Quick update...

Tess and Amy at VBS.

Aidan's corner of the float.

Amy and Aidan ride a float in a July 4th parade.

NOT Father's Day. We celebrated a week early.

Amy grooms Sunny

During part of the summer, Amy took riding lessons from a trainer in Fredericksburg where my mom lives. She enjoyed it, but like all adventurous kids, wanted to be galloping and jumping by day 2. Aidan went to Robotics camp, but we were not impressed. Every summer is a learning experience and planning is not easy!

The kids have returned to school. Amy was ready- she missed her friends.  Aidan and Amy were getting bored and tired of each other. Amy is now in 2nd grade and loves her new teacher. One of her bestest friends, Tess, has been accepted to their school, and though they are not in the same class, they see each other a lot. She is so happy to be back with her classmates and be in school. She is still taking keyboard and will also play soccer this fall (with Tess). She has been taking a break from gymnastics, but the last few weeks has been trying to do walkovers and handsprings, so it may be time to resume her lessons before she breaks something!

Aidan has started 5th grade in a higher level, so we are hoping it will be a little more challenging academically. Mommy is leaving the chopper on the landing pad so he can learn to be more independent. I can already see it will be a hard year for him. 

I am still in PTO with the elections this coming week. A few of our board members have agreed to stay on until December to help the new board get into the groove. It will be interesting to see what happens... 

So we are keeping busy and watching the time fly by. Life is good. Thanks for checking in. :)

Let the summer begin!

Aidan turned ten last month. Hard to believe he's going to be a 5th grader! He had some trouble staying organized and remembering all the homework, etc. but he had some fantastic teachers and he really enjoyed his first year at his new school. Again, in lieu of a party, he chose a camping trip for his birthday, so we stayed at South Llano State Park for the weekend. It was a beautiful weekend, and the park is quite nice, but water access is very limited, and that tends to be the focus of our recreation when we camp. But we had a great time- I even got to break in my new mountain bike!

Look comfy? I didn't think so, either. Aidan breezed through all 13 books by Lemony Snickett (the "Series of Unfortunate Events" books) in about 2 weeks. I think he read 1 a day, often turning his light back on after we went to bed to read more!

The kids had their last day of school the last Friday of May. Amy already misses her friends and school. Aidan, not so much! They both did very well academically, making honor roll consistently. Amy placed third in the Science Fair and Aidan won "Best in Show" in the Harmony-wide art competition, which included all local Harmony/SST Discovery schools.

Amy decided she wanted short hair again, so she went with me to the salon and had the stylist cut 5 inches off! She loves it!

On Memorial day (today) we learned that we have a new cousin! Robyn Kenzie was born early this morning and we are so grateful Susan and baby are doing well. James, however, may need therapy. :)

CONGRATULATIONS

JAMES AND SUSAN

AND WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

ROBYN!

Out of order

Since rearranging pictures in order of occurrence from past to present, top to bottom, is such a pain, this might make more sense if you start reading at the bottom of the blog and scroll up... Then again, maybe it won't.

This past weekend Amy and I traveled to Kerrville to Kickapoo Kamp where we had a Mother-Daughter weekend. It was... quite interesting. It rained endlessly the first night and Saturday morning it was very ugly- drizzly, wet, muddy, and cold. But by the time we finished lunch, the clouds had cleared and it was a really nice day. Amy made a new friend, Jordan, and they were attached at the hip for the rest of our weekend. Jordan and her mom, Tammy, were in the same cabin with us, and Jordan is also 7 with a December birthday. Tammy and I followed their lead most of the time, trying archery, shooting, hiking, riding, tennis, ping pong, bingo, or just hanging out in the cabin recovering. The girls were really good together and the moms were glad they had each found a same age friend. We hope to get together again sometime, maybe if the Meyers come to Sea World, or we decide to visit NASA.

For our anniversary this year, my mom arranged for a secret weekend full of fun. First Will and I drove to Bastrop where we had a horseback ride through fields of flowers and trees. It was gorgeous! Then we drove out to the other side of Austin near Bee Cave and Marble Falls.

