Caleb had an amazing baseball season that ended last week.  These 8U Rangers coached by Shannon Montgomery and Lindsey Gressett and Jason Horton were such a fun team.  They started practicing in mid-February and practiced twice a week all the way up until the middle of June for the end of season tournament.  And…

Welcome Summer!  We're pleased to have a break around here.  But I had forgotten how long summer days can be.  :)  Here are some highlights from our first week… Derek left on Monday morning (with my Suburban) with the older Boy Scouts (youth from church) for High Adventure.  He is there all week.  They are working…

We love this kind, professional, one-of-a-kind woman!  She is the principal at our elementary school, she has been there since it opened in 2005 – the year that Jacob started Kindergarten there.  She has helped us through hard things, celebrated with us through fun and wonderful things, and genuinely been a gentle and loving supporter…

We enjoyed an almost weekly visit every Tuesday with Grandma Kake this semester.  Samuel and I would drop by at 9 am – right after speech therapy, when he was still going.  And a little after 9 am when he stopped going.  She always has a plate of homemade cookies waiting for us, plus books…

Caleb's end of year party was HOT!  And as a room mom I was out setting up and running the cake walk…so I didn't have much time to take pictures.  But it sure was fun to be in Caleb's class this year and get to know the cute 2nd graders and Mrs. Cooksey better.  Caleb continues…

The School District doesn't really let you call it a "graduation" – but it's a ceremony to celebrate the successful departure from elementary school.  Jacob has attended Ashley Elementary for 6 years – this will be the school he brings his kids back to, to say "that's where I went to school!".  There have beens…

Despite the fact that we have one more day, today feels like summer has begun! It’s hot enough for it too. We sure are enjoying cooling off in the backyard…especially after supervising an outdoor cake walk for the second graders today. I could get used to this!

I like independence in children.  It's one of the things I value in myself and believe that my Mom was good at creating in us.  I think it gives kids confidence.  For two years now the boys have ridden their bikes to and from school by themselves.  It's only two blocks from our house, but involves 5+turns…

Look who got his Wolf badge for Cub Scouts?!  And he had to KTM (Kiss the Mom).  Way to go, Caleb!  

I love field day!  Although it doesn't have the same appeal that it used to.  When I was a kid…(you had to know that was coming)…field day was competitive.  And those who know me, know that just through that one fact alone I was bound to LOVE it!  There were running races and jumping contests…