and...keeping up with tradition...way behind again

*Not a lot has changed, we are meeting ourselves around each corner, but thats ok, I wouldn't change a single thing! I completed another semester of school and now feel like I can slow down enough to enjoy things again. We have a busy summer planned, and I don't want to let any of it slip by because I know it will be over in the blink of an eye.  I have 11 hours left before graduation, its crazy(& a little scary) to even think about it. We showed the house several times over the last few weeks. Nothing to speak of, other than a lot more house cleaning than I care to do :)

*Big man turned 14 & got his drivers permit :( He got to spend a night at the lake with a few boys to celebrate.  It was the first time he got to go without little brother in tow,  He also made it through the first round of baseball tryouts.  As a parent its so stressful to watch them go through things we have no control over (especially me who wants to fix it all) I was super proud & excited for him but so sad for those who didn't get the outcome they wanted. I just hate it for them.  Oh how I wish life was fair according to a mom's rules ;) He plays 12 games in 3 weeks and at the end of that time there will be another "cut". We'll see...I just keep telling him (& myself) everything happens for a reason, even though that really doesn't make it any better.

*J's "mini me" is playing baseball too, although he is really more excited to start football! He was asked to join the boys level 4 gymnastics team so that starts next week, we will be there 6 hours a week. I'm excited to see what he thinks of it and how he handles such a commitment. 

*Sis wasn't ready to leave K, and really I wasn't ready for her to either.  Yesterday morning she was up and ready to go to first grade, I mean, come on, you had the weekend off, what more do you need?! We went to see a plastic surgeon a few weeks ago because she was born with syndactly on both of her feet.  Two of her toes are fused together and she has always asked when they were going to come apart.  The boys don't think much of it and usually tell her she will swim better or be a good duck hunter because of it. Unfortunately kiddos can be mean.  A few of them were giving her a hard time at school and she came home sobbing (not just crying) more than once. Turns out it is a MAJOR surgery to separate those sweet little toes. So, we will just use this as an example for ways not to treat others and a growing experience to help others accept those who are different. It breaks this mommas heart to see her cry but I know she will be fine.

*We will be adding a new  creature to the collection.  For our 15th wedding anniversary I booked him a bear hunt in WY but because of timing issues he just now got to go. And , yippee, he got one :/ Now we are waiting on it to return from the taxidermist to find its new residence.