Summer T-ball

Matt played t-ball this summer.  He enjoyed it.  He said he liked the practices better than the games because during the games he had to wait around for his turn, where as at practice they were constantly doing something.  Four of his friends from his kindergarten class were on his team.  Their team was called the Cardinals (not sure why they were given yellow shirts).      

 Fielding a ground ball.

Matthew is the fourth from the right.

Life is a Teeter-Totter

I feel like my current life is one huge balancing act--teetering between my family and my calling.  I spend a lot of time on the phone and away from home now, either at meetings or on visits.  I can tell it's been hard on my kids.  A lot of things have had to take the backburner, both for me and for Robert.  My projects go undone because I'm too busy; Robert's go undone because he's covering for me and/or with the boys.  We didn't plant a garden this year and I don't want to even talk about the rest of our yard.  Matthew has always been a momma's boy, but lately he's much more attached.  He's been playing t-ball this summer.  He likes it but doesn't like to go to the games without me.  He's refused to go to a couple of them because I had meetings.  Tonight is his last one and it will be only the second one I'll have attended.  Oftentimes, he waits up for me to get home, trying to stay awake in his bed.  I think it will just take time for everyone to get used to our new "normal".  We leave for Miami on Monday.  It will be really nice to have that time together as a family. 

Bicycles & Backboards---Matthew is in Heaven!!

New Couch

Our new couch was delivered this week.  We had had our previous ones for 11 years and sold them earlier this month at our garage sale.  We are loving it!  

Happy 6th Birthday, Matt

Instead of having a birthday party, Matthew wanted to go to Wichita, and especially go to
Chuck E. Cheese.  So, we headed to Wichita for the weekend.  We had Matt's birthday there--presents, cake, etc.  He really liked it. 

The boys had a lot of fun at Chuck E. Cheese.  We spent $40 on tokens. . .so they better have had fun. 

Over the past six years, we've been to Wichita for at least 8-9 weekends.  But we had never been to Tanganyika Wildlife Park.  What a neat place!  It's a private zoo with tons of interactive exhibits.  We got to pet kangaroos, goats, giraffes, rabbits, tortoises, guinea pigs, . . . the list goes on.  They also have horse and camel rides. 

 Gavin giggled with delight over the goats.

"Basketball is my life"

Matthew has been wanting a big basketball hoop for a long time.  So, wasn't he surprised when he saw this in the living room on his birthday morning?  Now we just have to figure out where we're going to hang it in our backyard.   

Even Adam and Gavin liked it. 

Last Days of School

I'm way behind on blogging.  I've been so busy with other things that I've just kept pushing it to the bottom of the list.  Both Adam and Matt had a great school years--with great teachers and great friends.  The last few days were filled with a Fun Day, Kindergarten Program and the final awards assembly. 

 The boys' school has a running program during the spring semester.  They run during their lunch recess.  It's voluntary but both Adam and Matt were very motivated to run everyday.  They both did really well.  In fact, Adam was first place for the entire school.  He ran 71.25 miles.  The second place runner ran 58 miles.  We didn't realize how much more Adam had run than the others until the assembly.  He received a medal and a basketball. 

Matthew also was recognized as a top runner.  He was one of only two kindergarteners that were top runners.  Matthew ran 45 miles and was awarded a basketball.  In the photo above, Matt is the third from the left, on the front row--Adam is the first on the right, on the front row.