Showcase

 This was Sadie's first year of dance at New Vision, and she loves it!  At the end of the (school) year, they put on a big dance showcase that lasts for several days, highlighting each dance class.  Sadie took one jazz class, so she had one performance.  She loved dressing up in her costume and getting makeup on and performing on stage!

I had fun with a little photo shoot of my girl :)

And as usual, Sadie had lots of family support!

Grandma Marie and her friend, Joyce

Sadie and her classmates, they did awesome!

Papa Paul and Grandma Jacque

Mom and Dad of course!

After the showcase, we went to Red Robin to celebrate!!

We are so proud of you, Sadie!  You are such a joy to our family.  :)

The Fire Next Door

A couple of days after school was out, the kids and I were headed to take Sadie to dance.  As we got into the car to leave, I noticed a smell, kind of like maybe a diesel truck had just gone by.  But I didn't think twice about it.  Halfway to dance, I got a phone call from Tony, kind of frantic, asking where I was.  I told him we were on our way to dance, and he said that a house on our street was on fire!  About the same time, a big firetruck passed us going the opposite way with lights and sirens.  As soon as I hung up, our next door neighbor, Lynn, called me freaking out.  Our neighbor on the other side's house was on fire and the one next to it!!  She not so calmly asked me what they should grab out of my house in case it burned!!  I decided not to turn around and got to dance, where I spent the next 45 minutes trying not to freak out as I called friends and family to pray and kept in touch with Lynn and Tony about the progress of the fire. 

After dance we zoomed home, but had to park outside our neighborhood and walk up.  There were firetrucks and people everywhere.  The fire had been contained to just the two houses, but the fire chief told Tony had it been 5 minutes later, our house would have been burned too.  As it turns out, our next doors neighbors accidentally started the fire.  They own a BBQ food cart in Portland and they grill their meat at their house.  The teenage son had disposed of the burning ash on the side of the house, where it ignited the gas line, which caused their house and the house next door to them to catch on fire.

 Here are some pictures of what we saw when we got home.

The house two doors down

The house on the left is the house next door to us

 The next day I wanted to get some pictures a little closer up.  

It was very scary to have something so destructive happen so close to our house.  And it was awful to be there with the people whose houses did burn.  God was definitely watching over our neighbors, as no one was hurt, and He protected our home from the fire.  I am so grateful, but I tell you, I never want to have to deal with anything like this again!

Last Day of School

The last day of school has come once again.  It feels like the year went by so quickly!  The kids all had a wonderful year and grew so much academically, and physically, too!  :)

Last day of Kindergarten!

Drew with Mrs. King, his long term sub

Drew and his crew

Love these kids so much!

Sadie and Mrs. Ward

Zack and Mrs. Boyer

Drew and Mrs. Davis

The annual teacher can-can!

  Next up?  6th grade, 3rd grade and 1st grade!

OMSI Overnighter

The 5th graders at Jackson go every year on an overnighter at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry).  I kindly agreed to go, though I wasn't quite sure how it would go.  I really like my sleep.  But I have to admit, it was SUPER fun!!  The OMSI staff have a really great program and the kids had a blast!  And we even slept a little...

Sadie and Bailey working the green screen

Sadie is a weather girl!!

Sadie's teacher, Mrs. Ward is a yoga lover.  She taught the girls some awesome moves. 

Green screen again!

Playing with static electricity in the lab

Karaoke time!!

 And finally after tons of activities, karaoke and snacks, it was bedtime!!

GOODNIGHT!

Brothers

I am so thankful that my boys have each other.  There is something so special about the bond between brothers, and it shows true with Zack and Drew.  Their personalities are completely opposite - Zack is quiet, mellow, and doesn't mind being alone, while Drew is loud, energetic and very social.  But that doesn't matter to them, they are together nonstop, playing the same things, liking the same things, doing the same things.  If Zack ever wants to play alone, Drew gets his feelings hurt.  They share a room and Drew doesn't like to go to bed without Zack.

So one day after I picked Drew up from Kindergarten, we went and joined Zack's recess.   Drew opted for tetherball, so Zack and his buddies all took turns playing Drew.  It was the cutest thing ever, the big boys telling each other, "Go easy, go EASY!"  and "Let Drew win!"  Drew had an absolute blast!

Then they went on the swings for a bit. 

Right after recess was lunch.  Zack helped Drew get his food and saved a spot right next to himself for his little brother.  So sweet.

I sure love these two boys so much, and it makes my Mommy heart melt when I see them together and know how much they love each other. I truly hope that they are close friends their whole lives through.