Florida Part 2---Jonah's gymnastics meet

The entire reason that Drew and I decided to take a trip to Florida was for a gymnastics meet.  Jonah, as we all know, loves gymnastics.  He loves his coaches and he very much dislikes missing out on anything gymnastics.  Drew and I also have a deep respect and appreciation for Coach Bill, his staff, and his coaching philosophy.   Coach Bill schedules out of town meets to give the athletes a fun experience and exposure to the bigger world of gymnastics.   Because Jonah currently has such a great passion for gymnastics and we could visit family, we felt this would be a great win-win for everyone.  Thus, a trip to Florida to visit family, attend a gymnastics meet, and go to Disney.  Simple and crazy all at the same time!

We left early to visit family and then on Friday we headed to Orlando.  Drew met us in Orlando.  The meet was at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney.  This place was amazing.  The Atlanta Braves (boo!) have their spring training there. 

The competition was small, but fun.  There were 7 gymnasts from our gym competing during Jonah's session.  Five competed later in the day.

Getting a little pep talk from Coach Bill

Jonah definitely did not have his best meet.  In fact, he performed his worst vault ever.  That is what happens when missing the springboard.  He rallied and did well on his last two events.  His highest placement was 4th on floor. 

Samuel thought it was pretty awesome that Jonah's name was on the big board!

He placed 8th or higher on pommel, rings, high bar, and parallel bars.  Overall, he finished in 6th place.  He was happy and we were happy for him. 

All Around photo for his age group...Jonah in 6th place

Part of me wishes he had vaulted like normal so he could have medaled in all events.  As his one coach said, the good thing about meets is there is always another one....so true!  Thankfully, the next time Jonah competes it will be as a level 5!  He is ready for a new challenge. 

After the competition we went to a team dinner and had very delicious pizza.  Almost all the boys and their families could attend.  It was a fun evening and nice to socialize with the parents outside of the gym.  All the boys were so silly.  It was a nice way to end the 2012-2013 competition season. 

Coach Wyatt, Coach Bill, and 9 of the boys

Florida Part I

Last Monday the kids and I left for our two day journey to The Villages, Florida.  We drove 7.5 hours the first day and 6.5 hours the second day.  It was an easy, boring, uneventful drive...thank goodness!

The first night we stayed in Daphne, Alabama.  I found a wonderful outdoor mall where we could eat dinner, eat dessert, and work off some energy.  We walked about the mall area and some stores for almost 3 hours.  There were several cute statues that the kids liked.  It was just what we all needed after many hours in the car.  The best part was discovering an amazing cupcake store.  I really could have eaten every single cupcake in that store.  Words do not do them justice!  We all enjoyed them!

On Tuesday afternoon we arrived at my Aunt Janet's house in The Villages.  The Villages is quite the place....lots of golf carts, pools, dancing, and fun.  We were able to spend lots of quality visiting time with my aunt and my grandfather.  He is 97 and enjoyed so much watching the kids be crazy and silly.  On Wednesday we had a lovely lunch at his retirement home.  My mom, dad, aunt, my grandfather's special girl friend, and all of us dined in a private dining room. 

We spent tons of time at the pool and Samuel learned to swim to without his puddle jumper while we were there!  It was so exciting for both of us and now he is just like a fish!  I was so proud of him.  We swam so much that Elena even took a short nap one afternoon!

Swimming was fun, but I think the highlight for the kiddos was riding in and driving Aunt Janet's golf cart.  Golf carts were everywhere.  It seemed to be the preferred mode of transportation in The Villages. 

It was pretty fun!

Of course, we went to the park.  No trip would be complete without a fun trip to a park.

My super cool bunch!

The Villages have three different squares with evening concerts.  We went to two of them while we were there.  On the second night the square was more crowded and there were many more little kids dancing.  Elena is not shy and she quickly joined a little dance party.  The boys were super cool so they just supervised. 

They also played "duck, duck, goose"

Definitely hands down, my favorite moment from our visit was snapping a picture of Elena dancing with a little boy.  He walked up to her and grabbed her hands to dance.  His mom and I snapped pictures like it was prom night.  I really could stare at this picture all day...I just love their happy faces!

Just melts my heart....

We had a quick visit with my aunt, but it was action packed.  The kids are already wanting to visit each summer!

The last day of school...finally!

