Spring is here! Spring is here! We have the windows open, the wind is blowing, small buds are appearing in my pots on the porch. Ahhhhh. Beautiful! Some of the big highlights are Toad's 5th birthday, our family trip to Philadelphia, and spring soccer. Oh, yeah, Sam finished his classes! Whoot! Whoot! Here are the details.
Sam finished his last semester of Graduate Student classes. Amen! He is now considering ABD, or all but dissertation. Can we just say, yes! Another hard semester has finished and it has been wonderful to have him home more in the evening. We still miss him for Ward Missionary meetings and Young Men's, but no more Monday and Thursday night classes. Yes! He also was able to present a poster at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference in Philadelphia this month and darn it!, dragged us all out there with him. Before the conference started, we hit some of the tourist sites including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, and also had fun at an aquarium just across the border in New Jersey. While he presented and attended the conference, Denise and the boys played at the zoo, the Children's Museum, and a huge playground. We had the best time. You are welcomed to do that again Sam.
Denise was busy preparing for the Staff Appreciation Luncheon, in which she was in charge, at Tiger's school. The bar had been set pretty low before, so she just made some crafty favors and table decorations and everyone cheered her name. She may have inadvertently submitted her name to be the next PTO president by her efforts at the luncheon, but is hoping that does NOT pan out.
Tiger is busy with school, soccer, cubscouts, friends and more, but do you know what takes most of his time? Books! The kid is reading like crazy. He totally zones out and has had to be put on restriction a time or too, for not getting other things done before heading back to the books. He is involved in the school's Millionaire Book Club again this year and will be awarded some participation prizes coming up on the 10th. He has also began preparing for his baptism coming up in July and is really excited about that event.
My little Toad is growing up too fast! He turned 5 this year and it is just so hard to believe how far he has come. We decided to give him a party in the park including a bike parade, outdoor games, and guest favors. It went pretty good, except for the rain. It rained on and off again during the whole thing, but the kids were resilient and loved eating their cupcakes in the back of our durango during the final rainstorm. He got many Star Wars items, but his favorite was a Clone Trooper helmet that actually talks and more Clone Wars movies. The kid is an addict.
Baby Turtle is also growing too fast. He is ten months old now and can pull himself up onto his feet. Not much walking along the furniture yet, but that will come sooner than we would like. Turtle is also scared to death of his babysitter and cries every time we walk in her door. He doesn't go over very often, but it sure does break the heartstrings when he just looks at you in terror that you are leaving. The older boys have started to very gently involve him in their wrestling matches and he just squeals with delight. Boys are just too fun!
Hope things are well in your neck of the woods. Have a great spring! Enjoy life and make it good.
Sam finished his last semester of Graduate Student classes. Amen! He is now considering ABD, or all but dissertation. Can we just say, yes! Another hard semester has finished and it has been wonderful to have him home more in the evening. We still miss him for Ward Missionary meetings and Young Men's, but no more Monday and Thursday night classes. Yes! He also was able to present a poster at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference in Philadelphia this month and darn it!, dragged us all out there with him. Before the conference started, we hit some of the tourist sites including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, and also had fun at an aquarium just across the border in New Jersey. While he presented and attended the conference, Denise and the boys played at the zoo, the Children's Museum, and a huge playground. We had the best time. You are welcomed to do that again Sam.
Denise was busy preparing for the Staff Appreciation Luncheon, in which she was in charge, at Tiger's school. The bar had been set pretty low before, so she just made some crafty favors and table decorations and everyone cheered her name. She may have inadvertently submitted her name to be the next PTO president by her efforts at the luncheon, but is hoping that does NOT pan out.
Tiger is busy with school, soccer, cubscouts, friends and more, but do you know what takes most of his time? Books! The kid is reading like crazy. He totally zones out and has had to be put on restriction a time or too, for not getting other things done before heading back to the books. He is involved in the school's Millionaire Book Club again this year and will be awarded some participation prizes coming up on the 10th. He has also began preparing for his baptism coming up in July and is really excited about that event.
My little Toad is growing up too fast! He turned 5 this year and it is just so hard to believe how far he has come. We decided to give him a party in the park including a bike parade, outdoor games, and guest favors. It went pretty good, except for the rain. It rained on and off again during the whole thing, but the kids were resilient and loved eating their cupcakes in the back of our durango during the final rainstorm. He got many Star Wars items, but his favorite was a Clone Trooper helmet that actually talks and more Clone Wars movies. The kid is an addict.
Baby Turtle is also growing too fast. He is ten months old now and can pull himself up onto his feet. Not much walking along the furniture yet, but that will come sooner than we would like. Turtle is also scared to death of his babysitter and cries every time we walk in her door. He doesn't go over very often, but it sure does break the heartstrings when he just looks at you in terror that you are leaving. The older boys have started to very gently involve him in their wrestling matches and he just squeals with delight. Boys are just too fun!
Hope things are well in your neck of the woods. Have a great spring! Enjoy life and make it good.