More 'graduations'

What a week it has been.  The kids have all had end of year activities all week and the last day of school was today.  I always panic that I'm not going to know what to do with them, but we always manage to stay super busy in the summer with tons of pool days, play dates and sports.  

Kinley's preschool graduation was on Wednesday.  Hilarious and sad all at the same time.  Her teacher shed a few tears as did all of the moms.  Their mortar boards were made out of paper bowls and cardboard.  So funny!  I'm trying to see if I can borrow a friend's video that she took showing Kinley pouting with all her might.  I was taping and photographing her program and after she got her certificate, I put the camera down and noticed she was full-on pouting.  Then came the tears.  After it was over, she came over to me and wanted to know why I clapped for her other classmates and not her.  Are you kidding me?  I was holding the camera!!  She is such a goof sometimes.  

Cooper had his big 5th grade graduation on Wednesday as well.   His teacher, too, got emotional. Sheez.  I was emotionally spent by the end of the day!  I can't believe I have middle schooler. Yikes!  He had a great year and we're very proud of him. 

 

Kaiya was sad for her last day.  She loves school and had THE BEST teacher this year.  We will miss Ms. McEvers!  

Summer . . . here we come!!!

Ready for middle school

Best teacher ever!

Last day picnic

The preschool graduate

Kinley's teachers for the last two years

On top of the world

I have a new understanding for the phrase "bursting with pride."  I truthfully felt this weekend like I might just burst.  I feel so blessed to have two brothers with whom I am close.  I used to wonder what it would be like to have a sister, but I don't think God could have given me two greater siblings.  

Bennett's team won the state 3A baseball title on Saturday by blowing out Holy Family 13-0. Ho-hum . . .another state title. Bennett went 3 for 3 with two singles and a line-drive double up the third base line and finished his high school career on the highest note possible.  His mug shot was on the front page of the Greeley paper this morning and in the sports section of the Denver Post.  He now awaits June 9-10 for the draft to see what happens there.  

Immediately after his state title game, we rushed to Boulder where Kaiya competed in her second gymnastics meet.  She improved her all-around score by almost a full point, got a bronze medal this time and was so happy that Uncle Brandon and Aunt Erika and Papa came to watch. Her beam routine was much improved and yet she is already fired up to get back in the gym and keep working.  Notice in the video (I forgot to zoom so the video is crappy) that she got nervous at one point and started tucking hair that wasn't even there behind her ears (thanks, once again, to Kris for the braids!).  Cooper and Kinley were such troopers this weekend cheering on Bennett and Kaiya as we drove all over this state.  It will be their turn to be in the spotlight soon as Kinley has a dance recital coming up and Cooper starts baseball games in 2 weeks.  

Today, we spent the day at Bennett's high school graduation (where he finished 3rd in his class) and at my mom's for his graduation party.  It was just a perfect day--my kids had a ball and I just tried to take the whole day in.  I honestly never thought I would be this close to Bennett.  I was in my dorm room at Utah State when I got a phone call that my mom was in labor.  I really never thought I would feel like he was my brother because I was so much older.  And yet, being there to watch him grow up has been incredibly rewarding.  

Equally as rewarding has been watching the influence Brandon has had on his life.  Next to his parents, Brandon has been his #1 fan.  I have had a special role as his sister, but Brandon has lite

rally been there every step of the way--as his role model, mentor, coach, advisor and friend.  I was so proud of how well I kept my emotions in check this weekend except for one slip-up.  As we left the ballfield after the championship game, Brandon and Bennett had a departing hug and I lost it.  The tears flowed freely and still do when I stop to think about it.  

I hope and pray that someday my kids have the kind of relationship I have with my siblings.  They are some of the most special relationships in life!!

Talking to the press after the big game

Proud parents

Party decorations

Way to go, Uncle B!

                          Cooper's #1 role model                              

The Uncle B Fan Club

Bronze medalist

Losing her wheels

Miss Kinley is more competitive than I realized.  After seeing two of her friends recently riding bikes without training wheels, she decided it was her turn.  We tried a couple times last fall and she was a big chicken.  Not this time.  Doug took them off last night and off she went.  Yet another sign that my baby is no longer a baby.  I'm not dealing with it very well. :(  I had to also throw in a picture of her at her preschool party today.  She's quite please she can do the monkey bars now.  

Love the look in her eyes on this shot

Monkey, Jr. 

Deja Vu

I knew when Kaiya moved up to being on the gym team that the day for the long gymnastics meets would come. My poor parents sat through so many of them that I'm suprised they didn't become permanently fixed to the metal folding chairs. Kaiya's big day was Saturday and I have to admit, it was very WIERD. We walked through the door and I immediately recognized some of the other team's coaches and even one of the judges! I have been out of this sport for 16 freaking years and yet it was like an instant flashback.

