Favorite Toy Day

(Originally dated 9/14/12)

Benjamin's class earned a special day. When they get a compliment from someone else in the building, they get a bingo square. When they get a bingo, they get a special day. The first time they had pajama day. Today they had favorite toy day and everyone got to bring their favorite toy. Benjamin spent two days thinking about what he might like to take - then it came to him. His notebook and a pencil, of course!! He does love to play waiter and ask us what we want for lunch. Apparently, that is what he likes to do best. As luck would have it, I was working in his room today so I got to see it first hand. After circle time, the teacher gave them free time to get out their toys to play. There were a number of girls that brought their dolls. One boy had a giant bug and several had beyblades. I was a little concerned about Benjamin and him regretting what he had chosen but it was all for naught. He took the time to check out what his friends had brought then went and got out his notebook. He very happily copied down all of his friends' names from their cubbies. Now does that spell fun, or what??

Celebrating Abby

A certain young lady in our house turned 5 this week. 5!  I've been through it twice already and yet I'm still not prepared for how big that number sounds.  Due to our summer plans, her celebrations were many and very spread out.  She didn't mind.  We started in June.  A Build-A-Bear party with her preschool friends.

 Abby picked a princess outfit.  A real shocker, I know.  She named her bear Snow.

 The second celebration came the week before her birthday.  A chance to celebrate with those closest to us. She and her brothers spent all afternoon working up and practicing this grand entrance:

IMG 3797 from Stephanie Campbell on Vimeo.

This was the cake I prepared.

 She loved it rainbow and sprinkley-ness.  I did, however, feel a small twinge of guilt that I never actually asked her what kind of cake she wanted.  Especially when she informed me that she wanted to help decorate her cake and she wanted it to have a picture of her eating strawberries with a cow behind her.  Maybe we can use that idea next year?  After dinner, her brothers and Eric entertained us with a magic show.

 Then it was back upstairs for the cake.  I've taken to using my iPhone 99% of the time for pictures.  It did not do very well in this instance.  

I love this video!

(She asked that we not invite her brothers next year.  Just kidding....)
 After the party, she opened each of her gifts and modeled them for us.

 And lastly, we celebrated her ACTUAL birthday.  Benjamin had her well-trained that she should expect breakfast in bed.  She doesn't usually sleep late and her daddy and I reminded her that to get breakfast in bed she actually had to stay in bed.  We told her we would be up about 4:00 in the afternoon.  She didn't think that was funny.  And wouldn't you know, this was the one day she actually slept in.

 Next up a visit to the farm with her good friends Sophia and Leo.

 I'm not sure why there are so many sour pusses in this picture.  But I do know a lot of people will be unhappy to see it when they are teenagers!  

 She got to chase butterflies - another favorite activity. 

Daddy met us for lunch.

And they got to play in the soaker hoses.  All-in-all, a perfect farm outing.

 After a quick stop home to change and freshen up a little, we were off to Target so she could spend some hard-earned birthday money.  Another pony to add to the collection.

She took her pony upstairs to her room and a nap sneaked right up on her.  As we had a late night planned, I thought it seemed appropriate.  Glad her little body thought of it.

Starlight Theater was putting on The Little Mermaid.  As her special birthday trip is on hold for the unforeseeable future, we wanted to do something special with her. This seemed like the perfect activity.  They had some extra activities set up before the show so we got there early for that.  Because of the long lines, we didn't get to do much but she seemed pleased.

She loved the show and all the singing and dancing.

It is hard to believe she is really only 60 months old.  I can hardly remember life before her!  She is such a joy and loves to smile and laugh.  She loves to cuddle and kiss.  She loves to help and to just be at your side.   She loves color and can brighten any room.  She loves to sing and dance.  We are so lucky to have her as our daughter!  We love you, Abby!!  

She Did It!!

