Mack's High 5

Mack is 5 years old. I can't even form the words. It seems like yesterday and 30 years ago all together that he was born. He is such a character that has definitely given Worth and I a run for our money. He is relentless with his questions (which I hope means that he will always be intrigued by life and seek information.) He is a cuddle bug who loves to snuggle with his mama. He currently only knows how to use his outside voice everywhere (we are working on that.) He is a leader in the classroom (according to his teachers.) He is challenging and head strong, (which I, with God's help, hope to somehow mold into something incredible,) and he is incredibly funny with wit and humor that rivals many adults. He is adored by his 2 older sisters even though, at times,  he and Ellie can have some MAJOR disagreements. He loves anything Batman, and believes he can become a super hero one day. (I hope he does!)

This past week he decided to come down with strep - on his actual birthday, Tuesday. He began a small fever Monday, but woke up Tuesday morning and walked into my bathroom and threw up everywhere. We thought it was just a stomach bug, but the vomiting didn't happen again, but his throat became increasingly sore, and once NSAIDS wore off his fever would climb higher each round. He actually was negative for strep in the pediatricians office but it resembled strep so much that they went ahead and started an antibiotic. He was pitiful and some of our birthday plans for him had to be rearranged to accommodate the sick one.

On a sad note, Freddie received some brutal injuries when he fought a stray cat this week, and therefore, had to spend some time at the animal hospital. He is now a temporary inside kitty due to healing wounds. He is NOT loving it, but we do love having him around inside. We are trying to hold on to him as long as we can, but with FIV, stomatitis, and no ability to fight any infections, his days with us are limited. We are loving on him as long as we can.

Also this weekend, Worth's 1997 High School Football team was inducted into the TCHS Athletic Hall of Fame. We went last night to the ceremony to celebrate his induction.

Emotionally intense is one descriptor for this fireball. Sometimes it's good, and sometimes, as in this picture it's really exhausting. This was the night before the sickness hit full force (not to make excuses.)

Happy Birthday to Mack! He didn't have a party this year because he opted to go on a trip to Legoland instead. 

No worries on not having a party, the family made sure he was covered in gifts. 

This was a classic response to a gift from his sisters:

A critter catching kit from the Berryman's was one of his favorite gifts. 

He was also very excited to get the birthday song FaceTime call from Grandma and Papa. 

He wore his birthday batman shirt but couldn't go to school due to a 102 fever. 

A big highlight of the day, was hearing his birthday being announced on the Absolutely Mindy Show on Kids Place Live (a SiriusXM radio show that the kids listen to every morning.)

The tylenol kicked in and he attempted some critter catching in the back yard. 

We also sat down and did his birthday interview for his birthday book. The kids love doing this on their birthday every year. 

And then the Tylenol wore off. He did a lot of this all week long.  I'm still not sure why he would hold his cheeks, but that was always my clue that his fever was going back up. 

We couldn't go out to eat for his birthday because he was sick, so the grandparents came and risked sickness to celebrate at our house. 

Ellie, of course, helped him read his cards. 

Holding his cheeks again. I had just given him NSAIDS again  because  his temp had creeped back up. 

He loves a birthday card, especially the funny ones:

He has asked for the BATBOT since last Christmas. I finally figured out what it was and he got one for his birthday this year. Clearly, Emma is just as excited about it as Mack. 

I get mom of the year for this one. He has NOT stopped playing with it all week. 

You would have thought it was Christmas with all of the gifts from family that he got. 

The birthday boy with mama and daddy. 

Birthday dinner crew. The menu included Pizza, Salad, and ...

CAKE!! Sorry it is sideways, I forgot to edit it before I posted this picture.  

Mack also has Flip Flop, the class stuffed animal visiting this week. We hope no germs were spread to flip flop. 

The medicine did it's job and Mack was able to eat a decent dinner and some cake. 

Emma asked for a side pony tail with a bow the other morning for school. She looked so cute, I had to snap her picture .

Mack on another crash. At least Flip Flop was by his side. 

After missing most of the week, Mack was able to go back to school Friday. We celebrated his birthday that day in his class.

The Batman cookies were a hit. 

The superhero masks I got his class as party favors were a hit as well. 

His teacher snapped a quick picture of us. 

Freddie and Mack trying to get Daddy's attention

Freddie resumed the position that he loved when he was a kitten, on a cabbed on the bottom shelf of my front hall table. 

TCHS 1997 Football Team

Worth's dad presented the plaques. 

First days continued...

This week Mack had his open house and then began 4 year old preK at Park Avenue United Methodist church on Wednesday. This will be the Bowers' 8th and final year at PAUMC preschool. It is so bitter sweet. Mack is loving his new preschool class and has begged to go back every day, so I take that as a sign that things are going well for him.

