fast friends

Today Bay came over to play while her mom worked.  After awhile we went outside to play and all three had fun.

 While we were outside playing, Carson said to me that when Bay first came over he didn't know if it would be fun.  It is, he said.  When she started talking to him it helped.  :)  He said that she's really nice and fun. 

 Baylee started getting brave and showing off like Carson.  Don't worry Ang I told her no more standing up.  Promise.  We were careful.
After riding outside they came in and had lunch.  They played and played.  They brought the tent downstairs and Adam thought that was the coolest thing.  (I should have grabbed my camera.)  They decided to watch TV and ended up in the recliner together.  :)

Ahoy mates!!

Last night was the 3rd grade musical.  They all did a great job.  It was soo fun seeing all the many different kinds of pirates.

 Mason had a speaking part but he popped up from behind the boat and said his line so fast I hardly got a picture of him.  

His best friend, Ben, had a dancing part at the end.  I think he had a blast.

NJHS

Tuesday night Karlee was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.  The ceremony was nice.  This is a start to a great college application.  We need those scholarships.  :) 

Congratulations Karlee!!

OCD?

Tuesday afternoon was Kindergarten Roundup.  This is obviously not the first one for me.  About 6 weeks ago I took Carson into the Dr. to get his immunations up to date.  In the morning I gathered up all the paperwork to sign him up for school.  We were both excited for this next step.  We get to the school a few minutes early, I'm third in line mind you, and we wait.  It's my turn to talk to the nurse to verify his shots.  To my surprise Carson needed another shot.  What?!?  Are you sure?  I couldn't believe it.  I couldn't move any further with the process.  She wouldn't even make copies so I could leave the orginals at home next time. 

I get out to the car and call our Dr. to talk to her nurse.  I explain my delimma and shock that it wasn't caught when I brought him in. I also tell the nurse that I don't want to pay another copay when I came in for school shots recently.  The nurse double checks to see about the copay, I don't need to pay (score!!).  She said we can come over now and get it taken care of.  I was pleased that there was still hope of him being signed up today.  When I told Carson he needed another shot he was not pleased.  But, before he agreed, he confirmed with me that this really would be his last shot as a five year old.  I told him yes.  So off we went.  He shed a few tears but really did great considering the situation.   Back to the school we went.  I now have a kindergartener.  Hooray!!  A little OCD??  Possibly.

You know, it's rather shocking that all five kids Kindergarten roundup experiences have been different.  Let me take that back, I don't remember Kindergarten Roundup with Kinz.  Sorry Kinzie.  I do know that I didn't get her birth certificate until I signed her up for school.  With the last two, I know I picked them up within weeks of their birth.

Bailee didn't have roundup.  When we moved to California she was old enough for school and there was only 6-8 weeks left of the year.  So we put her in school.  Sounds crazy I know. 

With Karlee roundup was at one elementary school for the entire district.  I was grateful to be early that day.  Teachers would talk to each child, away from parents, and ask them questions.  My guess is to see how ready they were for school.  The man talking to Karlee was surprised that her birthday was on the deadline and yet she knew all the answers.  She's still that way.  ;)

Mason's was the most normal and quickest.  Roundup was at the elementary school he would attend, the lines were small.  We needed to fill out a few forms, hand over some documents, and that was that.  Piece of cake.         

countdown

We have less than four weeks left of school.  I think I've started counting before the kids.  I'm tired.  Getting up at 5:30 every morning so we can read the Book of Mormon and have family prayer before Bailee leaves for seminary has just about killed me these last few weeks.  This morning I realized we have 13 more years of early morning seminary before we are finished!!!  Ugh...

Summer is turning out to be extremely busy as well.  But we won't need to be up so early to be everywhere we need to be.  :)  The first week after school Mason has Cub Scout Twilight Camp for the week.  The following week, Bailee will be in summer school, Karlee at CFK, Mason still playing baseball and Brian and I will be in Hong Kong.  WOW!!  I'm soo glad Brian's parents will be here to run our kids around.  Also during the two weeks we will be gone, Bailee and Karlee have girls camp one weekend.  Then Bailee will have Youth Conference the next.  I think my MIL be worn out when we get back. 

In July we have a family reunion that I'm not sure were going to be able to attend.  With Brian being gone for over two weeks at the end of June and a possible conference being scheduled in July, he's limited with getting away.  He also has a couple of new contracts that he'll be focused on in July before school starts up.  Then to add McKinzie's situation, and a challenge to take a vacation because of visitation schedule she won't be able to go.  The reunion is planned at the same time as McKinzie's birthday.  I just can't be gone on her birthday.  I can't leave her here without someone to celebrate her birthday with.

