Carson Kids Go To Richmond

The morning after the last day of school or as some might say, the first day of summer vacation, Brec packed up the kids and Sydney and headed up to Richmond. I was left me to fend for myself for three whole days before he drove back on Thursday night, and the two of us flew out Friday morning on our way to Houston to attend my Uncle Johnny's wedding. The following Monday after our late Sunday night return to Raleigh, I drove up to Richmond to relieve our babysitters and stayed a few extra days. We finally departed Thursday night to make it back to Raleigh Friday morning in time for a photo session. So the kids with a variety of caregivers got to spend 10 days in Richmond with their grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousin!

The Hedvall family welcomes you to Richmond.

While Brec and the kids were there on Monday, Brec's cousin Steven just happened to be passing through Richmond, and he came over with his two children, Lizzie and Henry, to have a brief visit.

Then it was camp Carson for the sleeping arrangements.

Gramby reads a bedtime story to all his grandchildren.

On Saturday Gramby took Clara on an early morning paddling trip on the James River.

Joanna sits at the breakfast table with Annabeth and Meghan.

Then later in the afternoon Gramby took all of his grandchildren to the park by Gigi's new apartment.

Cousins see-sawing

Climbing on the jungle gym and hiding from monsters.

Meghan goes down the bars.

Jack spins.

Jack provides a news alert, "Bedtime is cancelled."

Breaking news part two.

By Tuesday afternoon we were over at Nay-nay and Pop-pop's. Clara does the slip n' slide at Camp Pop-pop.

Wednesday afternoon we met Su-su & Gramby at Tuckahoe to play. Swinging cousins!

Who are those good-looking park goers?

The kids race from one end of the park to the other.

Exploring all the different equipment at the playground.

Somebody looks a little dazed and confused after the tire swing.

Saying goodbye to Annabeth, it was hard to part this trip as everyone really bonded and was more aware of the length of time that occurs between Annabeth's visits to Richmond.

One more trip down the slip n' slide.

Heading into the apocalypse at the VA-NC border on our way back to Raleigh Thursday night in order to make our date with MasonDee Photography which was totally worth it given the gorgeous pictures that she took, but it was one of the worst drives I've ever had to make.

Next up, Mommy & Daddy have fun in Houston!

School's Out For Summer!

On to June!

Happy birthday to me! We spotted a raccoon one of the trees at the park after school.

Dinner out at Beaseley's to celebrate the big 3-7!

On Friday we celebrated Jack's completion of kindergarten at the Olds Kindergarten graduation ceremony!

Back out to eat on Saturday night at Chuck's. Jack boldly faces the sunny window equipped with Daddy's shades.

You can see the remnants of a butterfly on Meghan's face from having her face painted at a birthday party earlier in the day.

And Clara's vampire aesthetic.

Monday was the last day of kindergarten and second grade! Sounds cliche' I know but it's hard to believe the school year is over, seems like they just started! Jack seemed to be in a similar mood on this particular morning as he was on his birthday. He really did not want to smile.

Finally I called out to him, "you don't have to smile, just look at the camera," and this is what I got.

At pick-up time I went upstairs to snap a picture of Clara and her teacher Mrs. Lockhart.

Bring on first and third grade!

Next up, Richmond visit.

Second Half of May

After our busy weekend in Richmond, we settled back into our routine for the rest of the month as the school year began to wind down.

5/14 - We played in the field outside of Optimist pool as Clara had her swim lessons.

5/15 - Our family has become stuffed animal crazy. I climbed up to the top bunk to find this scene on Clara's bed. It's a wonder she's got space to sleep.

On this particular Friday I accompanied Jack's kindergarten class on their walk to McDonald's to get an ice cream cone.

Later on after school Jack's spins on the swing at the park.

5/16 - After sitting in our living room for a week, Saturday we moved our new piece of furniture courtesy of Gigi into its place in the hall way. 

Of course as with everything that's brought into our house, a massive reorganization is necessary. We decided to stack the book case that was in the hall on top of the one in the big kids room to give them more shelf space for their books. (Of course two months later and the adult books that were on this shelf are still sitting stacked in the hallway waiting to be moved to their permanent, to-be-determined location. "Kids Go Back to School To-Do list" Item #1)

5/17 - Jack reads "One Duck Stuck"

Daddy took the kids to Umstead for a picnic adventure while I worked on the great bookshelf/room reorganization spring 2015.

