Golf

We have golf camp this week. Hayden has lots of company from his preschool friends. Bayley is simply loving the game.

Football Camp

The boys have a flag football camp this week. They are loving it...and so is Grace. She wants to be where they are. It's funny when they are running laps, a bit scary when they are scrimmaging!

I'm hoping that they'll toss the football with one another now. It gives me another thing to tell them to do when I hear the constant summer refrain - "I'm bored"

Grace's First Ice Cream Cone

...on her own. We took the kids to dinner at Chevy's (Hayden's choice) to celebrate kindergarten graduation. They usually don't bother bringing an ice cream cone for Grace, but she'd been charming the waiter all night...

Graduation Pix from Ashling's Dad

A tootie-ta, a tootie-ta, a tootie-ta-ta!

Grace wanted to be the star of the show...

Summer Reading Programs

This is Hayden's first year as a reader, not a read-to-me! I still have Grace to read to, but now Hayden can do it on his own. Such freedom!

Here are some summer reading programs I've found ::

Summer Reading 2009 from the Washington County Library System
Scholastic Summer Challenge
Barnes and Noble Summer Reading
Borders/Walden Books Kids Reading Challenge
Chuck E. Cheese's Reading Rewards Calendar

10 Best Things to do with Dad

One of my girlfriend had a great idea for Father's Day - Top 10 lists! She asked her daughter the top 10 things to do with Dad, then collected gift cards and such to go with the list. Never one to let a good idea go to waste...I copied! Here's what the kids had to say ::

HAYDEN

1. Watch TV
2. Play football
3. Play Wii
4. Kiss & hug him
5. Play baseball
6. Water plants with him
7. Eating at restaurants
8. Play miniature golf
9. Eating ice cream
10. Build Legos

GRACIOUS MAE

1. Play with Dad
2. Play dolls
3. Be carried
4. Riding in the backpack
5. Waving ‘Hi’ to him
6. Have my bath
7. Play chase
8. Kisses
9. Eat messy food
10. Be outside

BAYLEY

1. Go to the driving range
2. Play Wii
3. Wrestle
4. Play board games
5. Eating at restaurants
6. Building Legos
7. Washing the cars
8. Going to amusement parks
9. Going bowling
10. Building KNex

Graduation Day

What a year. Hayden was so nervous to start kindergarten he told his teacher he didn't know how to read or even write his name. We quickly got that sorted out and Hayden blossomed.

His small motor delays are waning, and he should be caught up with the rest of the class on handwriting by the end of the summer. He's adding and subtracting, reading books for 1st/2nd grade, and working hard on waiting his turn to talk. He learned about dancing and butterflies, leprechauns and painting. But best of all, he learned to love school, a lesson that will serve him better than any other.

Grace was not impressed with kindergarten graduation...she didn't understand why everyone wanted her to hush, sit still, and not eat things off the gym floor...Uncle Dan had to drag her outside. I don't understand why people are suprised when babies make noise. I've never known a quiet one.

Bittersweet

The house sold, the school year is ending, and we're on the hunt for a new home. It's thrilling to think of a house where I have an office to work in (that hasn't happened much lately), where the boys will have their own private space, and all the new things they'll learn next year.

But I can't help but want to hold on to their teachers, who've been such blessings to them both this year. Each boy had a real connection with their teacher, and it showed in all they learned.

I'll miss this house too, the place I brought my babies home to. I still love it, we just don't fit in it anymore. I'll miss my garden, especially when the tomatoes come in. I hope the street we move to has a collection of great kids for the boys to romp around with.

Change is good, but change is hard. One thing I won't miss? Having the main topic of conversation always be houses. I'm so over moving...and we haven't even packed!

Playdates

Grace and Nick got to play together again...well, Nick played and Grace tried to tackle him and steal his toys. I think she's a baby bully!

Lucky for Grace, Nick was so enthralled with her plethora of toys, he didn't care much that the one she wanted to play with was always the one in his hand.

Rood Bridge Picnic

Grandpa Bill is working in Alaska this week, so we decided to change up our Sunday dinners at Grandma's with a hike & picnic. Everyone else in town must have had the same idea because all the picnic tables at Rood Bridge park were taken!

The boys usually love to hike, but they did a fair amount of complaining this time around. I think it was because there was a stream and we kept telling them they couldn't roll around in it. That kind of thing can ruin a boy's afternoon!

Grace was sleeping when we got there, so instead of loading her in a backpack we opted to carry her. Girl is getting heavy! Next time she's getting packed whether she's awake or not!

Hayden found another 4 leaf clover! He found his first on Thursday at Uncle Matt's...and we got an offer on the house an hour later...I wonder what fabulosity awaits us now?

Grandma even brought dessert! We made strawberry shortcakes on a park bench. Talk about improvisation!