Rounded up

 Today was our last official kindergarten round up!  Saige is pretty excited about going to the 'big school' next year!  It is a tiny bit cruel to have kindergarten round up in April, get them all excited about school and then say 'see ya in August!'  She thinks she starts kindergarten next week!

 I can't believe that she is even this old!  The past 5 (and even the past 10) years sure have flown by!  I guess what they say about not blinking is true!  I have had kids at home or in my office with me for 21 years.  I think next year will be an adjustment for me as much as it is for her!  I am a little bit sad about losing my sidekick, but also a little bit excited about the idea of having 2 hours to myself next year!  I don't remember the last time I had alone!  :)

Now if we can manage to get through the barrage of end of the school year activities, I will happily move into summer mode!

Cameron Stuff

 Cameron is a busy guy.  He participated in a track meet this week, where he took second in pole vault and set a new personal record of 9'.  He said he was close to clearing 9'6".  He also took first place in the triple jump.

 Last night was recognition night at the high school.  Cameron got some mic time.  Always questionable on if this is a good idea or not.  He did a very nice job though!  He was the current FLBA president, and handed the job over to himself for next year!  :)

 He also got recognized for his FBLA accomplishments this year, and got recognized in the KAY organization as well.  Because the dome photo quality is terrible, I told him he had to pose afterward for some better  pictures.  Of course, his boy Otis has to be in the pictures - we wouldn't know what to do without Otis!  I did crack up when the custodian photobombed them!

This particular custodian was Cameron's bee mentor back in his beekeeping days!  He legitimately likes Cameron!  The feeling is mutual.  It was a good night.  Cameron is making the most of his high school experience and I am so glad.  It is good to be involved, active and not causing any real trouble.

Big Kid Stuff

I feel like I have neglected mentioning all the big kids lately.  They are up to great stuff.

 This kid is close to finished with his freshman year of college.  He is on the deans list, and has learned to drive a semi truck as one of his electives this semester (although he still has to pass the driving portion of his CDL test).  He has decided that he wants to be finished with college wrestling, but he says it was a great experience, and he is so glad he did it.  He has made a lot of great friends!  He has decided to transfer to K-State next year, and major in civil engineering.  I am proud of the work he has put in, and the decisions he is making.  Now if we can finish getting all the paperwork submitted, he will be an hour and a half closer to home!  :)  Plus EMAW!

 This kid is 3 weeks away from finishing the bakery and pastry program at JCCC.  She has thoroughly enjoyed this program, and is sad that it is ending.  She is currently looking over job options and deciding where she may want to move to for her first big kid career job.  She has a lot of decisions to make in the next few weeks, but I am sure she will handle it with the same enthusiasm she always does!  I am proud of her for perusing her dreams!  And if I was being completely honest, her living at home does not bother me in the least.  She is an amazing cook and a huge help in the household/chauffering kid duties!

 Despite not being elected as the state president, this kid was elected as the local chapter of FBLA president.  He is busy trying to plan activities and functions that will increase the membership to over 100 members (a goal that has not been accomplished in a good number of years he tells me).  He is also planning out his summer which includes a trip to Anaheim for national FBLA, and planning to attend Masonic band camp again this summer.  I am proud of the stuff he takes on and handles with minimal effort required on my part!

And last but not least, this kid is finishing her junior year of college.  She has dreamed of becoming a teacher since she was old enough to talk.  She will be moving home for the next year, as she is doing 2 semesters of student teaching in Topeka, and then she will be finished with her schooling.  I am so proud of her for making her dream a reality, and for the effort and time she has put into the (busy) work assigned by her professors.  She really and truly has done a great amount of work, and kept her grades high enough that most of her college has been paid for with academic scholarships.

City wide weekend

 This was the weekend for City Wide Garage Sales in Overbrook.  It is funny to me how the town takes on  an almost festival type atmosphere.  It is a big deal in a small town!  We had to leave the setting up for the 4-H sale in order to attend Preston's 6th grade concert.  The choir was ok - but the band was amazing!  I am not merely biased, they are good!  It is truly awesome when you stop to think that they have only been in band for 2 years now.  Preston is pretty good on the trumpet.  I sincerely love the band.

Cameron had an FBLA garage sale as well, but didn't help set up on Friday evening because he was at a track meet.  He did JV pole vaulting, and took 1st place with a jump that cleared 8'6".  That is a personal record for him.  He also did varsity triple jump and was 6th place.  He said the meet was ridiculously cold, wet and miserable.  So sorry I missed it!  

