Alyssa....will be 7 in just 10 days! Oh my goodness! She did AWESOME in first grade. She simply loved her teacher Mrs. B, and she even had a ready, set, teach teacher from Canyon - Ms. Cheryl. Alyssa was named the 'soaring eagle' from her class the first nine weeks, and then she received a golden eagle award each nine weeks for all E's. Her reading level was above where it needed to be, and I was very proud for how much she improved on that! I got to attend her field trip as well - we went to the Magik Theatre in SA to see "If you give a pig a party...." and they got to eat/play in the park next to it. Always enlightening to spend a day with young children versus high school kids! We have done a lot of swimming this summer, and she is improving each day. I am very proud of her going underwater, jumping in the water - these seem like such HUGE steps for her from two summers ago! She is still an AWESOME big sister to Austin, and she loves to help little ones quite often. She can be quite the 'mother hen' at times. Alyssa LOVES to play with her baby dolls still, and she is VERY into watching all the episodes of Full House! She has been renting the DVD's of seasons from the library! She still gets her feelings hurt quite easily, and she has come out of the shy stage quite a bit. She rode the bus to my room all school year, and made some friends to play with in the afternoons. I think she really enjoyed that - although she doesn't like the high school kids to really talk to her. That is when she gets shy. We still have not lost any teeth! I helped coach a little diggers clinic, and she attended that. It was once or twice a week for about six weeks, and she struggled with that some. Volleyball was tough for the first time, and then she got her feelings hurt easily. So, that was an adjustment for all. However, she did MUCH better this summer at camp - I was impressed with her improvement. She was also much more comfortable with things, I think. This summer also included an art camp where she painted a beautiful sunflower painting - I was VERY impressed. Alyssa loves to draw, and I think she really enjoyed this 3 day camp. She also did an SV softball camp with her friend and enjoyed it. She still has basketball camp and a 3 day (all day) camp with a friend. Right now, it is VBS camp, and she is learning lots of songs. Alyssa also played softball in the fall & spring - another area of GREAT improvement. Hitting is not your strongest, but your EFFORT to get every ball is definitely a strength. You got upset in games that a ball didn't get hit to you. And, then in the spring, they actually started getting people out, not just running around all bases. You did not like getting out either!
Oh my baby Austin turns 2 tomorrow! WOW!!! Where has the time gone? Austin is totally into Cars theme toys, trucks, cars, trains, baseball, (all sports balls), tractors, Thomas, and Mickey Mouse! These are just some of the boy things he loves; however, he also likes to play with his sister's things. Yesterday, she and a friend had him decorated in all sorts of jewelry and even a clip in his hair. He still has his pacifier buddies, the frog and bear. These no longer have the pacifier, just the animal. He had one remaining, but we took it away this past Sunday. We are on day 3 right now without a pacifier - going okay so far. Austin enjoys wearing one of his hats when we are out and about, and people often comment on him always wearing his flip flops. He does NOT like to get haircuts. We have had at least five, and he has cried and thrown a fit every time. He loves to do everything his big sister does as well, and he is talking up a storm these days. He can tell us he will be 'two' but he is still working on showing us two. At nighttime he gives us night night kisses and hugs, along with saying "I Love You." He is enjoying the water as well. We don't really go under water yet, but he loves when we go. His favorite part of the bahn is probably riding the alligator on the lazy river! He also makes us laugh a lot - he is a funny little man! Of course, we might be nearing the terrible two's as he likes to hit and try to bite quickly when he doesn't get his way. We have a 'time out' corner at our house now, and he has found his way to it often this summer. Austin really enjoys going riding in the stroller as well. Today we actually went to the park for a long walk, playtime, and then to feed the ducks. He loved that! Nighttime is still pretty good for Austin - we can put him down, and he goes to sleep on his own. Big sister is a different story - out quickly, but still wants someone to lay down with her.
This summer has been a very busy one, but fun as well. It has included staff development for mom and dad, trips to the bahn, sliders baseball tournaments, time spent at the pools, trips to the grandparents' houses, sports camps, birthday parties, and hanging out with friends.
We are having a dual party for the kids at the jumpy place next week. It is a private party with about 30 kids invited. Should be lots of fun! We are also looking forward to our annual beach trip with my sis and her family, and my mom.
I am not really looking forward to starting another year of school - even though Alyssa is! Chad just finished up baseball for six months straight! He had an AWESOME season with the Rangers. He reached 100 wins, had a team that got along great, and reached the regional semifinals. Then he also got the award for the SA coach of the year! So proud of him. Then he went straight into another sliders season.
I also can't believe Chad & I are about to celebrate our 13th anniversary! I just can't believe how quickly life flies by us! I have once again been reminded of how precious life is, and we should not take any of it for granted. Canyon just lost two former grads - one was a Marine, and he was protecting our country, and the other was a recent grad that was killed in a car wreck. Both great kids, who had great smiles. Just doesn't seem right - so much ahead of them. But, we are reminded that God has a plan for each and every one of us. Enjoy every day to the fullest.
This past school year was a hectic one for me - I can't quite figure out why. I think I was maybe balancing too much, and I am simply a work-aholic. I have to find a better balance this next year - at least I hope to. I also can't believe we are nearing the 11 month mark since my dad's passing. Oh how I miss him! I wish he could see the kids as they are growing up, and I know Austin would light up his world. I know my dad loves all us girls - BUT deep down I think he always wanted boys. This little guy would have brought him many more smiles! Austin was often one of the things that would make him smile when we spent so much of last summer there. And at the same time....I still worry about my mom. We try to spend as much time there as possible...and my kiddos just love on their Momo! She definitely spoils them.
Almost forgot to report about Alyssa's weddings that she was in. She was in two over our Christmas break, and she was absolutely PRECIOUS, if I must say. She looked so grown up, and she did VERY well. I was so proud of her for breaking out of her shell to do both of these. And, I think she had a lot of fun at both of them. She enjoyed dancing, and seemed to have a lot of fun.
My mind races with so many things to write about, but I just can't catch up on everything I missed. I really am going to try to do better!
