Kindergarten Greatest Hits

Here are a couple of the songs from Thomas' end of the year kindergarten concert...

Our Kindergarten Graduate

Thomas' End of the Year Show was yesterday...so cute! Chris has some video footage that he'll post soon. We were all there, including Nolan who got out of class, Gaba and Aunt Annie. They sang some songs, including a rendition of Days of the Week, sung to the Adams family tune. They were all trying to snap and not really getting it--too funny! Thomas was nervous up there and kept looking at his friend Will. But he stayed up there and managed to sing a little and do some of the movements. There was a slide show afterward and cake. He still has school today and Monday. Monday he finds out his first grade teacher and Nolan finds out his 4th grade teacher. Wow! I can't beleive how fast they grow.

Nolan didn't make the All-Star team, but apparently a lot of kids didn't. On Saturday, there is another tryout for a "B" team that he wants to go for again. This team includes 3rd and 4th graders, mainly 4th graders. So luck is not on our side, but Nolan has a great attitude. He figures he has nothing to lose. He doesn't care what kind of team he's on as long as he gets to play ball. He's getting so much taller too, coming up to my chin now! He's becoming a real athlete.

So everything is winding down thankfully. Today Nolan has his end of the year pizza party. Tomorrow they both play their last baseball games. And Father's Day is Sunday! We were going to go to Great Escape again but we aren't sure about the weather. The National Park Service is waiving their fees this weekend, so we may check out Saratoga Battlefield again. Thomas is done school on Monday and Nolan on Tuesday.

As soon as school is over, we get to explore the world of orthodontia! Woohoo (not)! Nolan has a wicked overbite and overcrowding of teeth. So we see an orthodontist on Tuesday. I'm not looking forward to that at all. But our first camping trip is to Moreau next week, and an awesome summer begins!

More pics

Here's some of Thomas' trip to his teacher's farm:






I'm very happy that the big church event I helped plan is over. Over 90 people came and seemed to like it. Here's a picture from that:


The boys both had good games this weekend. Thomas is really practicing his hitting and getting a lot stronger. Nolan's team still hasn't won, but they tied with a team on Saturday! He got a triple, a single and drove in a runner. We're told that he's going to be nominated to try out for the All Star team. We're anxious to find this out. Even the chance to try out is really good. But, it may change our summer plans if he makes the team. There are 5 practices and 2 games a week! But he just loves it, and it gets more competitive the older he gets.

Nolan's alarm is going off...my day begins!

The countdown begins

Over the past couple weeks, we've had a trip to NH to visit the Reeds, visits to the classroom, and a day at the Great Escape. We saw the Reeds over Memorial Day weekend and had a blast, as usual. This time, Chester came with us so he could play with their dog, Dexter. We played, ate outside and went to a parade. The picture at the parade is with Thomas and Ava, holding hands. They are becoming quite amorous with each other. They even went to her room at the end of the visit so they could have a private hug! Yikes! Nolan did a report for school on England that he presented in a booklet and on Powerpoint. We got to go in and have him share it with us. And last weekend, we took a break from baseball and headed up to Great Escape for the day, our first trip of the summer. Chris got to go on the new ride, the Sasquatch (and there's the pic with him and the actual Sasquatch). We saw the pirate show...AGAIN. I loved the Blizzard (a scrambler). It was chilly but Nolan wanted to do the Desperado Plunge. It was a nice break from all the craziness we've been having. We needed it.

Thomas has been hard to manage lately, and so we weren't sure it was a good idea to go to Great Escape. But we seemed to be yelling a lot lately, and I felt like we all could use a break from reality and a little fun! It seemed to do the trick, because he has been less naughty lately. Well, that and taking away his video games until he can be more kind. He is definately getting older. He's been asking a lot about his adoption lately, but seems satified with our answers. I think he gets comforted when we tell the same story over and over. We never hide anything. We always give him as much information as he asks for. Today we went on a trip to his teacher's farm. He got to feed the horse and ducks. I got to throw a chicken out of the barn! It was fun...I'll post the pics soon.

Also since I wrote last, my friend Mathew from high school came to visit, an avid fan of our family blog! I got to see his pics for a change and I tried to guilt him into getting on Facebook (no such luck). I just loved our chat and hope we get to have them more often.

So June is here and 13 more days of school. Nolan has 5 more games and Thomas has three. Nolan's team still hasn't won a game, but they had a really exciting game on Monday. Nolan drove in a runner and got a triple. That triple was almost a hit out of the park; it dropped right when it got to the fence...so exciting. I hope they win soon. They've really progressed since they started. We're anxious to find out when All Star tryouts are for this summer. For school, next week we have an informational night to see what instrument Nolan may play in school next year. He's interested in the violin and viola. The week after is Thomas' Kindergarten Graduation and the end of the year parties. I can't beleive I won't have a kindergartener anymore.

