The Mother Load

Todd hit the "motherload" tonight at Lowe's, and came home with a forest for me for Mother's Day.  He was giddy at his find, finding all this for less than $100.  Yep, the Scroggins Clan knows how to find us some good deals.  Being the treehugger I am, I was overjoyed at the sight of ALL THOSE TREES.  Now, just where do we plant them exactly?

Very First Piano Recital

Tonight, Tanner performed his very first piano recital ever.  He was very, very nervous, and I was certain he'd refuse to play in front of anyone, especially since he'd only play for me here at home.  Not Todd.  Not Madison, and certainly not Grady.  I was just a little nervous about how to problem solve our way through that.  So, we arrived a few minutes early, and stopped at Jason and Jenn's house to warm up before the big performance.  We had to talk him into it, but he FINALLY played one song for us there, and felt a little more ready to walk over to his teacher's house for the real recital.

When we arrived, we were led in a prayer before feasting on a hot dog supper.  As the guests (grandmas, grandpas, sisters, and brothers) dined on the cuisine, we were entertained by the little fine arts scholars.  Tanner was one of the first to step up to the plate, and performed both songs almost flawlessly.  His little face as he finished the second one was priceless, and tonight when I tucked him into bed, he said he was so nervous-certain people were going to laugh at him when he played his songs.  I told him over and over we were so proud of him, and couldn't wait to see where his muscial career would lead him.  He just grinned that Toothless Tanner Smile...it wins me over every single time.

Tanner wasn't the only one showcased this evening.  We were able to hear Sam's accomplishments as well; I think they love having so much of the same interests, and that friendship is just budding more everyday.

The little boys had a really hard time being quiet during the performances, acting out the music silently during the play, and erupting into violent happiness when the songs were finished.  It was crazy funny to watch them, too.  After all the official music, all the kids found their way back to Jason and Jenn's house for an impromtu front-yard baseball game as all the adults chatted the rest of the evening hours away.  Overall, a lovely evening of music, friendship, and that thing they call fellowship.  One of those truly "Hope Floats" kinds of nights. 

Toothless Tanner

Tanner FINALLY lost his front tooth over the weekend.  The incident was so monumental, I had to share it with the masses over at Mom's the Word.  Poop Fairy.  Of course Todd would say that.  Luckily, we didn't have to resort to asking the Poop Fairy to come visit; a note was good enough.

Is it majorly sappy that seeing these teeth fall out makes me sad?  The little kid look disappears with the emergence of the toothless grin and subsequent big grown-up teeth.  They begin to look like Big Kids, teenagers even, and it makes me wish for the snuggly days when they didn't even have teeth.  I guess it does make me a little sappy...but man, they work SO HARD for those baby teeth.  Tanner and I both lost sleep as they came in, as he worked his way through the fever and the drooling.  Which, by the way, doesn't seem that long ago...and now they are just falling out right and left-leaving this big kid in their wake. 

Such a Big Kid.

the children have gone mad.

TAKS is over.  It's Friday.  It's May, (well, almost).  There is literally screaming in the halls.  Help.

feeding my soul

Over at Mom's the Word this week I wrote about making the concious decision to slow down.  I know you all think it's my hippie chick taking over, but I truly feel that lately all I've been doing is complaining about my schedule and craziness in my life-much like a grandma complains of all her medical issues.  After a while, you just want to roll your eyes and tune her out!  But, I actually do see a light at the end of that tunnel.  And, it was a light of my own making.  After this weekend of complete quiet and still on the girl scout campout, and then a day of field tripping and walking down memory lane with Tanner, I really felt myself re-center, and refocus my life.  (NOW listen to this hippie chick a-talkin'!)  But, it's true.  This entire week of TAKS testing has left me homeless at school, so I've been incapable of getting there early to work on whatever was that never-ending to do list anyway, and it's MADE me let some things go.  By letting some pretty big things (for me) go, I've opened up space in my mind and my schedule, and the breathing room is AMAZING.  This week I took some time for a quiet happy hour to unwind from trapping adolescent boys from their food, and just this evening I was able to breathe in a night of softball and backyard music without thinking of my list.  Ok, well, I might have thought of my list-but I WAS SITTING STILL for HOURS!

Baby steps...but I have a plan, ok an outline for those baby steps.

First TAKS

Madison took her very first TAKS test today, and much to our dismay, was uber-nervous this morning.  We made her a fancy breakfast of eggs and bacon and sent her on her way, assuring her of her future success.

I think I even said, "It's almost a blow-off day.  Take your test, and then you get to READ the rest of the day!"

Her report this afternoon:  "I was the fifth one finished, and you were right! (specifically documenting that statement) I did know all the answers!

One down, one to go! 

First Grade Field Trip

Today, I played hooky and went on Tanner's First Grade Field Trip to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. We love the Fort Worth Museum in this family-with all 3 kids being veteran Museum School Scholars and all.  That's my Big Kid up there, but here he is on his first day of Museum School.

When we were in the baby and little kid phases, I looked forward to our weekly drive to Museum School.  I'd drop one kid off, and take the other one on a few errands, to the bookstore, and sometimes for a big fancy cookie.  After school, we'd browse through the exhibits or take a few minutes to play in the miniature grocery store.  We'd top off the weekly field trip with a picnic lunch by the water fountains or splurge on McDonald's if the weather wasn't just right.  I know my memories might be a little rosy, but I remember thinking to myself during so many of those picnics how precious those moments were, and how fast my babies were growing.  It was a time each week I made myself slow down and just be.

This last picture is a little of a cheat because it wasn't during our official Museum School Day, but I had offered to take Isaac to Museum School just because I was missing it so much myself.  So, I pulled the kids out of school for a day down at the Arts District and The Amon Carter Museum-and it was the same kind of day...the same kind of feeling.  That, and this may be the best picture I've ever taken of all three kids at once.

So, today was superfun on a few different levels.  The Museum is newly renovated, and superfancy.  We were both excited to see the new exhibits, and spend the day together just like "old times." 

His teacher gave me Tanner and three additional boys to chaperone throughout the Museum, which proved to be very....energizing!  The new Museum was amazing, with a new 4-D exhibit on Energy, hands-on physical science experiments, a new play area, and of course, the Omni.  The boys had an awesome time sprinting from one side of the Museum to the other taking in as much as possible before the day ended.

Jennifer and I signed the boys out, and quickly made our way through the Cowboy Museum upstairs (making mental notes to return with all children in tow.)  On our way home, we stopped at 7-11 for Slurpees-a new tradition, and a very much needed Diet Coke for me.  It was a perfect way to end the day, since we'd shared so many of our Museum School Days with Sam and Jenn, too.  Overall, a very superfun day...and with the possibility of super-sappiness on my part, I survived without even one tear...even as I watched the baby I strolled through those halls run and skip with his Big Kid First Grade Friends.