 Saturday morning, despite them calling for rain, it was just cloudy.  I was so relieved.  Quincy and Landrie were the 4-Hers in charge of the sale.  I will take a minute to brag on them.  They are giant goofballs.  We never really know what they will say or do next, but they worked their little buns off!  They set up, helped carry stuff in, served food, took money, bartered with people, talked to people, helped carry stuff to vehicles, and cleaned up all without complaint.  They were sweeping and taking out trash long after the other 4-H kids were gone - and they were genuinely happy doing it.  I am proud of them!  Their sale raised a little over $1100.  They are making a donation to the Clark county 4-H kids who lost projects in the fires last month, and using the rest to offset camp expenses for their own club members.  I am proud of them.  (Exhausted, but proud).

I have not heard how the FBLA sale went, but Cameron said it was busy.  He also said that he enjoyed bartering with people.  I can just imagine how that was.

 Quincy and I were so happy to be done with the sale, and have everything cleaned up in time to hit the sale where they were selling strawberry and blackberry plants!  When we pulled in the driveway, Saige was out front coloring with sidewalk chalk she had conned Mallory into buying for her!  She announced she was out there with her club.  Apparently Jack the cat, and Lance the goat are her club members.

 While we were garage sale crazy, and entertaining club members, Jim took Preston and Colin to the KSU spring game.  They went with Uncle Jay, and had a great time with him!  Of course, for my guys any day in Manhattan or watching football is a good day!

Before we left for church, I noticed that Jack the cat was frantic to get into the house.  After mass, I realized why.  She had 4 kittens on the front steps.  Jack is the white cat.  Sticker Paws, the other cat had kittens on Easter.  A raccoon (we assume) ate them.  She must be very sad about it, because she laid right with Jack and was helping clean the kittens and nursing them.  We have put a box out there for Jack, and Stickers is laying in there as well.  I think it is strange, but they both seem content.  Maybe with 2 mothers, these kittens will be more likely to survive?

 I ordered turkeys for Quincy and Harper to raise as a new 4-H adventure.  The feed store called to say they were in.  Jim agreed to pick them up on his way home.  I ordered 10 standard white turkeys.  When Jim got there, he said there were 2 golden crested turkeys left, and they looked sad, so he brought them home too!

 The girls are excited to give turkey raising a try.  They say they understand that these are going into the freezer!  They are very cute!  I hope they remember my "don't get attached" speech!

Firsts and lasts.

Saige lost her first tooth at preschool yesterday. She was pumped. She was visited by the tooth fairy and has money now! Not sure how our baby got so big.

Last night I was watching the kids walk up the driveway. I get a kick out of our dog going down to meet them. She loves her people! I usually get home about 10-15 minutes after they do, but I am told that Blitz always comes to greet them! They are torn over whether they like the greetings from the dog, or from Madison who is usually home baking something awesome at that time!

Last night was our last RE class for this year. We still have one more night, but it will be an end of the year mass and BBQ. Madison baked cookies for my class to decorate. We had a lot of fun. I really enjoyed this little tiny class of 3! I am sad to send them on! I feel so blessed to be able to witness the kids growing in their faith. I hope they learned something this year. I am thankful that I get the privilege of serving in this way.

My kids are out of school today due to a threat of an attack on the school. I am pleased that the administration took quick and thorough action to ensure our kids safety, and that the child who did it was arrested. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed, and sad that this keeps happening. I wish for simpler times for my kids. Preston in particular was worried and scared. How do you explain to a 12 year old that they have never really been safe? That evil exists and is always present? I told him our responsibility is to lay all our anxieties, worries and troubles on God and go do the best we can to be kind, compassionate, loving and understanding people. I hope we succeed in raising kids who will take the time to understand diversity, embrace equality, be liberal minded enough to hear the other side, and know that they are loved.

Proud moments

Saige learned to pump. She also told me she has a crush on a boy at school and he knows how to pump too! I love that she is growing up and learning new things, but some milestones are more awesome than others. I love when kids can pump! Now we just have to work on getting shoes on the right feet. ;)

Blitz is almost impossible to get a photo of. Most are smudges of black and white. I love her.
Our neighbors' dog has been here for months now. He is old. He was pretty bad looking. He is looking a lot better these days! Apparently he likes our leftovers and the dinner the kids and jim sneak him. I was amused when the neighbors came over the other night and he barked at them. I am certain they were not amused.

Cameron had a track meet tonight at Jeff West. He competed in the pole vault, triple jump, and 100 and 300 meter hurdles. I didn't get to go, but one of his friends took photos of his pole vaulting. He placed 4th in the pole vault at 8 feet. This is a personal record for him. There is nothing he won't try!