Outdoor fun

"Remember when I asked you not to get that on your clothes?"

Lucas, "Oh... I forgot."

Cutie

One fish, two fish

Holiday World

The music dept at Nathan's school went to Holiday World again this year.  Nathan had a great time!  There is an arrow pointing to him in the middle of the picture, but you really can't see him.

We are those parents

Lucas really wanted to buy a certain item the other day (with his own money)... 
And... we let him...

He is REALLY enjoying it!

The LAST Middle school Jazz Band Performance

Yep, that's right... Nathan had his LAST MIDDLE SCHOOL JAZZ BAND performance!  The school year is almost over, and next he will be in the HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND!  WOW!

Ready to play for the Jazz Cafe

 

Emma wanted a picture with Nathan too!

The chair Nathan made in Technology... The seat is the "tongue".

It was great to be up close where we could see him!
He did a great job!

Mom/Son Event

I decided to take Samuel with me to the Mother/Son event since he and I hadn't had much time together lately.  He loved every second of it!

 There were so many activities: an obstacle course, board games (even Super Hero Squads Shoots & Ladders AND Mario Memory!), soccer, basketball, a book nook for reading, bubbles, penny races, corn hole with bean bags, Hot wheels racetrack, and face painting.  Samuel decided instead of painting our faces, he wanted to write MOM on his arm.  What a sweetie!

Cookies & Canvas

Emma and I went to a fun Mother/Daughter Cookies & Canvas event at a local church.  We had a good time!

Almost done!

 Emma with her BFF Madison (and Madison's sister)

 Emma with some other funny friends

 Trisha and I (we almost complete each other)

 Our Mother/Daughter project fits together perfectly!

Middle School Variety Show

Nathan got to be in the Variety Show at his school.  He was part of a dance put on by the library helpers.  He did a great job!  

The Jazz Band played between certain acts but they were kind of hidden from view so we didn't get any videos.  There will be a concert next week though so stayed tuned!

Concert band performance

Our favorite of the three songs they performed... Nathan got to use several interesting instruments!

For the love of Fire Hydrants

For a couple of years now Lucas has LOVED fire hydrants.  He notices them sometimes when we are driving, but more often he sees them when we are talking walks.  He will run over to one and ask me to take his picture!  Sometimes he lets Samuel join him.  A few times I haven't had a camera or phone handy so I have done the pretend camera thing with my hands.  That has at least satisfied him and made us all giggle.  Silly guy and his hydrants!

Nathan's birthday!

We can't believe that Nathan turned 14!

He picked a mustache balloon-- super cool!

He asked for a "Riddler" birthday mainly because he wanted us to hide all of his presents and leave clues or riddles to help him find them.

The first riddle had him stumped for quite a while...

But it was worth finding!  (Happy early 8th grade graduation AND Birthday)

 Others were a bit easier on the brain

Isn't he a handsome 14-year-old?!

Others besides us added some fun to his gifts!

It was quite the fun celebration.  His friend Nathan joined us for the night as well.