Life

My newest obsession is blog surfing...call me creepy but it's interesting to read about other people and their families.
I have stumbled across several where families have lost a child. In one in particular the mother urges her readers to hold on to every moment we are given, cherish everything that comes our way. I do that, I thought...but then, as I thought more about it I realized I don't. I get caught up in "busy" things that must be done and allow these precious moments to just slip by without a thought.
The last few nights I have taken the kids out for bike rides. It does "cramp" my time when I would usually be doing something that "needed to get done"...but guess what....whatever it was that needed to be done was most certainly still waiting for me when I got home and in fact the world did not come to a screeching halt because of it.
I take the time to listen to Brandon as he makes an observation about everything from dust on the street to the beautiful sunset we saw last night. I watch Alyssa as she rides back and forth past me just as fast as can be, her hair blows in the wind and I take a mental picture. I want to soak it all in...every last thing.
Hopefully tonight daddy will join us for our walk...as Brandon said. "Alyssa and I can ride our bikes, daddy will push Gabriella in the stroller and you (meaning me) can run off some weight"....Yup...I love em!

5th grade!

Alyssa will be entering her final year in elementary school on August 25th. I wonder where the time went.
I still remember what she wore on her first day in Kindergarten...how I fixed her hair and how big that princess backpack looked on her little back.

I was sitting in the car waiting for her to get out of school on Friday. Jeff walked up to the school to get her...I saw her run to him and I knew why. She pulled off straight A's for the entire year...again!
In the teacher remarks she said she had never worked with a child as well mannered and bright as Alyssa. Yes, I realize she may be a bit of a teachers pet...but hey...I'll take it!
I am so proud of all of my kids but Alyssa makes me beam from ear to ear. She worked hard for those straight A's and we are so proud of her!

If you are wondering what the American Girl Doll picture is for...well, this is what daddy promised her if she could do the all A's for the year. He made this deal BEFORE I informed him how much these puppies run. :)

1st Grade here we come...

On Friday Brandon graduated from Kindergarten. They had a nice little program complete with songs and a really nice slide show of pictures compiled from the year that was set to music. I can't believe my little guy is going into 1st grade. He had a great year and learned so much. His teacher, Mrs Thornton was also Alyssa's kindergarten teacher we loved her then and we love her even more now. I'm so proud at the progress that he made and look forward to what new and exciting things lay ahead in 1st grade.

side note...in the slide show my son was featured in pictures with all girls...in one him and another girl are strolling the playground HOLDING HANDS!

Random Updates

Just in case anyone was wondering...

Alyssa did make the school newspaper...
she was chosen as an alternate for the morning announcements. She's happy with the outcome of both.

Dance starts back up on the 18th. She is taking Tap, Irish, Hip Hop and Ballet. That's four classes and four trips we will be making to Boulder City every week. It will be interesting to see how everything runs with football and wrestling practices, PTA meetings and well....sanity. This is where I thrive though..as crazy as it gets...nothing makes me happier than seeing my kids do what they love.

The last day of school is Friday. Brandon is having a kindergarten "promotion" on Friday morning. They are singing songs and letting off balloons. It should be fun.
Alyssa gets off at 11:30 so I'm taking the day off and we are making a family day out of it. Lunch and school supply shopping...the goal is to get Brandon his lunch box before he asks for the millionth time.

Jeff and I are good...me being the person that I am reminded him yesterday was our 11 year anniversary of our first kiss...
I know, I know...GAG ME!

Flag Football...

Brandon starts football next week. His team, as you can see is the Chiefs. Games will start August 30th...so grab your chairs and some sunscreen and be prepared for some good old fashion flag football. It should be a lot of fun!

Meeting a champion...

Brandon had wrestling camp this week. On Friday one of the coaches was Kevin Randleman, former UFC heavyweight champion. Brandon was so excited to have him sign his shirt and said he wants to be a champion just like him one day...
In the three days of camp Brandon was able to learn some new "moves"...I can't wait for wrestling season to start back up so I can see his new skills on someone besides his poor sister.
He may be a little guy but my little guy is tough!

YUMMY...

On Friday my mother-in-law made some of my favorite Filipino food...even Gabriella got in on the action!
This was her first time eating pancit and just like her mommy...she LOVED it!
Thanks a ton Minda, it made my night much easier knowing I didn't have to cook dinner.