There we went to Cypress Valley Canopy Tours, where we spent a few hours on zip lines, zooming through the trees! It was AWESOME! At the end of our zip line tour, we rode in a gofl cart back to the middle of the course and rode the zipline to Lofthaven, a one room treehouse, where we spent the night. There is only one lofthouse on the property, and it was absolutely wonderful sleeping there. We actually slept in until 8:30! The loft is fully enclosed with screened windows all the way around and has a foot bridge to the bathroom, which is on land at the top of the ravine. The treehouse is about 30-40 feet above ground in the tree. One of the best adventures ever. I highly recommend it.

The wildflowers this year are just amazing. There are so many colors and the entire drive to school each day, we pass medians and empty lots full of bluebonnets and other pretty flowers. Open your car window and you can smell the soft fragrance in the air. It almost makes me forget that soon it will be over 100 degrees until Thanksgiving...

Field of flowers a block from our house.

Flowers at the side of the road near Bastrop, TX.

After church services on Easter, we had our traditional confetti egg event. It was really fun this year, since it often rains on Easter Sunday. Even the adults got involved!

In February, we traveled to Pedernales Falls State Park for a weekend of camping. Although cold, it was a beautiful weekend. The kids had a great time riding the trails behind our campsite, climbing trees, and making a fort in the trees. The first night it froze, and even the dog water froze! Luckily we had let Aidan talk us into bringing a heater along! Even Maya was so cold she needed a blanket!

I think this was called a "sky balloon." It was pretty neat- it floated up into the sky until the fuel ran out and it biodegradable.

Our second night there, Saturday, Amy came down with a fever and spent most of the night throwing up, so Sunday morning we packed up early and went home. Amy slept ALL DAY Sunday AND through the night, waking only for about 2 hours to watch TV and sip water. Monday, the doc said she had strep and needed to stay home for 2 days. And surprise, on Tuesday Aidan came down with it too, though his symptoms weren't nearly as severe. It was a loooong week!

Spring break was very quiet. I spent the most of the week visiting with my mom and Donna in Kerrville hanging out and catching up on girl talk. The kids spent time with their gandparents just playing the days away. Nice and quiet...

Merry New Martin Luther Valentine's President's Day!

OMG! We have been super busy around here since Christmas. I'll start with the Christmas break...

Aidan got braces the Monday before Christmas. He wasn't very happy, but it had to be done and I figured he would have 2 weeks to get used to them. He picked red and green bands and got used to them very quickly. He actually likes them now that he has blue and teal colored bands (he changed colors in Feb).

Christmas Eve was spent in Ingram with Will's folks, and Christmas Day was at our house with my mom. It was certainly a Robot Christmas this year! Aidan got a robot arm, robot bug, robot duck, and a robot drawing arm. He has enjoyed putting them together and playing with them.

The weekend after Christmas, the kids and I drove up to Sherman to visit one of my close friends, Christina, and her 2 kids, Reid and Elizabeth. On the drive up, we stopped to visit with Jenny's folks in Van Alstyne, TX, which is about 20 minutes from Christina's house. It was a short stay, only a few hours, but Jenny lives about 2 miles from us in San Antonio! So then we were on our way north. We stayed at Christina's about 4 days. While we were there, it snowed, and they were all so excited, but of course, being Texans, they were totally unprepared for playing in it! Jeans and tennies aren't exactly warm and waterproof!

From Sherman we drove down to Dallas for a sibling reunion of sorts. We stayed overnight at my Uncle John's, which I always love (it just feels like home!). We got to see all the sibs and a few cousins, neices, and nephews for a few hours over pizza.

Once we got home, we enjoyed the last few days of sleeping in before school started again. Over the holidays we received the kids' report cards. They both made honor roll and we are so proud of them!! Aidan worked especially hard last semester and it paid off, and Amy just loves school (whew).

In Feb. both kids were enrolled in gymnastics once a week. We have been trying to get Aidan to join for about 4 years, and now that he's in he loves it! In fact, on this last Friday, his coach helped him do back handsprings! The look on his face after the first one was priceless and I wish I had had my camera! He is also doing a hip mount onto the parallel bars using the second bar to push off. Amy is doing handsprings, flips, and round-offs and will be trying out for team this spring.

Our latest project was painting the master bathroom. That was fun (not), but at least it looks clean now that the grimy, builder grade paint has been covered. We also got some pretty new chairs from our front room off Craig's List. Finally we have 2 chairs that match!

