Cornerstone Annual Walk-a-thon

Look at the crowd this year...ready...and waiting. (listening...we'll I'm sure someone in the crowd has their ears open)

We arrived JUST in time...before the Start Gun. What a greeting Ashlyn Grace gave Colson, without any prompting and then the proceeded to introduce him to those around her as "one of my brothers."

More waiting...they have their lap tickets in hand...come on already...

GO! And GO they went! See the shear excitement on their faces. (I love that she was holding Colson's hand, she is such a care-taker at heart)

After a lap or two I gathered them up for a picture. Kaleb basically spent the whole Walk-a-thon with Ashlyn Grace.

After some more laps Evan was prepared to buy some beads. This is serious business, cashing in his laps for beads! (He needs a hair cut, huh?)

Colson bailed on the Walk-a-thon to hang out in the shade with his Peeps and enjoy the cotton candy (even though he didn't complete the 10 laps it took to "buy" the yummy treat)! Great idea to bring the chairs Grandma...you're a life saver! Thanks for coming out again this year to provide extra hands (I can ALWAYS use them).

Now THIS girl earned her cotton candy...can't you tell by the RED face and all the white stickers on her card.

Colson and Braxton are done with their treat and they are off to see if they can beg any away from their very giving sister!

This is all I'm going to say "Chase and Kaleb" hum...
While the walk-a-thon is still going on, the Flemings overtake this cool tot-playground sitting RIGHT HERE!

And how cute can they be?!

Dirt and all!

Evan won this water gun and he thought he was squirting his classmate when the front was the back (apparently) and he got himself all wet! Glad he can laugh about it! (check out the beads...that's a lot of laps)

The annual walk is over and it's time to head home! What a blessing to be able to send our children to Cornerstone...and to be able to attend these events and cheer them on. Way to go Evan and Ashlyn Grace...Job Well Done!

The First Day of School

One way to avoid tears on the first day of school is to get there late! Not terribly late...more like the 'left-in-plenty-of-time-but-caught-EVERY-red-light-and-some-of-them-even-TWICE-so-that-makes-you-late' kind of late.

Of course I had to grab the traditional pictures at home...(but now we have 2 panel doors instead of 6 panel doors...so it's a little different reference):
Look how much Evan has grown (and matured) Noticed the hair is a little more chill-lax and the top button of his shirt it not buttoned. Those big-boy teeth age him by 5 years at least!!! Where did the Little Boy go???

Ashlyn Grace has grown with leaps and bounds and she's loving her long hair!

Super cute Fleming Flock as we're headed out to load up!

Here is the new 3rd grade class with 2 new boys (Jacob and Alex) and one new girl (Keegan)! It's alphebetical so Evan is in the front row!

Now it's time to deliver Ashlyn Grace. She too goes to the front of the class...table 1...and we're pleasantly surprised to see SIX girls in the Beehive....and she turns around while thinking...

Ok Daddy...you're there right...see my new desk and my new seat...

Yep Petie...got it...I'm coming at cha...

Daddy getting his good-bye kiss...

Bye Bye Evan and Ashlyn Grace. Mommy will pick up Gracie at 1:00 and back at 3:00 to get Evan (for this first week). Off and on through-out the day Braxton would say, "Evie?" and Mommy would reply, "Where is Evan?" and Braxton would sign and say "kool".

We missed you two today.

Cornerstone's Meet the Teachers 2010-2011

Today marked the end of summer and the beginning of the new school year. It's SO hard to believe that Evan is starting the 3rd grade and Ashlyn Grace Kindergarten (lovingly known as the K-5 Beehive)! This school year seems to be taking on a new meaning...has a different feel. This time last year: Braxton was 11 months old, we lived in the Chocolate House, John was in the throws of Turnover, and certain aspects of my life were in a bit of a boggle. Currently, we're settling into our new home (what a blessing it is), our First Born Evan is going into THIRD Grade and has REALLY matured with leaps and bounds this summer, the only Baby in the house is a Toddler who is ready for some potty training, and Turnover seems to be the most do-able in the history of Trimark (PRAISE God)! Just as we were loading the car to head out we pulled Daddy away from painting the yellow cabinet doors for the Beehive long enough for a picture!