Miss Kaiya had a great first experience and I got overly emotional when she did her first event (bars). I was so nervous for her! More than anything, I just want her to have fun. I absolutely love her coaches (lots of hugs and support vs. yelling) and they made the day so special for her.

She started on bars and rocked the house winning the event for all level 4's! Beam was next and it did not go nearly as well. 3 falls and she fought the tears hard (beam is of the devil). Floor was next and she did good--not as good as she wanted, but good. She finished on vault with 2 awesome vaults and loved ending on a high note. She ended up as a silver medalist in the all-around! And, thanks to a swine flu scare at Doug's office, he had the day off work and got to be there. :)

A huge shout out to Kris for doing Kaiya's hair (many compliments!). I pretty much suck in the hair department, so Kris was kind enough to do some fancy french braids. :)

Please bear with the video of her bar routine. Cooper was on camcorder duty. 3 more meets to go before a break and then it starts up again in the fall.

Cute gymnast bum and hairdo :)

Waiting to go on bars.

Silver medal!

Coach Morgan and Kaiya

Field Day!

I think I have probably shared before that I am not a fan of the youth soccer mentality . . . . the "everyone gets a trophy" philosophy. I think we have babied our kids to the point that they don't understand that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. So, I have had to really bite my tongue for the last several years as I've showed up to Field Day and all the kids have done is stupid non-competitive games. I think that's why I'm grateful that my kids participate in sports--life is all about learning how to be both a good winner and a good loser and when you go to get your first job--guess what? You have to compete to get it!

Fortunately for the 5th graders, the district puts on a fabulous district-wide Field Day. Not only are the kids competing against their own classmates, but with 5th graders from all over the district. It was still done in the spirit of fun, but it was all about the elusive blue ribbon as well. I seriously remember practicing for weeks before Field Day with my friends.

Waiting to do the shoe kick

Looking cool with some unnecessary eye black

The weather was kind of poopy, but at least it didn't rain! Kinley and I had a blast watching Cooper and his friends. It is really hitting me that we are just weeks away from Cooper being done with elementary school. His 6th grade paperwork wherein he has to choose his electives is due on Monday and his big 5th grade "puberty talk" is coming up in 2 weeks. I am hard-pressed to find many people who don't remember that day. Yikes!!

Coop and Elias pulling hard!

Coop's #1 fan

Totally Wicked!

I have to thank my sister-in-law, Anneke, for introducing me to Wicked. A few years ago, it came to Denver and she called to say she was making the trip from Salt Lake to Denver to see it and wondered if I wanted to come. I had never heard of it, but having grown up loving the theatre, I readily accepted the invite. I was blown away by the show. I bought the CD and hoped to see it again someday.

That someday was this last weekend. Wicked made it's debut in Salt Lake and I wanted my best friend, Lori, to see it (it's kind of a chic flick on Broadway all about friendship). We bought the tickets way back in January and have been counting down ever since. And, in fact, Wicked is now coming back to Denver this fall, so I got tickets AGAIN and this time I'm taking Kaiya two days before her birthday. Wohoo!

She picked me up at the airport in Salt Lake and we had two days of shopping, dining, jogging, seeing the show and girl time. You would think we would run out of things to analyze and talk about, but we never do. :) Love your guts, Lor!

Proud moments

**Warning - brag post. I figure if I disclose this first and you care not to read, it's not too late to hit the "X" button at the top right corner of your screen. At the grandparent's request, I have uploaded a video of Kaiya's first gymnastics meet (it was a practice meet, but the first time ever in front of a judge) and of Cooper receiving his Grade 13 & Beyond Scholarship. What a great week. :)

Kaiya was pretty nervous, but I honestly thought I might puke from nerves. She did great, though, and more importantly, she had fun and was happy with her performance. The scary part was the judge they used has been around for a number of years (the exact number is not important here, people) and I recognized her from my days in the gym. Now, we gear up for her first real meet in two weeks in Denver.

Last night, Cooper got his Grade 13 & Beyond Scholarship ($100 that might buy a spiral notebook by the time he's in college, but it all counts, I guess). There were 1,037 applications and 90 scholarships awarded. The kids had to write an essay about what they wanted to do when they grow up and what college would help them achieve that goal. Coop wrote about wanting to go into sports broadcasting to be a play-by-play baseball analyst. With a little help from my brother, Brandon, he might just be able to do that someday! His essay was very heart-felt and I shed a few tears thinking about how grateful I am that he is healthy enough to be thinking about his future this way. His teacher, Mr. Blick, had to write a paragraph about Cooper as well and this was the first time we were able to hear his remarks, which were so kind.

Not to be outdone, Miss Kinley decided she would become a reader in the matter of a few days. We have been working hard on sight words and phonics and she sat down yesterday for lunch and started reading the front of the mac & cheese box. She turned to me and said, "Mom, it says to add butter and milk." I about choked. Way to go, girl!

Level 4 Floor Routine

Cooper and his teacher, Mr. Blick