I have taken a second job. I love working at the clinic with kids, but the drive is just such a long commute to and from the school, so I signed on with a home health company for a few hours a week. So far I like it- I can limit my service area and my hours to suit my needs and I am enjoying working with adults for a change. Now I work 2 days at the clinic and 2 days home health. It's all good.

Hopefully the next update will be before they enter middle school!

WHAT!? CHRISTMAS IS IN 2 DAYS!?!?!

Well thank goodness I'm done shopping... Okay, true- I am NEVER really done shopping. Is there such a thing? I feel obligated as an American citizen to do my part for the economy, and I think I am doing my share. Time has really zoomed by this year!

Amy turned seven on the 16th and had her party at the gym again. She had a great time, as always. Hard to believe she's 7. She is really enjoying school- so much that she cried when we got home on the Friday before Christmas break because she wanted to go back to school! I know- freaky. She has been nominated for gifted and talented testing, but I don't have any idea what that involves at this school. They do things a little differently.

The same day as her party was the school science fair. All kids grades 4-11 are required to do a science project. Then the judges choose the ones that advance to the actual science fair competition. Aidan's project, How a Propeller Works, was chosen for competition, but he didn't win. It was really a good experience for him though, to have to give a presentation and learn the process. He has done very well academically his first semester, with all A's and one B (I think he was robbed, of course- it was an 89). He is slowly learning the skill of organization, and he has really stepped up to the new level of standards and expectations of Harmony and 4th grade. He was thrilled to see his final semester grades- he didn't think he had done that well. We're very proud of his hard work.

Aidan also got his spacer removed a few weeks ago and this past Monday, he got his braces. He was impressively mature about the process, and we are really proud of him for being so cooperative with the orthodontist. Aidan chose a red and green pattern of braces for his first round, but he asked me not to post his picture on the internet. I am really excited for him to see the improvement in his smile once they come off, which should be sometime around Sept.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas countdown already?!

The first grade class at the kids' school organized a performance for Thanksgiving. It was really cute. Amy was so excited to get to dress up and learn her lines! Afterward, they provided a feast for the families. Most parents brought side dishes or desserts. It was a fun evening, but a very long day! That day Amy spent 11.5 hours at school!

We spent Thanksgiving week with my mom in Fbg. (Fredericksburg), along with 9 dogs. Mom treated the girls to tea at Queen B's, where Amy had a great time trying on hats and gloves and looking at all the fancy dishes and knick-knacks. Even her sandwich was cut into the shape of a crown! The flavored teas were really good: Amy had vanilla, mom had cinnamon, and I had... chocolate truffle (shocking).

On Turkey Day, we drove to Ingram to visit with Will's folks, his brother Dave & family, and brother James and family. We had not met the newest member of the Schalla family, Maren, who is now 18 months old! We really enjoyed spending time with everyone and eating too much turkey. It was also nice to have James and Susan come visit us at our home with Maren. We only see them every few years since they live in Washington state, but we make up for lost time quickly! We are looking forward to meeting Maren's sibling, due in May.

While we were in Ingram, Aidan got to work on his treehouse with Dad and Pop. He now has a roof and a trap door, although the trap door part needs some fine-tuning as Amy can't quite get up into the treehouse (or out) without help. He is very proud of his project, and especially the time he gets to spend with Pop.

Finally, we have been doing some rearranging at our house, and I found this great writing desk on Craigslist for under $100! What a steal!

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break and made some happy memories.

Punkin fun.

Amy's class took a field trip to a pumpkin patch in Devine, where there is a large farm that is open to the public for seasonal events. The kids had a great time painting pumpkins, having duck races, playing on the huge playground, petting the farm animals, dressing scarecrows, riding the hay wagon, and wearing themselves out completely! It was really fun- they have great organization for moving groups through stations and it never felt too crowded. The weather was gorgeous- I think it was in the mid 70's.
Last weekend we met Jenny, Tatum, Tess and Jonah at the pumpkin patch near our house to pick out baby pumpkins and then went out to eat together.

Halloween was lots of fun this year. I finally gave in and dressed up and went trick or treating with the kids.