Meghan chills on a log.

Clara and Jack chill on a rock in the middle of the stream.

Look, me dear, a little frog!

Meghan sings "Twinkle, Twinkle".

5/20 - Out to lunch at Five Star with Daddy.

5/25 - Memorial day with Daddy at the Arboretum. We spent Memorial weekend at Memo's but somehow managed to take nary a picture. 

 5/26 - Last day of preschool for little Megatron with ultra-high pigtails for the occasion.

Quick snapshot by the scads of gardenia!

5/28 - Sun shower

5/29 -Showing off the mammoth stelladoros to Pop-pop.

Last but not least, Sydney snuggles up with her dog friends.

Next up, school's out for summer!

Spring School Pictures (2015)

As is now apparently a tradition, spring pictures were taken at the elementary school and for the first year, the preschool. I decided rather than always purchase two sets of pictures, I'd review them on a case-by-case basis. Meghan has grown and changed so much since her Fall school pictures.

Clara's smile looks so different too which I realized was a result of her having a full mouth of teeth.

Jack had a rough go with his smile that day, so we decided to wait on this one. This was the proof they sent us.

Next up, end of May.

Kindergarten and Second Grade Spring Concerts

When Clara was in kindergarten, they put on a kindergarten concert, then last year there was a kindergarten/first grade concert, and this year it was a kindergarten, first, and second grade concert. It was quite convenient to be able to attend one show to watch two children! Thanks to our friends we had front row seats, particularly great for Jack's position on stage! He's right there in the front row in the blue shirt next to his friends Emmy, Maddie, and Sophie (on the end).

Once they started singing the songs, I realized we'd gotten a sneak preview in Trenton when Jack performed on the piano.

"Shake My Sillies Out"

"Reach For the Sky"

"Colors of the Rainbow"

"Growing Now Every Day" (tear jerker alert!)

"Banging on the Pots and Pans"

For Clara's performance our seats were not quite as ideal since she was on the back row on opposite end of the stage from us, but being up front certainly meant we got a better view than not. And thanks to the lovely woman from the previous week at Meghan's mother's day tea, I had realized the merits of the zoom, so all was not lost.

"Action, Action"

"Shine Your Light On Me"

"Candle on the Water"

"Cup Song"

"Tongue Twister Song"

Next up, spring school pictures.

Lucy's Pharmacy School Graduation

The weekend of May 9th was full of celebrations. Lucy graduated from VCU Pharmacy School! Friday was kind of a crazy day. Her hooding ceremony was a 2 pm at a church in East Richmond. The big kids went to school, and I left Raleigh with Meghan at 9:30, dropped her at Gramby & Su-su's, and then raced to Nay-nay & Pop-pop's to arrive by 12:30 to head to the church for the hooding ceremony. Amazingly everything went off without a hitch, and we arrived at the ceremony on time.

Lucy waiting her turn.

Lucy Britt Carrig!

The doctors Carrig and Carson!

Lucy and Lee.

Memo & Augs joined the fun.

Meanwhile Meghan was happily playing at Gramby & Su-su's all by herself.

Daddy drove up Friday afternoon with Clara & Jack and stayed at Gramby & Su-su's with them for the night while I attended at Pharmacy school awards dinner. Saturday they took the children Putt-putting! It was quite the experience.

Putt-putt at its finest.

Then Saturday night we all gathered at Nay-nay & Pop-pop's to celebrate Lucy's accomplishments. She knew that family were going to be in attendance, but there were several old friends included in the mix of whom she was not aware.

Surprise!

The delicious strawberry celebratory cake!

Peonies from Memo & Augs' garden.

Memo having a bit of cheese.

Sunday morning Brec took the children back over to Gramby & Su-su's for a Mother's day brunch. 

Meghan collected some rocks and sorted them according to attractiveness.

Meanwhile I stayed behind and enjoyed some relaxing time on the porch with Lucy, Pop-pop, and Nay-nay. Cheers and congrats, Lucy! Also happy Mother's day!

Next up, the kindergarten and 2nd grade spring concerts.