Good Friends & Good Byes

I met Joy through a mutual friend (thank you Heidi).  The first time we hung out she had me laughing so hard I had tears running down my cheeks.  She's totally honest (which I love), smart, down-to-earth & very funny.  We've become good friends over the last 6 years.  She really gets me and what makes me tick too.  She's been there for me through some really hard times in ways I'll never forget.  Like the night I was home alone with the kids, Joel in the hospital with a blood clot, and Emily started running fever (which back then meant she would likely start to seize).  I called her freaking out & she drove over handed me a glass of wine, told me to sit down, and began to clean my kitchen.  She even scrubbed the floors...on her hands and knees.  It's an image I won't forget.  It was exactly what I needed right then & for some reason was very comforting to me and made me feel better.  So, that's what Joy's like - a fantastic woman & a great friend. 

Her husband (who also rocks, by the way) got an amazing job recently which is a huge answered prayer, but it's 2 hours away.  I'm so thrilled for the opportunity for their family, but am, of course a bit on the sad side for my sake.

The thing is Joy has a daughter Emily's age, Miss Joan, and a son Jon's age, the awesome Shane.  And...they get along great too.  In fact, so great that no matter how many weeks it's been since they were apart they pick up right like no time has passed at all.  The first time Emily met Joan they took instantly to each other and played and talked non-stop the whole evening.  And, if I'm being totally honest I was really hoping they'd remain good friends through their teenage years & start hanging out on their own later on down the line. 

They are all just great people & we really do love them.  They will leave an absence when the move.  The good news is that 2 hours away is totally doable for day trips.  And I very much plan to make that happen.  Like starting this summer.  ;-)

And yes, Joy, I do think there will be some Skype coffee chats going on from time to time.  Because I so want to hear about the adventures of you guys getting settled into your new town.  I know it will be told in a very amusing and totally you way & I really look forward to hearing about it and cheering you guys on along the way.  

Me & Joy looking pretty :-)

 Emily & Joan all dressed up before a tea party with their dolls.

 Jonathan & Shane playing Lego Star Wars together.  Totally bonding...boy style.

Basketball & Soccer

We had our first go round of sports with the kids this past spring.  Emily played basketball & Jonathan played soccer.  The basketball season was first.  While miss Em was doing that they started announcing the upcoming soccer season.  Jonathan said he wanted to play.  They also needed coaches.  Joel thought this would be a good opportunity & might even be fun.  While this turned out to be quite the opposite of what he expected the first several weeks (coaching 4 & 5 year olds - most who had never played - enough said) Joel did get in his groove toward the end & actually started enjoying it.  From a player's parent perspective I think he did a great job & the kids all thought he was fun.

Both Emily and Jonathan really enjoyed the experience and said they want to give it a go again.  For starting out having never played before Emily really improved as the season progressed.  She loved being part of her team The Jazz.  Jonathan did well too & even got to score several goals for his team The Rhinos.  As for Joel coaching again...this may have been his final season, but anything is possible.  ;-) 

Miss Em looking super awesome in her uniform.  Go number 12!

 Focused!

 Jonathan in action on the field.

 

"Coach" congratulating Jon on making a goal.

  After each game the parents/siblings made a tunnel for the teammates to run through.

 

 Pre-game huddle.

 The Rhinos and Coach Joel.

Summer!

Summer has officially begun here in our house.  I won't lie, the first few days were kinda rough.  Joel gently reminded me that there is an "adjustment phase" for me and for the kids each summer.  But, we're starting to get into our groove & had a really fun, laid back day today.  We spent the afternoon in the backyard.  It was just what we needed and so, so fun!  It not being 100+ degrees yet didn't hurt either. 

 Inspired by Facebook & Mr. Jim: a bucket, some water, paintbrushes & instant fun "painting" the fence.  They actually did this longer than any other activity this afternoon - almost an hour.  We'll be repeating this again later.  :)

 Water + hopscotch = good times

 A timeless classic - the sprinkler!

 

 Snack time on the porch.  Smoothies & pretzels - tasted extra yummy out in the sunshine.

Kindergarten Graduation Take Two

Jonathan just graduated Kindergarten last week.  Hard to believe the year is already over and that we've already done this with our second kid, but here we are.  He looked very handsome all dressed up with his cap on.  Now time for summer! 

Jon with his teacher Ms. Guertler.

 Emily with her beloved 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Chandler

3 Generations & Star Wars

For a 6 year old boy having his dad let him start to watch the original Star Wars movies is pretty much epic.  They watched A New Hope together a few weeks back.  Jon was mesmerized by the whole thing.  Then just this past weekend Jonathan was introduced to The Empire Strikes Back by his dad, uncle & Grandpa Pappy.  He was BEYOND excited and could hardly sit still until it started.  He got to stay up late and just the "boys" watched it together.  Apparently the famous line "Luke, I am your father" totally blew his mind and his jaw dropped open.  Here's a photo they took right before they started the flick.  Jonathan is pretending to hold a light saber. 

And here's one more photo from this last weekend.  Jonathan loves to bring me little flowers he finds here or there when we are out together.  It's really sweet and means a lot to this momma.  This particular one was unique and one I had not seen before.  It's just a reminder for me in years to come of the days when he was little and still liked to bring me flowers just because I'm his mom & he loves me.  :-)

Hammock!

I have wanted a hammock for a long, long time.  I think they are one of the greatest things.  If memory serves me right the first time I sat in one was when I was a kid on some kind of family trip with my cousins.  It was my grandparents' hammock & I was in immediate love.  So I've always thought I'd have one as an adult.  But, you know how life goes...always something else needed and it becomes a "someday" thing. 

So I am very happy to announce that I finally have my hammock and....it rocks!!  I love, love it.  It is probably the most relaxing place in the world for me right now.  It's a belated mother's day/anniversary gift that was made possible thanks to the very generous donation of a friend.  My sweet hubby researched them & found the best one for the budget.  It's even got fun multi-colored stripes.  He set it up under the big tree in our backyard.  I love trees too (second to the hammock, of course) so I can relax, swaying in the breeze & look up at that big beautiful tree.  There is even a squirrel that lives in our yard that comes out and stares at me every time I'm relaxing there.    

Here's a photo of my very relaxed feet hanging out in my new favorite place.

When Joel got it home & out of the box, Jonathan immediately wanted the box to play with (because big boxes are awesome).  He quickly discovered that it was the perfect "Jonathan-sized" box.

Character Kid

Emily was selected as the character kid for her class for the 5th six weeks at her school.  This is a really big deal because only one kid is chosen per class each six weeks who exemplifies the character quality they have been learning about.  This particular six weeks the character trait they were focusing on was acceptance.  Emily was so thrilled to have been picked.  Here are pictures from the assembly the character kids were honored at.  Way to go, Miss Em!