Last Days of School

Summer is here...  Boy, those last two weeks of school were really jam packed with parties, field days, programs, carnivals, ice cream, movies and crazy schedules.  I am glad that it is done.  However, Caitlin is still sad about not seeing her teacher everyday.  She did get off the bus on the last day in TEARS!!!!  We both adored her teacher, Ms. Snow, this year.

Field Day FUN for Madison...

Way to go GIRLS...  They beat the boys 3 times!!!!

Field Day fun for Blake...

Mattawan is an amazing school.  I am so happy that my kids get to go to such a wonderful place.  The FIFTH GRADE CARNIVAL was so great.  The whole later elementary really supports it and makes these kids feel special as they move on to middle school.  It was a fun day with these kids.  I luckily was in charge of PLINKO for a big chunk of my time.  Thankfully it was right next to the DJ and dancing section.  That was so fun to just watch these kids dance and FLIRT with each other... Oh middle school, how I have missed you so---  I've been away from the whole middle school scene for 5 years, but it hasn't changed a bit.  I LOVE that age...

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These boys made sure that I wasn't too lonely at my plinko station.

Dancing...  Blake really impressed me

Erica made this amazing cake for the class

Blake really wanted to just come home with me after the carnival and cook out.  We left the school about 2:00.  He wanted to grab an ice cream and then hang out at home with me.   We jumped on the trampoline and just chatted about middle school.  I shared with him how much I loved teaching 6th grade.  I am so lucky to have this boy :)

RollerWorld

Not sure that there is anything that says CUTENESS more than 10 little first graders at the roller rink.  These little girls showed quite the spunk.  They also were amazing little skaters and bladers.  I overheard them saying, "Let's show the teenagers how to do it"!!!!  Gotta love their confidence:)

Caitlin got to request a couple songs.  These girls could skate and dance!  It was a perfect birthday party place.  The girls could skate for a while then eat cupcakes, skate some more, open presents, skate, open more presents, skate and then finish with a sno cone!!!!

Gangnam Style

We love our boat!!!  I am so confident at driving.  It is going to be a great summer:). Both girls love doing tricks on the tube--aka EAGLE.  Gangnam style is a popular move right now.  When they do too many tricks, I know they need me to start doing figure 8's...  Blake loves jumping over board when we anchor in the lake and swims.  He sure is a little fish.  The kids are getting to be quite the little boat helpers.

June 1st

Caitlin is 7 today!!!!  We love birthday donuts, streamers on the birthday kids' door and chair in the kitchen, balloons, and the house decorated on the morning of their actual birthday :)I think that family traditions are so important.  The tradition of the morning of their birthday is actually more important than the the presents I think...

Caitlin has really struggled with wanting to ride a bike on her own.  For several years, I used the tag along bike behind mine and she was perfectly content.  I was starting to feel REALLY bad that she couldn't ride a two wheeler.  SO...

All I can say is that I am so thankful that this bike had pom poms and a bell.  She was not exactly overjoyed when Blake came riding the bike from my bedroom.  She did comment on the bell and how beautiful it was, but I could see the fear-panic in her eyes!!!  We ALL of course made a HUGE deal about her new bike...  Happy Birthday sweet angel :)

Little Birthday Princess

We LOVE birthday celebrations at our house.  We have so many traditions that the kids really look forward to.  My parents ended up coming over for the weekend of Caitlin's birthday.  We grilled out with them and Brett's parents Friday night - the night before her birthday.  We did birthday cupcakes and let Caitlin open a few presents.  She was so cute and happy!!!  Happy 7th Birthday Caitlin Ruby...

Really??? Another Year Gone!

Kids are tucked in for their last day of school.  I'm feeling very bittersweet.  I'm so excited to have a break from signing planners, packing lunches/snacks and water bottles, making sure they have their gym shoes or library books and dealing with the picking on each other while we are trying to get out the door for the bus!!!

BUT, I'm not ready for them to be growing up.  I will have a middle schooler!!!  I can't believe it.  I will have three kids at three different schools-- weird.

I'm so happy for them and grateful for a wonderful year for all three, but I really don't want them to be another year closer to leaving me!

Happy last day Blake, Madison and Caitlin.  I have some donuts to surprise them with in the morning!!

Ginger - Our new little LOVE!

Caitlin has been wanting her own pet for years.  We just weren't sure what to get and how I could take care of ONE more thing...  I couldn't resist - this little girl wanted a bunny:)  Since Romeo has stolen my heart, I was so excited about getting a bunny for Caitlin.

She was set on getting a female and naming it Juliet.  Romeo and Juliet would be TRUE love :)  When we went to get the bunny there were 4 little boys just waiting to be loved.  After holding and looking closely at all of them, Caitlin picked GINGER!!!!  It is a perfect match.   It was really hard for me not to come home with 2.

Ginger is the calmest, sweetest, most adorable little thing.  He loves to be held, cuddled, and hangin' out with Romeo.  This little rabbit has no idea how much he will be loved.

We need to get busy and litter train him now.  Romeo and Ginger share a cage and as soon as Ginger is litter trained, we will give them more freedom to roam outside of the cage.