May Days

Another month has skipped on by and not every event got recorded with pictures to show for it. However, it has been a full and rewarding time, starting with Mother's Day. Here's a picture of some gorgeous tulips my sister, Cristy, mailed to me! Thank you!

I realized I don't have many pictures of myself, so this posting will include a couple of me. This month my boys gave me a relaxing Mother's Day. I was able to sleep in, Owen made me breakfast, they all gave me cute cards that truly shows their personality. (I'll have to get pictures of them.) The Mother's day program at church that I put together went very well. I had the juniors sing "That's My Mother", followed by 3 poems read by seniors and then they sang a song, "My Mother Loves Me". The rest of the day was a delight.

This month we had a chance to go to New York to visit grandma and grandpa Gams. We went fishing, hiked, visited our ancestors graves and just played around. It was a nice, relaxing visit. The small town of Canisteo is always a kick-back kind of place to visit. Above Im posing on a hill that overlooks the town. On this hill are trees that spell out Canisteo, I'm in front of those trees.

We also got to visit with Andy, Belinda, Nolan and Mason. (Greg's brother and his family.) They came down from Newark, which is near Palmyra. Nolan has one more year of high school left and Mason starts high school this fall. I can't believe how fast time flies!! (Our oldest, Gray will be in middle school soon. He said he was nominated to speak at the 5th grade graduation ceremony. He wrote a speech! I can't wait to hear it! When I asked how he feels about it, he said something like, "I'll get popular mom!". Oh, no! That is on his mind now!

Hiking down from Canisteo's (mountain). Owen is hiding in some bushes. He didn't want to hike that morning but eventually did. Below he points out a vending machine of bait which is at a convenient store off Main street!

Below the boys are in front of Greg's grandparent's grave.

The elementary school playground is a nice walk from grandma's house. The monkey bars help these monkeys get their energy out and on a fine day like we had, what fun we had!
Gray
NoahPayton
Owen

The boys riding with Lady to the pond which is on Grandpa's hill.

Grandma caught the most fish this day. However, they were all kind of small and we didn't keep them. There were bigger ones in the pond but they are too smart and hard to catch. Below I'm baiting my hook. The part I don't like about fishing, yuck!

Well, that's all the pictures for this month.

I have been in school alot this month. Besides regular duties in Kindergarten and library, I went in all day for the Fun Run. Gray really didn't want me there but the other boys enjoyed having me join. I liked it too. Gray ran 2 1/2. Owen ran 3 1/4. Noah ran 2 1/2 and Payton ran 2 1/2. Add that up and that is what I did. Okay, we did walk a bit but for the most part we all ran. I also was in twice for Owen's 3rd grade Econ Fair. That was a neat experience to see them produce new products and sell it. They had to pay back for the supplies and all the other money went to support various charities, mentor programs, etc.

Since so much of my extra time went into the school, I decided next year I should get paid for some of it! I went to a "guest teacher" orientation and got signed up to substitute teach!

I finished my pilates classes this month. I miss it already. I will have to sign up for more in the fall. I recommend all to join a pilates class if you can. It makes you feel more limber, stretch-out, relaxed and stegthend and really does tone you up. I don't know if I can wait til fall to start again, but with money worries and kids home all this summer I just don't know where I'll fit it in. However, it's such a stress relieving class that I might just have to make it work! Wish me luck!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

The Gams
With Mother and Father's Day's coming up, I thought I would dedicate this post to our parents. We are very grateful to them for all their support and love. Greg and I are so fortunate to have fabulous parents that have been great examples and we wouldn't be the people we are today without them (literally)!!! THANK YOU - WE LOVE YOU!

- You're grandsons say Hello and send their hugs and kisses!!!

(Yes, we wish we could live closer, but at least we are in the U.S.A. now! )

The Fullers

Lately

In early April we took a short trip to a nearby park- Piney Run Park. This place is really neat. Lots of trails, nature and a mini museum with hands-on fossils, and stuff. Another fun boy scout requirement checked off! Of course, we plan to go again and again, especially since Noah loves the fossils so much! (Oh, I think I mentioned this in our prior posting... ooops!) So, I really just need to get Noah's baseball team picture in here. Anyway, keep reading....

Payton is at the zoo for a school fieldtrip. Next to him is his best bud and neighbor, Aiden. The weather for this day turned out perfect. We all had lots of fun! The last month of school is filled with more fun and I feel like I'll never get my own projects done before the boys are home for the summer, but that's okay. I have really enjoyed all the volunteering, fieldtrips and activities I've been able to get involved with at school. Its hard to feel "included" at their new school unless I get involved and visit often.

Payton on the polar bear with KC, Jake, and Aiden.

Payton's bb team 2008.

Owen's first pinewood derby. He did a great job painting his car and working on it. I did help him but he did most of it. When it came time to put the wheels on I made a mistake in helping him. He was correct in how they were to be hammered on and I was stubborn and didn't listen. (That part we did my way and it was the wrong way. So at the race, which luckily our ward doesn't make a big deal about and just has fun with... a couple other fathers helped take the wheels off and set them in the correct way. Sorry Owen! Next time you get to do it all by yourself!) Payton is my number one cook! He is in the kitchen with me alot, so I had to take a picture to prove it. I don't know how long this will last!
So here is the picture of the boys in the trampoline (Noah is doing a jump). My camera is terrible and I guess I was not in the right spot for good light. The boys are loving the tramp, but they are getting the usual bumps, bruises and sores that go with it. I just pray that it will never be worse than that!

Well, I can't believe another month wizzed on by and now its May and the boys have 20 days left of school! Crazy! Gray had his first introduction to middle school this week and had maturation class! oooo! Our little boy is entering a new stage of life! Unbelievable! He is excited and looking forward to middle school. I think I am more nervous than he is! Not because I don't think he can handle it, but because there is so much unknowns out there. So, to help us parents feel like we are more in-control we try to talk about important life issues as soon as the boys are in their 8th year- if not sooner- all age appropriate talks to keep things comfortable. I've read up on some books too. I like one by Linda and Richard Eyre (the Joy School couple), called "How to Talk to your Child about Sex". We think its best to keep conversations honest and positive. Not that we have all the answers but we feel our answers are better than what they might get elsewhere. It's important for them to build that trust with us early on in life. Greg and I feel like we want our boys to always be comfortable talking to their parents first about important, life changing news instead of leaving it up to chance, experiencing it all on their own, and letting their friends and school really influence them in matters of the heart. Greg and I have also told our boys the truth about Santa (in a nice, child lead discussion in their 8th year- since they asks questions anyway). When we first had to start dealing with this we felt unsure but as we pray, work together, read and just pay attention to the natural opportunities our children present us with, it has gone pretty good so far.

- So, that's our news lately. As usually, this will be continued.... (next month).

P.S. I think I just gave Gray his last haircut. (sad, frown) He has reached the stage where mom is not aloud to touch his hair. Well, maybe just one more time! (He feels better in it now, but of course the first couple days after his haircut he was not happy with how he looked and it was all my fault!) I don't have a picture of it, darn! So, there will have to be one more cut. I cut his hair outside this time because now that weather is warming up I don't want the mess inside and I read that human hair deters groundhogs and bugs ... or something like that. (maybe wishful thinking) However, the day I cut his hair was very windy and I got covered with it! So much for not getting messy!