Then he returned the favor and let me slip in the picture (since I'm always the one behind the lens). Evan picked out his own outfit and seems pretty chill. Ashlyn Grace, however, already has a bit of angst about her. But she is super cute in her Beehive colors (which Mommy crafted the night before - after she informed me that she didn't want to wear the surprise outfit I had presented to her)...guess the surprise was on me. "Mommy, that outfit is too babyish, I just don't wanna wear it. Can I wear a dress?" She had a smile from ear to ear when she saw Mommy's second option this AM when she came down for breakfast!

It really wasn't meet the Teachers for Evan. Mrs. Chenault, the Head Teacher, was his Assistant Teacher for Kindergarten AND First Grade. (He loves her)

AND Mrs. Lowe was the Assistant Teacher last year in 2nd Grade. So both Third Grade teachers are a familiar face to Evan and such blessings to our family. I just know this year is going to be a G-R-E-A-T year for Evan.

While Evan is unpacking his supplies and getting his desk organized, his sister is peaking into her classroom through the adjoining doorway... (that's her Rest Pillow in hand...which they only use for the first month of school for about 15 minutes a day).

Now it's finally Ashlyn Grace's turn to check out her new classroom and teachers. First we had an opportunity to pose with Mrs. Cook- our new Grammar Principle! Evan was SO worried that she was the Grammar Principle and no longer his Music Teacher...he asked at least 2 times..."Is she still going to be the music teacher???" (Breathe Ashlyn Grace, breathe...it's going to be OK and your new Music Teacher/Principle is so awesome)

It's Ashlyn Grace's turn to get her supplies organized and become familiar with the Hive. Mrs. Waters was so helpful and patient as Gracie followed directions carefully. You can see the pure nervousness on Gracie's face.

Time to meet the Queen Bee- Mrs. Thompson. They had on matching necklaces. Well, Mrs. Thompson's was a smidge larger...but Ashlyn Grace thought it was pretty cool that they both had on bee bling necklaces. (what girl doesn't love bling)

Now for a picture with the Assistant Teacher - Mrs. Waters. (Her daughter Chloe is in Evan's class)

Then Mrs. Powell walked through the room and I asked her to grab a picture for us and I simultaneously tickled Sweetie Petie for this super cute smile! She's sweet inside and out!

Mission complete. We've checked out their new classrooms, met the teachers, unloaded and organized supplies, and seen some new faces. Ashlyn Grace is the ONLY returning girl to move up from K-4. There were 4 total girls in K-4 and now there will be 5 total girls in the Beehive. She will make new friends quickly I am sure!

Now I hope to get everyone to bed on time and have a smooth First Morning of School tomorrow! Oh the alarm...how I have NOT missed you!

Daddy and Gracie brave the Bat Observatory

Here are three of the four girls which make up the K-4 class (Scout was sick). From left to right are Ciera (whom Ashlyn Grace so lovingly calls "Sara"), Carley and Ashlyn Grace. They have on their name tags and are ready to load up the cars and head out.


Daddy reported that these were the BIGGEST bats that he has EVER seen. He said that their bodies are the size of a cat and then they have these huge wings!




Here they are waiting to go into the theatre to see the Bat Movie.

Overall, Ashlyn Grace was really into the bats and the movie, she was NOT happy, however, that her book buddy wasn't there (her book buddy was sick so she shared Carley's Book Buddy- but it just wasn't the same). What a great idea that the 3rd Grade Book Buddies and then K-4 Explorers joined together for such a great field trip!

Thanks for bringing up Daddy- it was fun- bye bye bats.