HOLY SMOKES....I just looked at my calendar and realized that my birthday is in less than one week. Really? JUNE is almost over? This summer is already flying by. Dang.
Looking back on the past month and a half since I've blogged, I realized one thing...I Really REALLY love my kids. They are the cheese to my macaroni, the apple of my eye, the spring in my step, and the loves of my life. Anyway, you get the point. So, it should come as no surprise to you that I want to start off this post by bragging about them for a little bit.
The school year ended and I am so proud of all that each of them accomplished this year. They have each really stretched themselves academically as well as physically! Next year all three of them will be at school full time. Yikes. I don't really want to think about that quite yet.
Olivia graduated Kindergarten and I couldn't be more proud of her. She is simply amazing. She's a friend to everyone she meets. She is very aware of those who are in need of a helping hand and is always quick to make sure she is there to help. She is independent, driven, and very determined, or in other words, stubborn. This has proven to be both very good, and at times, not so good. Half the time, she walks out of the house looking like this...
because heaven forbid I help her with her wardrobe or hair.
I have a feeling she will keep me on my toes when she becomes a teenager!
She passed Kindergarten with flying colors and is definitely ready to conquer 1st grade!
Jack also passed 1st grade with flying colors! He has far surpassed my expectations and this year he really thrived!
He had a handful of his closest classroom friends come over for an end-of-the-year play-date. What a difference a year makes. This year, to my surprise, he is quite the social butterfly. Especially with the ladies. He was sure lucky to be in the class he was in. The kids, especially the girls, really took him under their wings and helped him break out of his shell. He is an above grade level reader. Math on the other hand....let's just say, we will have to work extra hard on that subject. He is ready to be a big second grader! I hope his next teacher will let me help out in the classroom as much as I was able to this year. His teacher and I became great friends. It's nice when you are comfortable enough with a teacher to text them multiple times a day, just to check in. Or to make sure he ate his lunch. :)
This is my little muscle man. Watch out ladies!
Keaton, as expected, excelled in his 4th grade classes as well. Well, all but his Music class. Grrrr. I hope one day he will appreciate music as much as I do. I threatened to sign him up to be in the school choir. Hehehe, he did NOT find that funny. He promised me he would play some kind of instrument next year. He will be the Big Man On Campus next year as a big 5th grader. I can't even think about middle school, it gives me anxiety. Middle school is a nightmare. Yikes.
He is really in to swimming this year. He is actually very good, I attribute it to his huge feet. It's like he has built in flippers. At the end of his first swim team season, he brought home four 1st place ribbons and one 3rd place ribbon. We were so proud of him. He is quite the little fish and can far out swim me in the lap pool. He has also been running a lot this summer, he wants to try a triathlon soon. He wants me to do one with him. I guess I better start hitting the pavement again...
Can't forget about the baby of the family. Doug is growing like a weed too!
WE ALL LOVE HIM!
Even if he does 'think' he's a lap dog.
Field day fun!
In other news over the past 6 weeks...
Olivia definitely has a checkerboard smile. She just lost #6. It's hard for her to eat corn on the cob.
She also decided to make a little of her own $ by doing a lemonade and cookie stand. Who could say no to that cutie pie!?
We had a wonderful Mother's Day! My kids each made me a beautiful necklace, cards, school projects, brought me breakfast in bed and showered me with love.
I love being a mom more than anything in the world.
Nothing compares. Nothing.
I was able to take a few snapshots of my newest niece Evelyn. She is a doll.
My sister and her adorable kids also came to visit!!! She let the boys stay an extra few days and it was so nice to have all the 'Smidt' grandsons together. I think we made some great new memories!
I wish they didn't live so far away.
We had a great Father's Day as well! These kids are lucky to have the Dad they do! We sure love him.
Nana and Pops came to visit!! We were the last stop on their extra long road trip. They were able to see all their grandkids in one trip. Well, all but Jesse, who is living in Brazil. They drove to California, to Nevada, to Arizona, to New Mexico, to Colorado, to Utah, to Rexburg, and then to Boise! Sheesh, they are troopers. I think they said they went 6,000 miles or so. Amazing. It was so nice to have them here. We love them so much.
And last, but certainly not least....I finally got to meet my little Piper!! It only took 6 months for that to happen. Ohhh, she is too sweet and I am so glad I will have the chance to snuggle her now that Britt and Shawn are back in Boise. Just an FYI...they are back in Boise while Shawn is doing some job hunting. They just came in to town yesterday. Although it isn't the best of circumstances that they are here, it is sure nice to have them back. We sure love their family. We hope and pray that they will be able to find a good job for Shawn soon.
That should do it for now! It's 1:00 am. I'm beat...my super comfy bed is calling.
