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.
Here are a few pictures from Tristan’s field day. At least the part before it got rained out.
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.
With Robins Air Force Base just minutes from my house, we couldn’t miss the open house and air show this weekend. Over 150,000 people attended.
I spent the first few days this week in San Antonio, Texas in financial controls training. While that sounds incredibly boring, it actually wasn’t bad. Due to a social networking policy, that’s the extent that I’ll discuss the work-related aspects of the trip.
On the way out, I lucked up by having the row to myself. There was plenty of room to spread out!
Flying to San Antonio all alone
This was the first trip I’ve been on without my family, so it was a little strange. I really missed my kids, but I still had a great time. Like other places I have been, I thought I would hate the city but now San Antonio is one of my favorite cities!
The Alamo!
The main event of the year, called Fiesta, just happened to be going on during my stay there. The first night, there was a night parade on the cities beautiful riverwalk. There were 62 floats like the one below. It was one of the coolest parades I’ve ever seen and it even topped many of the Disney parades. Clay Walker was the grand marshall.
The River Parade
The next night was NIOSA, which stands for Night In Old San Antonio. It was the coolest thing I think I’ve ever been to. Basically you pay to get in and you purchase tickets. There are hundreds of food booths where you trade your tickets for food or drinks. Each area had a different theme. For example, the “French Quarter” area had sausage on a stick, beignets, escargot, and various french drinks. I had the beignets, the best churros I’ve ever tasted from the Mexican area, and some fabulous curly fries.
I was amazed at how many ways there were to fry up jalapenos. I also bought some cascarones for the kids. I’ll post pictures whenever they crack them over each other’s heads. It was weird toting what appeared to be a dozen eggs literally half way across the country through two airports.
NIOSA!
I can hardly wait to return to San Antonio, but next time I’m taking the family!
Today, after running a 10.5K race in Bonaire, we drove to Thompson, Georgia for an Easter gathering with the Davis side of the family. Considering my dad has seven siblings and many of them have kids and grandkids, only a relatively few of them were there. It was still a good turnout though.
All of the kids had a fabulous Easter egg hunt with lots of prizes. Aunt Linda did a great job putting it all together.
Hunting for eggs
Hunting for eggs
Hunting for eggs
After the egg hunt, most of the kids decided to walk down to the catfish pond. My kids got to fish for the first time ever. (No, I didn’t touch the bait.) They didn’t catch anything but they still had a blast.
Fishing for the first time
Fishing for the first time
Before leaving, we took a ride around the property, which backs up to Lake Strom Thurmond. It really is a beautiful area.
Riding around the property
I was mowing the lawn earlier this week, when I discovered this litter of baby bunnies – 5 to be exact. I thought I would post some pictures here. After all, who doesn’t love baby bunny pictures at Easter?
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!
