It's been a long time...

It's been so long since I've posted, I forgot how to get the text first! Since I've already typed a bunch of info. and can't get it to copy and paste, we will enjoy the pics first today!

A SENIOR!
I can't believe it!

First year of High school and so far so good!

New York Mets backpack this year!
No soccer team from Mexico!
I have really missed posting here, but the last year has just been really crazy. I'm hoping my new position at Tuck's elementary school will give me a little more time in the evenings to do more. I also feel a renewed sense of energy will Fall blowing in. Spring and Summer are forever my favorite time of the year, but I will say that Fall brings a feeling of nesting and home.

I am feeling a stronger desire to bake, craft and be at home.
We had an incredibly busy but fun Summer. I have lots and lots of pictures to share, but only limited time. So I am going to start with current and slip in the summer pictures here and there!
It's a big school year in our house this year. A Senior, a Freshman and a 4th Grader make the year full of activites, emotional highs and lows, and lots of changes! I am going to do my very best to post all this for family and friends on a more regular basis than last year.
Sooo, onto the first day of school. It was also my second week of school so Tuck and I left the house around 7:00 which means I wasn't here to take pictures of Keyton and Brandan as I have done for the last 12 years! Luckily, they humored me and took pictures of each other! I am so grateful they understand how much they mean to me and how important these moments are. I missed seeing them off, but seeing how it is B's senior year, it is probably good I wasn't there to get emotional!
Hopefully, before the end of the day I can get Brandan's Birthday pictures posted and then this week some summer fun, baseball, and B's big cruise!
It's good to be back!
Hugs,
K

Jesuit Cross Country Meet

As you can see (from all the blog posts) last weekend was busy busy

and I'm not even showing pics of all the baseball games!

Keyto had a meet in East Dallas by White Rock Lake.

It was really pretty at the park where they ran.

I love these pictures. It's amazing how you can be in the center of Dallas and it looks like you are in the country or in the mountains!

The sunshine coming through the trees reminded me of Rhuidoso.

Here he is finishing strong.
He always does.
He was behind the kid in red and sprinted to pass him!
The meet before this one he medaled which put him in the top 15!
Hugs, K

Fall Festival 2010

Saturday we attended Tuck's Fall Festival.

Due to the Rangers game there wasn't a lot of people in attendance, but

the highlight of the evening was the BATMAN face painting!

Good fun was had by all even though most of his friends weren't there.

Hugs, K

Cross Country

Keyton is in Cross Country this year, which is something very new for us!

I went to his 2nd meet and it was really quite exciting!

I thought we would see them start and then again at the finish, but we were actually able to see them through most of the race.

He is nearing the final stretch here...

The finish line is right in front of him. He is on the final stretch...

Notice the determination as he starts sprinting

Finish Line!

Way to go Keyto.

2 miles!

They eat nothing but granola bars and fruit before the run,

so pizza afterwards sure hit the spot!

They have a great coach (it's his first year and he is also the Asst. Softball Coach).

I'm really proud of Keyton for trying Cross Country and staying with it.

He has been fighting shin splints since day 1 and hasn't given up.

Way to go Keyto!

Hugs, K

NERD Day!

Keyto looking very suave I if I do say so myself!

Brandan looking very handsome!

Today is nerd day for the jr. high and high school students in preparation for Homecoming this Friday. I am really proud of the boys wanting to dress up. I can't wait to see all the outfits the kids post on FB.

Tuck wanted his pic with a "nerd" he said.
Rainy day here! :)
Hugs, K

A New School Year has begun...

We are officially "back to school"!

The boys are doing great and seem to be happy with their teachers and schedules. We had to tweak Keyto's a little, but he is good now.

A couple of changes this school year...Keyto is doing cross country and Brandan will be driving once he gets his license on Thursday! So hard to believe he is going to be 16! Where has the time gone? This is the first year that I didn't take B to school (he went with a buddy) and also the first year that I wasn't able to pick them up from the first day. Brent was there for them so that is cool! I missed all the chatter that goes on when they first get in the car. By the time I saw them at 6:30 it was like no big deal :(

I did get to go have lunch today with Tucker for the first time this year and loved it. I enjoy seeing all his friends and all my friends that I have subbed in their classroom.

Needless to say there were lots of hugs!

Tucker has a very good teacher and several close friends in his class this year.

Lockers are outside the classroom this year and he wasn't too happy about it!
He was concerned that someone would get in his locker.
I guess all the talk about theft at the Jr. High and High School has sunk in with him!

Today has been a great day.

It is my first one off since school started so I have gotten some cleaning done and it's been rainy.

Hopefully with the kids in school I can get back to my routines with

cleaning, blogging and crafting!

Have a super duper day!

Hugs, K

My Banquet Hopper

I've been calling Brandan my Banquet Hopper, you know like a bar hopper, only he has made the banquet rounds with his very good friend Samantha.

This is the first banquet...her Softball Banquet.

He then asked her to his Baseball Banquet.

Then she asked him to her Golf Banquet (she is quite the athlete).

Don't they look great!?! And look how well they match!

Baseball pics to follow :)

Hugs, K

Tuck's Party

I am so very grateful that with all of my boys, I have been able to be their room mothers and attend their parties. Even when I was working at Bennett's and had a great boss I was able to take off to be at the parties. The kids had a great time. We ate pizza and cupcakes, made a tree ornament and they exchanged folders. The last day of school before Christmas is always such a relief because it means a lot of the hustle and bustle will slow down.

Hugs, K

Littlest Elf

The 2nd grade did a musical right before Christmas called The Littlest Reindeer.

It was adorable. The kids did a great job and so did the Music Teacher and all the 2nd grade teachers. It takes a lot of work from everyone to put one of these together and run smooth.

