They Fly Again!

Every May, cadets graduate from the Air Force Academy.....and each year, the Thunderbirds fly for graduation.......so we have our annual tradition of going to watch the show across the freeway from the stadium.

This year, we decided to pull the girls out of school to join the fun.  T was already out of school but opted to sleep rather than come with. (party pooper).  So I went to 3 different schools to get each of the girls, drove to my hubby's work to pick him up, ran to Qdoba to pick up lunch, and headed to a spot to watch.  We have several different locations that we have parked for the show....it is a hard decision to make each year. 

We picked the movie theater and ended up running into some friends from the ward, so we sat, ate lunch together and enjoyed the show....even though it took forever to start.  Obama was the speaker this year and so we had to wait for his motorcade to leave for the airport before the show started.

And in the meantime it clouded over and got a little windy so it wasn't as comfortable as we would have hoped.....but it was a good show as usual.

We love living in Colorado Springs! 

Music and Ribbons

J finished up this year with her final band concert, playing with the high school band.  AND finally playing "Pirates of the Caribbean" song that they didn't get to play at Christmas time.  She did well as usual and is glad that the school year is over....she hates to practice her instrument.

Track finished up as well and she did awesome!  In her League Meet she placed 4th in the High Jump...

Did pretty good in the Shot Put even though she didn't get a ribbon....

Her Relay team came in 3rd place and that was very exciting to watch them do so well....

She did the 400m race and was so exhausted from the days events that she didn't do very well.  They really ought to limit them to 2 events instead of 4....she was so wiped that day.  She came home and vegged the rest of the night.

She was happy with how she did overall and is really looking forward to doing it again next year.

Good Job J!  You really kicked this season!

Finishing Up!

So a lot has happened this past week and so many posts to write.....But I am enjoying summer as we speak.  It is the first real day of summer and we had a blast today as we spent the day with my girls shopping, going out to lunch and catching up on some of my computer things that I have neglected for the past several days.  And later on tonight....smores with friends!  I am looking forward to a great summer....lots going on and many memories to record.

This first post is all about K!  She finished up her 4th grade this past week.  She is so excited to be the Big Wigs at the school next year.  Can't believe that next year will be her last year at the elementary school.  We have been there forever so it will be different not to go to any of those activities after she is gone....but we will wait for that to come....don't want to rush that just yet!

As ALL 4th graders do at this school, the students had their EGG DROP.  Every student figures out how to protect a raw egg from a drop off the school's roof.  It is fun to see all the contraptions that the kids come up with.  K planned hers on all her own, asked me for "this" and "this" and "that" and then came to me with it all done.  I was so proud of her.....I sure hope she remembered to put the egg inside???

She was so thrilled when it was dropped off the roof....

And she opened up the box.....

to find that her egg had survived.....

It was a very windy day and some of the kids had attached parachutes to their eggs, so they were blowing all over the place.  But it was fun to see (and hear) the excitement from all the kids when the egg broke or the container popped open.

And of course, her last day of school.....

It was a full day, but because my parents were in town and J had only a half day....she wanted to come home at lunchtime.  So when I came to pick her up, I brought her teacher gift and her grandparents to meet her teacher.  She was thrilled to have them come and not at all sad to leave the class early (she was excited to go out to lunch and to go swimming with family and friends).

She loved Mrs. Leyes and did great in her class.  She was presented the Desk Queen award as she was the one that always kept her desk clean.  Go figure.....she has the messiest room ever!

She loved Mrs. Leyes and was so happy that she got her this year....and I was too as she was very good.  Hope next year's teacher is just as good.

K loves Mr. James....the custodian at the school.  They like to give each other a hard time and are always joking with one another.

And Mr. Brown, the principal, is the coolest.  We love him and hope he stays around for a long time.  Wait....I won't care after next year anyway.  :)  (Actually I will as I will still be subbing at that school and I sure like all of those people there)

Have a great summer K!

CALI!

T loves California.....it was evident when we went there a couple of summers ago and stayed for a week at the beach.  He looks like he belongs there and he fit right in.  No wonder since his parents are California kids themselves.

