And they are off!!

The boys started school a few weeks ago.  Alex is off to middle school and Connor is off to High school. It seemed a little surreal dropping them off on the first day, half way between their two schools. Alex went one way towards his school with his back pack and skate (long) board, looking pretty confident for his first day of Middle school, although I'm sure there were some nervous feelings bubbling just under the surface.

Connor walked the other direction towards the high school. Once he was a few feet from the car his demeanor changed and he fell into stride along a couple of his friends that were walking up. I was thinking, there he goes, into his own world that we really have no control over. It's his life for the next few hours, he makes the decisions and choices that will mold and shape him into the man he is on his way to becoming.

I have to say, I felt differently this year. Normally, every year when I drop them off for the first day of school I get emotional. This year I felt almost numb and over the past few weeks I've realized what I was feeling, if I'm being honest, was fear. It's scary to see them growing up so fast. I know I should be excited for them but as a mom it's hard to push away all the thoughts of what could happen. These are such important years and there are so many temptations surrounding them. It's hard not to focus on the "what ifs".

On the other hand, I know at their core they are both good people, smarter and more confident then I ever was at that age, that's for sure!

You just have to hope and pray that you've put enough good stuff in there and given them enough direction to make good decisions. Of course they are going to make mistakes, that's the way we learn. Every time they walk out that door, I just hope they come back safe and sound and that mistakes that are made are just painful enough to help them grow but not enough to damage them for life.

So on that note, here are some pictures of the first day............

Alex graduates!

It's hard for me to believe Alex will be going to middle school and Connor to high school. Wow how the  time flies! In a way it's a relief to be all done with elementary school, on the other hand I can't help but be a little melancholy to not have any kiddos in grade school any more.

Alex had a little continuation ceremony on the last day of school. It was quite a year for him. He grew a lot, in every way. I honestly think he's going to love middle school!

So proud of you Alex. As I watch you mature I see the man you are growing up to be. A young man with integrity who is very strong in himself and his convictions but very sensitive and respectful of others. Reminds me of another man I know :)

                                Congratulations Alex!!

Alex and his teacher. 

The three musketeers

Chatting with friends before the ceremony

Wordless Wednesday

Look who's playing football

Connor's first football game of the season

I was trying not to be to obvious in my picture taking, so this isn't great but here he is after the game #82

Warming up

And since the game landed on Alex's birthday we had a quick dinner and celebrated a little.

Connor had a great game, they won and he even scored one of the touchdowns WHOOT WHOOT!!

Grandma flew in just in time to make the game and spent the weekend with us to celebrate Alex's birthday.

Grandpa was there too, we just didn't get any pictures.

Connor is having an exciting start to his last year of middle school. He's loving football and also a member of his schools news club. They do live broadcasting in the mornings. He has also auditioned for a "movie" they are filming at the school. It's going to be something like the Breakfast Club. He's also planning to audition for the musical this fall and the play in the Spring.

I will keep you posted.

Alex turns 11!

Check out the cake Mark made for Alex.

Alex realizing they are trick candles!

Alex with his awesome new lamp Grandma bought him at IKEA


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It really is impossible these days to get a serious picture of Connor



We had dinner at one of Alex's favorite restaurants





Alex's Orchestra concert

Alex posing for me as we are walking out the door for the concert.

A few weeks ago, Alex had an Orchestra concert.


 At the beginning of the year I posted about Alex wanting to play the violin HERE.


 I really didn't think he would enjoy it. He loves music and is an excellent drummer but I thought violin would just be to tedious for him. 


Well, I was wrong. He stuck with it all year and progressed very well every step of the way.

One of the highlights I think for him was when they got to play "We will rock you"! Isn't orchestra supposed to be all stuffy and classical... not this group!

At the concert they even had an ELECTRIC VIOLINIST. I had never even heard of an electric violin but it really was beautiful. You can hear what one sounds like HERE.


Now the question Alex is deciding is whether to go ahead with Violin next year or now that he can join the band, will it be the snare drum. During the course of the year his plan was always to do the Snare next year (4th graders could only do orchestra) So in 5th grade he will have a choice...  


What?? 5th grade?


 I know, so hard to believe he will be in 5th grade, then "sniff sniff" off to middle school. I can't even think about that right now. That's a whole 'nother post for a whole 'nother day.


But now he seems to be changing his mind. He really loves the violin so, we will see...




To be continued... 


For now it's time to kick back and enjoy the  summer! 

Almost Wordless Wednesday

It's kind of hard to tell from these pictures but this was on Mother's day and it was a very warm day. Mark rigged a hose in the tree to spray down to cool off the patio. Alex (our water boy) is standing under it getting soaked... and lovin' every minute of it.

"D" is for Double Chocolaty Chip!

This was going to be my "D" post for Alphabe Thursday but I didn't get linked in time. Blogger was having problems when I wrote it and then I forgot to go back and link... Sorry Ms. Jenny, my assignment is late!

Oh Well, here it is anyway.

For Mother's Day, Alex wrote this for me.

