Last Day of School

Finally the last day of school arrived, and boy--was it a crazy day for me.  I was physically exhausted by the end of the day and took about a week or so to catch up!  The best part of the last day is always the dismissal time...of course!  There is no bus service that day, so almost all of the kids are picked up, and it's party central in the parking lot!

 Reese with her fabulous teacher, Mrs. Bill.

 Reese with 3 of the "Five Amigos"--Katie, Emily, and Erin. Laine was already getting picked up by her mom, and all of the girls went to Laine's house for a pool party.

 Mrs. Wannemuehler always entertains everyone with her hula hooping skills.  I don't know how she can just keep going and going and going...

And they're off!!!  See you in a few months!

Here, Fishy Fishy!

Ever since our Hilton Head vacation last summer when we spent the week fishing in the lagoon, Joel has been wanting to go fishing around here.  One Sunday evening we drove up to Morse Reservoir and had the idea that we could go fishing at the park.  That next Friday night we took our poles and supplies and headed to the lake.

Joel helped the kids bait their hooks while I snapped these pics.  

At one point we thought Reid caught something as his pole began to bend.  

However, we figured out that it was caught on a rock.  Boo!

Reid gave up and played on the playground.  Though Reese stuck with it and ended up catching a fish!  Way to go, Reese!

Cathedral Basketball Camp 2014

Ryan's favorite week of the summer is undoubtedly the week of Cathedral basketball camp.  It seems like he eats, sleeps, and breathes basketball lately, so he was in heaven!  It's funny how two weeks earlier we had to pry him out of bed for school, but he would wake up and get dressed each morning two hours before the camp even started.  ;)

I'm sure it helped that many of his friends were also at the same camp.  But I have to tell you how much the Cathedral players and coaches played a part in the success of the week. We walked in the first day and the head coach recognized him from past years and told him he was glad to see him again.  I don't know how the coach did it, but he knew almost every single kid's name by the end of the week...and there were about 75-100 boys!

Each day they learned skills, practiced drills, and had scrimmages and knock-out tournaments.  But the highlight of the week was definitely Buzzer Beater Thursday.  Each kid is given the ball at just past half court with four seconds on the shot clock.  The kid has to drive the ball to hoop and then make a last-second buzzer beater shot.  If he makes it, the crowd goes wild and the Cathedral basketball players get to hoist him up for a victorious celebration.  Each year I have loved it so much, so I made sure to ask Joel to come and see it.  I know it's quite a drive from downtown in the middle of the day, but he got it in over lunch. 

Here is Ryan's shot:

Ryan's shirt was being signed by one of my former students, Cole.

Ryan with the head coach, Andy Fagan, and assistant coach, Tim Adams.

Ryan with his buddy, Ian--being attacked by Reid.

I'm already with Ryan on the countdown for basketball season!

House Concert

A few years ago we met Amy Cox through Joel's parents.  She had just been hired as their church's music director, and she needed a place to stay while she looked for an apartment.  Doug and Marsha graciously opened their home to Amy for about 3 weeks, and we were able to meet her while we were visiting for Christmas.  Even though Amy moved out and found an apartment, she often came over when we had family gatherings like reunions or Thanksgiving.  She kind of fit right in and soon the joke was that she was the "favorite child" of Doug and Marsha.  :)  

During her time in Fort Wayne, she started writing and performing her own music.  She started doing house concerts where about 20-30 people would gather to listen to her music and enjoy fellowship together.  From the time I found out she was doing these, I told her I wanted to host one.  However, we never got around to scheduling it.

This past winter she moved back to Virginia to be closer to her family again, and I thought I had lost the chance to host a concert.  But, as luck would have it, she emailed me this spring and told me she was coming back to Indiana and would be able to come to our house!  Amy and her dad came for the night, and we so enjoyed having them as house guests.  Her dad was so good with all of the kids--especially Reid.  He has a grandson and was so good about talking to him. 

We had about 13 or so people attend as we had a few last-minute cancellations.  However, we all enjoyed Amy's music and her stories that she told in-between the songs.  She definitely has a gift that encompasses all of her talents.  I heard from several friends afterward that they greatly enjoyed Amy and our time in fellowship.  If you have a moment, check out her website: http://amycoxmusic.com/

First Communion School Mass

On one of the last school Masses, all of the second graders dressed in their special outfits so the rest of the school could celebrate their First Communions with them.  Afterward there was a small reception in Craig Willy Hall.

Since Ryan couldn't have any of the baked goodies, he loaded up on fruit and then helped himself to a Diet Pepsi, which was supposed to be for the parents only.  However, since other kids were loading up on cookies and donuts, I let him have that one small treat.

Ryan with his cousin, Ethan.

Grace with two of her friends.

I love the group shots of the second grade boys!

I stole this last shot from Kelly's blog.  Thanks, Kelly!

Leapin' Lizards?!

 Ryan was playing basketball outside when he ran in and said, "There's a lizard on our driveway!  Come look!"  Ryan is our prankster, so I wasn't rushing out the door.  Instead, I was trying to picture what joke he was going to play on us and what we were really going to see outside.  I was actually surprised to see some sort of reptile/amphibian...who knows?  We tried to search for what it could be, but I still don't have a clear answer.  It could be a newt, salamander, or skink.  Any ideas?

Much to the boys' dismay, we did not choose to keep it as a pet.  Instead, we let it wander off into the woods.  Just chalking it up to another creature we've seen at our house!

Field Day

Field Day is always a day everyone looks forward to at our school.  It always starts off with the staff vs. the 8th grade volleyball game, and every year I think the staff gets crushed.  ;)  We're letting them win, of course!  

 This was the inaugural Little 500 trike race for the 8th graders.  The whole school went out to cheer them on, and I saw a couple cuties I recognized:

What a long yet fun day!

Fine Arts Night: 2014

Fine Arts Night at our school is a time to spotlight our fabulous Music and Art programs.  I am so in awe of the talent and dedication of these teachers, and it shows in the students' performances and projects!  

First everyone gathers in the gym to watch the different grade levels perform.  Both Reese's and Ryan's classes were so much fun!

 Then everyone goes to check out the artwork displayed throughout the school.

 

Great job, kiddos!