Beau's "First Dance?"

So yeah. First middle school dance of the year happened tonight. From 6:30 - 9:00 at the school. Beau was super excited. Not about the dance exactly, but the basketball tournament they were hosting in conjunction with the dance. Um, what? 

Guess it's the new thing to get kids to dances. He loved it. Came home happy. His 6th grade 3 friend team did okay against 7th and 8th graders. They finished the tourney and went into the dance for a few songs before they had to meet Keaton's dad outside.

Brian dropped Keaton and Beau off at the dance. Here are the boys at Keaton's house.

Our boy and his fashion sense..... But he was happy. That's all that matters.

Zero mention of girls. That's my boy. 

First Day of School

So kiddo's, years from now when you read this, please know that today was not an easy day for your Momma.  I worried - A LOT - about you today.  I prayed. Your Dad and I prayed together. We wanted you to have a great day.  We wanted you to have the confidence that we know you possess to speak clearly, open locks, meet new friends, get on the right bus, and overcome any potential embarrassment when you got lost. But most importantly, I wanted you to have hope for a great new school year.  I worried and prayed all day.  I wished this whole day away. Thank goodness I had a lot of work to do - it helped the day go by faster!

And then....you came home.  You came home with smiles on your faces.  A pep in your step.  Beau said, "Well, that wasn't so bad."  And Bren said, "It was the MOST AWESOME DAY EVER!"

So Mom took a deep breath for the first time today.

And I listened.  I listened to every story you wanted to tell me, and thankfully, both of you wanted to tell your stories.  Thank you for that.  I might have been a little crushed had you came home and gave me nothing.

I cried a lot today, and tonight I am still crying, but it's just tears of relief that we made it through the first day.  Now....here's to the hope of a great new school year my sweet kids. Be the kind friends I know you to be.  Don't be afraid to ask questions. Laugh at yourself. Make new friends.  Learn more and learn new.  Soak it all in.

Here's to making good choices.........

That's Beau getting on the bus. I had to be quick. Obviously I was not quick enough.

Sis waiting on the bus outside of North Ridge.

Walking on looking for her seat.  

Terrible picture, but here she is in her seat with her two BFF's, Emma (goes to a different school but same bus), and Tinley (in her class also).

There she goes!!!

Beau's 11th Birthday

I'm not sure how special we made Beau's day, but he told his Dad before he went to bed last night that he wasn't sure if he was ready for the day to be over.

My sweet boy. He loves his birthday.

Let's see....he got a new phone.  So he was pretty excited about that.  Pretty basic phone, but he can call and text and snap basic photo's.  He seemed to like it, and I like being able to get a hold of him, especially now that he is entering this new stage in life with more independence.

He got a lot of back to school clothes, which he was thrilled with - NOT  - but he managed through it. He also got some baseball cards which he (and Dad) really enjoyed and will continue to enjoy as they open up packs.

We went to NuWay Cafe for lunch, Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner,  and then celebrated with a cookie cake and ice cream. All his choices.  I think he was one happy, stuffed boy.

Sister supervising

Socks!  ha ha

These two.

He and KD look a lot alike here.

Not sure who loves whom more.

Happy 11th Birthday, sweet boy. I love you to the moon and back and around again. Love, Mom

Basketball Video

This is just one of many, but this one had both boys in it.  Video credits to Brady on this one.
They had THE.BEST.TIME making these.
So cute.

Beau's BD Celebration in Oklahoma

It's birthday month around here for a special almost 11 year old boy.  I just cannot even believe my boy will be 11 and going into 6th grade!  Wow.

He is getting so tall. His last physical had him at 5'0" and around 145 pounds. Whoa. So strong. So thick.  But not to be fooled, he is tender hearted, kind, and loving.  When I came home the other day from enrolling Bren in the 1st grade, I was upset because of not getting into Maize South, and he comforted me like a champ.  So proud.  So very very proud.

Let's not forget his love of all things chocolate and he is the most ticklish boy around. He gets those things from his Momma, I am afraid.

Okay, moving on.....

We went to Oklahoma to celebrate his day with family. He loves being around his cousins, and this time proved no different.

Aunt Julee made him this AMAZING cake.  I am so thankful for her.  I can't imagine how much time it took, but Beau LOVED it.

Beau and Bren spent the night Saturday and then Dylan, Brady, and Carter came back on Sunday to spend the day and night.  Carter and Bren were attached at the hip, and Dylan, Brady, and Beau made some AWESOME basketball video's.  They are really good. I'll try to post some of them.  They are living on Beau's iPad right now, so I need to retrieve them from there and go through like 20 of them to find the best one. ha ha

Poor Me Ma and Pa Pa were eaten out of house and home, but my kids LOVE to be there. Brenley loves to help Me Ma bake.  Both kids love the dogs.  It was a "great vacation."

July addendum

I forgot to post about what the kids and Brian did last weekend. They headed to

Brian's aunt and uncles house for a family BBQ and swim in Winfield, KS. 

The kids had a great time swimming with cousins. And there is a baby in the family too, and little Miss Iris got plenty of attention. Brenley is still talking about her. So cute!!! 

 

Oops. I think I missed July.

It is August 1st. I'm currently standing in a long line with the sun beating down my back trying to get into the school to enroll my daughter in the public school system and into 1st grade (yes, I'm the queen at multi-tasking. Idol hands are not for me). 

I'm excited about this new venture for her and terribly sad about it too. Where has all this time gone? I barely remember that perfect baby. Barely remember her toddler days. Have I done enough with her while she is still so little and innocent and trusting and precious? She doesn't hate me yet, but I guarantee she will. My Mom and I had this discussion yesterday. I don't think you are being a good parent unless at some point your child hates you - even if only for a brief moment in time. Hoping I have a long time before she and I reach that point. We are just too similar so I know my time is coming.

Okay, well, let's update the family business. Mom had a birthday. Yippee, I guess. I am really struggling with the fact that this is the last year of my 30's. Geez.  I did have a nice weekend with some girlfriends, but as always, it was nice to return home to my family. It's just where I belong. 

Oh yeah, I also went to our sales meeting in Austin this past month, and I won a few awards to cap off the fiscal year. Funny thing is that I used to win belt buckles for showing animals, and now I have come full circle winning a ruby belt buckle with my name on it!!!

But the best news was that our son was chosen as Sports Camper of the Year at Camp Hyde! I am so proud of him. The criteria was regular attendance, positive attitude, and participation. He tells us that usually this award goes to 12 year olds, but he happened to be the star this year. He really liked his lead counselor Napoleon. He kept it fun for Beau this summer. It was never hard to get him up and going each morning.   Here he is below with his "award" and his camp hat. 

Beau also lost one of his molar teeth. The tooth fairy didn't come and nothing was said about it. Seriously? Have we grown out of the tooth fairy already? 

Also, Brian and I got a raise today. Not only is baby girl now a student at Maize Elementary (no, we did not get our school of choice, but I am trying to deal), but I wrote my last tuition/child care check for well, at least 9  months.  That is an amazing feeling. Yeah, I'll have a small latchkey fee to pay, but that is nothing like what we've paid for the last 11 years!!! Yippee!!!!

So we've turned the corner on 2014. Birthday boy is ready for next week along with his football practice starting.  Then school starts the week after.  August will be busy!! Bring it on!