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This is bittersweet.  It’s our last kindergarten event. Ever.

The principal, who was my assistant principal 25 years ago, suggested that I just have two more.  I told her I would do that if she promised to stick around to see them through elementary school.  No deal.

This morning was Mackenzie’s awards day and program.  She received the “green team” award, for staying on “green” every day this year.  Basically, you start on green and progress to yellow (warning), red (note  home), and then blue (office visit).  My sweetheart never left green.

She also got an accelerated reader award.  Each kindergartener who earned 5 points received a certificate.  The student with the post points in each grade level wins a bicycle, donated by the local mason lodge.  Mackenzie won the bicycle with 57 points!

After the program and awards, we stuck around for a sack lunch picnic.

Random photos from Plains, Georgia:

When I was born, Jimmy Carter was our nation’s president.  I’ve always wanted to meet him.

A few weeks ago, I read that he still teaches Sunday School classes at his church in Plains, Georgia and the public is welcome.  That’s just over an hour away so I decided we would be in his next class.

The Davis Family with the Carters

This morning we woke up early and drove down. There were already about 60 people in line.  On Sundays that Carter doesn’t teach, about 20 members show up.  Today there were over 300 from about 30 different states and 20 different countries, including Richard Riley, a former South Carolina governor and Secretary of Education under Clinton;  several international interns from the Carter Center and a Navy submarine commander.  It’s amazing what a former president can do to a sleepy little church!

When we drove up, a military dog sniffed around our car and then we went through secret service screening.  Those agents are pretty cool.  It’s just like the movie Guarding Tess, where Nicolas Cage is assigned to an old widowed first lady.

We had great seats.  After the lesson and the worship service everyone is able to take a photo with the Carters.  Since we were seated near the front of the sanctuary, we ended up near the rear of the photo line.  The lady in charge of the morning, a former teacher of Amy Carter named Ms. Jan decided that Mackenzie was so cute that she literally grabbed her hand and walked us to the front of the line.  Even Jimmy Carter thought my baby girl was cute!

Later, we stopped at the local cafe for lunch and guess who was there?  The Carters and the whole secret service detail.  Pretty cool!

It was amazing how accessible and approachable this world leader is.  I dare you to find another current or former world leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner, or governor who is this accessible.

Bucket List Check!

We apparently had a weak moment last month and signed Mackenzie up to play t-ball.  She’s doing a great job, but we all know how I feel about t-ball.  Her first game was last night. It was a tied game.

When I was young, I was obsessed with Legos.  I spent every dime I had on the blocks.  I wanted so badly to go to Legoland, but the only one at the time was in Denmark.

I was so excited a few years ago when I heard that Lego was taking over the old Cypress Gardens park in Florida.  Although it’s only been open for about five months, we finally went today.  It’s only about 45 minutes from Disney.

Legoland was amazing.  The miniature models and well as the full size model will blow your mind.  We’ve been to many of the locations represented in Miniland: Las Vegas, Washington DC, and Kennedy Space Center.  The details were phenomenal!

While it doesn’t begin to compare with Disney, it’s worth a visit if you are into Legos.  I think I’m good as far as that’s concerned.  After today, I never want to see another Lego again.

Cross that one off the bucket list!

Joshua’s Wish is a charity that I do volunteer technology work for. I’ve mentioned Joshua here on the blog before. To make a long story short, he was a friend of Tristan and I worked with his mother.  He died from a brain tumor and his parents (who are the most wonderful people) started an organization to raise money for pediatric brain tumor awareness.  You can check out the website at www.joshuaswish.org.

This past weekend was the second annual birthday bash to raise funds. We got dressed up, ate a nice meal, danced to a great band, and just had a good time in general.  Tristan was happy to meet a couple of local television personalities.  I was surprised to receive a nice trophy proclaiming me as “volunteer of the year”.  Everyone had a great time.