First official day of summer vacation for me!

 A beautiful morning for coffee with my friend after we dropped our kiddos off at school.  Ash, Alisa, and Teddy have 3 days this week and then they are done!  They finished at 12:30pm and came home to eat lunch.  We visited the library and I had to stop at school for a short while.  You know it is summer when the Wixom city fountain is up and running!

 We grilled out bbq chicken pizzas for supper and enjoyed the gorgeous weather.  Dessert anyone...caramel apple pie pizza!  Mmmm...I should have made coffee to go with it!

Making friends around the world!

 Ted had a big week of training with many team members from around the globe this past week.  One night there was a trip to a Detroit Tigers' game.  Another night they took a walking tour of downtown Detroit.  Since weekends stuck in a hotel can get a little boring, we invited the couple from Mexico and the lady from China to come to our home on Sunday afternoon.  They had a rental car and had had a chance to explore on Saturday.  They were so honored to be asked to come to our home.  Noe (the husband) had been to our trailer.  They had lots of questions about our home and the yard around it...this was all new to them!

 Noe's wife speaks no English.  She is trying to learn as they are moving here in July.  It is all overwhelming to her, so we tried to think of something that would make her feel welcome and part of the conversation.  We took them to Kroger grocery store to purchase ingredients for her to make some Mexican flavors to go with our steak and chicken.  She showed us how to make authentic guacamole, "sauce" salsa, and homemade tortillas.  It was amazing food!  It was fun to hear her giggle and try new words.  She was missing her four little ones at home.

 She is a hard worker!  We had cut a ziplock bag to use to press the tortillas...but it kept sticking...she wanted a Kroger bag and it worked perfect!

 The girls made "American apple and cherry individual pies" for dessert.  Velle wanted to be part of all the fun.  She was loving and playful with our guests too.

 I have to give credit to Ted for this whole idea!  It was a wonderful afternoon reaching out to touch the lives of those that Ted works with.  They commented that he would invite them to his home.  His response, "God gave us this big home so we can share it with you!"  I listened to and watched Ted as he talked business and then relaxed with his coworkers.  They all were at ease...because of how he treats them at work and out of work!  It was important for Ted to take care of them...doing the little things to make their stay pleasant.  "It is not fun to travel and work.  It is hard.  These people work hard to take good care of me when I visit their plants in their countries.  I get the chance to do the same for them here!  I want them to meet you and the kids."

                                               What fun to share in his global encounters!

Through the bushes...

 you can see Ashlynn as she had an introductory interview...her first ever!  We have to wait till she is officially 16 years old and then go back.  I am praying that this would be a good fit as we seek to enter the working stage of life.  We shall see.

A beautiful day for a tea party

 Saturday morning was shared with friends for an outdoor tea party.  It was so nice!

 Our girlies came with us!  Mari's girls were babysitting.

 We have some very talented ladies in our church...and when they put their ideas together...it was lovely!

 Our hostess and her sister.  The lady in the stripes was also one of my little K5 friend's mother.  She likes pinterest and all things crafty too!

 My grown up girls...it is fun to share these special things with them!

We made it!

 We got through our last practices...and then spent lots of time outside or in the gym!  I know when children have had it!  I also know when I am licked!  The last two days left me feeling very beat up...behavior was out of control and a couple of my friends decided to ramp it up even more.

 I worked at things a little at a time so I was not as stressed about the final details...it was a good plan...especially since I knew what I was in for this year.

 We celebrated tearing up our last chain link and pulled the strings on some confetti poppers that Teddy talked me into buying.  I had our classroom door closed and all of a sudden I realized those poppers put off a smokey smell (like those caps that we used to use in the cap gun...or hit with Dad's hammer on the sidewalk) and there was a haze in the room.  I all of a sudden panicked that I would set off the smoke alarm/sprinkler system...I hustled to open the door and fan it.  Wouldn't that have been a way to end the year?  Oi!  I found out that things are not at sensitive as I feared...and one of my friends laughed at me and offered to take our picture.

