ZOO

Wednesday's are half price at the zoo so we took advantage and went with our friends.  It was lots of fun.  Be prepared for picture overload.

just chillin

 the girlies

 this was crazy...this is how the flamingos feed each their babies...so weird

 Sariah's bird size

 When we got home, we realized that it was free slurpee day at 7-11 so off we went to get some.  The girls were so excited...it was a great ending to a very fun day.

The week before school starts, we decided to go back to the zoo again so here are pics from our next trip....

sleeping lion

 Sariah and Hadley

 hold on Kenz

sisters...elephants are their favorite

Sharing

The girls are in the same room for the first time.  They are too cute together...they are true sisters.  One minute they are fighting and the next they are playing together...but they are always there for each other.  I LOVE that they are friends and this is one of my favorite pictures EVER!!!

they don't share a bed but they were hanging out in Kenz's together

6 Years

Sariah is SIX!!! Oh my gosh, I cannot believe that it has been six years since I sat in the hospital completely unprepared to have a baby.  It was a very scary experience but incredibly worth it.  She was perfect in every way.  We are blessed to have her as part of our family. 
Grandma Livingston helped us with our move to TX so she was here the end of June.  She gave Sariah her presents before leaving so Sariah got to celebrate twice.

I absolutely love her face in this picture...pure happiness!!!

 Barbie movies = Happy girl

Sariah waited patiently for Jake to get home from work on her birthday.  We got to go out to dinner and then come home and open her presents and eat cake.  She had a GREAT birthday!

Such a cutie

 Sariah picked out this puppy cake...my girls love everything and anything to do with puppies!

Arizona Summer Fun

Once Jake graduated, we only have about a week and a half to have fun in Arizona before the big move.  Sariah of course wanted to see all her friends and spend as much time with Grandpa and Grandma.  Here are a few pics that we took of the fun...

Jacob Carroll, DMD

I cannot believe that I am married to a DENTIST!!!  It was a long journey but was TOTALLY worth it! It was one of the best days...I was SO PROUD of Jake and all he was able to accomplish.  He finished top of his class and gave the valedictory speech.  He never neglected his family through it all and was blessed because of it.
Here are just a couple pics from the day (most pics are on Sarah's camera and I don't have copies of them yet)...

giving his speech

classmates

 his clinic group

 Adam...his clinic partner

 Shawna

I'll let you know when I get more pics loaded...stay tuned!

End of Dental School

Jacob was inducted into the National Dental Honor Society.  It was such an honor.  Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the ceremony.  

 accepting his award

Adam (also inducted), Dr. Brannock (his instructor) and Jacob

His awards

We also got to attend a formal banquet and awards ceremony.  It was nice to be at something so nice after all his hard work.
waiting in line to go up and get recognized

 his suite

 survived dental school and happy to be done

Party Time

 Sariah really wanted to have a good-bye party with her friends.  With us moving to TX right before her birthday, we decided to also make it her early birthday party.  She was funny when deciding who to invite...she didn't want to leave anyone out from her class.  She is so friendly and loves everyone.

girl talk with her bestie

 of course she had to invite her friend Hayden

 happy opening her presents

 Kenzli was so cold and tired

It was a really long day since Jake and I had a party that night.  We didn't think we would stay every long but we had tons of fun and ended up being some of the last people there.  

 Jake and two of his classmates

this was Dr. Brannock...she is one of Jake's instructors and she knows how to fire dance...it was AWESOME!!!

I had a really hard time saying goodbye to my friends.  It made it easier that they were all moving away too.  To say goodbye, me and couple friends went out to dinner.  I think the waitress at Cheesecake Factory wondered if we would ever leave.  I could not have made it through the 4 years of dental school without these two girls (and many others)!!!

annie - brie - me

End of Year Activities

In my attempt to catch up, I am combining Sariah's last month of school into one post.  My camera was on a weird setting so the pics did not turn out the best for some of these.  

At the end of April, Sariah had a second field trip.  On Arbor Day, the school has an assembly and then the different grade levels walk to a park within the neighborhood and read stories about Arbor Day, eat lunch and have the chance to play.  I was able to go with her this time...it was hot but lots of fun.

Sariah, Clare, Taylyn and Ms. McDaniel's daughter Livi

 Sariah playing

 Clare and Sariah (best buds)

The school had a spirit week...Sariah had lots of fun dressing up differently each day.

Sariah and Taylyn on TWIN DAY

 Wacky Wednesday ~ not super crazy...she had crazy hair and a scarf tied around her waist as a belt and dress up shoes that she is not normally allowed to wear to school.

There was also Rock Star and Nerd Day but Sariah did not want to dress up those days.  Friday was field day so they were suppose to wear the class color for that day which was blue.  She LOVED field day!!!  Here are just some of the pics...

 

Teacher Appreciation week was insane for me.  I was in charge of it for the WHOLE school.  Because I devoted so much time to all the teachers, I wanted to do something extra special for Ms. McDaniel.  Sariah absolutely loved having her as a teacher and I spent lots of time in the classroom and consider her a good friend.  I had each of the students write her a letter or draw a picture and give it to be to put in a memory book that we presented to her the last day of teacher appreciation week.  It turned out great!!!

 She sat with the class and read it to them while she looked at it for the first time.

Marley Park Elementary school does not do kindergarten graduation but the do have a assembly that the parents are invited to attend.  The kids sing songs and then there is a video to music of all the year's events.  After that, we all go back to their classroom and have a little award presentation and breakfast.

 Grandma Livingston got to come which made Sariah feel extra special.

 Sariah and her FAVORITE teacher!!!

 Ms. McDaniel, Kristie, me and Courtney (the unofficial room moms and Sariah's best friend's moms)

I got to spend most of the last day at school there with them helping out.  They had a pizza and ice cream party.  All year they earned topping for their ice cream by reading.  Sariah had read the second most minutes in her class...I was so proud of her.
Sariah brought a book and had all her classmates sign it.

 Everybody loves ice cream!!!

Killing time playing duck, duck, goose!

It was an amazing year!!!  Sariah made some great friends that were very hard to leave.  It started her out LOVING school and learning.  Thanks to Ms. McDaniel for making it fun and helping her gain confidence in herself and her abilities!!!