Studio

Meeting Mike Jerrick!

Meeting Fr. Jonathon Morris

Clayton Morris, Anna Kooiman, and Mike Jerrick

You can find the segment here and we can be seen in the background in the opening few seconds and then again near the end (around 2:33).

As soon as the show was over, we high-tailed it the few blocks to St. Patrick's Cathedral for mass.  It was so crowded and under construction, so I didn't take any pictures there.

Then we walked about a gazillion  20 blocks to Central Park!

Someone refused to look.

Dinner in Hoboken

After dinner we went to Liberty State Park.  No pictures of Lady Liberty though. (no good view from where we were.)

There is a beautiful September 11, 2001 memorial there.  Looking through it you can see the new World Trade Center being built.

 

I hope you had a nice Memorial Day weekend too!

A Birthday And A Graduation

Mary Kate celebrated her 12th birthday yesterday!! 

When I asked her if she wanted me to wake the 3 younger kids to sing and have doughnuts with her before she left for school she said no.  Her reason?  "I don't want all the crazy."

She was just happy reading her new Tiger Beat that was packed inside her new backpack.

 

 

 

Since she had to sacrifice her End of Year Track party for Matthew's preschool graduation, I told her we could all go out to dinner as a special treat.  While we were there I asked the other kids what they liked best about Mary.

Annie wasted no time in answering with an excited,  "She's my sister!"

Tommy: "She's a good drawer."

Matt: "She's a good babysitter at the playground."  (she's in charge while I watch the boys' baseball games.)

Billy: "She's energetic and playful."

For dessert we headed home to have Cherry Cheese Tarts.

When I was growing up, instead of a cake, I asked my Mom to make these for me.   When Mary heard about them, she wanted to have them too. 

Then we headed to Matthew's preschool graduation.  The jury is still out as to whether or not he'll be heading to Kindergarten in the fall....so I was able to keep my tears at bay.

Here he is in the rainforest being introduced

3 Day Morning Class- Matt is on the right, striped shirt.

Boy on far left not mine, but I think we have that same shirt.

 

Such happy events for a Wednesday!

Playing Catch-Up

It's been a week since I've posted and I have some catching up to do.

Matthew and his preschool class took a field trip to a nearby State Park. 

 

A couple of days later we celebrated Mother's Day.

I got breakfast in bed while watching Fox and Friends.  Does it get any better?

Thanks, Bill!

Before mass

 

Bill got me this new apron. (don't worry, he's not in trouble.  I asked for one.)

A few days after that, we had a May Procession and Crowning at Moms and Tots. 

 

First, I had the children help me make the crown by sticking flowers in the wreath.

Then, I asked Stellie to carry it during the procession.  She said yes because she's cute like that.

 

What I didn't account for was the wind!  By the time Mary was crowned, most of the flowers had blown off.  Sorry Mary.

We sang Immaculate Mary and placed flowers at her feet.

 Once we were back inside, we enjoyed these cookies my friend Eileen made.  Aren't they cute?

 

 

I think we're all caught up now.

Upcoming events include a birthday, a graduation, and a visit to my favorite show again!

Have a great day!

 

 

Billy Turned 13!

Last week Billy turned 13 years old!!

The little kids didn't mind one bit being awakened an hour early to sing Happy Birthday  have doughnuts.

Billy got a phone for his birthday.  No internet; that was our compromise.  He seemed happy.

Mary decorated his cake.  He requested the Nike Elite design and she obliged.

He had a baseball game that night.  This was the calm before the storm.  When all of his teammates found out it was his birthday, they tackled him and gave him his birthday punches.

 

They did managed to sing Happy Birthday to him and then got one of these.

They're baseball cupcakes, in case you couldn't tell.

Then it was back home to sing one more time and enjoy that basketball cake and sherbert.

Dad was away, so he called to sing with us.

 The gift that really got the hoots and shouts was the bag of Gatorade, Slim Jims, and gum we got him.  Go figure.  

We're so proud of you Billy!  Thanks for making my dream of being a Mom come true. 

We love you.