This is what it says..

One Special Moment

One special moment is when you wake me up in the morning :(. Then you tell me to get in the shower :(. When I get out you say, "It is Starbucks day" :). After I eat breakfast and we get in the car and talk about what we are going to get I say "I want the Double chocolaty chip. I love the Double chocolaty chip". After we pull out of the hot garage we head to Starbucks. When we order I get the cold Double chocolaty chip :). I sip it down then you drop me off at student council. That is a special moment :).

Alex has Student Council once or twice a month. It's always on a Thursday which happens to be my day off :) So on those days Alex goes into school early. We drop Connor off and still have a little time before Alex has to be at school so we decided one day to go to Starbucks to kill time. It then became our little tradition. We have had some great one on one time and some really good conversations. I was happy to see that these times are as special to Alex as they have been to me!

We never kept it a secret but apparently Connor didn't know about our little Starbucks dates. I guess I will have to come up with something for he and I. I think he misses a lot of what's going on between having his Ipod earbuds in or texting :) Teenagers! haha Maybe now he will be a little more engaged, you think??

Wordless Wednesday

Perfect Moment

I am participating this week in Perfect Moment Monday. You can check out other perfect moments over at Write Mind Open Heart.

You know that feeling you get when you drop your kids off for school on the first day. It always feels like a milestone to me and I ALWAYS get emotional to some extent.

I sometimes get that same feeling in other situations, like when I drop Alex off for orchestra or student council. I always watch him walk all the way up to the door of the school and don't drive away until he is safely inside. I always feel a certain pride at his independence. It was completely his idea and choice to join student council and orchestra. It's just interesting to watch them grow and make choices all of their own.

This morning he got out of the car with his back pack and violin. He had is hands full. I watched him make his way to the front door of the school, ring the buzzer and wait. I noticed another student, an older girl walk up behind him. I didn't even think he noticed but when the door unlocked he reached to open it and then, slowly opened it, stepping aside, opening it wider to let the girl in first.

I know it sounds like such a little thing but it really touched me. For me it was a perfect moment because it is the little things, the little kindnesses and considerations we show to others that make all the differences in the world.

I am always proud of Alex but this little gesture made my mommy heart swell with pride.

Mad Scientists...

Grandpa, Mark and Alex had discussed Alex's Science fair project for weeks. They reminded me of mad scientist disappearing into the basement to discuss, build and experiment. They came up with an idea of a water and oil separating device to compare it to the oil spill. You know the one. You may have heard about it on the news. (Unless you were hiding under a rock).
 Grandpa built a great device that had to be "tweeked" a little as we got down to the wire but it all worked out perfectly in the end.

Alex wasn't too thrilled about Dad taking a picture at school but I'm sure Mark said something along the lines of "Sorry bud, Mom's orders" Can't you just see it in his smile?  :)


On the day of the science fair Mark was planning to be there in case Alex needed help but Alex was determined to do this on his own. I was a little nervous because it did involve oil and food coloring... what if it spilled or didn't work? In the end we decided that if he wanted to do it on his own then good for him! And he did excellent! No problems other than when he retrieved it the next day, with the "help" of a couple of buddies. Someone (not Alex) may have spilled a little on the library's carpeted floor :0. I called and offered to come clean it up but was told the boys did a good job of cleaning it up themselves. Shewwww... with all the budget cuts in our school I was a little concerned we may be responsible for replacing the carpet! Anyway it all worked out in the end. I am curious though if there isn't a little stain, (it was oil after all) as a reminder of Alex for Science fairs to come.



Thank you Grandpa for all your hard work and determination although part of me suspects you enjoyed as much as your grandson!

By the way Alex ended up winning for his grade! They don't give out ribbons anymore but he received a certificate and was announced over the intercom. Good job Alex!

Grandpa also "helped" Alex with his science fair project last year.

Remember the Hot Dog Cooker? Click HERE to see that post.

Alex's awesome valentine box

As he does every year, Alex came up with a really cool idea for his valentine box. He needed one for school for when they exchange valentines.. you know the drill. In years past Mark has been great about helping him bring his vision to reality :)  He has also made some pretty unique ones for Connor.

This year Alex wanted a.......... robot.

Check it out.

Alex Swimming at Grandma's hotel

Grandma came for Connor's birthday and Alex spent the night with her a couple of nights at the hotel. He loved the hotel swimming pool!  As most of you know Alex is a fish and would live in the water if her could..pretty much.

Here are some pictures Grandma Susie took.

Thank you Grandma for letting Alex stay with you. From what I heard you had a great slumber party.. enjoying the breakfast buffet, watching movies and eating popcorn, and of course swimming.

Tending the stove...

It was cold cold cold here this week. Grandpa and Alex love to light the stove out on the patio. Grandpa took this picture of Alex by the stove. I thought it was great! I love watching the two of them "tend" the stove. They are like two peas in a pod. I sometimes imagine Alex one day telling his kids and grandkids about when he and his Grandpa used to light the stove.