Our Adventures with Ryan and Riley Cate

riley cate's spring program

riley cate (and her cousin brandon) sang beautifully (and loud) in the spring preschool program.  her favorite song was "chicken one and chicken two".  love this sweet girl!  only one more year of preschool for her, she is tiny, but is now officially a preschool "upperclassman".  ha!

kindergarten graduation

ryan graduated from kindergarten last week, and we were happy to spend the morning celebrating him!  where has the time gone?  I read something recently that said, "the days are long, but the years are short", and with a kindergarten graduate and my "baby" turning 4, I have definitely been feeling that way lately.

ryan missed the graduation portraits a couple of months ago because he was out sick, so I took a few portraits of my own!  at least that way I can make sure he didn't have lunch on his face, right?!

ryan had a cheering section at graduation...

and look who is ready to have her turn at kindergarten graduation...

don't rush it riley, I am sure it will happen soon enough!

congratulations to our sweet graduate!

olympic field day {ryan, kindergarten}

today was an olympic themed field day at ryan's school, and I attended and managed to snap a few pictures.  his class was representing the coutry of italy, and they might not have looked italian, but they had a nice flag and represented well!  and after all, italian food is ryan's favorite!

they placed 2nd in the baton relay, which ryan was super-excited about, and he ran very, very fast, with a stick baton in his hand.  funny thing about that:  as the instructions are being given, ryan says (really loudly), "but I am not allowed to run with sticks!"

olympic procession:

running with sticks:

long-jump:

love this one, definitely a new favorite:

basketball:

water relay (his favorite, since the cup had holes!):

(look closely, the tongue sticking out is helping with his focus):

sizing up the tug-o-war competition:

had a good day with my long jumping, fast running special little guy!

teacher appreciation week {2012}

may 7-11th is teacher appreciation week, and I have lots of great ideas for ways to appreciate the favorite teachers in your life!  (here is my post from teacher appreciation week 2011).

we love teachers around the bledsoe house (and we now have a daddy-teacher to appreciate as well!).  I am helping to plan events for teachers at both schools this year, and have found lots of great ideas on pinterest.  teachers love good food!  chickfila for breakfast!  yes!  catered lunch!  yes!  sonic drinks!  yes!  Any of those things are good ideas, especially if you are helping to plan for a group of teachers.  

Source: skiptomylou.org via Kimberly on Pinterest

  

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Source: thecraftingchicks.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

 

 

Source: therachelberryblog.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

 

If you are strapped for time, pick them up a giftcard to sonic or chickfila (or something universal that everyone loves, or that you know they love in particular). 

And most important of all, YOU and YOUR CHILD tell the teachers in your life how much you appreciate them.  we did personalized cards this year with photos of the kids for teacher appreciation week expressing our thanks, and I love the way they turned out!

happy teacher appreciation week (may 7-11), now take some time to go appreciate those teachers!

easter parties {2012}

easter parties this morning were a smashing success!  eggs were hunted, cookies were decorated, donuts and kolaches were eaten, and everyone came home with too much candy!

and here is a picture of riley's entire 3's class:
(l-r):  luke, sarah, ava, riley, brandon, grant, eva, jack, jake

wonder what riley cate is doing in the second picture?
she is bunny-earing HERSELF!  hahahahahahaha!

storybook character parade {ryan}

ryan's school hosted a storybook character parade today to kick off their spring book fair, and ryan went as buzz lightyear with one of his many toy story books.  it's a good thing he likes buzz, because he has been buzz the last two halloweens and now buzz made a third appearance today! 

we have gotten some major mileage out of that buzz lightyear costume! 
someone remind me of this when he wants an elaborate not-on-sale costume this halloween!

it was a sunny day, buzz might should have had some sunglasses!  there's buzz waving to the crowd!  watch out buzz, spiderman looks to be right on your tail!

another sighting of the space ranger with his sister and friend marley!
(theres a "creeper" in a cowboy hat in the picture!  hysterical!  I am sure it is someone in their class, but doesn't it remind you of one of those pictures where someone is in it who was not supposed to be?!)

and my two little loves... (ignore the trash can I posed them in front of... ick!) 
riley and I had such a fun day visiting ryan at school, and even eating lunch with him!

that's all for now, space rangers!  to infinity and beyond!

ryan: 6 year well visit!

here is a reminder of what he was up to at age six,
we have his well visit scheduled in Feb/March each year, so here are his stats!

he is right on track for growth (50th percentile mostly),
he is above average on his physical/learning development,
when the pedi asked him if he could now ride his bike without training wheels,
ryan responded that he had been doing that for well over a year, 
geez, that was so last year. 
he is also reading books each night that he brings home from school,
and we are amazed at how easily he seems to have picked up reading,
(and seems to love to read!).

his main love continues to be all things "mario",
he has recently been introduced to sonic the hedgehog,
who is apparently the fastest person/animal ever,
and so far, ryan is impressed!

we love our sweet 6 year old,
and can't believe that he will graduate from kindergarten soon!

western day 2012

"ants: one, two, three"

had to share this moment, and capture the memory:  on monday, ryan read the book: "ants: one, two, three" for the early childhood school principal, because he is now reading so well! 

it was a super proud moment for us, when he told us about it, but the best thing ever is that I don't know that I have ever seen him so proud of HIMSELF.  now that, is an awesome moment! 

we celebrated by letting him choose what we ate for dinner, and he chose pepperoni pizza. 
(he then promptly asked if he could go back every day and read to the principal!)

USA, by ryan

in observance of Presidents Day last week, ryan brought home a very nice book from school that he illustrated himself.  some pictures were more impressive than others, but they are all very special!

my favorite is the eagle, closely followed by the flag and then the blue president!