Action's (aka...) School Year in Review

Action finished his last day of 7th grade. Let me tell you, this school year wasn't without some struggles and frustrations both for him and Hubby and I.  Don't get me wrong, it was full of good, fun, laughs and happiness as well! 

Let's begin as I did with Hannah yesterday ~ Nicknames.  

Action.... Action got his nickname not only on this blog, but in real life as well.  We don't really use it anymore, but we use to.  Jackson is his actual name.  Action wasn't his only nickname either, Sodbuster was his other one.  Just as the busyness the name Action implies,  Sodbuster does as well.  Technically it means a farmer or worker who plows the land.  Jackson was busy and full of life.  Some of that constant moving and busyness has faded away, but he is still full of life.

Lets begin with September 2016

School started ~ 7th Grade

Football was in full swing.  Jackson had fun working hard and learning new positions.  It is definitely a proud parenting moment when you see your child work so hard.

Football Season ran right into hunting season.  Jackson took the hunter safety course required to get a  hunting license, meaning instead of just walking along, he was able to shoot.  This was an exciting first time for him and he couldn't wait to get out in the fields.

Of course right after that came Halloween.  I'm not sure Jackson has many more years of dressing up (and trick-or-treating anyway) ahead of him but this year he decided to dress up as Robin Hood (much to his dismay, his little sister dressed up as Robin Hood's Sister ~ as we called her anyway! Pics of that in my next post) This costume seemed to carryon the hunting theme ~ bow hunting instead

January was a busy month!

First, Jackson was able to travel with Smiley and I to meet his new cousin.  We thought we were heading on a 4 hour journey to attend a baby shower.  Baby shower turned into a birthday party when this little guy decided to arrive 3 weeks early!  A surprise for sure, but wonderful as we were all there to celebrate anyway!

The next weekend, he was able to head out of town with Dad, a buddy, and a few other guys for a fun  boys weekend.  They had a lot of fun hanging out and ice fishing.

Finally, we had a big day to celebrate.  Jackson's 13th Birthday!!! We didn't just have one celebration either.  (all the details are in this post)

One with just us as a family (with his favorite chocolate cake with chocolate frosting)

Another celebration with Grandpa and Grandma when they were able to come up for a visit.  This time he picked cheesecake as his celebration dessert.

Finally, he had a small party with a couple of friends.  First things first they went and worked up an appetite at a paint ball facility. They had a blast ~ literally and each of them had a few paint ball bruises to show for it!  Afterwards, they had a cupcake (or maybe a couple) to celebrate. Again ~ chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, just in cupcake form.

Once we got through January, things slowed down a bit.  The holidays were over, his birthday was celebrated. Time to focus on school and family.  Soon enough though, spring was creeping up on us.
Easter took us to Grandpa and Grandma's house where church, good food and lots of family were just what we needed.  Of course there was time to do a little four wheeler riding'

Baseball tryouts happened, and the team is practicing and gearing up for some fun baseball.  Jackson is playing with some buddies from previous years and is excited to play.

And just like that, 7th grade is over.
Jackson isn't very organized and finds himself playing catch up a lot of times when it comes to homework which hubby and I find completely frustrating.  However he had a good 7th grade year.  He made some fun memories and ended up with good grades.  We are definitely ready for summer though (and a haircut! Sheesh!)

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Sassy's (aka....) school year in review

Today is Sassy's last day of 10th grade.  As of tomorrow, I am the mother of a Junior in high school.  As I reflect on this school year with her, I have to acknowledge that the nickname I gave her years ago when I started this blog no longer fits.  She is not a sassy girl.  She does have a little sass from time to time of course, but don't we all?  Therefore, from this point on, I am going to talk about her with her actual name, Hannah.

This year for her was filled with laughter, family, friends, God, school, sports and so much more!  The memories she made this school year will be with her forever.

Lets start at the beginning (and the end):

Here she is:

excited for her first day of 10th grade (on the left) and really excited for her last day (on the right)

She was able to play volleyball for her high school ~ she was on the JV team,  but sat for the Varsity team 

and was able to play in a handful of games:

Once the high school volleyball season ended, it was time to play club volleyball.  Between that, offseason softball training and school there was little free time left.  She definitely worked hard at all three!

However, she was a "superman" for a friend who played on the high school basketball team and seemed to find time to make him fun treats on home game days as well as go to a few games when her schedule would allow

She also was able to go to a SnoDaze dance at a different high school that many of her friends attend

AND....

She attended her own high school SnoDaze dance and asked a friend (click the link to see how she asked) to go with her

March brought with it a big milestone.  Hannah celebrated her 16th birthday.

The day after her birthday, she easily passed her driving exam and got her license.

