Each May, students are recognized by the staff at Prairie Trail Middle School for various achievements for the school year.  Apparently last year we didn’t even go!  Not by choice though – we didn’t have it on our calendar for some reason.  I still feel terrible that we didn’t show up and that was a year ago!  If you are chosen for an award, you get a letter sent home.  I’m not sure where that letter went, but apparently it wasn’t in our typical stack of papers piled on our kitchen island.  I love to be organized, but no matter how hard I try, I always seem to have that dreaded stack!!

This year, I was NOT going to miss the awards night, so I double checked my calendar almost daily to make sure I was on task.   Honestly, it’s pretty long, hot, and boring…sort of like a graduation ceremony, so maybe I shouldn’t have been so diligent about it!  Just kidding – we are proud of you Morgan and Collin!  The two of you are the cutest ones in that hot and overcrowded gym and we know that both of you are very conscientious students.  Morgan and the 8th grade orchestra played beautiful music on the way into the gym.  I wanted so badly to stay out in the commons area to listen, but I had to guard seats in the gym with my life!  Thank goodness I did, because it turned out to be standing room only.

This week I decided to send a couple of emails to Morgan’s teachers to let them know that we appreciate all they do for the students.  I feel like middle school teachers do not get the recognition they deserve.  Or bus drivers…right kids!?  I’m always sticking up for the bus drivers 😉  Look at these really nice notes I got back about Morgan!

Way to go MoMo, so proud of you!

P.S. stop growing up now.

XOXO

 

7 years ago today at 11:48 a.m., this little lady was born!  Goodness that’s hard to say!!  7 years seems like a really long time!  The busier this family gets, the quicker it goes.  I really wish I could go back in time!However, as she grows, she constantly makes me laugh, think harder, scratch my head at times, and smile often.  She’s had this adorable countdown on her dresser and she can finally check off both items!We started our morning out with a little bit of anxiety about going to school as we have been having lately.  Luckily, she snapped out of it with a video message from daddy who is away on business, a giant box of personalized donuts from Aunt Jenn, and cookie cake cut and ready to share with classmates today!Not only that, she gets her name read aloud on the announcements at school, a special birthday hat, prizes from her teacher,  and lunch/classroom time with mommy.  What an awesome day!

I scurried around this morning trying to find a nut and gluten free treat for 2 of her classmates (this is not an easy task!) and to find lunch food at 10:30 in the morning.  Also not an easy task; especially when the closest drive-thru is under construction and CLOSED.  This quickly escalated into an emergency situation because under no circumstance can you disappoint your seven-year-old on their birthday! Especially this seven-year-old!  She can be a tough customer.  Somehow I made it to school by 10:55 with Freddy’s in hand.  Whew!  That’s right…you read that correctly…they eat lunch at 10:55 a.m.!!Check out that little girl in the background shoveling in spaghetti!!  You have to admit that’s pretty funny!!

Although, this birthday is heading downhill from here because we have a baseball game tonight which is not top on her list of fun things to do!  We’ve already had to squeeze in her bday dinner on Tuesday night while Brian was still in town.  She really wanted to go to the Bristol (this girl has good taste!) but we settled for hot soft pretzels at Saints down the street.

Happy Birthday Reecie Cups!  We love you to pieces!!

 

I’m tearing up writing this because I’m so proud of my little girl, who is apparently no longer little.  She has physically outgrown me and also surpassed me in every way in awesomeness.  For the last 14 weeks, this young lady has been diligently working hard and dedicating herself to the confirmation process at Grace United Methodist Church. When she sets her mind to something, she does not give up (even if it means going to church and confirmation class in Florida on vacation 😉  Rushing from school, to soccer, to the church in soccer gear and most of the time a hungry stomach, with never a complaint.  Her dedication is so admirable.

Morgan, I know I am speaking on behalf of your entire family, we could not be more proud of you for making your confirmation to your faith.  We are certain your spiritual journey will guide you and fulfill you.  Congratulations and may you be blessed always!

We hosted a little breakfast party for Morgan at our home before the church service and were lucky enough to have Grammy D here from Pittsburg!

Have you ever seen a colossal sized cinnamon roll!!?  It’s pretty awesome!  I’ve never tried to make a cinnamon roll from scratch and I wasn’t about to mess up this morning; so maybe I’ll put that on my bucket list for a later time!

Brian and I had this personalized necklace made for Morgan and she received other very thoughtful gifts and cards!  Renee Hultgren was her Mentor through this process and she was so wonderful and hopefully a life-long friend for Morgan!  They had much in common and spent some time at the coffee shop and eating out a couple times throughout the process.

28 kids were confirmed today!

Here is a flashback photo in May 2006 of Morgan, Jake & Mommy’s Baptism!

 

These cute little 5th graders are dedicated soccer fans!  So dedicated that they braved steady rain and cold temperatures.  Dressed in snow gear and ready to snatch up the night’s giveaway–slap coozies (did you know those existed!? It’s like a slap bracelet but it’s a coozie to slap around your beverage – lemonade for you Jake!).  Jake’s good friend, Payson, asked him to go to the Sporting KC game vs. Real Salt Lake and the weather didn’t phase him one bit!  Or Brian!  I told them you couldn’t pay me a million dollars to go sit out there in that miserable weather!  Jake didn’t believe me and quickly called me out…’you would sit out there for a million dollars…come on mom!’  Ok, maybe I would.

The night was a success!  It turned out to be a great game, Sporting came out victorious, and these die-hard fans were interviewed by a local TV station and made it on the evening news!  Check it out on this link on Fox 4 News…

Rain not enough to keep away Sporting KC fans