20th Anniversary trip for two!

 Ted and I had a lovely trip celebrating our 20th anniversary!  A big thank you to Grandma for coming to stay with our teenagers!

 How much spoiling can a girl take?  Thankful for the time to share together...it never gets old!

A busy month of May

                                                The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

                                                        Practicing for the K5 program!

                                          So excited to wear the graduation robes and hats!

        "The best day ever" is when you get your next book!  These guys are great readers!!!

 An almost forgotten gift for our K5 mothers...flour sack towel "but this is just black and white...does Mrs. T like black and white pages?"  NO!  We need to add some color!  "How about we paint on your hand and color it that way!?"  HUH????

                       Cute little owl handprints...whew!  Love it when a pinterest idea works!

 A quick picture on Mother's Day with my sissy!  We were sitting in church being discreet...nice angle for the double chins, we think!

 Velle had a rough week...allergies? then a reaction to some flea/tick medicine and a need for Benadryl.  After a good five days, she is back to her normal self. Oi!

 Running our chair fillers back and forth to their jobs...Teddy's ref job with 5/6 year olds.  He is good at this!

 My kiddos took me to lunch on Mother's Day...they planned, drove me, AND they paid!

  Some days are hard...but then there are some days that just bring joy and lots of laughter!

It's that time of year again!

 I know when school is in its last month...the play set has to be worked on!  This year the work is minimal and I had a helper!  The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is on the playbill this year.

 Teddy is helping me get things ready for the K5 graduation set...a construction theme!

 We dressed up as what we wanted to be when we grow up.  My little friends told me that I was already grown up!  So I decided I would also like to be a coffee snob!  My friend found this cup for me and I love it!

 And...what every K5 student learns about for the first time...assessment tests!  We have two left for our Friday and we couldn't be happier!  This class has done very well with the process and I am pleased.

 "What a lovely winter we are having this spring!"  I keep reminding myself...the birds are still singing...and so should I!  Thankful for glimpses of sun and grass that is getting greener after every snowfall and ice coating!  And comfort food is on the menu for supper or Sunday dinner...and everyone is ok with that!

 It is also the time of year that has me talking myself out of bed every day!

 And we made our end of the year countdown chain!  One month...oh boy...we still have so much to do!  We talked about all the things we have to do "and then we will have a celebration!"  One of my guys started  breaking down the word into syllables while I showed them how to spell it (we were doing our Phonics lesson) and then we picked out special sounds.  My heart did a little flip flop...they are getting the sounds and using them in other areas beside their reading book!  Hooray for K5!

             I think I want...wait, I think I need a nap!  To quote one of my little friends, "My brain hurts!"

He is there...sitting in the Driver's Ed car...

 and I am sitting in our vehicle getting all teary!  My last baby...is now to this phase of life!  Where has the time gone?

Lately...all my time is being spent in a van...driving here and there and everywhere...taking our chair fillers to work and appointments and to classes.  I have found two new coffee places and a fun treat place to go while I wait...so when people come for a visit...I have some new places to visit!  That is...if I will be able to have the keys to our vehicles!  Ha ha ha

Staying home...and it is driving the kiddos crazy!

I feel like "just a  mom" again!  It has taken me all week to unwind and just rest.  We see all the fun pictures of everyone on spring break trips...and here we are...in the cold, snowy Michigan.  Attitudes around me have struggled.  But I needed this!  My mental state depended on just stopping and resting.  I have cooked and baked.  I have taxied kiddos around to various places.  I have netflix  binged.  I have played hostess. I have cleaned, a little.  I have read 2 1/2 books that have nothing to do with personal growth and education.  I have sat and stared out the window.

 I keep hearing "we should have done this" or "we could have done that".  Call me the dream squasher...no, we could not!  You see, Dad is traveling for his job again and the teenagers have now all acquired jobs that have training dates and schedules.  "You wanted a job...now welcome to adulthood!  You can't just call off to go off here or there, that is not dependable nor responsible."

 Yep, for some reason, I am the "bad guy" as I remind them the choices we have made as a family.  But then...yesterday...we all ended up around the table eating lunch at a reasonable and respectable time for lunch...chatting and laughing.  I think we are so used to going and doing and going...that we have forgotten how to just be still and rest!  I know it is hard as a teenager...but we did have plans Tuesday and Wednesday that included fun and other people.

 There are many options to occupy our time...some involving school prep and work, some chores, and some leisure activities!  Notice the craft supplies that I purchased still sitting in the same spot...grrr!

 So here is to staying home this spring break!  The weather hasn't been totally nice for outside fun...well...Velle has loved it!  "Everyone else" is having fun.  We have so much to be thankful for...and we have been given the opportunity to practice that this week.  When we go back to school next week, life picks up speed as we finish the school year and start jobs in earnest.  I, for one, am starting to have panic attacks when I think about all that has to happen in six weeks (I shouldn't have done lesson plans quite yet...now all I can think of is school stuff.).  We longed for spring break just two weeks ago.

We have it right now...and it is almost gone.  I will do all I can to savor the last few hours of rest at home...in the peace, quiet, and calm...with my hot cup of coffee and a little dog curled up on my lap.

Sports Award Banquet of 2018

 Soccer team awards and memories with Coach Nestor.

 Basketball team and memories with Coach Stille.

 The Senior players...we are going to miss these 7!  I have enjoyed getting to know them a little more as I have be subbing for the English classes.

Easter and spring break 2018

 What a blessing Easter services were again this year!  It is always hard to get up early for the 7am service.

 The only picture I took of our family Easter...our dessert of individual lemon pound cake with fresh strawberries.

 A Monday visit with Uncle Sean...the big D airport was busy on Monday with different family members headed to various parts.

 Our spring break is being spent at home...catching up on sleep, household duties, girls starting new jobs, and time with friends.

 And while various family members enjoy warmer temps...we are getting snow today!  It looks to be short lived...the skies are clearing and the sun is trying to shine.  I am watching the robins hop around the yard.  If you listen carefully through the howling wind bursts...you can hear the birds singing!  Spring is coming!