Drew the Fire Dragon

Alas, Drew's KBall season has come to an end. Ironically, it went a few weeks longer than both Sadie and Zack's seasons, and these are 5 and 6 year olds who have an attention span of a gnat! Drew absolutely loved being able to finally play an organized sport, but he wanted the season end so he could get his very first trophy! Kids crack me up.

Our team party was after the last game. Coach Randy gave a little pep talk, and then it was trophy time!!

Drew's turn!

Coach Randy, his son, Ty, and Coach Tony with his son! The first of many seasons coached by Daddy!

Me and my little baseball star

Another School Year Down

Remember these kids from back in September?

Me either :(

I can't believe how much they have changed. They grow so fast.

Zack and his teacher, Mrs. Boyer. He will have her next year for 2nd grade, yay!

Sadie and Mrs. Danley. What a great teacher she is.

The kiddos and their pals, Sydney and Brett (Their little brother Ty is Drew's age. How lucky!)

The last day of school at Jackson just wouldn't be the same without the teacher/staff can-can!

*SIGH*

Our Team is BOOM Dynamite!!

I absolutely love watching Sadie play softball and this season was no different. The girls just get better and better each year in their playing ability and their understanding of the game. Their season ends with a 4 game tournament that is quite competitive (and stressful for moms and dads!), but super fun. Here are some pics from the last bit of their season.

Sadie's coaches promised the girls ice cream at DQ after their 2nd tourney game. Yum!!

Sadie's last at bat.

Right after the last tourney game the whole league gathered for a big awards ceremony, where the girls got medals. Sadie's team didn't place 1st, 2nd or 3rd, but they did really well and fought hard!

Dana, Kylie, Emily, Sadie, Adri, Ally and Sydney
Sadie has played with most of these girls since Kindergarten!

The next weekend we had the team party at their school. The weather wasn't the greatest, but it didn't stop us from playing a parents vs. girls scrimmage game and having dinner and cake together!

These girls truly like each other and all of the families are awesome! What a great group of people!

We will enjoy the break but definitely still can't wait for next year!

Dad and Kahz Go to Jackson

The kids (Sadie, specifically) have been begging for Tony and Kahz to come to their school and do a little demo for their classes. We finally got to the last full week of school and decided we better get on it! So they came and each class got a chance to see and hear about what Tony and Kahz do. I think it was a big hit!

Sadie's 4th grade class asking lots of questions

Getting ready to find something!

The whole group

Then it was time for Zack's class

(I think Drew was feeling a bit left out, so he wanted to be up front with Daddy)

FOUND IT!!

And the reward!

Zack's first grade class

We are all so proud of Tony and Kahz and sometimes it's just fun to show off your dad to your classmates, right? ;)

Zack's Trophy

Zack was the first of our kids to finish his baseball season. They played 3 jamboree games over 2 days and had a blast!

After the last game, we were surprised when some of the league members came over and gave each of the boys a medal for playing! That was pretty cool.

After the game, we had the team party complete with ice cream bars and trophies!

We are so proud of you, Zack!

Molly the Hamster

Sadie has been begging for a hamster. And begging. And saving her money. After avoiding, ignoring and finally, listening and talking, Tony and I decided that she could indeed buy a hamster. We visited Petsmart about 800 times and asked as many questions of their hamster expert. Sadie is a very good researcher. :) Then hamster buying day came! Sadie was giddy with excitement! She got a cage and supplies and then picked out a super cute short-haired hamster and home we went. Sadie named her new girl Molly. (Adoption Day was May 28, 2011)

Getting ready to put Molly in her new home

There she is!

Molly literally checked out every square inch of her cage. Not sure if she was trying to find an escape route or sniffing it out or both!

Hi Molly!

Molly has been home for a month now (yep, I am that far behind!), and she has been great! She isn't exactly a mellow hamster and is a bit too lively to hold. But we think she will mellow as time goes on. But Sadie loves her just the same. Molly's personality is actually quite a bit like her mama's. :)

The End of a Preschool Era

Prince of Peace Lutheran Preschool has been a part of our lives since 2004. Each of our kids has done two years of preschool there, and Zack did an extra 1/2 year. We have loved POP for the teachers, staff, and the wonderful educational and spiritual foundation it laid for our children as 3, 4 and 5 year olds. And now that era has come to an end. No more preschoolers, no more checks to POP each month and no more driving 20 minutes there and back! It is bittersweet. Kids are so fun as they get older and learn and understand more. But I love babies, and mine truly are no longer babies. :(

Drew had a sweet program on his last day of school and then it was over. Don't worry, I took lots of pictures!

Ready for his last day!

Drew's sweet teacher, Mrs. Lesowski, reading the card he gave her. He picked out a necklace and earrings for her gift. Completely his idea, for the record. :)

Singing some songs. Too cute.

Drew and Mrs. L again

Drew and his pal, Kyla

Kyla, Drew and Joshua

Classmates Kyla, Claire, Lilymae, Drew and Joshua

Dad, Mom and Drew

One last hug.

My very good friend, Jeni, has two boys (Gavin and Cohen) the same ages as my boys. They are all best buddies and have always gone to POP together. On the last day, Jeni and took Drew and Cohen to lunch at Red Robin. Just because. :)

My video camera tape ran out at the last minute, so I caught a bit on my regular camera. Here is the end of "What A Mighty God We Serve", which the kids sing at the end of every chapel.

Goodbye, Prince of Peace, hello Jackson Elementary!!