Last Day of School 2015!

Here are the photos from our Last Day of School photo shoot.

Here is Logan on the first day of school to compare.  Not a lot of change this year I think.

And here is Amanda's first day photo.  She, on the other hand, did some growing this year!

Last Day Family Photo!  We have a family tradition of going out to breakfast on the last day of school.  This is the one day a year you will find Eric awake this early so I had to take a photo!  ; )

My Mother's Day

Since I am an non-traditional kind of woman, I got an non-traditional Mother's Day gift.

A GIANT PILE OF ROCKS!  : )

It came with a cool new garden cart and some manual labor to move that giant pile. 

 This is the project I came home to on Saturday evening after a long day at work.  My Monkeys are building a rock garden for me!  Of course we all know that Eric is the mastermind behind this.  Thank you Honey!

 They are taking the large rocks from out front to line the back of the fence (so our little rocks won't roll under into the neighbors yard).  They are also replacing the rock out front with a small rock border.  I know it will look awesome when it's done.  I'll post the after photos when it's finished.  It's a big job and we are a busy family so it may be a few weeks.

Under one of the rocks Logan found a little ring-necked snake.  We relocated him to the tomato garden for safety while we worked on moving the big rocks.

Logan also made me a card.  If you are having a hard time reading the photo it says... "One huge coupon!  You won a free foot massage and a room clean in your room!  You also have 2 bathrooms clean upstairs!  1 You can make me do anything you want."

Also from Logan I received two blackberry bushes!  YUM YUM!

Amanda gifted me with a hanging flower basket that she personalized.  I heard from Eric that she spent a lot of time finding just the right flower (no pink!). 

Amanda also made me a card. 

Inside

I'm impressed that she typed this (and thankful too since her handwriting is worse than mine and I'm not sure I would have been able to read it) because I know how long it takes her to type.

It says, "The Best Mom Ever.  My mother deserves to be on the cover of People Magazine for many reasons.  One reason she should be on the cover is because my mom is a very organized woman.  I know that, because every time we get bills, my mom pays them.  She is organized every time I walk in her room.  It's the cleanest in the house.  Another reason she should be on the cover is because my mom, Diane, is a very hard worker.  Every week she goes to one of her two jobs and makes money.  My mom works harder anyone else in our household.  Finally, my mom deserves to be on the cover is because she is an awesome cook!  If you tried her cake, you would be amazed!  Don't even get me started on her Pumpkin Casserole.  It's all warm and mushed up.  It has a yummy after taste.  These are just a handful of reasons why my mom deserves to be on the cover of People Magazine."

What sweet and loving little monkeys I have!

Where did April go?

I can't believe I have gone more than a month with out posting to the blog!  We have been very busy so I'll try to catch you up.  Logan has had a couple of doctor appointments lately.  He had another bone marrow biopsy last month and we got the results on Monday.  All is well.  Logan is still 100% donor (so his bone marrow is not trying to make a comeback) and he is still cancer free.  Sadly, we also had to say goodbye to his cancer doctor on Monday.  He is moving out of state and he will be dearly missed.  He has done a phenomenal job taking care of Logan (and Eric and I) for the last year and a half.  I know he will go on to do great things with his research and save many many more children and I feel blessed that he was here at this hospital when we needed him.

We have also been attending an alarming number of Royals games.  I'm not sure if we can keep up this kind of attendance for the whole season, but LET'S GO ROYALS!

And yet another Royals Game.  This time with FRIENDS!

 We could NOT have been further away from the field for this game!  Don't trip!  It's a long way down.

Camp Quality Family Weekend Campout!    

 We enjoyed some family friendly games....  Some were tasty.

 Some were goofy....

 Some were scary....

 Some were silly...

 Some were messy!

 We also did some repelling... Amanda went several times and decided to go tandem with a new friend.  CUTE!

 For Logan, this was heaven.

 We also did a bit of fishing....

 Amanda couldn't NOT catch a fish.

 But the part I wish hadn't happened (kind of) is the visit from the minature therapy horses.

 They were super cute....

 And super nice...

 But now Amanda wants one!  I think our dogs are bigger than these horses and she seems to think they would fit in our backyard nicely.  *sigh*

5th Grade Band Concert

To the Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas, and Grandpas that I didn't invite to this concert... You're welcome!  While I know that you love my little monkey as much as I do, I didn't not want to subject you to hot sweltering temperatures, uncomfortable chairs, and crazy packed crowds that accompany these concerts.  You see, this is EVERY 5th grade elementary band player in the school district (and their parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents) that pool to this concert.  Then to add to our listening pleasure, they invited the junior high band and the high school band to also play.  Therefore I accept your greatest gratitude for simply attending in your place and video taping the concert for your viewing pleasure.  Please note:  If you choose NOT to watch the video links I'll have no way of knowing and therefore can not come back and browbeat you for not listening to my child  (and 126 of his closest friends) play.  : )

Here is a zoomed out picture of all the players for EVERY 5th grade elementary school in our district that will attend this high school someday.  (If they are lucky)  It's nice that they all wore the same green shirt.  Makes for a dramatic photo, don't you think?

How about a little Where's Waldo... Logan style.  Can you find him in this photo?

No?  Okay, I'll zoom in a little.  How about now?  Can you find him?  I'll give you a hint.  He's wearing a green shirt.

 I bet you can find him in THIS photo!  By the way, Eric got me a new camera and it's got a GREAT zoom lens!!!  Thanks Honey! 

To create the sensation that you were there in the audience with me, I have taken the liberty to recording the long introduction where you are introduced to the other band teachers you will never meet.  You also have the pleasure of trying to see around the latecomers who are still looking for an open seat.  (GOOD LUCK WITH THAT BUDDY!)

Now the first song

Second Song:

Third Song:

So there you have it!  I wasn't able to record the other band's music as my daughter could NOT hold still and needed her mamma to play with her, hold her, tickle her, color with her, and take her to the bathroom and water fountain (multiple times).  : )  If you didn't know better I bet you would never guess that she is 9 years old! 

Girl Scouts Weekend

Amanda and I enjoyed a Mother/ Daughter Girl Scout weekend.  A little rain could not deter us!

 I swear I was there!  No photo for the woman behind the camera.

 Thankfully, Mother Nature gave us a break in the rain and we got to enjoy all the excitement of camp.