Introducing Addie to dance recitals

Friday night, Addie and I went to Ashlyn Fox's (Eric and Kristal's daughter) dance recital for Carolina Dance Studio. So, I had Aunt "T" make Addie a tutu and onesie for the occasion. I couldn't have her going to a dance recital without the proper attire! Addie loved the recital, especially the tap and fast jazz music. She sat in my lap watching the dances and eating some of her puffs (kinda like she was in a movie theater). At halftime, we went back stage to get Ashlyn dressed and ready for her dance and to take some pictures of the two girls together. They were so cute! Ashlyn did such a great job and Addie loved watching her dance. After Ashlyn was done, we decided to get some dinner. We all headed over to Mi Rancho's for some yummy Mexican.

Addie and I really appreciate Eric and Kristal sharing this evening with us. It was very hard to be away from Kevin on our birthday but spending the evening at the dance recital made it a little easier for me. We really had a great time!

James Rouryck and the Giant Potato

Chandler's Gifted and Talented Class put on a play for the school. The GT class casted all the characters, incorporated the 5th grade chorus, and put the set together. They also were responsible for getting students outside of GT to help with some of the characters.

The play was about an Irish man name James Rouryck who is lazy and doesn't want to plant his potato crop so that him and his wife can survive the winter. So he goes looking for a Leprechaun to give him some gold. He captures the Leprechaun and won't let him go until he gives him a pot of gold. Instead the Leprechaun gives him a magic potato seed that grows a giant potato in the middle of the road that leads to town. James goes looking for the Leprechaun to ask him what he is suppose to do about this giant potato that he can't move out of the road. The Leprechaun tells him that maybe he should share his "wealth" with the town.

Chandler was the leprechaun in the play. I believe he was the best character, but I am a little bias:-) They had dancing fairies, which Addisyn loved to watch. It was a great play and all the character's did a wonderful job.

Field Day at JES

As a kid, I can remember field day. It was the day at the end of the year when you were out of class ALL day and got to play outside and just have fun with all of your friends. I remember the three-legged race, the sack race, water balloons, running around chairs, and tug-a-war. It was a day of fun in the sun!

Now in schools, field day is usually more like field hour. I believe this is a real tragedy for the kids! This year at JES, the P.E. coach believed the same thing. She had enough activities planned to entertain the kids outside all day long.

On Tuesday (May 18th) afternoon, Addie and I went to watch Bailey in field day. It was a beautifully, warm day outside and the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. The kids were split up according to classes and each class had to wear a different color. Bailey's class had to wear blue. They ran races, played kick ball, and even had a "jumpy thing" (this was only for third grade and under). We watched Bailey in the sack race. This was hilarious to watch these little 3rd graders trying to run, I know they should have hopped but they ran, in these huge sacks! We also saw Bailey in the hula-hoop race. I was never good at this, my hips never cooperated; but Bailey was one of the last 5 still standing! They got to play basketball in the "jumpy thing" and run the obstacle course. Bailey had a great time and it was good for all the kids to enjoy being outside while getting some exercise too!


On Thursday (May 20th) morning, Addie and I went back to the school for Chandler's field day. It was a little chilly that morning...but it didn't matter to the kids. I think they were just glad to be out of the classroom for the day! Chandler's grade was split up by gender. All the boys wore white while the girls were split up in two teams wearing either blue or red. We saw Chandler run several different races against another team of boys, including the egg race. They did the hula-hoop contest, and then they had some of the parents and teachers hula-hoop against each other...the kids loved it!After that, they split the kids in two teams, boys against girls, for the train race. Each team had to make a train by holding on to the back of the person in front of them and they had to run down the "lane" without "breaking a link" in their train. It was good to see all the kids enjoying themselves in a friendly competition. They cheered each other on no matter what team was winning or losing. Coach Edwards did a really good job with the kids and field day!

YUMMY

...in her tummy, on her face, in her hair....it's yummy everywhere!

Kevin was HOME

Kevin did get to come home for a few days, which as Chandler put it, one good thing that came out of this week.

He got to spend some time with the kids.


But what he didn't get a lot of was this....
except when Addie was sleeping!
Kevin told me he was ready to go back just to get some sleep...
not use to getting up and down all night any more.

To occupy his time, I gave him a "Honey Do" list.

On Thursday, he spent most of the day out in the yard...cutting grass, weed eating, pulling up plants and planting new ones. After we picked up the boys from school, we went over to Daddy and Momma's and grilled out (because we didn't have enough food already:-).

Friday morning, he got up and started working on the roof...until he got so hot that he nearly passed out from heat exhaustion (he can't handle the heat like he use too...LOL).

That afternoon, we went out to Rick's land so that Kevin could see his "shack" he had built. Then it was back home to get all of his stuff packed.

Kevin did get to see Chandler play in his all-star soccer game (which really made Chandler happy after the rough week that we had) and they won the game too!


After the soccer game, we met up with Kevin's cousins: Troy, Danny and their better halves, Jayme and Paula and Miss Livie for dinner. We had a great time hanging out and catching up with them. And after all that, we finally headed to Atlanta, arriving at Uncle Danny's around 2am.



Saturday morning, we had to get up bright and early to get Kevin to the airport by 8am. The airport was so busy, that we didn't even get to say good-bye, but Kevin made it back to Minot Saturday night and drove back to Montana on Sunday.

I'm so glad he was able to come home this week...although it was hard to watch him leave again.

The hardest week...

I wanted to put something on here to honor Granddaddy...but unlike most of my family, I am not good with words but I did find a poem that works really well since me and the kids just saw him the day before.

My Last Visit
© Alexis Abraham
It's time, to say goodbye.
I'm so upset, my mouth has gone dry.

Slowly I bend over, and give you a kiss.
your blue eyes filled with sadness, the time I spent together I will miss.

When I pull away, with this pain in my heart.

I don't want you to leave me, I don't want to be apart.

Sadly I know, this goodbye means forever, we have so many memories,
that I will always remember.

The drive back home, was the saddest I ever had.
I cried so hard, I felt so bad.

I prayed that God, would let you stay.
But eventually He took you, far away.

It's all for the best, I learned to face.
you are free from pain, and in a better place.
your memory is alive, to this day.
I love you so much Granddaddy even though your far away.

I know you look down on me, and still love me with all your heart,
a bond so strong, it will never break apart.

Please remember me, and all the good times.

For I love you so much, I will always remember you.


I will always remember all the good times I had with my Granddaddy and all the "firsts" that he did with all of us. I just hate that he won't be here to take Addie on her first boat ride or first fishing trip.

You were truly the best Granddaddy and will be missed by us all. We love you and can't wait to see you again one day!

Soccer Saturday

Today was soccer Saturday. Chandler had his last game...or so we thought, he was picked for the all-star team so now we will be out here again. But today was the championship. They played the first game against the "red team" and won a hard faught game. The second game, against the "green team", was a couple hours later and well....they did do so hot. After all the games, Chandler's age group had a cook out and end of the season party. It was a fun filled day at the soccer fields and now none of us can breathe!