...and all this has happened, as well.

Stella lost her first tooth.

Her second one, too.

We had a 2nd grade music program.

Pumpkin carving, Macy’s first birthday and Halloween happened, too.

 

FUNBall basketball started.

We got to spend Thanksgiving with family. Lots of family.

I even got to take pictures for my parents with their grandkids.

A Little of This

I'm not sure where June went. We kept relatively busy in June. Here's a glimpse of how we spent our days.

The month started off with swimming lessons. I was so amazed with this year's lessons. I took the kids to a different place this year. The results were amazing. In a nutshell, we started lessons with one child terrified of water, two that couldn't swim a lick and two kids that were good swimmers. We ended our session with two excellent swimmers and two additional kids who can now swim all on their own. No one is terrified of water.



The kids all attended Bible school. What a great experience for them! The "concert" the put on at the end of the week was so much fun!
 
This is just Carson's and Owen's group.


There was the morning where snails invaded our driveway, basketball camp for the three boys, PeeWee golf for Carson and Owen, and Father's day was somewhere in the mix, too.


We also spent a lot of evenings and an occasional Saturday morning at the Tball fields. Go Honey Badgers!



The kids and I also squeezed in a few days at the pool.

RiverRun 2012

Carson and I have become race buddies. This is our special thing we do together. I'm so incredibly proud of my little guy. I love that he loves to run. I love that he still thinks it's cool to run with me even more. My other three kids also enjoy running in short(er) races. There's a part of them that loves to run, too.

Our pre-race photo. Waiting at the start line.  Carson's a little nervous.

So many runners!
The RiverRun was June 03. We ran the two mile race together. No training required for my 6 and a half year old. We were both very excited for the race. We always have so much fun running together. Last year was the first two mile run we did together. Our time was 22 minutes and 22 seconds. I thought this was awesome for a five and a half year old kid. It was Carson's first ever two mile.

This year my little stinker ran the two mile race in 17 minutes and 50 seconds. He places 429 out of more than 2100 runners. He had the second best time of all the six year old kids. And to think I thought we were running slow. At this rate I don't think I'm going to be able to keep up with him next year. In all honesty this makes my heart swell. Not only that my six and a half year old ran so well, but he asks me to run it with him. He wants to run and has fun doing it. (Of course the free large sports drink and donuts he gets for finishing the race are great incentives.) I don't have to push Carson to run. He asks me when the next race is.
  
After our two mile race our biggest fans got the opportunity to run the Tot Trot. This is a short little run for the little kids (ages 2-7). The kids are divided up in age groups for the "race." This year the race was run on a bridge and the finish line was the same finish line used in all the other races in the day. This was pretty cool for the little kids.

I'm proud to report that all my kids did great in their races. Stella loves to brag that she didn't get last (like last year.) The three boys did extremely well, too. The kids ran so fast that I think I saw smoke trailing behind them. At least that's what I tell them. They were fast like Superman, Flash and Wonder Woman.

Post-races picture: Isaac (4), Owen (6 1/2), Carson (6 1/2), Mom and Stella (4)

Endings

The school year is over. It flew by. It's so amazing to reflect back on how far all the kids have come over the last year.
The end of the school year brought a field trip and field day for Carson and Owen.
Feeding the lemurs on Lemur Island at Tanganyika Wildlife Park (field trip).


Giraffe "kissing" Carson.

"Cookie" the newest honey badger. Honey badger don't care.
First day of school and last day of school






Catching the bus on the last day of school

  
Apollo Field Day on the last day of school.

Carson, Noah and Owen race.


Water balloon toss.



Ending the school year with a friendly game of tug-of-war. Kindergarden defeated the first graders.



Thank you for a wonderful school year Mrs. Gift!


The preschool class ended their school year by having a fun day of activities and a "picnic" with parents.

Isaac with his buddies Cooper and Tyler.




Stella and her bestie from school, Emalee.


  
First and last days of school.
Thanks for a great school year Mrs. Baird and Mrs. Funk!

Celebrating the end of the year at Orange Leaf.