17th Anniversary

We celebrated our anniversary by going to Fogo de Chão and later seeing The Drowsy Chaperone, a musical playing at a local theater.

 

End of the School Year

Bryson graduated from elementary school.

Bryson received several awards. He got all A honor roll and a student council award (one boy and one girl voted on from each class at the beginning of the school year). Specials teachers also chose approximately 10 kids in the whole grade to earn an award for each fine art. Bryson was selected by his art teacher and PE teacher to be recognized as a student who is on-task, kind, respectful, and a hard worker. Very few kids were recognized by more than one teacher!

Carter also received awards at the Junior high level. Each subject area selected approximately 12 kids total. These are kids that epitomize leadership, growth, work ethic, and respect. He was selected by his Ceramics and Science teachers.

Carter finished up another year of percussion in the band. His heart isn't completely in it, and he does enough to do well, but doesn't push himself. I like that he's still involved with music despite quitting piano.

Caleb's Varsity tennis team (and managers)

Caleb was voted best sportsmanship

Baseball Spring 2023

We switched Bryson's league so he could play more competitively. The downside was Bryson didn't get to pitch this season because he wasn't good enough. The upside is he improved all around because the skill level of his peers was higher. Bryson has to work through nerves when he plays, which holds him back. (For example, when he bats in practice, he can knock the ball way out in the outfield. During games, he couldn't perform to the same caliber.)

His team won the championship! It was a tough battle trying to beat a team twice that was essentially undefeated all season. 

Showing off the championship ring

Carter's season did not result in a championship win, but they were the youngest in their age bracket (7th grades playing against 9th graders). Matt coached again. Carter mostly played shortstop and pitched on occasion. 

Carter going in to pitch and warming up.

Catching a fly ball at shortstop

Suzuki Graduation Recital

Caleb participated in a Suzuki Graduation Recital on May 13th. This was a huge deal because he graduated from the highest level of Suzuki. He performed Mozart's Sonata in A Major, K. 331, Theme and Variations memorized. It's a difficult piece with little intricacies, and it's 8 pages long! His memory is incredible. He didn't perform flawlessly, but he did very well. The video he submitted to the judge was all 3 movements (19 pages long!!), memorized, but he was fortunately able to record one movement at a time for the submission (not back-to-back). He is gearing up for his Book 7 Suzuki Recital; all pieces are learned and mostly polished and memorized. I admire his dedication to see this through. It definitely represents a lot of hard work!!!

Caleb and his new piano teacher

Ellery also performed at the recital!

 

Preschool Field Trip

I finished up teaching my 10th and final year of preschool (over the span of 13 years). I took a few years off in between boys because my boys are all 3 grades apart. It was a bittersweet decision, but one that felt right. Our final field trip of the year was to a farm. I pulled Austin out of school so he could join us.

Feeding the animals

Pony ride

Train ride

Fun Run

Austin and Bryson participated in a one-mile neighborhood fun run. Bryson got 3rd place and Austin got 7th place.

Happy Birthday!

Carter turned 13 this year! He's excited to be old enough to watch PG-13 movies, though he had permission to see a few already. Carter is such a hard worker and very independent. School comes very easily for Carter, and he makes high As in all his classes. One of his spiritual gifts is connecting with younger children; he is very patient and willing to be part of their silly playing. For example, in January we went to The Downtown Aquarium for a preschool field trip on Martin Luther King day. A single mom from our church was there with her 5 children under the age of 9. Carter took one of the rambunctious 6-year-old twins and became his best friend for the day, doing whatever rides with the boy that he wanted. It was such a service to the mom and so unselfish on Carter's part to play "babysitter" when he didn't need to. Carter still enjoys playing baseball, but has found a new love in football which he tried for the first time last fall. He also tried out for the tennis team at the beginning of March and is playing line 2. Caleb and I have each given him some lessons, and he has picked up the sport very quickly! He struggles with consistency, which is expected, but he's improving at a rapid rate. Carter is in percussion, but he's not dedicated to it like he is to sports. Cooking is an interest that may play into future high school classes. His relationship with Bryson is a little less toxic now, but still not great. Carter can be the sweetest kid and initiates saying "I love you" before he leaves for school each day or before he hangs up the phone. We are very proud of the young man he is becoming!

He got a tennis racket, a nice pillow, a can of freeze-dried strawberries (that he finished off that day!), and a water bottle. Grandma and Grandpa got him those slides pictured above that are apparently all the rage right now.

 

Taquitos was his birthday dinner request and banana cream pie for dessert!

He celebrated his birthday with friends the next night with an informal party--movie night and sundaes, no presents.

For my 40th birthday Matt arranged dinner and gaming with some close friends. I told him I did NOT want a big party. Matt made his homemade lasagna and a knock-off Carabba's bread dip, which I love. We played Wingspan and chatted until late. I tried hard to stay in my 30s, but time keeps marching on!