I guess I need to stop thinking that a break is in the future.  Life is always busy and always will be.  Most of the time I don't mind.  Did I mention that I'm tired?      

busy busy

Saturday was another crazy day.  While Brian was on his way to play ball at church, he dropped off Bailee at a garage sale at 7 to earn money for girls camp.  She earned enough to finish paying her way.  Hooray!  I dropped off Karlee at the middle school to go to Hurricane Harbor with choir.  She came home sunburned.  Doesn't that mean you had fun?  ;) 

We needed to make a run to the Bishop's Storehouse for a family in our Ward.  Our kids love going and "shopping" for any family.  Then we went to a store in Grapevine called "The British Emporium".  (Check out the link.  The store was a lot of fun.)  It made Brian and I wish we were headed to England again.  We bought a number of food items that Brian remembered having during his mission.  Raspberry Trifle, Yorkshire Pudding, and Digestives to name a few.  This coming Friday we are having a Cultural Night at church and Brian was asked to present and have a food item to share from England.  We bought some Marmite to share...it's interesting.

Some how there was time in the afternoon to swim.  The water temp was about 74.  Still too cold for me.  I loved sitting by the pool, soaking up the sun, watching my boys play basketball in the pool.  I think they loved it too.

Then about 5ish we headed over to the baseball field for Mason's first game. 

Brian and Mason played catch for a bit.  Mason has been having practice twice a week.  Brian has been able to go on Thursdays.  They both have really enjoyed it. 

He hit the ball all four times up to bat.  I was sooo glad. 

Look close in this picture.  Mason is smiling as he ran across home plate.  :)

Mason is loving baseball.  We play catch at least once a week, sometimes twice.  He said the game was so fun that he wanted it to last longer.  It was 95 degrees out and he wasn't even bothered.  That's how much he was loving it. 

Carson was bored.  He collected rocks...

We didn't have a date last week since I was in San Antonio.  Friday night didn't work either since Brian was traveling back from the Houston area.  So after the game, after 7, we finally had a date.  It was great, as always.  We went to a movie, Thor, then shared an appetizer and dessert.  We talked and talked, laughed, and shared some experiences of growing up.  We have a date every week.  People are amazed that it's that often.  We need it to stay connected with each other and to get refueled with all the demands of parenting.  It was a great day!   

new cast

Thursday Karlee got a new cast.  A short, waterproof one.  Wahoo!!  She was very excited.  She was hopful that she would have more choices that would fit with her new cast.  Also, she was going to Hurrican Harbor on Saturday and desperately needed a waterproof.  She got her wish.  She should only have this cast for two weeks. 

I really like the purple cast.  She has had everyone sign it with a silver sharpie.  It looks cool.  We are now on the countdown.  Hopfully only one more appointment.  But probably two, this Dr is very thorough.

end of year concert

Our school district combined all the fine arts departments and had "An Evening at Bass Hall" Monday night.  It was a great event.  Karlee is in the choir and has really enjoyed it.  All of the middle schools were combined to have a Women's Choir and a Men's Choir.  The risers were not large enough to fit all the girls.  Because it was held at this venue, we weren't allowed to take pictures or recordings.  That was the only downside.  All of the kids loved the opportunity to perform at the Bass Hall.  I won't be surprised if this becomes an annual event.   Such an amazing experience.

TOFW and girls

This past weekend, Bailee, Karlee and I went to San Antonio for a church conference.  We stayed in a hotel on the Riverwalk with a mall connected.  I don't think it's gets much better than that.  :)

 We caught up with some friends before the Friday night session and did some window shopping.

I have heard Sheri Dew speak a number of times and I've never been disappointed.  She has a great sense of humor and is very wise.

 These four girls stayed at the hotel Friday night during the Women's session.  They finally got too bored and went to the mall.  I met them afterwards for an ice cream. 

The entire conference was great!  The drive was uneventful, which is a good thing.  The hotel bed was comfy.  The presenters were insightful.  There were times the Spirit was soo strong that I shed a few tears.  Then, there were other times I laughed till I cried.  The most enjoyable was on the drive home when Bailee and Karlee were having fun...like friends.  That's what I want more than anything.  My family to want to spend time together. 

library

Today when we arrived at the library for story time we found out it was out back, hands on!!  It was chilly so we didn't stay long. 

I think Carson had a blast.  What do you think?