Last Day of Preschool | 2013

Another school year is in the books. Yesterday was the boys' last day of preschool. Ethan finished up his third and final year of preschool and Logan completed his first year. Of course I took a photo on our front porch just like I did the first day of school back in September last year. They have definitely grown (a lot)!

They both had end-of-the-year parties at school and an early release so after we said our good-byes and loaded up the car with all their goodies from their teachers, we stopped at Sonic on the way home for orange slush drinks. This is a first for both of them. Nothing ushers in summer like a Sonic drink.

I asked them whether they wanted orange or grape (keeping the choices down to two is always a good thing) and they both picked orange with no hesitation. I must have taught them nothing...it should always be grape!

Logan, who is not adventurous at all when it comes to food (that's an understatement), loved his slushie. He kept calling it "juice" and was so excited about it all.

Ethan, however, still does not like cold things, apparently (and yes, that includes ice cream). He liked the flavor but it was too cold for him. I ended up letting it thaw out during nap time and he had some more later in the afternoon when it wasn't as icy.

I am so excited about our summer. I used to be a summer girl...because school was out. So, obviously it was my favorite season. Then, after graduating from college, when the school year no longer mattered to me and I was in an office all day instead of at the swimming pool, I gave up on summer and switched to fall. Now, I have a feeling that summer is making a comeback in my book. We're on a school calendar again and there's just no denying that summers are magical times during childhood. And I love that!

Preschool Graduation and Program | 2013

Last Thursday night, the boys' preschool had their end of the year program and graduation for the 4 year olds. This year they did a Dr. Seuss theme and Logan's class (2 year olds) were the red fish and blue fish. They did a couple of precious songs...in fact, their song about fish was the cutest in the whole program, in my opinion!

Logan (who can be shy) was really into the performance. He did (most of) the hand motions and singing.

Then there were other times that he looked bored...

But he did have fun and was so cute.

Even if he was a little tired...the yawn was not scripted but they were singing about taking a nap! (At this point, it was already 30 min past his normal bed time).

He really loved his "blue fish" shirt.

The last group to perform during the program was Ethan's class...the 4 year olds. They have a tradition of having the 4 year olds come in driving battery-powered cars and the kids think it is the coolest thing ever.

Ethan got to be the driver and he was very excited about it despite the face he's making here.

He spotted daddy and gave a wave before quickly gripping the wheel again so he didn't veer off course!

Ethan's class were Whos from Whoville. They could dress up like a regular Who or they could be a specific type of Who (like a policeman/woman, doctor, firefighter, etc.).

Ethan decided to be a fireman Who. We added the red bowtie just for some Who-whimsy. Ethan, as always, did the hand motions and sang along to all the words.

However, this was the first year that he looked nervous to be in front of that many people. In years past, he was not really aware of the audience, but this year he definitely was. He did great, but he was just not as expressive or exuberant in his performance.

He did smile a few times, though. I think he had fun.

Then after the program, the 4 year olds went to change into their graduation robes so they could get their preschool diplomas. Let me pause for a moment and recognize the relative ridiculousness that is celebrating preschool graduation. But, whatever...they're cute and it is a milestone in their lives. I can hardly believe Ethan is done with preschool...I still remember his very first day when he was two. And here he is walking very purposefully up to the stage...

...where he was handed his diploma by his two sweet and amazing teachers, Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Kim. Ethan really loved school this year and I know that is due in large part to these two ladies.

And just like that, he's done with preschool.

The Cat in the Hat was the MC of the program and graduation and Ethan was lucky enough to give him a high (actually, low) five. It was a highlight for him.

Then the 4 year old graduates did their last song.

Ethan was a proud little boy, that's for sure. He told us that next year, when he's in Kindergarten, he will go to school FIVE days a week just like daddy at work.

Mimi and Pop were there to see the boys' program and Ethan's graduation...in fact, they kept Logan busy while I was watching/photographing Ethan and Casey was video taping the whole thing.

Logan's Big Boy Room

Logan's room has been transformed over the past few months from his nursery to a big boy room. I can't believe we no longer have a crib in the house. I have been collecting things here and there for almost a year now. I didn't want a theme, but I knew I wanted some vintage or antique items in here like in Ethan's room. In fact, there will be a few things that look similar to big brother's room. Here's what Logan's room looks like from his door...

When I moved in the bedding and drapes, I kind of wanted to paint the walls. But, I thought since they were neutral that I'd leave them for now and just paint next time...when Logan has more opinions about his room.

