Last Day of school and Memorial Day weekend in the books

Happy beginning of summer ya'll! Another school year came and went in the blink of an eye. I officially have a 3rd grader! Eeek! I am so proud of the little girl Mere is becoming . She works really hard in school. You can tell she wants to do well and make good grades to please us and her teachers! But with that it is sometimes a struggle! We did tutoring once a week all year plus worked on reading at home! It surely paid off because she had A's & B's all year. The tears (on mine and her end ), pulling out of our hair, and some yelling were all worth it in the end to see how proud she was of herself! I am so happy to see her confidence improve! That is something else we strive to work on! But now oh sweet summer has arrived! It's time to enjoy the longer days, a little less strict of a schedule, pool days and just plain fun!!!

Our little Dennis the Menace

3rd grade here she comes!!

Max had a first great year at St. Cecilia and had the sweetest teacher in Mrs. Kandace. She made it easy for us to leave our boy 2 days a week. He learned so much.

The kids with their aftercare teacher!

We love Gabby!!! She watched Meredith sometimes 2 mornings a week and then walked her to her neighbor's house so she could get to school. It takes a village for sure! We are so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful people!

We celebrated the last day of school with a trip to Graeter's! Our fave ice cream never tasted so good!

We spent Sat and Sun at the soccer field. Mere's team was in a tournament. They may have lost their games but this team showed so much heart on the field that it made up for it. We are so blessed with wonderful coaches that not only teach these girls the game but also encourage and motivate and build their confidence in a loving way. We had a not so great encounter with a coach from another team (another day, another post ), but it made me realize that some are not meant to coach.

Sunday after soccer we were all wore out. Nick was at the firehouse for a 24 . I worked a few hours in the evening ! I felt bad because the kids didn't want me to leave . Oh that momma guilt ! I tried to tell them when we were at Disney all these extra hours will be worth all the memories !

Memorial Day! How blessed are we to live in a country that we have men and women willing to lay down their life for our very freedom! The sacrifice these men, women and their families have made in the ultimate way is not something to take lightly! While it's a fun day to ring in summer with parades, cookouts, and fun, it is also a day for us to sit back and really soak in what this weekend and day should be about! There are so many families that only wish their loved one was here to celebrate this day like we do!

Most years the kids and I along with Nick take part in the parade in Covington. This year Nick went without us. The kids really wanted to go swimming so I took them instead. I have some little fish on my hands! We decided to join a different pool this summer. I loved our old one but to save money decided to give the Y a shot. So far the kids are happy!

Back to the grind of work and balancing the kids and trying to fit in a fun summer for them! But I can do it! The memories are worth it!!

Have a great week ya'll!

Life Lately

3 years ago or a little more (I have lost track of the time), Nick decided to go to college and earn a degree in Fire Science. After high school, he joined the Navy and served our country for 4 years. I can't explain the pride we have in him for that alone. The military is not for everyone just like college isn't for everyone. But he proudly served our country and continues to serve by being a fireman today. So, to take on one more thing all while working full time as a fireman, working part time as an EMT , AND being a husband and daddy, is something! It wasn't easy. The homework and attending class weekly was just one more thing that took him away from his family. I got frustrated at times with him being gone even more and the homework taking up time that I wanted to spend with him. He got frustrated because he was just plain tired all of the time. It wasn't all butterflies and rainbows. But he deserves to be bragged on. Because he did it!! There is no way I could do all that. He graduated on Mother's Day but was unable to take part in the ceremony because he had to work. Nick is the hardest working man I know and do not  give this man enough credit for all he does each day. The kids and I would be lost without him. Now he can add college grad to his list of accomplishments!!!!
   

                                                                        Our rock!

Image by Katie Woodring

So grateful to Katie for sharing her talent with all the fire families! Check out more of her work with the fire dept. here!

Summer Bucket List

With summer break upon us... like this Friday, I made our yearly summer bucket list chalkboard. I try to come up with things to fit into their summer vacation in between Nick and I still working. We both took off, of course, for our Disney vacation. That leaves us with plenty of time for some fun. I want our kids to remember the fun they have each summer as they get older. Who doesn't look back upon their childhood and think of their summers? I know I do. Seriously, the best time growing up in Augusta. Now my parents made sure we still had chores to do. We were not allowed to do anything until those weeds were pulled from the flower beds and helped with the yard. As much as I hated it (like hated it so much I don't do much yard work to this day), I have the best memories of my dad during those summers. About 3 summers ago, I took off a few extra days and spent them in Augusta with the kids staying with my mom. The days are so much slower there. Maybe it's because we don't have the house work staring us in the face, or just time stands still at "home". Whatever it may be, I look forward to those days each summer. We stay up late and sleep in, take walks by the river each morning and night, the kids play with their cousins, go swimming, and go to the movies in Maysville if we can. But most of all just relax!! We will probably go "home" several times this summer but in June will spend 3 or 4 days there. Also, on the list is camping in a tent. We have nothing for this so I have been checking out ebay to find some deals. I hope we can make this happen. I think the kids will LOVE it. Here are some other ideas:

1. Eat some watermelon. Nothing says summer like some front porch sitting eating some yummy watermelon.
2. zoo days. Luckily we have a pass so we can go for an hour or 2 and leave before the blazing hot days begin!
2. tent camping
3. Augusta
4. Disney
5. Read
6. Catch fireflies
7. picnic
8. Reds game
9. Bike rides
10. swimming
11. tie dye some shirts
12. family room sleepover
13. patio dinners
14. farmer's market
15. ice cream Friday's
16.and most of all.....HAVE FUN!!

If you have never been to Augusta...take the drive. There is a bed and breakfast if you want to do an over night. Cute little antique stores. yummy places to eat with good ole country cooking. a public pool. Oh and the 4th of July in a small town! Nothing beats it!! A look back at our time there last summer!

What is on your summer bucket list? More of our summer 2015!