Precious Gifts

Toward the end of my first year of teaching, my team leader forwarded me a letter she sent home with all of her students.  It was a sweet letter talking about the year and she closes the letter with ‘Thank you for sharing your most precious gift with me.’  I tweaked it a little and continued to use it every year that I taught.

Now, I am on the other end … the backpacks are stuffed with school supplies, lunches will be packed and Tuesday I will be sharing my most precious giftS with two strangers. 

I will put on my brave face and be strong.  I know they are ready.  They will do wonderfully and I will make it through.  This summer has been full of transformation.  Literally.  We started the summer with my firm belief that they needed to be together for Kindergarten.  I already had it in my head we would keep them together until first grade.  But, I prayed and leave it up to God to change my mind.  I saw all summer example after example they needed to be separated.  I finally found myself saying, ‘I heard you, God, I get it!’  The other transformation was my little preschoolers into kindergarteners.  I can’t believe how big they seem to have gotten just over the summer. 

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You might not remember much of tomorrow, boys.  But I will.  I will soak it up and smile through my tears knowing we have prepared you as much as we know how for kindergarten.  My prayer for you as you enter ‘big kid’ school is continue to love God, continue to question everything, and I pray that each of you find friends that have the same prayers being prayed for them. 

Never forget that YOU are MY most precious GIFTS.  I love you to beyond the moon and back.

Hawaiian Falls with Soccer Group

To kick off the soccer season, we had a soccer party at Hawaiian Falls.  This is actually our core group of boys (minus one) that started together the very first soccer season.  Kind of neat!!  This group has been together for going on their 3rd season! 

And, of course, we had to do a silly one!

Lake Texoma

Uncle Matt, Aunt Trish, and Cambry invited us to Lake Texoma with them.  The boys were super excited because they LOVE their Uncle Matt! 

Soon after we got there, we took a hike.

Hagen and Cambry striking a pose.

Mason and Cambry

The boys and Cambry got compasses (thanks Gran!) for the trip.  Uncle Matt teaching them how to use them.

The hikers….

This picture cracks me up… kind of reminds me of the hike – Cambry ready to strike a pose at any moment, Mason in his own world, Hagen concerned with the burr things on his shirt, Matt ‘take the picture already!’.

That’s better…

More directional advice.

Hagen and Jeremy

Cambry trying to teach Hagen how to tie his shoes, she finally gave up and told me, ‘He’ll learn when he’s older!’

Day 2, we rented a boat.

We saw lots of zebra mussels.

It was really hot, but the boys loved playing in the water and on the sandy beaches.

The boys and Cambry decided to dig a hole… SO proud of themselves!!

Oh. My. Goodness!!!! (and the swimsuits with the shirts were thrown away, never to be clean again).

Mason NEVER falls asleep in the car, but here they both are within 5 minutes of driving back to our hotel.

Still tired at dinner.

New Additions

Gran got rid of her fish tank and of course it ended up at our house.

The boys were super excited to help set it up.

Gran helping set it up.

The boys with Paucci relaxing after setting it up… apparently setting up a fish tank is hard work.

After a few days we added our new fish.  The lady at the pet store told me to just add 3, see how they do, then I can add more.  SO, we have according to Mason: Momma, Hagen and Mason Fish or according to Jeremy and Hagen: Blacky, Spotty, and Yeller.

When you first get them, they stay in the bag in the water to acclimate to their new environment.  Here the boys are waiting anxiously to open the bag.

Fingers crossed… so far the three fish are doing well and are thinking of adding two more.

The Circus

We took the boys to the circus the other day…. and they loved it.  Jeremy wasn’t too excited about going.  We actually had a very busy day and we ended up being late – but it worked out perfect.  We hit no traffic parking, getting in, and finding our seats.  I’m actually thinking it is a good recommendation to show up about the time a show starts!

So here we go:

The man getting set on fire and being shot out of a cannon.

My favorite (the elephants):

The boys’ (including Jeremy’s) favorite part (the tigers):

We were ah-mazed at what they can train those tigers to do!!!  It was just crazy to watch!!

And the tight-rope walkers:

A friend recommended to get seats as close as you could… we took her advice and I recommend it to anyone else, as well.  The closer the better – I think this really helped the boys see everything and stay ‘entertained’ the whole time.

(Check, check)

Soccer Season–Fall 2012

We had our first practice for the Fall 2012 season.  All the boys returned which is fantastic!!  Everyone was super excited and ready to get started. 

Our coach was so glad everyone returned, he said we can just pick up where we left off and keep going.  He plans to sign us up for our first tournament this fall. 

Hawaiian Dinner

Well, I guess going back to work has made the blog suffer some.  Sorry, I’m working on it!

When Grammy and Grampa came, we had our annual Ethnic Dinner.  This year, we went to Hawaii.

We got some coconuts and let the boys help Grampa and Jeremy crack open the coconut.  The coconut milk was not what I was picturing and the actual ‘raw’ coconut was also a little interesting….

Stand back, people, he has a hammer and is completely NOT afraid to use it!!

What’s inside, what’s inside??

Coconut milk…  what do you think Mason?

Not a fan (Hagen’s picture was blurry, but he felt about the same way).

Grammy and Grampa with the boys.

Then we made a tropical fruit salad and cut the fresh pineapple open (nothing like fresh pineapple – or a whole pineapple verses canned).

The Hawaiian family

Hagen doing his surfer dance

When do we get to go to Hawaii *for real*??

Aloha!!!!!!!