Graduation Party

Graduation was May 22.

I have never been invited to a graduation Party before, but I was honored when the Hunters invited me to Koltens'.

Kolten is the Youngest of 4, and I have taught all his siblings.  I have attended both his sisters mission farewells and recently his oldest sisters Homecoming.  Kolten was one of my Co-presidents for PEP this year and has had my ceramics class almost every Semester since he was in 9th grade.

Kolt is an amazing kid who played on the the State Championship Football team this year, was named to the Allstate Team, and was Juried into the Springville Art Museum High School Art Show! (Huge honor)

This is the pot he made!

Kolt has been through a lot this past year and a half, and I am so proud of the Young Man he has become and the choices he is making!!

Seriously Love this kid!  And Chance my other Co-president and Kolts best friend!

So the Graduation Party was a pool party and my kids had so much fun!!

 Even though they wouldn't get in the water cause it was "too Cold"

 Things got really fun when the" big kids" jumped in!

 Jacks hanging out with me!

 Eating Cake!

 Time to go home!

I am already having withdrawals knowing Kolt won't be there for the first day of school in August, but I am so lucky that my job has allowed me to know all the Hunter Kids and their AWESOME Mom!

Fathers and Sons 2013

Nick decided jacks was still too little to go to Fathers and Sons. (Plus he was sick)

So Jacks and I got to hang out.

He was so upset when daddy and "bubba" left without him, that we went and got sno-cones to make him feel better.

Awesome Hat Hair!!

He only took like 6 bites and we threw the rest away!

 Then Saturday morning I had a million Errands to run so we went out to breakfast while my kiln was in reduction.

 He got Chocolate Chip Pancakes.

It was actually pretty nice just spending time together.  He is growing up so fast!!

Lemonade Stand

Cooper and our 2 neighbor boys set up a little lemonade Stand.  They were so cute and even found their own business by knocking on doors and asking people to come buy lemonade.  they got $4+ each, so I guess it worked!!

Such cute entrepreneurs!!

A Toad, Some Hail, and a Funny T-shirt

Almost stepped on this little guy the other night.

Quick hailstorm while we were out at Dinner.

T-shirt on of my student designed, that I had him print up for Nick.

Three

My baby stepped out of baby hood into the 3's today.

Great things about Jacks:

He is an awesome little kid.

He loves to giggle and laugh.

He knows all his number and letters, and all he letter sounds.

He can sound out 3 letter words, and "Jackson".

He HATES getting his hair cut.

He calls "Wreck it Ralph" --"Rudolph"(Not sure why)

He wears a hat about 80%+ of the time.

He call himself  "Jackie Boy".

He calls Cooper "Bubba".

He is kicking butt at "Putting Pee in the Potty" (we are, completely, letting him lead, )

When we put his hair in a "faux-hawk" he calls it "Dinosaur Hair"

He LOVES his stuffed Dog, but is TERRIFIED!! of any real dog.  Even tiny ones.

Nicks Favorite thing about Jack: " Hmm, I don't know he's kind of a snot.  he does things just because he knows you don't want him to. Its kind-of cute sometimes.  And it's easy to manipulate him.

Thanks babe for that Heartfelt explanation.....

Jacks showing how old he is.

Dear Baby Bug,

3 years, really? We are so glad you are part of our family.  You have such a light in you, so much joy.  We love your stubbornness, even when it drives us crazy.Thank you  for all the sweet kisses, hugs, and cuddles.  Love you  more!!

Mama and Daddy

The Party with 2 themes

Jacks loves Thomas the train, so i had this huge Thomas the Train plan that involved these..

 Toddler size cardboard Trains.

However jacks also Loves Wreck it Ralph: Thus the 2 themed Party was born.

Thomas was the decoration, and "Ralph was the Entertainment

 First All the kids helped build and extra large Wall of boxes.

 Then "Ralph" Broke through.

"Best Dad Award"

 "I'm gonna wreck it"

 Jacks and one of the other little boys were not impressed with Ralph, in fact they were terrified!

Then "Fix-it Felix" arrived to save the day!

 Isn't he So Handsome.  He was so proud of his Golden Hammer!

 Then we played with the boxes, building Towers and knocking them down.

 And Jacks found the "Ralph" hands.

Then after Pizza, we were visited by the Ice Cream truck.

(It's super handy when one of your students drives an Ice Cream Truck.)

The kids all picked thier own Ice Cream Treat, and some of the neighborhood kids came by too!

J and his Penguin

 K and his Bunny. (Which he wouldn't eat, but liked to hold)

 Jack got a Ninja Turtle

 S and L Just hanging out.

Then Presents.
Jacks was Excited for Presents.

 Cowboys and Indians from J.

 Inflatable Thomas from K

 And a "Wreck it Ralph" From Mom and Dad

Happy Birthday Baby Bug.

10 years

Today, 10 years ago,

We chose each other.

To be Together,

to build a Forever Family,

to be Best Friends

Things aren't always Perfect,

But we are lucky and we know it.

I love him,

a lot.

I need him

a lot.

I'm glad he said "Yes".

By the Numbers

10 Years of Marriage
2 Kids
2 College Degrees
7 Job Changes (Nick 5, Tawny 2)
3 Moves
4 Cars
Countless Fights
Lots of Love

1 Great Beginning to a Forever.

Kindergarten Graduation

Coopers Program was today.  I was so lucky to be able to work it out so I could go.

Their Program was all about what they would be when they grew up.

Coopers part was about an astronaut.  I got his costume from one of the ladies I work with.

Cooper was the Super Star at school this week and he got to sit by the door and hand out programs

 He was so cute!

 I had the same reaction at this graduation, that I had at his Preschool Graduation.

"He is too little.. he cant be almost six!"

 He did so perfect on his part.

  It was" When I grow up and finish school, an astronaut I will be, and while I'm in my big space ship I'll visit my friend E.T."

 I was sitting next to one of the other Moms who volunteers in coops class, and she told me how wonderful she thinks he is, an how she could just steal him and take him home with her.
That made me feel really good.  Nick and I know Cooper is a good kid, but it's always nice to hear from someone else.

So Handsome and Serious.  I don't think he smiled more than twice the whole program.

 And of course the required "My Child Picking His Nose in Front of an Entire Audience" Picture.

 So Proud of him and all he has done this year.

May Day

I have had some hard teaching years. 
 My first year teaching, was also my first year as a mom, in a new city, with no support system.
 My second year I taught a FULL day of art at the middle school and a full day of Ceramics at the high school. 
 My third year, I was at the high school all day but I was teaching Ceramics and French. 
 Then I had Jacks, and Year Four, and Year Five, weren't bad.
 I kind of wish I had skipped year six completely though.

 At the end of the very first day of school this year, I was sitting in my room, exhausted, hurting, and crying. My friend Kolten was there and I told him I wasn't sure if I would be able to do this. You know, make it all the way to May. 

Then fast forward 1 month, to when I fell, and I was once again exhausted, hurting, and crying. May felt so far away. 

 After the 5 weeks I missed second quarter, the light at the end of the tunnel.....May, may as well have been in Timbuktu. 

On the hardest days of the year "just make it to May" is all I think, what I held onto. 

 Today is May.....now I just have to remember to keep breathing for 3 more weeks.

 Hello May. Glad you are here. 

 I am working on a very awesome project right now. I hope to have it "announce worthy" by the end of the week.