The Graduate

Here he is ...our kindergartener! Today was Chase's graduation from preschool. I cried my eyes out yesterday in carpool line. My last day of driving him to preschool ever! It really hit me as we pilled in the car and went through the route we've been making for the past three years. How did this happen? Wasn't he just two years old and clinging to my leg with his puppy lunch box? Now he is, choke, graduated! Thankfully I shed my tears yesterday so I could concentrate on the slide show and singing this morning.

Lots and lots of singing.
Here is Chase getting his diploma from his teacher Ms. Cindy.
Chase and Daddy with diploma.
Chase and Mommy.
Ellie with Aunt Mel. Thank you, thank you to Aunt Mel, and Grandma & Grandpa for helping with Ellie today so Dusty and I could work our camera and camcorder without distractions. Grandpa (aka "Boppy" as Ellie has decided she will call him) walked the school for at least half of this morning's production.
Chase with his cap on. Note: He is holding his hotwheel again.
Chase, Ellie, and Boppy (sorry Dad I actually like it).

Anyway, I am happily looking forward to Chase starting kindergarten. A little sad though at how quickly time is passing. I'm trying not to be too mushy but geez it's hard when they play the Jack Johnson Curious George soundtrack to the year end slide show.

Tonight we are all packed and ready to head to FL at the crack of dawn tomorrow. We told Chase his present is a day at Disney World. I don't know who's more excited... Chase or me!

Congrats to our big boy! We love you!

Imagination

So Chase has had an imaginary friend, or friends, for quite some time. One day he told me "Kinko" was his best friend and he elaborated on how he met Kinko or Kengo up at Taco Mac. I always thought it was odd that his imaginary friend came from Taco Mac, but regardless Kinko has been around for quite some time. He shows up at odd times and he's always knocking on the door and bringing other friends over for sleepovers and such. He was really into Kinko when Ellie was born and I was worried that he was upset in some way and really researched the imaginary friend thing. I was pleasantly surprised when the Internet told me this was quite normal and in fact highly creative and intelligent to have imaginary friends. So Kinko has been with us on and off for awhile. I have even had to turn around on the way home from preschool because we accidentally left Kinko in the parking lot. I had nothing better to do so we back tracked to school where Chase opened the window and yelled at Kinko to get in the car already.

We have had other friends too like "Peppy" the woodpecker that used to ride with us places in the car and liked to accompany us through carpool line. Oh and "Johnson", Chase's long lost big brother who apparently spends the night out alot and is away at college.

Kinko though, he's been here through thick and thin and I was quite excited when Chase announced he was going to draw a picture of Kinko the other day. See I've grown quite fond of Kinko and I was finally going to see what he looks like. Well, here he is, our dear little Kinko who keeps Chase occupied and doesn't mind taking the blame for any accidents that might occur..

Oh and in case you're wondering, that's "Familia", right next to Kinko. His little sister apparently.