Ellie had a big week. She began acolyte training this week and will participate monthly at church now. Ellie also decided she wanted to run as a homeroom representative for the student council. She filled out her application, made her poster, and came up with a speech by herself (mostly.) And, she WON!! I was so proud of her. She worked so hard on everything and was really nervous because there were at least 4 other girls running against her in the class. I know she will do a great job representing her class after the work she put in to win her position.

Emma has had a good week as well. She is rocking and rolling in her 2nd grade class. She has won over 20 viking bucks this week, which apparently is unheard of. To get a viking buck, you have to show good behavior, do something nice for others, listen quietly, walk the viking line in the hall quietly, help your teacher, etc. They can use these viking bucks at various times of the year to "buy" prizes or participate in big activities. Obviously, the more bucks you have the bigger your chances for Froyo truck day, pizza parties, etc. I do want to mention how incredibly proud I am of Emma for this. On Monday, Emma came home and said, "mom, are you going to Target while I'm at dance?" My answer, was (of course) "Yes, do you need something?" She then said, "mama, there are still 4 kids in my class who don't have binders and need them, can I get them some binders and take them to school for them?" I almost burst into tears and immediately responded with "Absolutely!" She ended up receiving several viking bucks for this act of kindness to her classmates. It made me so very proud of her and her thoughtfulness. This girl's heart is going to change the world!

Mack walking into his open house without me. He thinks he's a big shot now. 

I got him to stop for just a second for a quick picture.

Sitting in his cubby. 

Ellie filling out her application to run for class student council representative. 

Ellie is on the right at acolyte practice. 

Mack and Emma took the floor view to watch Ellie and the other kids practice. 

Mack's first day was this Wednesday! He had a long list of future career goals, but we narrowed it down to these  4 in order to fit it on one piece of paper. 

Big man on campus - he's a "4" this year!

He jumped right in with his classmates. His teacher, Ms. Tish is standing in the background. She was Emma and Ellie's 4 year old preK teacher as well. She's amazing!

He didn't even tell me bye. I barely got him to pose for this picture. He's a "things to do" kind of kid. 

Working hard on her poster for student council

I really don't know that she has ever spent this much time doing anything. 

Ellie's speech and poster:

One of Mack's assignments this week was to make himself. This is what he did. He wanted to make sure we could get a bow tie on himself. By the way, the circles beside his smile are not his cheeks, those are ears. (He had to clarify for me.) 

We have a winner! She found out Friday right before leaving  school. 

Big August

it has been a HUGE fun week for our family. Tuesday, the girls had their first day of 2nd and 4th grade. I still can't help but to shed a little tear every year. I always worry about what the new year will bring, but I can honestly say that I feel 100% sure that both girls are in excellent hands with their teachers this year. Ellie's teachers (all 3 of them) seem great so far, and I've heard good things about them. However, I am worried about 4th grade girl drama that I've heard is coming, but I am arming myself and Ellie ahead of time for that.  I think Emma is going to flourish in her class. Her teacher is so far amazingly organized and obviously a whole-hearted educator. I think it is definitely a good fit for Emma.

We did our traditional first day of school yogurt trip this week, I've had some quality time with Mack while the girls have been at school, Mack officially started gymnastics again, and Ellie quit temporarily due to other conflicting activities.

This weekend we headed to Atlanta for the Taylor Swift concert. Before going, we discussed with Mack his option to go to Legoland while we were in Atlanta or have a birthday party in a couple of weeks for his birthday. He, hands down, wanted to do Legoland instead of a birthday party. So, we left early Saturday morning, and met the Berryman's in Atlanta at Legoland for Mack's "birthday party." It was fun, and all of the kids really did enjoy it.

After having lunch with all the Berrymans, we checked into our hotel and the girls and I began primping for the Taylor Swift concert. Worth and Mack headed to the Braves game. Our friends, Emily and Ross Simril were there with their children, Maggie, Ella Kate, and Jack. All of us girls went into the concert together, while the boys went to the baseball game. It was so good to see them again!

The concert was AMAZING. I can't say her opening acts impressed me that much, but Taylor was phenomenal! The girls were just about to fall asleep by the time it started, but turned around and rallied once Taylor got on stage. I have been to several concerts in my life.  I like Taylor Swift, however, I'm not a "swiftie" in any way, but that concert is up there with the Rolling Stones for me. It was quite a show! The girls had a blast too.

It is now Sunday, and I am procrastinating on going through book bags to fill out first week paper work, getting Mack's supplies ready for preschool that starts this week, etc. I enjoyed our weekend together so much, I guess I just don't want it to end.

