Awards, Graduation and Taking a Spin

We love following the grandbabies in all of their athletic endeavors.  However, this teacher enjoys following their academic journeys just as much! It means making lots of trips east, but I am very thankful that I am able to do just that.  Let me give you an example -last Thursday I spent the night there to attend the awards program. They came home with me for a long weekend. Monday I met Lindsey in Maplesville to take them back.  Tuesday, Reed and I went back to watch Reed's graduation.  I came back to keep John Sawyer on Wednesday, and then went back to Alex City Wednesday afternoon to go on a fieldtrip with Reed on Thursday.  They all came back with me again for the weekend. Whew! I get tired just thinking about it, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Let's see if I can get this right-Maddie was the outstanding fourth grade student in Math, Presidential Fitness award and all A's for the year.  Lillian got an award for being the top first grade ELA student, and all A's for the year.  So proud!!

You go girl!

Very proud of this cutie, too!! Look out second grade!

And this cutie finished his preschool career at Jacob's Ladder!

Yes you did!!

Jacob's Ladder has been apart of our lives for the past 10 years!  Mrs. Kim is the director, and she has been just wonderful!!  We will truly miss this special place!

Headed to get his diploma!

Special guests!

Mom and her sweet boy!  Where you ask was Josh? Lillian had All-Star practice, and Maddie had martial arts.  He dropped them off and then rushed to graduation.

Nana and Pop loves this little one!

Big Reed and Little Reed

Lulu and Uncle Josh sent this car back for John Sawyer.  We've got to do a little detailing on it, and it will be as good as new!  He loves it!  He loves feeding Papa's fish, so right now it's up there.  It's the perfect place for taking a spin!

We play hard and rest hard!!

Summer is in full swing!! Next up, our first river trip of the year!

Sweet Summertime

This is truly my favorite time of the year.  I will forever be a school teacher at heart, and there is just nothing like sweet summertime!  Maddie, Lillian and Reed were here this weekend, and we actually spent 9 hours at the pool one day!  They did go in occasionally to eat, and Lillian made a tent under a swing and took a two hour nap.  But basically, we swam and played all day and into the night.  Then we ended the night with smores and catching lightning bugs.  Does life get any better than that?












But first, how cute is this? They both love being outside. My sweet family gives me a really hard time about my dog, but he really is a sweetie.  These two are buddies!

These two are also buddies!

After attending the girls Award's Program we headed back across the state.  We made a stop at Peach Park for a little ice cream and play time. Next post will be about the Award's Program.

About 5 minutes after we arrived home, they were in the pool.

The real fun began the next day when Uncle C, Aunt Tay, Tori, William and John Sawyer joined us!

Uncle C is the best playmate!

Fun in the little pool!

A little poolside snack.

Last fall, we cut every tree in the backyard.  The pool is warming up very quickly, which is great right now.  Probably not so much later in the summer. 

They will be back this weekend, and we are planning on doing another one of my favorite things-a trip to the river!!

Life Lately

We have been keeping the roads hot between here and the east side of the state lately. Lots of softball and other activities (including a little work) have been on the agenda.  We are all excited to see the school year wrapping up.  We have lots of summer activities planned.


These cuties have 10 new chicks!  They have been busy building a nice new chicken coop for the new additions! 

And this little one and her team led and hit their way to the league championship!  Next up, All Stars!

 Coach Mike led this group to an undefeated season (one tie)! Such a fun season - now on to the second season!

These two ran a post season victory lap!

Collecting her bling!

Showing off that championship ring and her victory money!

They were little but mighty-all 16 of them!

You might wonder if traveling 6 hours for an hour ballgame is worth it - Absolutely!!

 And back on this side of the state-Pop and this little one enjoyed a little playing in the rain!

His mom and dad went to Birmingham for Taylor's birthday.  He and I had a little sleep over!

Buddies!

 And this angel enjoyed muffins with his mom this week.

 We are headed back the end of this week for Awards Day!  More on that next.

Gifted

 Summer is almost here, and I am so very glad!  I still have to work during the summer, but it's a very manageable pace.  The pool is ready, and so am I. I have enjoyed working with my flowers and getting everything in the backyard ready. Soccer has wrapped up, but we are still enjoying softball.  We will be heading east later this week to watch her in the last regular season game.  Next up, all stars!

Grandmother's roses are in full bloom right now.  

 Maddie and a sweet friend enjoyed the Hillsong United Concert.  This was a birthday present.

And I enjoyed attending the Gifted Parent Picnic with Maddie.  They shared some of the things they had worked on this year, and then we enjoyed pizza. Robotics was a big hit. I enjoyed seeing how she set up the course and programmed the robot to go through the course.

Her group also made an impressive motorized swing.

She's smart, pretty, talented and as kind-hearted as they come! We are so very, very proud of this angel!

Next up, softball!

Fun with the Kiddos

Another fun weekend is in the books.  Josh, Lindsey and the kids spent the weekend with us.  The weekend consisted of a couple of turkey hunts, a fishing trip, a crawfish boil, a little swimming and more.  I love these sweet times together.  John Sawyer has been under the weather, but he still managed to join in the fun!

Love our photo from Grandmother's roses that Pop transplanted to our house.

The kiddos love to feed the fish at Papa's. Reed has planted some flowers back there to enjoy this summer.  I think he would approve!

Blurry-but there's no fun like cousin fun!

Josh and the boys!

That looks yummy!!

The gang's all here!

Checking out supper!

Chilling!

There bodies should be the color of that water! It was freezing!

I can't wait until the next visit! I am headed that way Thursday for a couple of days.