While Mom and the big girls are away...

Dad and Parker play, too!!

Trips to the splash pad, Subway, and a Mexican restaurant were among the activities.

Summer Fun: Parker's 1st Acting Camp

I wanted Parker to do a "camp" this year.  When I came across an acting camp, it couldn't have been more perfect.  We actually knew the teacher too, so we were excited for her experience. 

It was great!  She had a lot of fun, and it was neat to see her talents developing. 

One thing is for sure, we have a little ham on our hands!!

Love this silly little monkey of ours!!

Beware!

This girl is behind the wheel!!  AGH!  How did this happen?!?

Siebert Field Day--The Kindergarten Edition

I have really loved being able to volunteer in Parker's classroom this year.  She has had a great teacher, and the other room moms have been a lot of fun to get to know.  This year's field day was no exception--tons of fun activities, and the kids had a great time!!  It will be hard to say goodbye to this special class.

Julia and Parker --silly photo booth

Amelia and Julia (friends)

Parker's name on the "lost tooth" board in the classroom

A Birthday Remembrance

Birthdays are hard after you have lost someone.  I knew that would be true for the first birthday since we lost my Mom.  She would have been 76 this year.  I can still remember her 75th bday last summer.  Aunt Vicki came for a special visit and they were able to have a good time.  We came down and had strawberry shortcake with Mom, Dad, Aunt Vicki, and the Griswolds. We sang her happy birthday, and she was all smiles.  It was a delight, especially considering what a rough year she had had.  She had been in the hospital most of the spring with water retention in her legs, trouble with her oxygen levels, continuing issues with her Diabetes (they were looking at dialysis), and they had finally diagnosed her with congenital heart disease.  We knew things were not great, and instead of being released back home after her hospital stay, she was released to a rehabiliation center.  She had to spend an additional several weeks here before she could manage life as normal at home.  Even then, we all had our reservations.  She would still require at-home care and lots of physical therapy.  Even through all of this, she was trying the best she could to stay positive and resume life as normal.  I think her enthusiasm outlasted her actual ability.  It was around her birthday that she decided to attend Paige's wedding in August.  She was feeling better and the idea of missing it was bumming her out.  She wanted to be there for Paige, for Shauna, Daren, and all of us.  Attending Collin's wedding in 2011 had been so much fun...it was something for all of us to look forward to.

Anyway, it's hard to believe that this was all only a year ago.  It's hard to believe that we wouldn't be celebrating her 76th bday together.  At times it still seems so new, and other times I realize it's been far, far too long since I've spoken to or seen her. This will have to be how we celebrate her and remember her from now on, and that makes me really sad.

Considering all of this, we wanted to make her birthday this year special.  Because of technical errors with the cemetery where Mom is buried, her headstone/marker was just barely place this past May.  In light of this, as well as her birthday, Shauna and Melanie decided to make a trip to have a little remembrance for her.  I'm so glad they did.  It was perfect.

We gathered at the cemetery at dusk.  Each of us who wanted was able to share a memory of Mom/Grandma, or something we have learned or grown from this past year.  It was uplifting and nice to be able to open up and share our feelings.  I think each of us felt like we were so close to Mom and her spirit.  After we shared, we wrote down our happy bday messages to her and tied them to balloons.  We sang happy birthday to her and then released the balloons into the sky over her grave.  It was really beautiful.  I know she loved it.  We left some flowers for her and went back to Dad's for cake and ice cream.  Once again, strawberry shortcake.

Happy Birthday, Mom. 

You are always in our hearts.

Avery's 8th Grade Graduation

Goodbye Middle School for Avery Jane!!  It was a solid three years, and Avery has grown so much. She completed 6th grade at Northeast, and then completed 7th and 8th at Jefferson.  Overall, I think she had good experiences in both schools, but we are much more happy with Jefferson.  She made great friends, had good teachers, and was involved in a lot of activities.  We are very proud of all she has accomplished.  It's hard to believe it's over!

Avery is an excellent student, and was honored for her academic achievements this year as well. 

Other Highlights for 8th grade:

• 8th grade basketball
• Lead role (Mrs. Peterson) in Bye, Bye Birdie (Spring Musical)
• Completed her high-school language requirement in 7th and 8th grade in FRENCH

Way to go, Avery!! 

Good bye Jefferson Middle school for 5 more years!!

Parker Loses Her 1st Tooth!

We had a very excited 6 year old in our house tonight--her first lost tooth!  She even got to use the same tooth pillow that both of her big sisters used.  How exciting is that?!?

I guess this means the tooth fairy is coming out of "semi-retirement!"  How much is the going rate these days, anyway??

Here we go!!