My Most Favorite Time of the Year (at least one of them).

Before I get started, I have to randomly interject.  I read the most hysterical, incredible book a few weeks back.  It is called For The Love by Jen Hatmaker. 

I have grown to love spring...amongst many other times of the year.  We have been spending a lot of our days at home this spring, and I have been enjoying getting my hands dirty.  I planted my hanging baskets this year.  I must tell you, I planted these baskets for under $5 each.  Pretty good, eh?   

We planted flowers in Kevin's Pinterest pots.  He is keen on the red and white flowers for these pots, so I obliged.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Brandt's for this beautiful wheel barrow.  We absolutely adore it!

We planted two Clematis plants on our front fence last week.  We may not see flowers until next year, but they seem to be doing great.

The garden is in.

A few extra tomato plants...

The strawberries are coming in.  We could not wait and already picked a few.  They were still pretty sour though.

We moved the wishing well.  I tried Basil in it, but I think the Basil needed more sun.  So, I put some impatiens in the well yesterday.  Let's see how they do.

My new succulent garden! 

I LOVE wind chimes.  We have several sets of chimes in the backyard.  Kevin has always frowned on my suggestion of one out front.  This year he caved.  I caught him at a week moment.  This owl wind chime was one of the gifts that I had bought for a Christmas Eve bingo prize.  Of course, it was by pure accident that I chose this package when it was my turn (wink wink).  I love you my beautiful, musical owl!

The First Annual Talent Show.

The school held a talent show this year.  It was pretty serious business.  The parents had to sign a contract.  The kids had to try out for the talent show and attend several practices and rehearsals.  Amateurs need not apply.  In the end, it was pretty fantastic!  So many kids participated that they held two separate shows.  Here are the kids getting some last minute tips before the rest of the school showed up to watch.

There was quite a variety of acts.  This boy solved a rubics cube in under two minutes (1 minute 30 seconds, I believe).

A first degree black belt in karate (in elementary school).  Wow!

This young man played Beethoven's Fifth.  We will definitely see his name in the future.

Cadence, Cortni and Keely perfomed an amazing gymnastics routine.

 

Tyson did a fantastic break dancing routine.  He had the crowd really pumped up.

Some of the other acts included a magician, jump roping twins, a comedy routine and more! 

However, my favorite act was the young lady in pink and black that sang Carrie Underwood's - Blown Away.  She did incredible!  Yes, that would be Kendall.  She is a natural performer.

She was not nervous at all.  I think I had enough nervous energy for both of us...

The Cleanest Town in Texas.

If you read this blog, you will know the struggles that we have had with Sidney in the past year or so.  She has had some pretty fierce anxiety issues.  So what does any good parent do?  Enroll their seriously anxiety-prone, introverted child in Drama Club.  Why not? 

Yes, that is the truth.  Last January, her school sent home a flyer for drama class.  She told me that she wanted to go.  The flyer said how good it was for confidence building.  So, I called the drama coach.  He assured me that he could work with her.  The beauty of the class is that she walked herself right down the hall after school to participate.  No drop off.  No anxiety laden transition.  Beautiful!  The first few weeks she cried the morning of club.  I told her that if she stuck with it for one month I would get her a t-shirt.  I am not above bribery.  It worked.  She stuck with it.  She loved it!!!

The grand finale was last week.  Her class put on a performance at the local high school.  She was amazing.  They were ALL amazing.  The play was set back in the wild west of Texas.  Sidney played Whitney the Waitress.  The following are a load of snapshots I took. 

She did not seem nervous one bit.  Afterward, I asked her if she had been nervous.  She said that she was a little.  To me, it just looked like she was having a great time.

Lulubelle and Jake having a bit of drama.

Sidney square dancing with the cast.

A little more drama...

Taking their bow.

Sidney received an award for finishing the class.  It was such a treat to watch.  The bonus is that my mom was here to see it.  We all got such a kick out of our shy little girl belting out her lines without a care in the world!

Girls on The Run - 5K.

Kendall participated in Girls on the Run this year, affectionately known as GOTR.  This is an outstanding program open to girls grades 3rd through 5th.  They met twice a week for an hour and a half.  At each practice, they received a "growing up" lesson, then they walked or ran for about 30-45 minutes.  The program started in February and ended with a 5K run this spring. 

 A little secret about me, I get super emotional at racing events.  Be it a triathlon, marathon or 5K, I get huge lumps in my throat.  This race did not disappoint.  I was Kendall's designated running partner for the race.  As we pulled into the parking lot and I started seeing the crowds of people walk in, I had to fight back the emotion.  I know it is a bit weird, but it is what it is.  I have been to many races.  I have competed in marathons and triathlons for years.  My dad is a 2 time Ironman.  My mom was also a triathlete for many years. These races are so personal for each and every participant.  Each person is there with their own goal.  Each person has their own story.  For some it is easy, for some it is a huge challenge, but for everyone it is an event.  Along the race, I heard one mom tell her daughter that they had reached the point in which mental toughness was the key.  How true it is.  Yes, this was just a 5K, but for some it may as well have been an Ironman.

 

Here is part of her team, just before the race.  Lots of nervous giggles.

Kendall held their team sign as the girls walked into place at the start.  Then, the race was on.  When the start gun went off, the girls took off like it was a 50 yard dash.  I called Kendall back, and we fell into a rhythm.  She ran very strong up to the turnaround.  Then, she high fived her team mates as she saw them on her way back.  Then, it was time for mental toughness.  We would pick a short goal (sign,. light pole, etc) and concentrate on that.  Then it was on to the next goal.  My extroverted daughter finished like a champ as she approached the roar of the onlookers near the finish.  Her legs kicked it into high gear and she crossed the finish line in a dead on sprint.    

 

Her practice 5K time was 50 minutes.  Her race 5K time was 38 minutes and 43 seconds.  I am so proud of her!.  She is already asking to do it again in the fall.

 

Guess who received the Star Student award?

Each month, the girls school has a different character trait that they look for in the students.  Each teacher nominates one student.  Then, the teachers vote for one student from each grade to receive the award.

 

The character trait for may was CITIZENSHIP.

Guess who so deservingly received the award?  Miss Sidney.  Good work, young lady.

 We are very proud!

The Perfectly Symmetrical Bug Family.

Kendall made a family of bugs for us.  To help you all out, I will show you the first one.  Kendall wrote our last name first with a mirror image, then colored it in to look like a bug.

Rotated left here is the "STRONG" bug.

The "KEVIN" bug.

 The "HEATHER" bug.

 The "KENDALL" bug.

 The "SIDNEY" bug.

Pretty ingenious,really.

The Best Track Meet Ever.

It has been awhile since I last posted.  Kevin has decided to take some time off work.  So, for the last track meet of the season, the students and faculty raced in support of his fight.  The girls golf team made shirts for the faculty to wear and each of the students had a periwinkle ribbon on their uniform.  The girls, Terrell and I went out to watch. 

The girls had fun at the meet.  They especially enjoyed watching the high jump. 

Valerie (on the right) was the one who pulled off the big surprise.

They honored Kevin at the beginning of the meet with some very kind words.

His last official day of work was at the end of April.  It has been good to have him home.  The rest has been VERY good for him and VERY good for our family.  He has been reading at night with the girls and sitting outside enjoying the beautiful spring weather we have had.