Cassie spent her first night in her big girl bed!! Her first attempt did not go very well and she ended up back in with mommy and daddy. But last night she made it. I put her down at 10:00 and she slept until 7:00 this morning. Not having her right next to my bed meant I didn't hear the wiggles all night, so mommy might have slept good, too. Daddy went in to check on her before he went to sleep - looks like he wasn't the only one worried about her being in there all alone. Glad to know kitty has her back. Here's to many more successful nights of sleep!

50 Years Ago Today

My mom grew up attending a Methodist church.  

Imagine her giddiness when as a young lady she learned that a new minister had been assigned to the church and he had FIVE sons.  What single girl wouldn't be excited about something like that?  (She has since said they forgot to announce the oldest was married, my  dad had a girlfriend elsewhere and the youngest two were just kids... I guess that would have ruined the excitement.)  Anyhoo, my mom was attending Ferris Institute as an English major.  My dad, who coincidentally was working at her dad's gas station, needed some help with his English class so she began to tutor him.  They started dating and a year and a half later were picking out an engagement ring.  

January 27, 1963, Douglas Randolph and Bonnie Hall made it official.  He was working as a student minister at the time and they didn't want their parishioners knowing they had made it home, so they went from the reception to Grand Rapids to take in a movie.  (January.  Michigan.  Snow tracks, you know...)  Then they headed home to Middleton, MI.  (Do you remember what movie you saw??)

Here is a nice picture of said Randolph clan with the five sons.  (This picture is very valuable.  WHY?  Because it might be the ONLY picture in existence in which everyone with the last name Randolph is smiling.  Take my word - this just doesn't happen...)  My grandpa performed the ceremony.  

 One year later, December 21, 1964, baby made three.  Enter Scott Alan. 

Five years later, October 18, 1969, they welcomed Joel Richard.

Five years later, April 24, 1975, they completed their family with Stephanie Lynn.

Over the years they lived in Middleton, Big Rapids, Pontiac, Ludington, Midland, Jackson, Blair, NE, Oceanside, CA, Independence, KS, and Baton Rouge, LA.  The two words that best define the family, I think, could be music and travel.  My dad sang in the "quire" as a child and passed that trait on to the rest of us.  Not many concerts go by in the Jackson area that my parents do not attend.  Travel has been a HUGE part of their lives and they have easily logged a billion miles in the car. They've traveled most of the country as well as Australia and Spain.  Hawaii remains the favorite though, I'd bet.  (Second to Overland Park, probably...)

 This past weekend, they had a couple of celebrations with family and friends.  They were even able to revisit the church where it all began.  

 So proud to be celebrating this milestone with my parents.  I was sad that I was not in Michigan to actually celebrate with them in person.  (My dad tried to warn me about things like that when I moved away, but I just didn't get it.)  But, we are looking forward to getting our chance to celebrate in March.  

 Congratulations, Mom and Dad!  

School is Supplied

(Originally published 8/11/12)

Have you met Benjamin?  He's 5.  He's starting Kindergarten.  He's VERY excited.  If you have talked to him at all in the last 4 months, you would know these things already.  You would know them quite well.  And ever since Kindergarten round-up when they passed out the supply sheets, EVERY time we got in the car he would say, "Are we going to buy my school supplies???"  SO, needless to say, when the day finally arrived, he was beside himself.

He very carefully checked his list and placed everything in the cart.

He was a little disappointed that he didn't get to take one of EVERYTHING.  This boy and school supplies, I tell ya...

Yes, Benj.  You get your own erasers.

And then when everything was labeled, it was time to deliver it all to school.  First up?  Kindergarten.  We found Mrs. Garlic's room.  (Surely, he will figure out it is 'Scarlett' soon, right?)

"My name is Benjamin and I am going to be in your class this year.  I am in Kindergarten."

He carefully unloaded everything

  and very carefully put it in all the right places.

 He then had to find his cubby

 and try out his coat hook.

  Next it was on to s-s-s-s-Second grade.  (Can that really be right??) 

 He was not as excited about getting all his stuff out, but he did it.

 He was pretty excited about having his own desk, though.  (They'd just had tables up until now.)

 One last check to make sure everything is in the right spot.

 And now we are ready for school to start.  Well, at least Benjamin is...