Fabulous Five!

Thursday morning, May 29th, finally arrived! Skyler woke you extra early, ran down the hallway, screaming I'm 5.....I'm 5! Just ten hours prior, the Princess told me while before our prayers and goodnight smooch, that this will be the last time I kiss her as a 4 year old. *sigh* 

We began our morning celebrating the Princess' 5th Birthday at Kiwanis. Our club met off site to visit the Pediatrics Center at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Such a coincidence that I'd be returning to the exact place, on the same day, just five years later.

My Kiwanis family greeted Skyler with warm hugs and sang that classic Birthday song. She was extra happy to see her favorite Kiwanis sister, Jodi Kusley and her favorite Kiwanis Brother, Dillon Daniels. (see below) Dillon and I have know each other for 29 years and he sponsored me when I joined the Kiwanis family 10 years ago.

The celebration continued at school. Daddy and I provided a pizza party to honor our 5 year old. Everyone had such a great time.

 We even brought Frozen themed cupcakes. 

I was able to snap a quick picture of ALL my girls before we left at Noon. Even Mrs. Maryl (dear friend and school's guidance counselor) popped into the classroom, but snuck out before my Gal picture The boys had no interest in leaving their hot pizza or tasty cupcakes. Ha!

Sky and Ellie insisted on a separate photo op together. These two adore one another and have become such sweet friends.

 The Party Girl in her party dress from Gammey!

We ended the evening at Skyler's choice restaurant, Chili's and enjoyed a wonderful dinner and yummy dessert. Still can not believe our Princess is finally Five. God continues to glorify our lives.

Our PreK Grad

 

With just two weeks remaining in the PreK school year, the Princess participated in a wonderful musical performance, "We Are The World". Gammey, Daddy and I were excited to share in her magical night! 

 The official invite....

The cafeteria was transformed into sections of some Continents and Countries, that showed off the students artwork and the stage displayed each classmate's artistic rendition of themselves.  

I just love how Skyler insisted on a cross necklace, a bible and a crown!

Sky's wonderful teacher, Mrs. Fitzsimmons.

The children appeared on stage to perform a series of songs. Check out the Princess waving as she entered! 

A spectacular show indeed. Skyler was so animated, we just couldn't stop smiling. She definitely had THE moves and didn't miss a beat! 

 

After the performance, each child received a PreK participation certificate and then enjoyed the remainder of the evening socializing with their classmates.

 

At the end of the standing ovation, Sky received flowers from her family.

 Gammey's Girl!

During the school year, Skyler became sweet friends with Ellie. Ellie's Mommy is an art teacher at the school and she also is one of the 5 finalists for Florida Teacher of the Year! Yeah, Go Mrs. Bassett!

 7 of the 11 Classmates....

 Ailani, Sky and Ava...

 With Ellie and her brother, Crawford....

 Friends Ava and Louie...

Goofing off time....

I thoroughly enjoyed being the Classroom Mom and will miss these sweet faces.

 Capturing the room....

Each table was set up as a Continent or a Country and I took a few pictures of Sky's artwork from each table. I just love her attention to detail! Starting with Europe....Our artist created a Mosaic, using scrapes of melted crayon bits.

 Next table was India. Skyler created a clay pot and placed stones inside to imitate the stone inlays of India.

Another table showed the lovely colorful patchwork made into a basket that is found in Zambia.

In Australia, young artists paint their own landscape or animal design using dotted lines or many dots of paint. Sky did a fabulous job!

Another table showed the art culture from the United States...quilts are very popular and here Sky made a wall hanging quilt board.

Skyler explored salt crystals on water color paint, creating snow flake designs for Antarctica.

Last table was the Aztec Empire, Central America and Mexico. Our PreK student made a mask that looks like the sun.

Not only did Skyler enjoy making the crafts, but she loved learning about the culture. It was a fabulous night that I will forever treasure. Stay tuned for my Last Day of School story....Soon. I will be posting pictures from Skyler's 5th Birthday tomorrow!

Rocky Mountain Tennessee Take V

I celebrated my 5th Mother's Day and our 5th Annual Girl's Trip all in one weekend in the beautiful state of Tennessee. The added bonus was having Auntie Nicola join us. It was just perfect!

Skyler, Gammey and I drove to the Sanford-Orlando International airport on May 9th to catch our flight to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Unfortunately, we were delayed an hour and waited at the gate patiently. 

 Once we boarded, the Princess claimed her window seat.

 All ready.....

Of course our studious PreK Babe put her skills to use and studied the emergency evacuation chart before take off.  

The pilot made up some valuable time and we landed just ten minutes behind schedule. It was definitely worth the wait. It's been five months since we were all together. Reunited never felt so good.....

Each year, we enjoy a relaxed weekend on the farm and I love the tradition. Hard to believe this was our 5th Girls Trip!

You all know that I must include a NOW picture and compare it to the first photo taken at Auntie Cheryl and Uncle Charles' home. 

After enjoying a tasty dinner at a local Mexican Restaurant in Auntie Chez's town of Cleveland, we headed back to the farm, but all the barnn animals were all asleep. Skyler greeted the dogs then headed down to the barn with Auntie Nicola first thing Saturday morning.

Meet Nick, a beautiful great Pyrenees puppy and the newest addition to the farm!  

Georgie is almost 20 years old, but still popped out of his warm bed to say hello to our sweet Skyler.

 A quick visit to Sky's singing tree trunk while enjoying all the animals.

her greatest Farm buddy, Moose....

 Brutus....

 Scout....

 Lovely Rachie....

Skyler was so excited to have her friend, Darby, join her Saturday afternoon. These two cuties have been friends for a few years now and always manage to see each other when Sky visits. Darby's Mum is Auntie Chez's best friends, Kim.

On Sunday, we celebrated Mother's Day at The Chattanoogan Hotel and Conference Center, the only four diamond rated full-service hotel in quaint city of Chattanooga. 

After a delicious meal, we spent that rest of our day relaxing around the pool. Skyler was the only one to brave the chilly pool water. There is no stopping this little mermaid. She loves to swim!

 We spent the last day of our trip (Monday) shopping in town.

And we continued our tradition by meeting Brother Green and his wife, Mrs Anita for lunch at the Olive Garden.

Skyler squeezed in one more swimming opportunity and took a few breaks to play with Bob Cat.

By 4PM, it was time to pack up our belongings and say goodbye until the next visit. Gammey and the Princess will be visiting in July, so the wait is not too long!

 Uncle Charles...

We boarded on time to wonderful weather conditions and had an extra passenger. Yeap, Auntie Nicola flew back with us to spend an extra two weeks in Florida! Thank you Auntie Cheryl and Uncle Charles for another fantastic visit. We just love making Tennessee memories!  

 Until Girls Trip #6.....

We arrived home by 10:30 that night and it was official,  Skyler missed her first day of school, but it was so worth it! After class on Tuesday, the 13th, my Sweetie decorated a Mother's Day cake just for me! It was a school project late last Friday, but Sky couldn't participate since we had to leave Lakeland by 1PM. My dear friend Teresa saved her cake and then delivered it to us. 

Tons of love were added to the cake. I'm one blessed Mommy!

 My tasty treat with my favorite Treat....

 Yummy!

Definitely, "the icing on the cake" for a terrific Mother's Day celebration!