A Windy Preparation Day

Today we had to get the cake for Rick's birthday done since he's taking tomorrow off from work. So we baked & I had to run to the store for parchment paper & when I got home the wind got crazy outside. And our fence started to lean really badly. I called my neighbor, Trent, to see if there's anything I should do to keep it up (fences are still new to me) & he came to look at it & we both got nervous it was going to fall on him. That wind was so strong. So, looks like we'll need to get some new posts or something.

We made Rick a yummy cake & used the Pioneer Woman's recipes for the cake & frosting (so yummy-thanks, Kiffon). We sent Rick upstairs with Eliza so the kiddos could decorate his cake in secret. At first they wanted to do another pickle cake but since we did that last year they decided to do a scuba diving/underwater cake because they know how much he loves to dive. It was a lot of fun.

Here's the finished product. The kids were so excited!

Tonight the wind started coming from the other direction, but not nearly as strong as it was earlier in the afternoon. The fence started to fall the other way, so Rick decided we'd better take a few sections down so the whole thing doesn't come down. Our good neighbor came over to help & they had it down in no time. Three of the posts had broken at the base so it will be an easy fix.

Windblown

Lexie loves going to get the mail for me. Especially when it's super windy outside. This is exactly what she looked like when she walked through the door. She's a great helper.

End of School Part 3

Today was Lexie's last day of school! Hooray! Summer is really here! She will really miss 2nd grade! In 3rd grade you have homework every night that is due the next day. She's less than thrilled. It's been really great having the weekly packets. But, we know she will do awesomely in 3rd! She's made some wonderful friends & been such a great example to them & I love watching that. It's also been great to see her confidence grow over this year. She is one smart, capable cookie. Here's her first & last day of school photos.

The boys started swimming lessons today. Now school is officially out. I guess it really means it's summertime!

End of School Part 2

Today was Joseph's last day of school! I cannot believe he's a 1st grader! He is so ready though (while Lexie wishes she could go back to Kindergarten). Here's his first & last day photos. He says he's going to miss "everything" about kindergarten, though.

All of the classes had fun days today with very little work. Lexie's class got to bring in games to play. She chose the card game 99. She had a great time playing it with some of her friends. I snuck into her class & snapped this picture with her teacher. He's amazing & we've loved him as her teacher.

Andrew had a great time reading books to Eliza today.

She really liked it!

It's crazy to think summer is almost here!

My Dad

Today is my Dad's birthday. He was truly one of the most amazing people I have ever met! He was patient, kind, loving, gentle, intelligent & the list could go on and on!!! He was such an example to me of how to live a Christlike life & is one of the only people I've met who truly has no guile.

I'm so grateful for example & am trying to be more like him (and my Mom) every day. I'm so blessed to be one of his children.

Saturday is a Special Day

It's so wonderful to have Rick home! Poor guy is beat! His flight got in around 10:20 p.m. last night & he headed straight into work to get some work on a class done. He came home at 6:30 this morning! He is crazy! (But more so tired!) He went to sleep for about an hour before kids didn't let him sleep anymore & then was off to take Lexie to her dance recital. (And he didn't even fall asleep during it.)

After the recital we decided to go out for lunch as a family. Lexie was super excited about that!

After lunch the kids played outside while Rick rested & I made some bows. They made a home for their roly-poly friends they found. They made a bed, playground & so many other things.

Joseph then decided that he wanted our family to go on a treasure hunt so he made some clues for us. It was actually quite good.

Five clues later, the treasure was found!

We had a really special day together!

End of School Part 1

Today was Andrew's last day of school & we had a class picnic. Here's a first & last day of school comparison. This boy has grown so much & his speech has gotten so much better! It's been fun watching him make new friends & learn new things! He's pretty amazing!

We had to hurry from the picnic over to Joseph's Kindergarten celebration! His teacher gave them all a new book to read over the summer (Joseph's already finished his-surprise, surprise!)

As you can tell, he was so excited for this one. It's a Magic Treehouse one that Lexie checked out from the library at the beginning of the year that he was hoping to get sometime.

We also got to see the progress they'd made over the year. I love those books that they do. It's awesome to see what good handwriting he's developed & also have a collection of all of his book reports.

This is Joseph & his best friend in class, Logan. They really enjoy learning about science & history together (& making hot dogs & buttons).

And here he is with his teacher! I am really going to miss her! I've really enjoyed hanging out with her almost every Friday, chatting it up while I worked on the kids' BEE books & other things in the classroom with her. (She was even so brave to let me bring Liza & Andrew each week & they were SO good each week!) She is wonderful & awesome for Joseph & I'm grateful I got to become such great friends with her. I'm really going to miss our Friday Fun Days. (But, I'm looking forward to them again when Andrew goes to Kindergarten.)

Tonight, Lexie & Joseph helped me finish the tutus I was working on for the girls. Lexie was nice enough to model them for me!

It was definitely another super busy, but fun day!

Awards Assembly

Lexie got an award for being an outstanding artist this trimester! She was super excited & she sure loves her art teacher! Great job, Lexie!

Field Day & Dance Rehersal

Lexie had field day this morning. It was so much fun to go watch & even get to participate in. She did really well! I really enjoyed the "backyard cleanup" game when it was parents vs. kids!

This afternoon, Joseph's class had field day. We spent a ton of time outside today! Liza was such a trooper! Seriously, she was so good. Joseph did awesome in his field day as well.

The kids have such awesome, fun kids in their classes & awesome teachers, too! It was a really enjoyable day at school.
After school we booked it to get ready for Lexie's dress rehersal for dance. Gratefully everyone was great there, too! We were so glad to see so many friends there & that also kept the boys entertained. Lexie did great & is excited for the recital on Saturday!


Rick headed out to Maryland yesterday for the week. We're sure going to miss him & sad he is missing so much of the excitement this week.

Poetry Reading

Lexie's class has been writing a lot of poetry these last few weeks. It's been really fun watching how excited she got about her work. Today we got to go to her "Poetry Reading" & it was fun to watch.
First, the whole class recited Shel Silverstein's "Sick" for us.

Then each kid read a few poems they wrote from their poetry book. They wrote cinquain poems, haiku poems, name poems, acrostic topic poems, animal poems, shape poems & color poems.

It really was an enjoyable afternoon!

Aquarium Field Trip

Since there was no way I could be at the field trip with Andrew & get Joseph to school & some other commitments, Rick got to take Andrew to the Aquarium with his class! They had a blast!!

He says his favorite part is "EVERYTHING!" He did not like the sharks but he did like the catfish. And he especially loved that Daddy got to take him!
He also loved just walking around downtown afterwards. I guess we've got a city boy on our hands.

Our Family Birthday

It's hard to believe we've been married for 9 years! Where does the time go? But these 9 years have been wonderful! My friend, Kristin, was kind enough to help me steal one of her great ideas & take this picture for me with our wedding bands.

The kids sure loved celebrating today with us! We're so grateful to be a family & that families are forever!