Mack will ALWAYS win the bedhead award. This past Monday morning did not disappoint. 

The Bowers family newest 2nd grader (future artist)  and 4th grader (future fashion model). 

Emma at her new desk. 

Her teacher offered to take our picture. 

Ellie walking in to Mrs. Hansen's homeroom class. 

Although she wanted me to carry her supplies in, she almost panicked when I asked her to pose for this picture in  her class. I told her if I had to carry stuff to her room, she could at least smile once for the camera in her class. Mack, of course, photobombed. 

This was on my time hop that day. My heart exploded. I can't even believe she's getting so grown up looking. I am biased, but I think she is absolutely beautiful. 

I almost forgot to get pictures of the after school yogurt. This was the best I got. 

While the girls have been at school, on my days off of work, Mack and I have had lots of fun. We have played numerous games of operation, go fish, restaurant (where he "cooks" and serves me,) and  Mack the fixer man. It has been some precious time that further my realization that this child CANNOT play by himself. I love him so though. 

Making "rice and beans" for me. 

Emma sporting her new kicks that she now wears everyday. She LOVES these shoes.  

Mack's first day back at gymnastics. He has begged and begged and I wasn't going to let him take if I couldn't do it at the same time as the girls. Sure enough there wasn't a gymnastics class, but a tumbling class at the same time Emma takes. He was ok with this since he still gets to do pit and trampoline - his 2 favorite apparatuses (sp?). 

Ellie doing one of her last dismounts unless she can get into a Monday class. She wanted to quit all together until she nailed this dismount last Thursday. Now, she has decided, she wants to try to keep coming. Thursdays are her dance night though, so we are trying to get her into a Monday class which she is on the waiting list for. Who knows, I think gymnastics is really becoming challenging for her, which fuels her desire to quit. 

Mack loves the car wash, so I took him Friday morning. It made his day.  #littlethings

The kids were more excited about he escalators leading to Legoland that the actual Legoland..

Mack and Bo were fired up about Legoland. 

How much Worth weighs in bricks. 

Add caption

Emma's brick weight.

Ninjago Grey

Emma on a spy training mission

Legos, legos, everywhere....

ATL Lego style

The Lego Atlanta Capitol building and Georgia Aquarium

Other parts of the city of Atlanta

A lego stone mountain. The Lego Atlanta was amazing, and much easier to get around in than the real thing. 

Turner Field

FALCONS!

In line for the Ninjago ride. This was the best shot I could get of all of them. 

Next up was the huge playground with everything lego!

Bop really loved the boats. 

Instead of a ball pit, it was a lego pit. 

3 little monkeys

Emma at the very top of the playground

Waiting on the 4D movie

4D glasses ready!

The soon to be birthday boy got to pick out a lego set as an early birthday gift since this was technically his birthday party. 

We stayed at the Omni, and the kids were mesmerized by the view from our room. 

We met up with the Simril girls to head to the concert. L-R: Ellie, Maggie, Emma, Ella Kate. There were a  few little girls at the concert. 😂

Cotton candy was the first requested food item once in the stadium. 

Our seats were pretty good. 

But it was FREEZING in there. Emma sat like that most of the concert, except when dancing. It really got almost uncomfortably cold. I know I'm always cold, but everyone around us felt the same way. I'm not sure if it was just our section, since into the show the pyrotechnics were on our side. 

I take a terrible selfie, but I took one with my girls anyway. 

The girls were done during the opening acts. I was hoping they could hold out until the show started! 

Once on stage, Taylor did not disappoint. They gave you a bracelet when you entered the stadium. Ours didn't do anything and we were kind of disappointed, until she came out. It was as if they were being controlled and they all started blinking different colors and making waves across the stadium, etc. It was so cool! She mentioned, in the concert, that this tour is a stadium only tour, and since most stadiums are huge, she wanted to be able to see every person there. The bracelets helped her with that, and it was true. You could see every light on every wrist. It was really neat! You will see them on the upcoming videos blinking and changing colors in the audience.

She has some great dancers. She's still not a very good dancer, but she has definitely spiced up her game and her back up dancers made all the difference! 

Taylor doesn't have anything on Emma Bowers. I hate that I caught the tail end of her complete get down on this song. She tried to tone it back when I turned the camera on her:

The snake was a concert theme. This one was huge and I had to get a picture for Mack, since he has a small love/hate obsession with snakes. 

This was at the end. We ended up walking toward the exit  during the last song because I looked over and Emma was curled up in her shirt in her chair, laying down she was so cold and tired. We walked up and watched the end on the thousands of video screens that were everywhere. It was fabulous.