The striped bedding and the bed itself are both from Pottery Barn Kids (Ethan's bedding is navy striped). The "Logan" pillow is from Ballard Designs (Ethan has one in red). Navy quilt and sheets from Target. The green drapes are black-out panels from Target that actually matched the green of the bedding perfectly, which was awesome since they were only $15 a piece. The navy shade is from Bed Bath and Beyond and came with black-out lining too. We are big fans of making our boys' bedrooms dark.

Ethan has a grouping of three photos over his bed too. The thing is...I like it so much and the way it looks over the bed, that nothing else fit the bill for Logan's room. So I just did the same thing. And those are three of my very favorite photos I took of Logan.

Logan's bedside table was a Craigslist find (a steal, actually) that I spray painted in glossy navy. I didn't do anything to the hardware because I loved it. The lamp is from Home Goods and the trusty sound machine finds it's home here too.

This little barking puppy was a gift long ago to Ethan from Nonnie. So, it was in his nursery, then I used it in Logan's nursery (on a shelf), and now it's in his big boy room. I just think it is so cute.

To the right of the bed is a hanging rack that was in Logan's nursery (I had three sweet baby outfits hanging from it). I decided to just leave it and find some fun things to hang from it.

The first thing I found was the vintage Cricket bat. My mom and I ran across it while browsing antiques in downtown McKinney. I wasn't looking for it, but when I saw it, I knew I wanted it in Logan's room. It speaks to the British influences in my dad's family. Then, I hung a soccer (or football) jersey on the middle hook...that my dad and my brother brought back from London.

And rounding out the hanging trio is one of Casey's old baseball gloves.

I had originally thought that I'd sell the rocker with the crib and changing table, but Logan had other plans. He still likes to be rocked before nap time and bed time. It's a tough job cuddling with your son , but dutiful parents that we are...we do it. And we will savor every moment that he wants to be rocked until he decides he doesn't want that any more. At which point I will cry when we get rid of the rocker because I rocked both of my babies in that chair. That, and it may be the most comfortable chair we own (seriously, it's SO comfy).

My mom and I picked up these antique metal train cars in Asheville when we were antiquing. It sounds like we go antiquing all the time, but we really don't! We've just gotten pretty lucky the few times we've gone. We got these train cars for an absolute steal and I knew I wanted to use them in Logan's room because he loves choo choos. But I didn't know how I'd use them. Somehow, I came up with the idea to make them a wall display with shelves (from Home Decorator's Collection). I think it shows them off perfectly. Logan is thrilled about these in his room.

On the other side of the room is a book shelf (from Pottery Barn Kids) and a wall gallery.

I almost didn't fill up his shelves yet because I was afraid that he would play with all of the stuff instead of sleeping. There's nothing on that shelf that is precious or breakable, but I didn't want them to be distractions. But Logan really pretty much stays in bed when he's in his room at nap time or bed time. It helps that we don't store his regular toys in his room.

The wall gallery evolved over several months. I purchased the racket and the Norman Rockwell framed football print (bottom left) at the same time as the cricket bat in downtown McKinney. The number 2 was a find at an antique store in Frisco when I was browsing for photography props. The small bat is Casey's. Not sure where he got it, but he's had it for as long as I can remember. The other two frames are from Ikea.

One of the frames is a shadow box and it holds the little sail boat my parents bought for Logan in St. Thomas. He has played with it and broken it already (it was rather fragile), but Casey glued it back together and I decided to put it in the frame to keep it in his room but also keep it from getting broken again. Logan thinks it is so cool that there's a boat behind the glass.

And I searched through Casey's truck of stuff from his childhood and found this soccer patch from 1991. I didn't know if I would use it or not, but it worked perfectly in the Ikea frame I spray painted navy (same color as the bedside table).

The book shelf items were collected over several months also. I found the vintage books at Half Price Books and also on Etsy. The white trophy and green jack were both Target clearance items that I found at separate times. The "L" is from Hobby Lobby and I spray painted it green (like the "R" in my office...same color). The football and baseballs are new...from Target. As is the glass jar. I stole the blocks from the playroom. Logan has a red coin box just like Ethan does on his shelf. They are from my parents. The vintage locker basket was an antique store find.

And the little baseball was Casey's from one of his years in Little League. It is signed by his whole team. I love it! And it sits in one of his old baseball trophies.

My mom bought me the bowling pin because she thought it would be cool in here...and I love it. The teddy bear was a gift from her before Logan was born. She and Ethan made it for baby Logan at Build a Bear. I love that it is still part of his room.

And that's it...a big boy room for a big(er) boy. I had a lot of fun collecting things for this room. And even more fun is seeing how excited and proud Logan is of it all.