 All year I have tried to keep things simple...right up to the end.  Some days it worked for me and other days...well, I just had to adjust!

 My friend came in to help with the pre-program gathering and costume adorning.  She was such a blessing and encouragement to me all year!  Once again our three big kiddos were awesome helpers and supporters!

We made it through another program...not without issues that were distracting to my kiddos and disappointing for me.  The children who wanted to did well and were a blessing!  We finished this year...and I can say...we all learned much!  Happy summer to us all!

"So you are finishing your second year in Kindergarten!"

 Finishing all the different parts that are required for the end of the school year...report cards, awards, letters, program details...to name a few.  Teachers don't work a part-time job even if they are considered part time!

 We celebrated K5 on Friday with balloons and t-shirts to decorate.

 We've practiced multiple times for our program and putting on our costumes and robes.

They have been crazy!  I have tried to continue to push review work...but I know when I am licked!

 Today...we went to DQ for our fundraiser treat.

Ands after school...this girl and I went to get her necessary papers filed for her permit!  It is legal...she can start accumulating driving hours.  Guess who is wanting to go practice!?  Oh boy!

 So...we went for a practice drive.

Ok...it wasn't all that bad!  Ha!  But a couple days later...my nerves got the best of me during a rush hour drive and I made the decision to drive home.  

The rest of our Mother's Day 2017

 The guys put up the table they built, painted, and stained.  Teddy hung the bird feeder they bought for me and the star I repainted.  When Ted and I got home from airport runs for his colleagues from all over the world, we sat out on the deck.  A lady from Austria brought me chocolate.  A lady from China brought us special treats.  We got to share these flavors from around the world with our family who popped over for a visit.

 When the sun went down...it was chilly!  The coffee tasted good!

 It was a busy and full day...but truly a blessing to us!

Our little loves...are now grown ups!

 This picture makes me feel overwhelmed!  God is good to our family.  I praise Him for health and strength as our children have grown.  Daily they are reminding me that soon...they will be leaving home for college and beyond!  We are thankful for the opportunity to be their parents.

A mothers and daughters day of fun...

We could not have put it in better words ourselves!

 "...because we need to go do something fun while the boys are paint balling!" said my friend.  We both had moments before we met on Saturday where we almost called it off.  We are so glad we didn't!  It was just what we needed to do!

Beautiful day for a drive to Great Lakes Crossing Mall...lunch...shopping...massage chairs that made us uncomfortable and giggly...bottles of bubbly and chocolate.  I am thankful for "iron sharpening iron friends"!

One week and one day left of K5!

I saw this idea on pinterest the other day...we added the personalized touch with the graduates.  Things are coming together...but not as smoothly as I had pictured in my head!  I'm getting the jitters and feel all shaky inside...or it could be the coffee drink we had on our deck today!  I'm thankful for the visit with my sissy this afternoon.  I needed to just stop...listen to the birds and smell the coffee.

Thanks, sis!  Now...I have a list of things to prep for tomorrow's K5 Celebration Day...and the energy to do it.  I also have a side-kick...Teddy!  The girls are off to their last Driver's Ed class and test.  I have a feeling we will be taking our stand down at the Secretary of State office soon so they can start driving and getting the practice hours in!  Oh. my. word!  How can this be?  

If my sis can survive it...so can I!  Right!?  I just need to see this year of K5 finished first.

Spring nights are beautiful!

I'm counting down the days for summer nights!  K5 has ten days of school left...well...nine now!  Our program and graduation are on the 19th.  I'm ready to be done.  The Kinders are ready to be done.

                                                        Velle is ready for us to be done!

And this week...the girls will be done with their first segment of Driver's Ed!  They are driving tonight...and because they know the way...they will drive home!  Hooray to not having to go out to pick them up!  They are doing well...with the instructor...who has a brake on his side of the car.  I'm working to build up my nerves of steel...since I will be the main rider/encourager with Ted's travel schedule.  Oh joy!