Eclipse Day

PaPa and I went to Kingston's Class for the Eclipse Day.  We got outside around 1 and waited for the magic to happen.  Dad made a cereal box projector thing that Kingston loved.  He showed all his classmates.  He told me at one time, "If you look at it without your glasses, you will be blind."  "If you close your eyes, that's what it's like to be blind- and I don't want that."  The kids did great leaving their glasses on while looking at the moon and sun.  It was so hot outside, but when the Eclipse happened, it got cooler.  It was basically like having your sunglasses on in the broad daylight.  We stayed with the kids til about 1:30 then went inside.  It was fun being able to share that with his entire Kindergarten classroom.

Happy 6th Birthday Kingston

He spent the night at our house and we celebrated the next morning with candle lit biscuits and gravy.  He loved every minute of being sung too- even if it was off key.  After that, we played for a while around the house and then met Natalie and Grayson for lunch.  We got chip and dip- another favorite of Kingston's.  They even sang to him at the Mexican place and he got to wear a huge hat!  All I could think about was how many heads have been in that before- yuck! 

That night, we went to Ben and Natalie's for Batman party.  Kingston loved the chocolate cake and icing....Grayson did too!  Mom and Dad got Kingston his own bag of notepaper for making his many lists.  He loves to make lists!  They got him a Lego RV set as well.  We got Kingston a card that had a picture of Jett, Stella, and Frankie in it.  It also had a picture of the ride he hated at Silver Dollar City.  He opened it and stared- he looked at us and said, "I still haven't gotten my chest hair from that ride!"  He was thrilled that this fall he will go with us again to Silver Dollar City to see the Barbers.  We all can't wait. 

The next weekend, Kingston had a Chucky Cheese party with some of his friends and family.   It was at 8am!  That didn't stop the kids from pigging out on pizza and birthday cake.  Kingston won a ton of tickets and had a great time!  

I can't believe Kingston is 6 already.  Where has the time gone.  I look at these pictures and know Chris is smiling down on his son.  I know I can't take his place, but I know that I do share a bond with Kingston over Chris.  We talk about him together a lot.  It means the world to me and Luke.  Happy 6th Birthday Turkey head!!!!

First Day of Kindergarten

I can't believe Kingston has started Kindergarten.  I got up around 5:45 this morning so I could be to Natalie's house in time to ride to school.  The boys were a mess this morning!  It was like herding cats.  Kingston finally got dressed and I took him outside for a few pictures.  He asked why I was doing that and I told him it was tradition.  We asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.  He didn't know- of course.  Natalie asked him if he wanted to be a veterinarian, an army man, a banker, a chef, he said no to all of those.  Then, he looked at her and said, "I want to rob banks."  Natalie laughed and then he replied, "I want to work with money."  That's a much better choice.  

He ate an egg and cheese burrito on the way to school.  We walked around the back of the school from the community center.  When we passed a police officer, Grayson said, "You'd better be good or they will shoot you."  We couldn't help but laugh.  We found his classroom and cubby hole.  Kingston put up his lunch box, water bottle, and backpack.  We took a few pictures and then he found his seat.  He was coloring when we left.  He seemed a little nervous, but his teacher said he had a great day.  I think it's going to be a good year!

All this morning I kept thinking how Chris was supposed to be there.  I'm so thankful and glad I get to be part of his life- I've missed school mornings no matter how chaotic they are.  I miss packing lunches and picking kids up from school.  Those are precious memories and ones I want to help with when I can.  Still though, I'd give anything to have Chris walk down the hall and say, "Dude man Melissa, you take way too many pictures and run a tight ship."  Yep Chris, I sure do. 

Kingston Day

Yesterday was declared Kingston Day.  It was his last day of summer vacation.  I told him we could do whatever he wanted to do.  He decided to make a list- of course.  First it was biscuits and gravy.  We headed over to Cracker Barrel where he got his fill of carbs.  After that, we went to the Dollar Tree in Bryant.  I let him pick out 5 items.  I told him after Saturday- he could move up to 6 things since he would be six!  We went to WLR and picked up Mom.  He wanted to go to her Dollar Tree.  We got him some things for school lunches as well as a few toys.  After that, we dropped Mom back off at her house and headed to meet Luke at Freddy's in NLR for lunch.  He enjoyed a burger and some custard with Uncle Luke.  After lunch, we stopped in Bryant to paint pottery at Pottery Works.  He wasn't real thrilled about the idea of painting pottery.  After we got there, he was all about it!  We picked out several things. He got to paint a Lizard red with polka dots and green eyes! 

When we left the pottery shop, I walked him over to Sugar Dumplings Bakery.  He asked why we were walking away from the car, I told him I was just getting more exercise.  Then, we walked into the bakery.  He was thrilled to get a Superman Chocolate Cupcake.  We headed home and stopped at the Dollar General to get lunch items for him.  He played with the Rainbow Loom once we got home while I made his lunches for the week. 

He then asked if we could bake the dessert like Ms. Kim made him- well why not!  I told him I had brownie mix and chocolate chip cookie mix.  He said, "What if the brownie mix fell in love with the chocolate chip cookie mix.  They got married and had a baby.  Let's make their baby!"  Ummm, Ok.  So we mixed each up separately and baked it altogether.  It was delicious! He fell asleep on the way to take him back home.  I asked him if he had a great Kingston Day and if we did everything he wanted to do that day.  He told me the only thing he didn't get to do was see PaPa.  Now on to Kindergarten!