The Rays of Sunshine

The time has finally come for Derek to begin Kindergarten. How is that possible.  I wrote last year about how Derek was not ready to go to kindergarten, and how hard that decision was to make. Here we are 1 year later, and Derek has come so far and is going to blow the doors wide open with Kindergarten. Here is the music room, with the Lion King cast. He was a little scared at first but found it fun after a few minutes.  I mean, how to do you top this!! 2031 will be here before you know it.  Here got to meet all of the teachers and he loved the alphabet rug in each classroom.  Derek is so animated, and he loved posing with the school Hawk.  The football players were a good sport with Derek, who didn't want to take any pictures with him, but they made him feel so welcome.  Derek, I am so proud of you. You have come so far and looking at you today, I know we made the right choice to allow you to stay in pre-k an extra year. Your dad and

Over Spring break, we decided that it would be a good time to go visit my brother and Derek's cousins.  Dylan was not feeling good, so he stayed behind with Daddy. Derek and I left at noon on Friday, and meet with Clint and Tara at Main Event in Tulsa. The boys had a blast playing games together. They really wanted to bowl, but all the lanes were full, so we decided to move to Lanes in Owasso. Derek loves to bowl. He was sad that his ball didn't roll down the center.  Each boy got a little toy at Main Event and here they are showing off their "bugs".  Good times and some wine.  The next morning we woke out and headed for the best donuts I have ever had. Hurts Donuts.  The line was super long but worth the wait.  The blue donut is called the Cookie Monster, and it was hands down the BEST DONUT EVER. This was Derek's donut, and it wanted to take it from him so bad. I had the Blueberry streusel donut, and it was the second

We have all heard that kids get separation anxiety when they have to leave their parents and it can become a big deal. I remember when Derek started daycare and he had really bad anxiety and was constantly upset. I thought it was from all the changes that were happening to him at once, and I am sure some of that was the case, but Derek was struggling with separation anxiety.  I also had a hard time with it, with all the changes that took place, and we would both cry, but I assumed it would get better. For me, I felt like I loved him so much, and as an adult, this was part of it. Well, this past weekend, I realized that I struggle with separation anxiety, and it isn’t just a kid struggle. There have been many times I have had to leave my kids, and anytime I do, I immediately feel sick to my stomach, and want to cancel all my plans.  Of course, you are not able to do that, but I always cry and feel horrible about it. This past weekend, I left, with Derek to go visit my broth

I know I don't post as often as I should, and I try to get better each week, but it doesn't happen. I forget to take pictures, and I am sad that I don't remember. Since I do a post about Dylan each month, it's only fair that Derek gets the same spotlight. Derek is a very funny, energetic, creative five-year-old. He loves to make you laugh and be silly. Check out the many faces of our Derek. He could not resist a picture with the Target dog, and when he asks you to take his picture, you do so.  I know there will be a time when he will not want me to take his picture.  (Sidenote: Derek is going to be a businessman. He is constantly making deals with us to get what he wants. If we offer him a deal he isn't happy with, he is quick to make a counteroffer, just not always in his favor) So here is what I know about this image.  We came home from a birthday party, and I told him to go play, a few minutes later, he comes to the living room like this