Tuck and the little girl in the pink did a square dance together.
(he never ever wants a speaking part, so this is his 2nd musical to square dance)

What a cutie pie!

Hugs,

K

The Feast

Thankful for: one adorable indian boy

The Thursday before school was out for Thanksgiving Tucker's class celebrated with a breakfast feast! There were donuts, muffins, fruit, and most importantly (to Tuck at least) McDonalds Breakfast Burritos. He ate two and some fruit, no donuts...can you believe it????

The teachers sent home a letter requesting that you pick between one of two items. My note said syrup or breakfast casserole. I did the breakfast casserole since I didn't think many people would want to go to the trouble. Well, I'm not sure what one Mom's letter said, but that teacher received...

a BOX OF PANCAKE MIX!!

I'm not sure where that Mom thought the teacher would be fixing those pancakes!!

We all got a good laught outta that one.

Have a super evening.

Hugs, K

(ps. is that a crazy face that little girl is making or what!)

1st 9 Week's AWARDS

Tucker received the Perfect Attendance Award and Citizenship Award!

I have him trained well. All the other kids grab their ribbon and head back to their seat,

but not Tuck, he stops and smiles for Momma and the camera!

Keyto and Brando are also studying hard and doing well in school.

Keyto is in all PreAP classes so he has to work extra hard and study lots!

I have amazing boys don't I??

Hugs,
K

Scrapbook Layout

Noooo , not from me, but from Keyto!!

He had to do a Scrapbook layout for his Language Arts class about a pet.

I think he did a great job and so did his teacher because he got a 100!!

(Wally's not so cute right now after he drug himself thru a mud puddle under the fence

again last night to explore the neighborhood)

I am enjoying being home today because there weren't any sub jobs and because I have been fighting a sinus/hayfever issue (not an infection thank goodness) and barely have a voice from trying to get the attention of 6th graders on Monday and 1st graders yesterday! I am cleaning, getting ready for my BFF to be here tomorrow so we can hang out on Friday and for my Mom who is coming next week for Thanksgiving. Needless to say we are all so excited to see some familiar faces from home and spend some time with my Mom here at our home.

Hugs,

K

MUSIC MAN

I think I may have used that title before when showing pictures of Keyton playing his trombone, but it is the only way I can describe how he looks to me. We all love music in our house, but Keyto actually knows how to "read the music" and "play the music". That is so impressive to me since I have no clue what those little notes are and what they mean. When singing in church I sing very quietly and look at the words in the hymnal and hope that I am singing the right notes, tone and rhythm as everyone else!

The Jr. High band performed after our Founder's Day parade last Saturday. They were Awesome! I can't believe they know so many great popular songs. It makes me so proud to watch and listen to Keyto when he's performing. According to his Band director he has real talent. You know, the kind of talent we all admire and are a bit jealous of. Only a special few can paint, draw, dance, compose, invent, ... The rest of us have God given talents, just not quite as specialized or obvious.

He is also performing at the Jr. High Football games which is a lot of fun and brings back memories of my Jr. High days!

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

Hugs,

K

Tie-Dyed Attire

Last week was Homecoming here so on Friday the High School had Tie Dye day! Luckily I had a kit (camo colors) ready and waiting. Keyto and Tuck got in on the fun. I thought their shirts turned out really cool (will have to post those pics later).

Have a great weekend!

Hugs,

K

Sophomore, 7th, & 2nd

Keyton had to be at school for football at 6:15 on the FIRST day.

Needless to say we went to football for the first three days and have now gotten the heck outta there! We tried to warn him, but sometimes they have to see for themselves.

Keyton just is not a football kinda kid (actually none of mine are).

Tuck in his new shoes!

Their school is all uniforms, so they really look foward to wearing their new shoes.

and new backpack.
Tuck doesn't like all the bells and whistles of a traditional backpack...to much trouble to unzip, unclip, etc. So, for the 2nd year he has ordered a soccer knap sack.
Last year it was Argentina, this year Mexico!
He has a very nice teacher, Mrs. Pack

And Brandan, what more do I need to say.
He is looking foward to Fall Baseball with the High School players.

I delivered cookies to Tuck's elementary for the office staff.
Chocolate chip and Oatmeal Scotties

All the boys had a great week.

I know it will be another successful year for all.

I found out last week that I will be subing for the school district, so I am looking foward to that.

Hugs,

K

Awards & Last Day of School

Friday was the last day of school and busy busy!

Keyto had his awards presentation and was recognized for holding a grade percentage of 85% or higher and also for Merit Society which is a grade point of 90% or higher!
Tuck's awards was Thursday and he recieved the Math and Computer Awards and also had perfect attendance the last 9 weeks.

Friday was Tuck's End of School Party! Brent was the Kickball Coach.

We played Kick Ball and had a pizza party.

Tucker had an amazing Teacher again this year. We are so blessed!

Love Pizza Parties!

It was a great school year. I can't believe I now have a Sophomore, 7th Grader (Jr. High!) and a 2nd grader! Unbelieveable! We are so proud of you guys!

Have a super week!

K

Friday-Saturday Part I

Friday was the beginning of a busy busy weekend.

Tucker had Field Day all day at school. They played lots of games and races. There was also a big jumpy house/slide. We stayed until lunch and then left for Part II of our weekend!
Loved the water games.

It was soooo hot outside, so after a couple of games we would head inside to cool off and have a snack and drink.

Digging for buried treasure in a tub full of sand

All the classes competed with each other on this one. The kids held hands and had to pass the hula-hoop down the line without using their hands. We did great and won 2nd Place!

It was a great day and I am so grateful to have been able to be there with Tuck this year!

Stay tuned for Part II and III!

Hugs,

K