End of School

Conner was happy to be done with school.  He worked really hard on his reading this year and caught up to his grade level - yay Conner!  Conner with his teacher, Mrs. Brown:

Alan with his teacher Mrs. Doucette.  Alan did well this year but he did find it a little harder to stay organized.  They definitely expect more of 4th graders!  Alan was very ready to be done:

Micah on 2 wheels!

Micah was excited to try to ride his bike without training wheels.  We took them off at the beginning of June and I ran behind him holding his seat for a while.  Luckily the road we live on is a one way loop so there isn't much traffic.  After a few times around he started going by himself.  Go Micah!:

After that he constantly wanted to be outside on his bike.  It didn't take him very long to get confident with braking and turning and starting by himself.

 

He was so proud of himself (and we were too)!:

Memorial Day trip

For Memorial Day we headed over to visit Grandma and Grandpa Bassett.  On Sunday we all went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Walker.  When we got to their place we pointed out the electric fence that surrounds their garden and warned the kids not to touch it.  So within 5 minutes all 4 of them are huddled around the fence, daring each other to touch it, throwing twigs and grass at it and leaning things against it. 

It was one of those moments when you realize that your kids just have to learn it the hard way.  I'm pretty sure Alan and Conner ended up touching it and I'm not sure about Micah and Brooklyn.  Someday I might use this story in a talk (not sure exactly what point I would make...) 

The next day we helped get rid of a Russian Olive tree that was growing too close to the yard.  First we chopped off the branches and then we started digging our the roots.  Then we started chopping the roots with an ax:

Everyone wanted a turn:

 

Then we hooked the truck up to it and pulled it out.  There it goes!:

Hauling it off:

My kids love riding in the back of the truck:

Micah found this bone at Grandma and Grandpa Walker's place.  He informed me that it was a t-rex finger bone.  Either that or a sheep bone.  Definitely one of the two:

Checking on the bone collection in the tree:

figuring out the rope swing:



Micah's shoes got stuck in the mud, so he just stepped out of them and kept going:

Conner to the rescue!  He pulled Micah's shoes out:

Brooklyn found a worm:

Towards the end of the day Alan and Conner came running up to the house and said that Micah and Brooklyn were stuck in the mud.  Then they changed that to "well, they are really muddy".  Come to find out they were definitely not stuck, they were thoroughly enjoying their mud bath:

"Hey Micah, let me help you, it looks like you missed a spot"

I couldn't believe how muddy they were.  So we took them back and hosed them off in the yard and then sent them in to take a shower.

They thought it was pretty funny until they realized that they had to stand there until they were basically mud free and the hose water didn't get any warmer:

After their shower, helping Grandma make cookies:

Grandma singing and playing the guitar:

Brooklyn fell asleep right before we headed home:

It was a fun weekend!

Micah's Preschool Grad

Micah really enjoyed preschool this year.  I was a little worried - last year he did not love Joy School so when September rolled around I just kept him home with me.  But by January I wanted him to start having more of a "school" experience and to my surprise he was fine with it.  He never complained about going and was always eager to share what he did. 

They did their program at the park, at the end of May

Miss Carmen leading them in a song:

I can't get enough of this kid's smile!:

Walking across the stage and getting his hat and diploma:

 

Happy boy!:

Hold onto your hats - it was windy.  Micah's class: l-r: Xander, Emmi, Sam, Payton and Micah:

Micah with his teacher, Miss Carmen:

After the program we fed the ducks by the pond.  Brooklyn looking a little cautious:

Micah using the "run by and throw" technique:

Looking around nervously while holding more bread.  These birds can be very demanding and therefore, intimidating:

Conner throwing bread:

Micah is getting so big!  He is ready for kindergarten:

Mother's Day 2016

Our family!  I am grateful for these 4 munchkins that have made me a mom and bring me so much joy.  I am also extremely grateful for a supportive husband, because I couldn't do this without him!:

I got to spend Mother's day with my mom!  She is a great example to me of what a mom should/can be:

Me and Drew with our mom:

Drew bought Mom and I flowers - thank you!