Family Skip Day 2018

One of my favorite things to do is surprise the kids. Big or small - it doesn't matter. I just love seeing their reactions to the unexpected. (And full disclosure - I have had to learn to be happy with a big or small reaction. Ehm, Disneyland 2013). 

During the last few weeks of school the kids had a dentist appointment one morning and Ryan and I arranged to take that afternoon off and surprise them with our annual Family Skip Day. Last year I had a whole theme lined up - this year we decided that a trip to the Houston Zoo was the perfect way to spend time together. We bid on an annual pass at their school festival because miracle of miracles, it was for a family of FIVE and we just couldn't pass it up. 

Cue the perfect Monday. We felt like we had the entire place to ourselves and scored with pretty perfect Texas weather, too. 

This was our first time to the Houston Zoo and we loved every inch of it. They are doing a big renovation but we were still able to see tons of amazing exhibits including the big cats, red pandas and some crazy looking (but adorable) monkeys.

Landry decided to bring a journal so she could write down the names of each animal we saw. She was so dang cute about going to find the info sign and copy the names exactly. 

The bugs are always Radley's favorite stop - mainly because he knows it's my least favorites stop. Even I have to admit, that some of these critters were pretty dang cool. 

We just enjoyed a fun and unexpected (to them) afternoon together. The best thing about our "skip days" isn't how big or how planned or how themed it is... the best thing is showing these three that we have time for them. We prioritize our family. We love being in the moment of the right now enough to enjoy a random Monday as much as a big event. 

I dare you to try it one day... could be during school, in the summer or even just a weekend...you'll never regret skipping out on all the extra of life to soak up the right now with them!

And the Awards Goes to....

Another fun part of the end-of-year-madness includes annual awards for each grade. I appreciate the our school keeps each ceremony to one hour while still recognizing every single kid in each grade. They have it down to a science and I'm impressed every time. 

First up:

Emersyn King

A/B Honor Roll

Future Teacher Award

Radley King

A/B Honor Roll 

(poor kid, got one 89)

Excellence in Math

High Achievement in BOTH languages

Third Place Boy in number of laps run for the year 

(276 laps!!)

Landry King

Creative Problem Solver Award

It's such a fun way to celebrate their achievements and each kiddo leaves with a smile. My favorite part is watching their friends celebrate each other - I love when people lift each other up! 

And I couldn't be prouder to be their mom each and every day. 

4th Grade's Got Talent...

I used to do this thing where I'd back log all my blog posts to make myself feel better. But in this time of giving grace to myself, Imma just post something that happened in May right here on July 6. 

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The kindergarteners of College Hills aren't the only ones with an end-of-year performance tradition. Every year the 4th graders put on a Variety Show... ANY kid that wants to perform gets to and I just love that. The music and classroom teachers help them refine their act and each homeroom has a special performance so all the kids get to participate. 

Kayla and Vicky were the first two performers and that was the moment I started crying. It takes so much courage to get up in front of your peers and be vulnerable and I was just  so proud of them! 

The whole room was filled with smiles and pride - you could look around and see it in the faces of parents and teachers and even their classmates in the audience. 

 

Radley and his friends hosted a "Bad Joke Contest" - he and Cade were the emcees and Davis and Gabe were the bad joke tellers. 

I CRACKED up the entire time.

My two favorite jokes:

What's the difference between broccoli and boogers? Kids don't eat broccoli. HAHAHAH

and

Have you seen the new movie, Constipated?  No? It's because it hasn't come out yet.

Dead. On the floor. From laughter. 

This kid. 

My first baby. 

My only boy. 

My huge giant man-child.

He couldn't make me prouder if he tried. Watching him grow up is one of my greatest honors. The fact that he lets me still hug and kiss him in public? Well that's just a magnificent added bonus.