It's Elementary My Dear

Can you believe it? Braden has advanced from elementary school and will be a middle schooler next year!!! I'm dying! This has been an exceptional year for Braden. Braden had 5+ teachers this year. His school has the 5th graders rotate classes during the day similar to middle school but the classes are just for the basic core subjects of math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. They also had a 6th period where they rotated to 5 different specials classes; PE, music, art, Spanish, and STEM. Braden loved all of the teachers and loved that his classes were filled with students who are over-achievers like him. Braden really connected in his music class this year and played in a drum line as well as sang a solo at their end of year music concert. He also went above an beyond in his academics by becoming a math master, taking on the great American challenge by memorizing the national anthem and famous speeches, he also participated in extra writing assignments and received the patriot writer award twice and submitted work for a writing contest, and lastly, his science fair project was featured at a state wide fair at UNLV. This kid knows how to work hard and apply himself in any situation. His teachers all raved that he was a great example to the other kids and was a natural leader. At the end of the year awards ceremony he was honored with awards for excellence in math, reading, social studies, and art, he made the principals list again by getting straight A's all year and received the prestigious President's Education Award for his class. Braden is a great friend, super big brother, and a loving son. He was so kind to give me lots of praise on graduation day and even hugged me in front of his friends! B, you are amazing!

End of 3rd Grade

Carter had such a fun 3rd Grade year. He absolutely loved his teacher and had many friends in his class. Carter is a great little student. He always gets right to his homework when he gets home from school although we do need to work on getting it back to the school to turn in, oops! He has proven to be a math genius and does really well in all other subjects as well; he earned straight A's all year long! We are so pleased with his hard work and love that he is not only surviving elementary school but crushing it!

My Last Preschool Graduate

This girl had an amazing year at preschool! Her teacher, Ms. Heather was able to do some wonderful things with Riley. At her graduation ceremony Ms. Heather shared how Riley was always excited to work with her on her reading and that after a few weeks she noticed that some of the kids were going home with little cards (sight word cards) and that she wanted to have them too. Ms. Heather told Riley that to get cards she needed to learn all her sounds firsts and then she too could take cards home as well. From that little conversation a little flame began to burn and our little Riley took off! She not only learned all her sounds super fast after that but she worked really hard to pass of as many sight words as possible and loved coming home with new books each day to read to anyone who would listen to her. Riley is very creative, independent, determined, funny, goofy, smart, and so much more! I've loved watching her blossom this year! She has been asking me for 2 years when she can go to kindergarten and she is already waiting for summer to be over so she can go to the big kid's school. I am not quite ready to send her to all day school so I am happy to have the summer to continue playing together, but I know she is so ready and she is going to do amazing things! Congrats Riley!!!

Kids Activities

The kids all took part in different activities this spring. Braden played soccer, Carter played baseball, and Riley danced.
Braden had a really busy season. He played on 2 teams this year. He played with Henderson United with a new team and coach and he also played on the school's 5th/6th grade team. We had multiple games each Saturday and practices 4 times a week, with 2 of those practices happening on the same day! Neither of the teams Bear played on where exceptional, but he learned so much by playing with and against older kids and trying out new positions including Keeper. I was super skeptical when I heard Braden was going to play Keeper but he did phenomenal! I was so impressed and he really enjoyed it. On his school team he was made co-captain because of his great communication and leadership skills. Watching this boy play is so much fun and I will continue to look forward to seeing what more he can do in this sport.

Carter had a great season. He decided to play with the city this time but after the season was over decided that he likes the challenge that playing Little League brings. His coaches were wonderful and Carter really just stuck to what he does best, having a good time and playing the game he loves. Carter played several positions for his team but his favorite was first or second baseman. He almost always got a hit and in the first game caught a fly ball near 2nd base!

Riley is a cute little dance. We took a break last fall, which was good for her and she really put her all into it! Her teacher is the most wonderful woman ever and the dance recital was so much fun!

Arizona Biltmore

When I was a kid my family spent Easter in Arizona and stayed at the Arizona Biltmore. It has been 25 years since we've been there and my mom planned a really fun Easter Vacation going back to re-live the glory days! I will say that the hotel itself is much different from when I stayed there so long ago, but it was really fun to take my kiddo's and let take in some of the experiences I had when I was younger. 

The kids loved swimming, playing mini golf, life-size chess, and croquet on the lush grounds and I enjoyed just hanging by the pool relaxing with my sisters and brothers. We also got to do traditional easter activities like dying eggs, decorating cookies, and attending a really fun carnival all put on by the hotel staff. The egg hunt was done really well too and Riley was in heaven! While in Arizona we also attended the Mesa Easter Pageant: Jesus the Christ. 

On Easter Sunday after all the egg hunts and activities I wasn't feeling very well and my little Riley and I took advantage of some time together to blow bubbles. It was so peaceful and I was able to take some time to reflect on the spirit of Easter and feel so much love by watching my little girl.

On our trip my Uncle Mike took the initiative and helped Riley in the pool and taught her how to swim. She's not yet a competent swimmer but she has been loving practicing her new skill ever since. She's even been able to spend more time in the pool with Uncle Mike teaching her on his visits to town with my Aunt Carole. 

This was a great trip! I got so many wonderful opportunities to come closer to my Sister, Aubry and Brother, Severin. I don't get to see or spend near as much time with them than I do the others and I just loved connecting with them. I think the kids especially loved this trip for the same reasons, getting closer to their cousins and just spending quality time together. Thank you Momma and Goo for making this trip happen!

Dancing in Heaven

Kameron's aunt, Cathal Henrie, passed of March 4th at the age of 67. We were so grateful to be able drive up for the funeral and join with family to both morn her death and celebrate her life. Cathal suffered effects from a benign brain tumor that destroyed her pituitary gland as a young girl. Her life, though, proved to be extraordinary by showing strength, love, and faith in all that she did. We will miss Cathal greatly but we know she is enjoying her time in Heaven, dancing with her mother. 

While in Utah, the kids also enjoyed the little bit of snow left and time with their cousins. 

Happy 5th Sis!

**I have gotten sloppy at taking pictures. Thankfully I've been doing more videos but I need to remember to do a little of both. 

Riley turned 5 this year!!!  We had what felt like an ongoing celebration of her big day all month long. Megan and the kids came down to play with and celebrate with us. We went to a really fun park up in Summerlin where the kids were able to climb and swings and zip-line, and more! We went out to a special lunch and later Kam and I took Riley out to dinner at Chick-fil-A. At lunch Riley met a friend with a husky dog who she couldn't stop giving loves to. At school she wanted to take strawberry cake pops to share with her friends and we shared the rest of the cake pops with our cousins here in Vegas when they came over for cake and ice-cream and presents. We had a really fun time celebrating our sassy little princess, but she has informed me that next year she wants a big surprise party and dad will keep her away so her friends can surprise her. Almost daily, now it's more like weekly, since her birthday she reminds me of the new plan for next year adding more details like who is going to be invited, what games we will play, and the theme, which has gone from goofy to Elsa to dragons and princesses and more. I just love her creative mind and the detail she is capable of. She really is an amazing little girl! Happy Birthday Sister!