First and Last Day pictures

Well, another school year comes to a close!  It has been a great year.  The boys have learned a lot, and both made the all A honor roll all year.  The boys have grown so much this year!  Matthew has grown almost 4 1/2 inches since last year at this time, and both have grown 3 inches since the first day of school.  We are all so ready for a break, and look forward to long, lazy days (let's hope!).

Last Day of School:

First Day:

First Day:

Last Day of School:

Matthew:

Thomas:

Biggie at bat!

I love this picture!  Thomas had the first game in the city tournament last night.  They won 21-4!  We have been playing on basketball, soccer, football, and baseball teams for the past 6 years straight, and have never been on such a successful team, usually winning each game by 15 runs or more.  Sure, the point is to have fun and learn, but it is so much fun watching these 6 and 7 year olds make double and triple plays, hit the ball into the outfield, and be run ruled almost every inning!  We love watching "Biggie" and the rest of our Indians and look forward to a fun week or two of games!

Our weekend

We had a great weekend!

We started off Saturday watching Matthew's last baseball game.  This is always bittersweet for me.  Baseball completely consumes our lives from mid March until the end of May, so I am ready for a break.  I do, though, love watching the boys games so much, and I am so proud of how much Matthew has improved this year.

Matthew mainly played 3rd base and right field this season, but since it was the last game, the coach moved the players around to different positions for fun.  Matthew ended up pitching the last inning.  I was anxious to see how he would do.  He only saw 4 batters...struck out 2 and got the other one out by throwing it to first!  It was nice to see the Reds end their season with a strike out by Matthew Barnhill!

Then, we headed to Frisco to see Baby Lydia.  The boys hadn't seen her yet, and Mary Beth and I hadn't seen her since the day she was born.  We had a great time hanging out, loving on Lydia, and going to the pool on a beautiful summer night.  Michael and Jilinda have been such a vital part of our kids' lives, and we can't wait to get to know and love their children as well.

It was a short trip to Frisco, as Mary Beth had a pool party Sunday afternoon and I had book club that night.  It is so hard getting out of town!  I hope that will change this summer.

First Day and Last Day pictures

Mary Beth woke up today so excited about her end of the year party!  She had such a wonderful year.  Mary Beth never once didn't want to go to school, and I think this year prepared her so well for kindergarten this fall.  She can hardly wait!  

I am so grateful that she had my dear friend, Amy, for a teacher, and her best friend, Whitney, in her class for the second year in a row.  Mary Beth made some very special friendships this year that I know will carry on to next year.  Until then, I am looking forward to spending the summer with my little Mare Bear!

Last Day of School- May 2009

First Day of School- August 2008

Second to last day of school.

First Day of School.

The kids, Brunetter, and Danny Gokey

I am taking a break from my extremely busy schedule today to remember why my schedule is so busy.  I am so very proud of my three children!  Each one has blessed me in such unique ways.  I wish I could freeze time right now.  I have never enjoyed the kids ages as much as I do right now.  We are in that wonderful stage between diapers and pimples!  So at the end of each long day, I can look at each one of their sweet faces and know that it is all so worth it!

Also, on a much more superficial subject, I am so glad I was able to convince my hair dresser to let me go brunette again!  Or, at least, brunetter.  Still got some highlights up in there!  She tried to make me a blonde for over a year, and it just wasn't me.  My soul is brunette.  This makes my dark haired Matthew, so happy!  My blondies, Thomas and Mary Beth, wish I hadn't of gone back to the dark side.  Oh well, you can't please them all!

Finally, I am loving Matthew's new glasses!  He loves them, too, and is so proud to look like Danny Gokey!

Track Day 2009!

One of the first events to signal the end of the year is Track Day.  This is the day that my kids live for in school!  I always love the funny pictures of the kids doing relays and tug of war.  Thomas...always smiling.  Matthew....intensity seeping from his pores!

Side note: I pulled the while shorts that Thomas is wearing, out of the dryer one hour before these pictures were taken.  That child looks at clothes and gets them dirty! ;)

Always smiling!


I love this one!

Victory is ours!
Mary Beth got to come to Matthew's track time.

2 weeks..

Two weeks from today, all three of my babies will be home for the summer!  It seems this year has been light years busier than any in the past, and I have never looked so forward to summer break in my life!

While I am so excited, a sweet time in Mary Beth's and my life will come to a close.  Nearly two years ago, my 3 year old daughter and I dropped Thomas off at kindergarten.  I was emotional dropping him off, but also thrilled with the idea that I would have lots of one on one time with Mary Beth for the first time in her life!  We had a great day that day, shopping at Target and eating lunch at Panda Express.  I remember thinking that I wanted to savor every minute with her, as I knew how quickly these two years would pass.  They seems almost instantaneous in the two years that Matthew was alone at school!

I can honestly say that I enjoyed this time so much.  I really did savor it, and enjoyed having my side kick with me when she wasn't in preschool!  Mary Beth loves to shop and "do lunch".  She is a wonderful errand companion...hopping in our grocery cart, checking off items on our list, and giving me suggestions on what to buy.  Mary Beth also loves cuddling on the couch and reading books with me.  I am so proud of the little girl she is turning into and I know I will always enjoy our special relationship.

I am excited about her starting kindergarten, but for some reason, get a little choked up when she says goodbye to the boys still in her nightgown and crazy bed head.  Of course, this doesn't always happen, since Baby Girl likes to sleep until 9 in the morning if I let her!  I loved this time with Thomas and Mary Beth, too, when Matthew was the only one in school. 

 This...

 And this...

will forever remind me of this precious time with my daughter.  How could these two years  have melted so quickly into 2 weeks?

Innerspace Caverns

Today was Matthew's 3rd grade field trip to Innerspace Caverns. It was so much fun! 

The Balcones Fault...

Ice Cream Cone...
Matthew listening intently...
Texas Chip and Dip...

  

Mining for gems...

Soda straws.  Each one grows 1/4 inch every 50 years!

A little bat sleeping...

Amy and me going underground!

The monster...
Matthew and his buds traveling underground...

Innerspace Caverns was discovered when the first interstate highway in America, I-35, was being formed. I found it interesting, since one of my patients a few years ago, who worked for the highway department, was there when it was discovered.  We were a little apprehensive about traveling 30-70 feet underground, but thankfully, the rocks held firm!  It was great to spend time with my favorite 9 years old, and one of my best friends, Amy, whose daughter was also on the trip.  We even managed a little retail therapy in Salado, and found these pillows!