Cousins!

This summer we got to have my sisters boys for a visit and all of the cousins had a super fun time! It was hot so we swam in the pool and played in the backyard.

The most popular toy! Who knew it could provide hours of entertainment!

We're going to miss those cute boys when they move far away to Colorado! It was super fun to have them here!

...Are Followed By Baseball!!

Whew, baseball season started in April and by mid-May the craziness had officially begun. And I'm not exaggerating. It's been crazy. We're still 2 weeks from the end of the season and as much as I love baseball, I'm ready! With 3 boys going 3 different directions, plus a little one who gets towed from one thing to the next, we can all use a vacation soon.

All of the boys are really progressing this season, though, and are really becoming good players. C has been very impressive, in his first year of t-ball. In an age-group where most of the kids need to be told, pointed toward, directed, redirected, yelled at, cheered for, and practically walked to just get them to first base, C hits that ball and runs straight for the base as fast as he can, then rounds it and makes sure he shouldn't keep running. He's all business.

Playing 1st base!

Umm, there's no crying in baseball... but GO C!

Truly a boy after his father's heart, C loves being the catcher.

E has been playing with A as a coach and pretty much plays every position, though he likes first base and short stop best, I think.

E getting ready to bat.

And A pitching to him.

And W! He was asked to pitch a couple of games ago and has now pitched for 3 games. He needs a lot of practice, but it's been a great experience and he loves it.

Playing 3rd base.

 

And pitching! Which can give a mother a heart attack!

 

All Good Things...

Along with the end of year concert, C also had an end of year graduation ceremony. It was pretty cute and the kids sang a lot of songs and even recited a Bible verse for every letter of the alphabet - that was impressive. I had recorded a little bit more of the ceremony but somehow lost it so here are some pictures and a cute little video.

 Graduating!

This is C with his teacher this year. She was absolutely wonderful and I really loved here. I hope she is still there when J goes into kindergarten.

 For W's last day of school, they had a big luau party. It was an all day celebration and they even made tie dyed shirts earlier in the week to wear for the party. This is W earning an award for Friendliest.

And with his teacher, who we also really loved. She was a HUGE blessing to us this year. She had 3 boys that were all the same ages as our older boys and knew just what to do with W. There were many days when I left school thanking God for giving W this particular teacher.

 And this was E's teacher and she was wonderful too. She was calm and sweet and just what E needed in a teacher. I really enjoyed helping in her class throughout the year.

The end of the year was sad and exciting. What a great year. But yay for summer!!

A Concert To Rival Any Symphony

At the boys' new school they offer the opportunity for kids, starting in kindergarten, to study string - violin, viola, and cello to be specific. Of course we jumped on that as soon as we could, and C started studying the violin after Christmas this year. On Tuesday night they had an end of year concert, and it was amazing!

 C is in the middle in the back, ready to begin playing.

The kindergartners started out the program. I really wondered how they were going to do this, since they'd only been playing together for about 4 months and, lets face it, kindergartners don't have the longest attention spans anyway, especially for practicing and such. So I was really excited to see how they used background music to make it seem like the kids were really playing a song. I took some video, but it is really bad. I apologize in advance. I don't have a camcorder that takes digital video so was stuck with using my phone. I tried to improve the picture, but really the video is just for the sound. This is the kindergarteners. C is in the middle in the back - you probably can't even tell.

After the kindergarteners were done, kids that has begun in the strings program in kindergarten and continued on through 8th grade performed the bulk of the concert. The 6th, 7th, and 8th grade strings played a song, then the 5th grade strings joined them for a song, after which the 4th grade strings joined them, and so on until they had all of the 1st - 8th grade strings. Basically, building an orchestra. It was cool and this is a little video (really just audio) is the entire group playing Canon in D. I thought it was so cool as each age group added their strings that I took a little video. It's not very good audio but it was really cool live. The director even put on tails for the last song, as he said he had to dress appropriately to direct a group of that size.

Then the concert finished off with the 5th grade band. At this school kids in 5th grade are required to study an instrument. If they have been in strings through elementary school they can stay in the strings group, but otherwise they have to pick an instrument. The band teacher said that most of his kids had never touched an instrument at the beginning of the year. The songs they played were certainly a tribute to how far they'd come. The final song was a piece that he said he showed them to give them an idea of what to look for when they move into the 6th grade band, and was difficult for this age and ability. However, the kids had gotten so excited about it and asked to practice it at home that he let them. They did so well that it was the piece they played for the concert. This is the last video, and again it's not good, but it was just really impressive to listen to these kids play together when they'd just picked up these instruments 9 months ago.

I left this concert just amazed and incredibly grateful for the ability to send our boys to this school. Their previous (public) school didn't offer any real musical education and certainly no instruments. I believe there is certainly no comparison to the education they're getting at this school, but there is also no way to compete with the fine arts they're learning. Every time I feel frustrated and discouraged by the cost of this venture, I go to an event like this and am reminded of how incredibly important this is for our children. And how much we have been blessed.

And A Day of Recovery

Well apparently one lather of sun screen just isn't going to do the job and W, who is the only who to actually put his swim shirt on, is the only one not sunburned. The price you pay for a day of summer fun. So, aside from church, we spend the day sitting around the house, watching movies and playing games. Oh, and making a list of all of the fun things we can do this summer, especially the free things. It's a LONG list.

 Playing Garbage with E

 C got the super coolest Firefighter fan from Grandpa!

 J wanted pictures of his sunburn. But really the exciting thing about these pictures are what are on his little bottom! No, I don't think there will be diapers in our house much longer. :(

A Taste Of Summa Time

This Memorial Day weekend the boys and I are having a little practice run at summer. A has to work all weekend so we're on our own and determined to make our own fun. Here is a look at day one. I think it went well - though a little more sunscreen might have made the evening (and probably tomorrow!) better. Here is also a shout out to my absolutely wonderful, generous parents. They are the BEST. And they unloaded this pool at our house when they moved to their new home - with it's own REAL pool. THANK YOU! It's going to provide for hours of free fun.