Once spring hit, high school softball was in full swing.  This is the first year in many years we didn't go anywhere for spring break.  Kind of a bummer to be home but Hannah was able to go to softball practice everyday!

This softball season brought challenges right along with it.  You see, Hannah usually plays shortstop or is a pitcher.  Those are the positions she has played in high school and club softball.  Those are the 2 positions she worked on all off season a minimum of a couple times per week. So, when her coach told  her to go to right field the practice right before their first game, her jaw hit the floor.  I'm not going to lie, it took a few days for her to wrap her head around this decision, but ultimately she decided her coach must have enough confidence in her to do well in that spot and to want her on the varsity team in general.  She worked hard all season long and for that I am very proud of her!

She also worked hard at church and this May was Confirmed

Also in May she went to prom with her"friend" and a group of others.  

She had a great time except for the fact that she had an 8am volleyball game the following morning!

This has been a great school year for Hannah and I am looking forward to cheering her on in softball this summer 

and enjoying our time together!

Thats a wrap!

Ordinary Miracles (16)

Did you have a good week and long weekend?  I am finally sitting down to reflect on the past week to seek out the Ordinary Miracles and savor them.

Last week brought the end of Sassy's first High School softball season.  While their team wasn't one of the best, she had fun meeting new people and playing the game she loves.  The close of this season means I get to see her every day at 2:30 when she gets home from school, we don't have rush to get to her games here or there and after school time is a quiet, relaxing time of day once again.

Smiley had her last day of preschool last wednesday.  This was a bittersweet morning!  Her two teachers, also taught her last year and they taught Action when he was in preschool.  I find it hard to close this chapter in our lives.  My babies are growing up and our preschool days are over.  

Action, in his baseball game last week pitched one inning ~ he struck out two batters and did a nice job ~ definitely a proud momma moment!  He also hit a double to start off an inning.  He was full of smiles and my heart was aglow for his excitement!

Sassy played 2 softball games (with her traveling softball team) last Thursday night that I was able to watch (usually her and Action play on the same nights).  She pitched a great game and had some good hits.  When she was pitching, the batter hit a line drive right back at her and the ball hit her in the shin.  I could tell the pain was excruciating.  She shook it off and finished the game.  Her will, determination and drive is inspiring to watch.  

Memorial weekend was spent together, as a family.  No sports.  A few laid back plans.  Just us.  We ended up hanging out with friends after church on Saturday night at a bbq.  Sunday I had girls night out ~ movie night.  When I returned home, Hubby and the kids were at some friends house for a bon fire, and I was still able to join them.  Monday we went to the horse track with 3 other families.  It was fun and relaxing.  We enjoyed spending time together without having to rush around.

Take a minute or two each day to look around and see the amazing wonders in your life ~ The Ordinary Miracles.


Tell me what Ordinary Miracles have you witnessed in your life?

(See Previous Ordinary Miracles Here)

The last 4 days

Last day of school

1. Sassy on the last day of 5th grade

2. Happy kids

3. Action on the last day of 2nd grade

Last day of school "water ambush"

1.  Parents getting ready to ambush the school bus on the last day of school with water guns and balloons.
2. Sassy running from her dad
3 Chaos ensues
4. Sassy getting ready to shoot
5. Action taking aim at me
6. 3 wet kids ready for summer break to begin!

Trip to the zoo

Water Gun fight with a cousin

Silly Smiley

1. Antiquing 
2. reaction to eating a lemon
3. telling me her "legs are getting big"  meaning ~ she's getting taller :

What have you been up to?

Last Day of School Tradition aka "Water Ambush"

There are about 11 kids that get on and off the school bus at the same stop as my kids.

On the last day of school when the kids exit the bus for the final time we welcome our children home and celebrate the start of summer vacation by attacking them with water.

Typically using water guns and water balloons.

Here's what you need to start your own Last day of school water attack:

• The last day of school
• Unsuspecting school children (ok, they are starting to catch on, but that doesn't make it any less fun)
• Willing adults (those that stay home and those that are able to break away from work) and siblings

• Water balloons

• Water Guns
• Buckets full of water for refilling
• A wagon to wheel items to the bus stop and to hold empty water guns, buckets and broken water balloons after the ambush

Here's what you do:

• When the bus stops and the kids start filing out of the bus, begin water ambush.  
• Continue until all (water) ammunition is used up

Warning:

• There will be lots of laughing, shouting and shrieks of happinness (or maybe shock as the cold burst of water hits you in the back)
• It is likely that the water fight will backfire a bit and the adults with this brilliant idea will be almost as wet as their children

Tip:

Bring a camera and when the kids take aim, yell "don't get me wet, I have a camera!" Although most children do not care.  Therefore, don't bring your fancy SLR, bring your basic point and shoot!

Here's where the parties are: