Kindness Award

Our baby boy has made us very proud by winning the Benny Watters Kindness Award.  This prestigious award is given to only 2 children in the classroom and is in honor of a former Red Class child who passed away from cancer who was committed to kindness.  The award is actually based on his fellow students giving "kindness points" throughout the year.  Whenever a student does something kind to another student, that student can give a kindness point.  Then at the end of the year the kids with the most kindness points win the award.  I love this because it means it isn't just a teacher choosing, it takes genuine and consistent kindness to your peers to win the award.  Luke was so excited to win.  Unfortunately I had a pre-planned work trip to Denver that day so had to miss the awards ceremony and graduation from preschool, but Matt videotaped it for me to watch:)  We're so proud of Luke because if he can be nothing else in life but kind, it will be enough.  And we are grateful for the good example of kindness he has daily in the excellent care of the uber-kind Isolene.

Luke and his friend Chase were the award winners

Red Class, class of 2016

The graduate!  Kindergarten here he comes!

Plaque in the classroom with his name engraved on it

Claire also had her end of year program and will be moving up to Blue Class next year.

Fort Sheridan 

Red Nose Day corporate event at Walgreens

Loving having our driveway back in the back, checking out the semi-steep hill

grass seeded

daredevil skate boader

Rollerblader girl

on to croquet

swimming on Saturday

A visit with the Yttre's - yay!  Their twins are adorable.  Could you see us with twins?  Matt says Noooo!!!!

The three older girls got along so great with L&C, as always

As babies #4 and 5 of the fam, these guys are pretty chill!

Josie and Luke are days apart in age and were inseparable, so cute

Dinner time!

Jake the charmer

Can't believe we got these guys all in one picture!

Claire and Eloise are the same age and also had a grand time together

Popsicle cheers, clink!

Friends for life!!  Love me some Andrea time.  In constant admiration and adoration of her ability to do everything she does!

Sunday morning coffee in our new fave sunny patio spot

Dinner at G&G's

Lilacs in full bloom in their yard were beautiful

Playing Chutes & Ladders with Grandpa

Also a nice spot to watch the sun go down:)

Kelly's Birthday

Right off the back of a lovely Mother's Day, I had a great birthday too!  As usual, I took the day off of work intending to do our annual canoeing trip but then it turned out our canoe paddles were in the speed boat which was getting serviced.  Matt even tried to go there to get them back, but they were closed.  So we went hiking in Open Lands with our little buddy (C was in school), then I read stories in Luke's classroom, got a massage and then went out for Mexican food and ate outside (yes, I'm obsessed with that).  Fun fun!

Picnic lunch

Luke was thrilled to have me volunteer in his classroom

New landscaping!  Our crabapples trees are beautiful

New brick paver driveway connector

The kids love riding their bikes around the circle drive

Roses from Katie & Joe:)  Cake that Isolene made with the kids for me

Playdate with Jack & Mikey

Our dryer finally broke (it is part of the original set that came with the house) and we ordered a new set, but they are taking forever to come in!  We (Isolene and Matt honestly do all the laundry) are managing old school with the washing machine we have left and line drying.  

Red Nose Day dress up days at work every Friday in May leading up to the event on May 26

Luke's kindness project for school, he has to choose a bunch of kind things to do off of a list as a scavenger hunt and then document them.

Jack Richardson - the cutest baby on the block for sure!!! Love getting pics like these to tide me over until I can see him.