Today was finally the last day of school.  It seems like the past 2-3 weeks have taken for ever to pass, but we all made it!  Emma and Jonah both had great years.  Jonah learned so much in 1st grade despite having merry-go-round teachers.  Emma loved her teachers and learned that consistency is a good thing.  They both worked hard and earned great grades....all A's and one B for Emma.  Jonah and Emma received three awards each this year.  Both received "Beat the Bell" aware for no tardies and the Conduct award for excellent behavior all year.  Jonah was on the all A honor roll for the year.  Emma was on the all A/B honor roll.  They are kind, helpful people and good students!  Drew and I are so proud of them!  They are now officially 2nd and 5th graders. 

They have also grown so much since last August...

And today...

Next year we will have three kids at Haude.  Samuel will be in Kindergarten!  Elena will finally join the ranks of those going to school.  She will attend the ELCP at our church two days a week.

I wonder how big they will look to me at the end of the summer....

Let the fun begin....it is officially summer at our house!!!!

Big News and serious yumminess

As we all know, Emma is a gymnast.  She is a hard-lazy worker all at the same time.  It makes me crazy, but it seems to work for Emma.  One skill Emma knew she needed to move to the next level of skills is the kip.  It is a move on the uneven bars.  I am guessing for maybe 2 months she has been steadily focused on getting her kip.  A few weeks ago she got herself up for the first time.  She has done it several times in a row and sporadically since then until last night.  Last night it all came together and she got her kip for real!  This is a ginormous big deal and we are very proud of her.

At Emma's gym, after getting 3 strong kips in a row the coaches give the gymnast her kip dollar.  Well, here's Emma's dollar!  She wants to frame it!

So that is the big news.  The yummy news is this fancy creation...

Samuel and Elena convinced or should I say bugged me for days to freeze bananas and then mix them into ice cream.  I finally agreed and yesterday we mixed frozen bananas and strawberries and viola....ice cream-custardy-deliciousness!  I think this is the perfect use for over ripe bananas!

Finally, Elena, Emma, and I made a strawberry pie.  I had never made one before this, but I must say it was really good.  I made an oatmeal crust instead of using Pillsbury and it was the perfect compliment to the sweet strawberries.  Again, it was another perfect use of fruit!

this became....

strawberry pie!

Oh, and for anyone keeping track tomorrow is FINALLY the last day of school!

Elena goes to summer camp

Today was a big day for me and Elena.  It was her first day of summer camp.  It was a big day because we always spend the day together when the kids are at school.  That is what we do and have done since she was born.  I have been away on some trips so we have been apart.  But, the day to day of life has been me and Elena for 3.5 years.  Today off she went and it was just me.  I kind of liked it, but I did miss her!

Elena could not have been more excited to go to summer cooking camp.  She talked about it all weekend...."I get to go to Samuel's school!"  The camp is at the ELCP where they all go/went to preschool.  Elena will attend two days in the fall.  Samuel was slightly excited to be the big brother even though he tried to deny it.  Elena was excited about having her lunch packed, getting her backpack ready, putting on her sneakers....everything!  Her excitement made me too happy to think about missing her!

Love her little sass!

She was tired when I picked her up at 2:30.  She told me all about her day from playing to cooking to napping to playing outside and reading books.  She remembered it all.  She is very excited to go back on Wednesday and play with her new friends!  Again, I am just so happy she loved it!

While they were at school I was able to eat lunch with my 1st grader Jonah and my 4th grader Emma for the last time this year.  I actually took them lunch so they were super happy today too!

He desperately needs a haircut, but is still so cute!

Three more days to go until summer can officially start!!!

From Tiger to Wolf

Today Jonah participated in a rank up ceremony for Tiger Scouts.  His Den met at a local park as Tigers and after the ceremony they graduated to Wolf.   Drew took Jonah so all information is courtesy of Drew and Jonah including the pictures!

At the beginning of the ceremony each boy's neckerchief was removed.  They then left on a hike through the woods during which each boy collected representative symbols of a wolf.  The symbols were a feather (the fur of the wolf), a wolf claw, and the mark of the wolf (red paint on his cheek for the arrow of light).  After the hike, the boys received the Wolf neckerchief.  Lastly, the boys each etched their initials into a piece of leather which will become part of a Pack Banner. 

No neckerchief!

Off they go on the hike

Getting his Wolf neckerchief

Jonah loved all of it and is very excited to be a Wolf.  It is just one step on his Boy Scout journey.  I am very thankful that Drew willingly does with Jonah and loves it as well.  Two years from now Samuel will be a Tiger Scout and he cannot wait!