End of School 2012

Wow, I just can't keep up with time!   Its already mid June- Fathers Day.  (actually, now its mid July)

So first I want to share how fortunate I am to have a fabulous husband who is a great father to our children.  I was looking back at some family home videos with my boys today and I just love the memories it evokes.  Greg has always loved being a father and so he has enjoyed spending time with our boys in various activities.  Mostly its all sports related; but how lucky they are to have a fun father who is more than a "big brother".   Greg teaches so much by example; he is patient and compassionate.

So, what has happened since April?  I can't remember it all!  Our puppy has gotten bigger and our boys have gotten bigger... that's a given.  Owen sounds like a young man now!  13 years of age is the magic year of puberty in this household.  Noah and Payton have so much to look forward to!  ;)

The boys finished a great year of school.  Gray did excellent in his first year of high school.  His freshman year was a success!  All A's and B's and he did this while attending early morning seminary and doing sports.  Owen progressed well in reading!  He had a special class with a great teacher (Mrs. Eckinrode) to help him overcome some weaknesses and he overcame them!!  His MSA scores reflect it too!  Noah is my most witty eventhough his shyness keeps him from speaking out too much but he is like his father and never has to study much to get a good grade.  I hope he can keep it up when he goes to high school, (in 2 years we shall see if he is more like me).  Payton did much better with behavior this year.  It seems that behavior in Elementary school is graded more than actual knowledge but as a teacher I know if its not delt with in Elementary school it poses more problems for students in the future.  Payton also got very good marks in all his classes.   I am proud of all my boys! 

Looking back at my calendar (which has notes of my life) I am reminded of baseball season.  How could I have forgotten!  Alot has happened so I will sum it up best I can.  I have some pics to go with this so I need to add them now and go back to adding text; that's how this blog works for me.  Also, Gray and Owen did a spring basketball league.  Coach Tucker has really helped Owen progress his basketball skills.  Gray broke his hand so he was out part of the time. 

Happy Mother's Day picture.  Don't you love their smiles!  Greg surprised me with my very own Iphone which I expected but he gave it to me a week early!  My old cell phone wasn't working and I guess he knew the jig was up and he didn't want to wait long to give me my new phone with my same old number!  Thanks Greg!  Love you!!  (Other things that happened- I gave a talk on Mother's Day; I did Teacher Appreciation Luncheon for Sykesville Middle May 10th and they both went well.)

I continue to work at the Daly's home once or twice a week.  Im a nanny + do a little chores around the house.  My friend, Chriss, is a mother of 8.  Her last 2 are 15 months apart and so I get to spend most of my time with these two cuties! 

Payton and I attended our neighbors son's 1st bday at our local Piney Run park.  Dominic is a doll.   I realized we don't utilize our park enough.  Its only 1 mile away and very pretty!

End of May, Gray got his braces off.  Here are some before and after shots. May 24th the tops came off, then a week later 31st the bottoms also came off. 

About the last week of May, Owen had a day off of school- kind of.  He participated in an all day county track-n-field event.   He ran the 100 dash and a couple other races and a relay.  He got some awards.  (i'll ask him what else- I forgot already.)   Here is one clip of him.  He is the closest runner to me, my side of the track.