So it shouldn't have been a surprise when he got his mission call a couple of weeks ago to.................... California San Jose. 

We thought for sure he would go foreign, but we are so excited.  He was meant to be in that mission and he will be awesome.  We can't wait to experience it through T and enjoy it right along with him.

We get the summer with him and I am so excited for that.  It will go by fast, but you know that I will soak up every minute that I can...I am sure going to miss that boy!  We love you like crazy T!

Lots of Energy

Kids seem to have so much energy...wish I could bottle it and use it for myself.  K had her field day yesterday and they ran and hopped and jumped and ran some more.  It was endless and they all had so much fun!

I love being able to go and support my children in everything they do.  Field Day used to be a lot of work for me when I had 3 kids in the same school and a toddler by my side.  I was going to 2 days of field day and then running back and forth to a different side of the park to get pictures of each of my kids.  Now I can sit under a tree and watch K and relax and enjoy the morning better.

She had a great time, but hula hooping is by far her favorite.....she could stand there forever and hula hoop.

She loved that Mr. Brown squirted them with the hose when they walked by....she came back to me drenched, wanting a hug!  It was hot enough at 90 degrees that it felt good.

Field Days are great for 3 reasons....getting a tan, knowing that summer is just around the corner, and getting to spend time with my daughter. 

It was great too cuz the volunteer lunch fell on that same day so I was served lunch and had a nice visit with all the other volunteer parents.  It was a great morning!

She is on a Roll!

So M is really raking in the awards this year.....this week she had TWO awards ceremonies so to speak.  Monday night she was asked to attend the Fine Arts awards for her work in her art classes.
She loves art and this semester she was enrolled in 2 classes...3D Art and Painting.  She was excited to get invited and walked away with.......TWO awards.  It was awesome.

She got a certificate for being "Open Minded"...for her willingness to accept new concepts and embrace experiences outside of her comfort zone! 

After receiving that award, she sat back down and said "Dang, I really wanted one of those trophies".   BAM....she got another award and with the trophy she was wanting.  This one was for "Outstanding Artist"....for her overall talent and dedication!  She was thrilled and what a fun trophy....almost like an Oscar.

She has done some fabulous work (I should post some) and I love that I have them all over the house.  They add character and color and fun and brings a smile to my face every day that I get to look at them.  You should all come over to see what a great artist she is becoming! 

Congrats M on all your work this year.

Then tonight she had her Track Banquet where she received.....

her Letter!  She was so thrilled and it was all because she did so awesome in the discus at Regionals.  TWO Letters in the 3 sports she played this year as a Sophomore.....YOU ROCK!

Kid #4....

Every child has participated in the District 49 Track Meet when they were in 4th AND 5th grade at Remington.  So when it came around this year, K was asked to be in it since she is finally old enough.  And of course, like every other time, I was there to support her.  I actually was asked to help so I was in charge of getting all the 4th graders to the events they were in. 

It was a nice day out and the kids were so excited to be there at the high school.  K's events were the 4X100 Relay with Isabella, Amber and Britney.

They placed 2nd in their heat and so went to the finals where they placed 2nd overall....great job girls!

She also did the Long Jump and did very well even though she didn't place.  Her longest jump was 9 feet 1 inch.  Keep jumpin girl!

 

It was a warm day, then turned windy and then turned a little chilly by the time we started walking back to the school.....but everyone had a great time and I loved being there to cheer my baby girl on!

You did awesome K!

Out With the OLD....

We have needed to replace our steps out back for some time now.  The builders really didn't do a very good job at installing them.  I was holding out for a huge new deck that we could put a table and chairs with one of those fun umbrellas, a fire pit and our BBQ......but that has not been in the budget.....ever!  So when the stair finally broke, we couldn't hold out any longer.  We had to replace what we had with the same thing.  So here is the old.....

And look at the new.....

It looks so much better and more sturdy.  I always felt that the old one would collapse at any minute.  After taking it apart, we really noticed the shabby job that the builders did (it was held to the house with only 2 screws) and are much happier with the new, sturdier replacement.

The girls were so happy to help out and really had a blast with the stain....

 Good job honey....it looks fabulous!