Graduation x 3

At the end of this school year I had 1 child finish middle school, another finish elementary school, and another finish preschool. And whether you call it graduating, promoting, or just plan getting older, all kids finished something important. So, what do I have to look forward too? Alec starting high school, Rachel starting middle school (dreading it already - hate middle school), and Amy starting kindergarten. 3 kids....3 schools...ohhhh all that driving.

Amy shaking Ms. Leslie's hand as she congratulates her on graduating from preschool!
Ms. Celia and Ms. Leslie...the best preschool teachers a 5 year old could ask for.

Rachel on the last day of school celebration. Helen, Claire, Alley, Rachel, amd Erika.

Rachel's last minutes in elementary school. Amy and I there to celebrate with her and her classmates and long time friends of Sunset Elementary.

Mrs. Weldon handing out promotion certificates and candies to the kids. A duck key chain too...not sure why?

Rachel and Mrs. Weldon...what a great teacher!!

Alec's promotion celebration!!!

Alec with good friends Taylor Bills, Devin Badger, Matthew and Peter Cable, and Daniel Newman. These guys are why we transferred to Junction. Taylor and Devin made his last year in middle school great!

Here is Alec with School Board, and church friend, Bill Dunlap handing him his certificate of completing/graduating form middle school.

30 for 30

Ok, for all those ESPN watchers...it's not that program. I have been lacking motivation to do any blogging. So, I have taken the idea, tweaked it and decided for the next 30 days, I will post 30 times. Steve thinks I won't, but watch...I will. Who doesn't' like a little challenge? The side benefit for me...I will get all caught up on the last six months and more of family events.

Ahhh, Spring...NOT

I love spring...really, I do, but oh my gosh allergies ruin it for me. This picture totally captures how I feel during this other wise wonderful time of year. And unfortunately, Rachel suffers more than me. I feel bad sending her off to school looking something like this and feeling even worse. Last night I heard about some kind of natural way (less expensive way) to help with seasonal allergies. You are suppose to eat locally made honey. Could it be that simple? Probably not, but Rachel and I going to give it try. Zyrtec + Nose Spray + Eye Drops=burn out.

Bye Bye Nibble's

Nibble's died yesterday...well maybe the day before because he was really stiff when we found him. He hadn't been eating for days, so I begin to think and get excited (don't tell Rachel) that maybe his life was coming to an end. Anyone that knows Steve and I, knows we are not pet lovers. We just can't get past all the hair...the poop...the work to see how much fun they can be. In fact, when we moved into our new house Steve offered Rachel $50 to get ride of him. Of course she didn't take him up on the offer...she loved that hamster. So, yesterday after we discovered he had past over into the next life...I tried to conceal my joy while Rachel cried her eyes out. She was so cute...as she cried and tried to catch her breath she said "I know that (sniffle) it isn't that big of deal (deep sniffle) and I really am ok (really deep sniffle) I'm just going to miss him." That's my Rachel...love her!

Nibble's and Rachel in better times!

5 seems a little young.

Whenever Rachel isn't using her ipod...you can bet Amy will be. She walks around the house, plays in her room, and dances in front of the mirror all while listening to her sister's ipod. Favorite songs right now...You Belong With Me (Taylor Swift...her favorite singer right now too), Big Time Rush, Gummy Bear, or Mai Ai Hee. When I'm not shaking my head and thinking to myself she is way too young...I'm smiling because it is so cute.

Celebrating!

For all you parents that pay your kids for their grades...you really make it hard on us parents that don't. Alec approached us almost 2 years ago and asked if he could get paid $20 for an A, and $10 for a B. Uh...no! "The reward for all the hard work is the A, Alec" we said to our poor 12 year old boy. "But, straight As does merits celebrating." That's when the steak dinner to Sizzler (he's a sucker for any place with all you can eat anything) came into our lives. After 3 semesters of almost making the grade...Alec finally brought home a perfect 4.0 report card. The 3 other semesters he missed by having only 1 B+...that was tough. But, a deal is a deal. Last night we went to Sizzler to "celebrate". Alec got the 18 oz Porterhouse Steak with all you can eat salad bar (nachos and ice cream) and was in complete heaven.

What have I done?!!

After running only 2 miles today (couldn't do anymore because I would have died right there on the track) I thought to myself..."I used to be able to run 13 miles". What the heck happened? So that very day I decided I was going to run another 1/2 marathon, and never...I mean never go another 4 months again without running. So, I am back to the drawing board again. Adding mile after mile to each weeks training and working back up to that place where I used to think that 2 miles was only a hop, skip, and jump.