Wine and Design

To celebrate our VIF teacher we headed to Wine and Design.  We had a great time.  We thought this would be a great idea.  Each of us has something to remember our year together even though we are on opposite sides of the world now.  We can look at the picture and have this memory.  We realized we acted just like our students when it came to learning something new or being taken out of our comfort zone.  

Mrs. Loken, me, our VIF teacher Mrs. Gopun, Mrs. Bretz, Mrs. Wilson, and Mrs. Ruby

Our First Grade Team

What an incredible team this is.  They were my saving grace many times.  Four of them have been together for 5 years since Poplin opened.  Mrs. Gopun came 3 years ago and then I joined the team this year.  

They work together so well.  They share lessons and ideas.  God was guiding and directing my path each and every way as I stepped back into the classroom after 9 years at home.  Being with these ladies each and every day may my job bearable and a joy.  

We are missing our Phillipino teacher already.  Many tears were shed the last few weeks before she left.  

End of the Year

I saw this come through some social media.  I needed this reminder to help me have the strength to make it to the end.  I wanted this from my children's teachers so I needed to do the same for the kids I taught.  

End of the year awards - Ella received the Citizenship Award.  So thankful for teachers who recognize character in our children.  Ella has the most helpful, giving heart.  She will go out of her way to check on you to be sure you are having a great day.  She is a rule follower and very trust-worthy.  

Meme and papa were able to come and be with her for her ceremony.

This was Ella's best buddy in class  - Alyssa

She got an award too.  Ella was so excited for her.

Seth also received awards at an awards night.  He received straight A's and a team award for being a top math student.  I will add pictures later.  

Another day, Ella had a writing celebration.  WOW!  What a great accomplishment.  

The stack in front of her is all her writing from the entire year.

Ella's Phillipino friend Nica with their long dresses on for the celebration.

Ella had already been picked up early from school on the last day so I only had the boys.  Garrett spent the last day of school with me in my classroom.  Seth was picked up early and brought to me and spent the afternoon with us.  We had a grand time.  My students were so excited to spend the day/afternoon with my guys.  I talked about them all year so to have them in real life was a huge treat.  

This was us loaded in the car to say 2013-2014 school year was OVER.  We survived.  This was truly a transition year with many, many changes for our family.  We had our ups and downs but truly it was a great year and we are super excited for summer.

Happy 19th

I love May.  I love May 20th even more.  Happy 19th Anniversary.  

How time flies.  What an incredible journey we have been on in marriage.  

We celebrated by dinner at The Cheesecake Factory then shopping.  Yes, shopping for TOMS.  I was so excited.  I have been wanting a pair of these for some time now.  I have worn them almost everyday since our anniversary.  

Jeff and I have certainly been on a journey through marriage.  We have truly come to an incredible place in marriage.  We both agree that marriage is not about our own needs by the needs of our spouse.  We help each other.  We have each others back.  We stand together.  We talk together.  We work together.  We pray together.  We honor God through our marriage.  We work hard each and every day to make this work.  

Casting Crowns has a new song.  I listened to it and it made me think of the turning point it took for us.  Putting God first.  

“Marriage is tough. We bring a lot of fairytales to the picture when it comes to marriage. We bring them to the altar with us [thinking]: ‘This is going to be perfect. We don’t have to be apart. We can just wake up together every morning and no one is going to have morning breath. We’re not going to have any problems.’ And then the problems hit and you don’t know where to file those into your picture. . . The idea I’m trying to say is: ‘Can you lay down who you thought I was and love the ‘me’ that is? Can we take this from where we are now and realize that I can’t be that person?’ Only God is going to be able to make this work and broken people can be broken together.  -Mark Hall

This is what we finally had to realize to known that we were both broken people that needed grace, mercy and forgiveness each and every day.  

May God be glorified daily in our marriage.  So excited for the years to come with my man.  Love him dearly.  

The Life of a HOCKEY player

Well, I have learned that there are some smells from hockey equipment that is hard to get rid of at all.  This is our attempt to freshen things up a bit. 

We have 4 washers going at a time.  

This won't be our last visit for sure.  

$12.00 worth of quarters is pretty well worth cleaner smells.

Car Rider Line

Every afternoon, Ella and I wait in the car rider line for Seth.  We arrived early this day so here is what happens.  

Other days - this is what happens.  Asleep before we even get there.  

or I pick Seth up and this is what happens on the way home. 

This picture was taken the second to last day of school.  Can you tell we are ready for 

SUMMER.

N -- E-- W Cars

Buying a new car is hard work and stressful.  Well, maybe not since Garrett, Meme and I all have new cars.  Yep, within a month of each other.  Crazy

First family ride in the new car.  2013 Honda Pilot.

It has been a long time since I had a Honda.  

We have been on the look out for Garrett a vehicle this summer.  I wanted him to have the experience with his permit driving his own vehicle before he was on his own.  Meme and Papa found him this truck and drove up with it.  He was completely blown away.  

First drive with me and the little ones.  I was a little nervous.

A few weeks later, meme finds her car.  She is letting Garrett drive it for the first time.  Yikes.

Doesn't really look like a safe driver.  

Relay for Life

A fundraiser at our school for Relay for Life was side walk chalk art.  It was pretty cool to have the entire front sidewalk out the school covered.

Nica, was our VIF teacher's daughter.  She was in Ella's class. 

Cinderella Performance

Ella's ballet teacher choose to do another spring performance.  This show was Cinderella.  Her class was the clock.  

This is waiting her turn in the show.  A DSi is a great thing to play.  

She loves to perform and be on the stage.  We had two shows on Saturday.  

Meme and Peggy gave her money.  She bought Sky Landers.  She has added to Seth's collection.  

A Busy Day

I am one of the coaches for Girls on the Run (GOTR).  We have two seasons per year.  Fall and  Spring.  It was time for the Spring 5K.  I talked our VIF teacher into running the race.  She had never done a 5K.  

Before the race. 

Our group of girls.

After the race - she did it.  I was so proud of her. 

Ella had a birthday party that afternoon.  The party was a fashion, makeup, nails, etc. party.  She loved her hair.

Later that night, Garrett was trying to teach me how to hit a shot with the stick.  I am not the best hockey player for sure.

Ahhhh!! I don't know what to do

Garrett has been having this skin issue for over a year now.  He is non-stop itching.

I have take him to the doctor over and over.  We decided to go to the allergy doctor for another round of trying to figure this all out. 

Allergy testing 

 The final result

only grasses

So a week later on medication and lotions this is what he looks like 

We head back to the doctor for more help.  She test him again for additional things.  She gives him other directions for his meds. and lotion.

I am searching out lotions and living oils.  If only I could get him to participate in the oils.  He is a 

little not so sure of it.  I am hoping that being at home this summer will give me chance to help him.

I also have him on a vitamin regiment with some liver cleansing.  We will see.