This weekend is the big church event I've been planning forever now. I'll be the happiest woman on the planet when it is over! I won't bore you with all the details, but there has been one problem after another. But to look at it positively, I think it has helped me see that I'm not interested in working with adults in a church anymore. Maybe kids, but not teaching. I'm just not that good at it. But I have learned some leadership skills and gotten to know the ins and outs of church business (and it's not always pretty!). And I'm really glad to have met some wonderful people that really give of themselves to help.

Sorry so long...I didn't know I had so much to say!

Staking a tree

Pic#1 The cutest chipmunk taking a snooze on the stump at my neighbor's house.
Pic#2 Nolan marching in the Niska Day parade with Cub Scouts.
Pic#3 Thomas' adoring fans.

Forgive me for getting a little deep here. Have you ever noticed that some people put bands and stakes around trees they have newly planted? I think they are trying to protect the tree and let it get strong against the wind. Of course, eventually they have to take the bands off and let it stand on its own, against the wind and storms. Do you think the tree has a hard time once the stakes are removed? Some people don't use these stakes. They plant the sapling and let it withstand whatever comes. I think they must believe that this too makes the tree strong, rather than protecting it. They let the tree experience life as it is, hoping for the best.

I think parenting is like this. Some people protect their children and shelter them from certain things in life. Others just try to teach them right, put them out there and hope for the best. In both cases, I think parents are just trying to do their best. But I wonder if sheltering them in the beginning from things that happen in life is really helping them in the long run. What happens when the realities of life happen and there is no protection? It's hard to teach your children, let go and then simply have faith in them. But I'm thinking no stakes is better. I hope I can be that kind of parent...and gardener.

Bragging Rights

Pic #1: Thank you Rooneys for the Spider Man present! He loves it! There is silly string all over our yard from his webs!
Pic#2: Thomas being silly at 1st base.
Pic#3: Nolan winding up for a pitch

We had a busy baseball weekend with my folks in town. Thomas had a good game Saturday morning. The kids are beginning to learn that there are positions to play, instead of all of them swarming over the ball. Thomas had some good hits and tried for a play at first even.

Nolan played first base most of his game, but pitched the last inning. It got exciting when he hit a ball way out int he outfield and brought in 2 runners. He ran to third base and kept going. The pitcher started running towards him at homeplate to get him out. There was a discrepancy whether he got tagged before or after he touched the base, so they compromised and sent him back to 3rd base. He did make it home though. He had a triple and 2 singles that game. And he's made the newspaper 3 times now! The most exciting news is he went to a Pitch, Hit and Run Competition after his game. I guess he got points depending on how fast he ran, how close he came to the strike zone, etc. And he won! He tied in the pitching category with another player. So now he goes to Saratoga this coming Saturday for another round. I think they keep weeding out players, and then the eventual winners get to go to the All Star game in St. Louis. We're so proud of him that he's trying so hard and just loves it so much.

It was great to see my folks and have a nice warm weekend, at least Saturday. Next weekend is Niska Day so hopefully it will be nice weather then too. I just wish it wasn't so busy! I keep wearing my turtle necklace to remind myself to slow down.

Baseball Weekend

We've become consumed with baseball now. Nolan has 2 games and a practice each week and Thomas has a game each week too. They are both loving life and playing great. On the way home from a game, Nolan told me, "Mom, I love baseball. It's all I think about." He said it so seriously. It's great to see him become so absorbed in something that he really loves, and be good at it too.

I've been planning an intergenerational event for our two parishes, co-chairing with my new friend Holly. The first time they had an event like this, 300 people attended over the two sessions. It's been a great learning experience and seems to eat a lot of my time, when I'm not on a ball field. We keep hitting road blocks that we have to work around. But I'm amazed at how people are giving of their time and talent to make it all work. I hope we get a good turn out with all of this effort. I'm getting to know the most wonderful people.

This weekend Mom and Dad are coming down to see our ball players. Nolan is going to try out for a Pitch, Hit and Run Competition. The winners move on and may have a chance to see a major league game in Saint Louis. We'll see what happens with that. We're sorry to miss Simon's 1st communion this weekend--good luck Simon! We're proud of you! It's Gaba's birthday this weekend, Mother's Day and our friend Danny's 1st communion too. Lots to celebrate!