School's out for summer!

Thursday was the last day of school! Yay for summer!  The girls had their preschool graduation program Thursday morning.

 They did a great job singing the songs!  The pictures aren't the greatest because Chase was my photographer!  He's learning! 

Malayna and Kaylie with their teachers Ms. Felicia and Ms. Stacy.  We are going to really miss their teachers next year.  They had a FANTASTIC year and we absolutely adore their teachers. 

Chase got his final report card yesterday--all A's again!  His lowest percentage in a class was 97%--what a smartie pants!  We are super proud of him!

Great Strides 2012

 Way to go team CHASEing a Cure!!!  We walked in our 8th Great Strides walk this past Saturday in St. Peters, and we had our own team banner and tent to relax under thanks to the AWESOME fundraising efforts from the team!  We couldn't have done it without all of your support--so thank you to everyone who donated money, time, effort, etc for all of our fundraisers.  I think we are going to break the $15,000 mark this year!!!  Our current online total is $12,300, but I know that Chase's school raised $2,066 from their walk that they are mailing in, and we turned in at least another $500 in checks on Saturday.  That puts us roughly at $14,866!!!  Woohoo!!!

 That's right, buddy! We are doing all this to find a cure for you!  We love you!

 The kids enjoyed balloon animals before the walk (thanks, Megan, for trying to herd them all together--I know that wasn't easy!). 

 Evan wanted one too--which he popped in no time!

 Smile, Chase!  This is your big day! 

This is at the starting line before the craziness.  Chase got to cut the ribbon at the walk this year to kick off the walk, and we were so proud of him!  Jason and I were holding the ends of the ribbon, so I didn't get any pics of it, but I know Grammie did so I'll try to get copies of hers.  Chase did a great job...except the scissors they gave him weren't sharp at all, so it didn't cut through the ribbon!  Jason and I ended up ripping it apart!  Poor kid!  

Happy 7th Birthday, Chase!!!!

 Chase turned 7 yesterday.  Where did the time go?!

 Opening presents after school.

 Thanks Aunt Coleen and Uncle Steve for the puzzle and awesome Cardinals shirt!  (Now he will have something to wear to the Cardinals game in June.  Daddy and I got him tickets to go to a game!).

 Thanks for the cool remote car, Great Aunt Di!  Chase loves all the tricks it does (and Evan thinks it's amazing because of all the lights!).

 Malayna, Kaylie, and Evan got Chase an Angry Birds game (he plays the one on his ipod all the time!).  Get those pigs! 

 Practicing new tricks with his remote car.

 We had birthday cake later in the evening after we got home.  The girls had soccer last night, and Chase got to pick whatever he wanted for dinner.  Of course that means we had Taco Bell!  (As he says, it's the "best place ever!!!").

Happy birthday, buddy!  We hope all your wishes come true!  Love ya lots!

St. Mary's 2nd Annual CF Fun Run/Walk

Chase's school held their 2nd Annual Fun Run/Walk to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Monday.  Chase spoke to the whole school about CF at the morning assembly last Thursday, and then the principal took him over to the middle and high schools where he talked to all of them about CF!  I was so proud of him for talking about it to all of those people and explaining what CF is, how it affects him, and why we need a cure.  I've had several parents of high schoolers come up to me over the past few days and tell me how much Chase touched them with his talk, and about how their son or daughter came home and told them all about Chase, CF, and how they wanted to help him.  I even heard today that the high school baseball team talked about Chase all last Thursday before practice and admired his strength, and how they all wanted to raise money to help him.  How sweet!!!!  I'm so proud of my little CF advocate!

 Evan, Kaylie, Malayna, and Chase at the Fun Run

 Chase and some of his 1st grade friends

 Mrs. Mornar (principal) and Chase at the end of the day holding up his sign in the pickup line to thank everyone who sent in donations for the walk. 

 Thanks for your support!

I don't have a total yet from the walk because more money came in today, so they are hoping to get donations wrapped up and get a total soon! 

On a side note, Evan has decided that EVERYTHING is more fun if you get dirty while doing it!

 Yum, pudding!

Garden?!  What garden?!  This is my dirt pile!  Yeah, there are no more plants growing in the kids' garden. 

May Play Day

Malayna and Kaylie had their May Play Day (like Field Day) Wed, and Chase had his today.  They had lots of fun, and Evan even got to play at the preschool one and have fun! 

 Getting ready to go to the gym and play!

 Digging for dinosaurs

 Evan liked the big blocks

 Malayna on one of the bouncers

 Kaylie digging with some friends

 Malayna and Kaylie on one of the big bouncers

 Chase's class having fun with the parachute

 Taking turns running under the parachute

 Football toss

 Obstacle course

 Hey, Chase, say cheese!

 Face painting--he decided to go for MU on his cheek!

 Malayna and Kaylie's friend from preschool also has a brother in 1st grade, so they were happy they had someone to play with!

Ball tag--get the ball Chase!

Whew, I'm exhausted from this week!  

Kentucky Derby....First Grade Style

Monday was the 20th Annual First Grade Derby at St. Mary's.  I had no idea it was that big of a deal.  I just thought the first grade ran their little race and that was it.  The whole school was there to cheer on the jockeys, and it was LOUD and CRAZY!!!  I honestly don't know if I would have had the guts to get out there and run.  It was fun though!

 All the first grade jockeys lined up and waiting.

 Chase and his horse (who he named "The Bomb").

 Before the race they paraded around the gym on their horses while we all sang "My Old Kentucky Home".

Chase ran in the first heat.  I didn't get pictures of them running because I was video recording it.  It was literally a photo finish!  The teachers all looked at each other and asked, "Who won?".  It was determined that a little girl won and Chase was second.  We were super proud of him (and "The Bomb")! 

Splish Splash!

 Sunday was hot!  The kids had fun playing in their blow up pools.  The big pools were a little too deep for Evan, so Jason and Malayna went to Walmart to get him something smaller to splash in. 

 He loved it!

 He kept wanting to go down the slide.  He's going to have a blast at Great Wolf Lodge this summer!

 Chase and Kaylie kept asking daddy to spray them with the hose while he was watering the trees.  When he did, they would squeal!

They all had fun in their pool too.