Summer Reading Time

One of the biggest changes since I switched jobs six years ago has to do with Summer Reading Club. As a children's librarian, SRC is your life. You spend months and months preparing for it - planning, ordering prizes, decorating, creating book lists, doing school visits, creating and implementing special programs, booking performers. And the sheer volume of kids that come into the building and participate is both impressive and exhausting. In my job as selector, I pretty much make sure we have enough copies of the books on the book lists and help out on the desk now and then. That's a pretty significant change.

I still get into the summer reading mode though. I am a stickler about the boys having a half hour of reading time every day - and I sit and join them whenever possible. I sign them up for SRC at the library and make sure they take a book with them wherever they go. Needless to say, I was not the least bit disappointed when the second thing the boys asked to do once school was over was go to the library. The first thing was to go to the pool, but we don't have a membership yet.

Wesley and Ryan pretty  much make themselves at home at the library. Wesley spent a fair amount of time talking to Miss Stacy. He told her all about the Family Cat Team and, how when he reads a book or watches a show he like "to think about who the main characters are."

Ryan must have wanted to relive the good ol' days of his childhood, because he checked out a bunch of the super easy readers that he first learned to read with.

Wesley loves the Narnia books and wanted to pose in the entrance of the storytime room, which looks like you are stepping though the wardrobe into Narnia

In the wardrobe

Here are the boys with their first week book haul. Those are some serious readers!

Last Day of School

Today was the last day of school for the boys. I no longer have a Kindergartener! Both my boys will be "up the ramp" with the big kids next year. I thought I'd be more emotional about it, but I've been surprisingly okay. I didn't get nearly as many pictures of Ryan as I wanted today, but he was in a pretty uncooperative mood when it came to pictures, so I decided not to push it. I was much more concerned with him having a good day than getting a bunch of pictures where he looked crabby.

The school dismissed older siblings to gym so they could see their younger sibs graduate Kindergarten. I thought that was such a sweet touch and I know Ryan was excited to have Wesley there. 

 

This is Ms. C., Ryan's teacher. I adore her. She was the perfect teacher for Ryan and he just loves her. I'm actually a little sad that he won't be with her next year. She was amazing.

 

Each child was asked to say what they want to be when they grow up. Ryan's answer was "a diver."  Apparently this has been his answer at school for several weeks. When I asked him about it later, he said he means the kind of diver who goes in the ocean and looks at animals. Maybe we have a marine biologist or oceanographer on our hands.

Ryan kissed the principal's hand when she handed him his award.

Confetti poppers for the kids

Ryan and part of his Kindergarten crew

This afternoon I returned to school for Wesley's classroom awards (and to sign the kids out a little early).  Wesley and his friend J. both received Academic Achievement awards for their creative writing. The teacher said that when they publish their first book together, she expects to be dedicated to her. I love that she has encouraged their writing so much this year. I know it has made a huge impact on them.

My cheesy boy

Getting his award

Wesley and J.

Wesley and Mrs. N. - another great teacher

J., M., and Wesley

I'm so proud of my boys. I know they have great things ahead of them!

Remember That Hole in the Backyard?

It looks like this now!

 

I love it! I love it! I love it!  I can't wait to start grilling out,  reading outside, dining outside, having a glass of wine outside. I want to sit and watch the fireflies. I can't tell you how excited I am about this!

Yes, there is some landscaping to do and now I want to clean the cinder blocks on the house, but I am just thrilled with this!

There's a Hole in the Backyard

The company we hired broke ground on our new patio today. The crew arrived as I was leaving for work today and when I got home, they were just packing up.

This may not look overly impressive, but they also knocked down two half walls, removed a few pavers and the area you are looking at is actually about 15 x 22.  If the weather cooperates, they may be pouring the concrete as soon as Thursday!

If you had told me once upon a time that I'd be thrilled to come home and find a big hole in my backyard, I wouldn't have believed you, but it turns out that you would have been right!

Memorial Day Recap

So here we are at the unofficial start of summer. The time of year where the kids ask daily to go to the pool (we still don't have a membership.) When I get to smell one of my favorite smells - the scent of sunscreen and chlorine on my boys. When the sandals are out and the socks and tennis shoes are banished for a good long time. 

We didn't slow down much today either. The whole W. family participated in the Memorial Day parade near out house. Duane and Wesley walked with the scouts, while Ryan and I marched and cheered with the library.

Ryan ready to roll!

Daddy and Wesley heading towards their starting spot

Ryan showing off his bike to his parade buddy, E.

E. kept a close eye on Ryan during the parade

The library gang at the end of the parade

Bear scout Wesley reporting for parade duty

  

Grandma and Grandpa P. were waiting at the end of the parade route with hugs, smiles, a donuts and a chair! All the things Wesley needed!

After recovering from the parade, Duane and I worked in the yard doing a little prep for the the patio work that begins tomorrow. Part of the work was digging up a bunch of the rocks on the side of the house. And I do mean a bunch  of rocks!

 

That's about half of them. Luckily, Ryan will do just about anything for a couple of bucks and we put him to work helping us dig, relocating the worms we uncovered and stomping down the sod we used to fill in some holes in the front yard.

We wound down our day with dinner at Grandma and Grandpa H.'s, which was wonderful. If I had been forced to come up with dinner for the family after the busy weekend we've had, it would have been peanut butter sandwiches for everyone!

So now we're looking at three more days of school, a couple more graduation parties and a trip to California for Duane and myself. Let summer begin!

Sunday Recap

After heading home from the wedding, we spent part of Sunday celebrating the graduation of Maggie L., who is Aunt Susan's niece, so kind of our niece by marriage. She has grown into a beautiful young woman who has great things ahead of her!

Maggie and Wesley sharing a moment

Two of my most favorite guys in the whole entire world. I rely on them so much. I'd be lost without them.

Handsome dude

Ryan had his first ever Arnold Palmer at the party

and his second!

Just one of the many things I love about Duane. Not his party. Not his cake. But there he was serving it up and helping out

Daddy and son #1

Me and the graduation girl!

Ok, I know my head is at a awkward angle here, but Wesley was REALLY leaning in!

Saturday Recap

This has been such an incredibly busy weekend that there is no possible way I can tell you about it in a single post, so you are going to get daily recaps. Yay!

Saturday was possibly the busiest day of the weekend. Wesley got up early to go to the cemetary with his scout pack and put flags on the graces of veterans in honor of Memorial Day. I was really glad he went, but even more impressed that Grandpa H., who is NOT a morning person, got up and went with Wesley.  They don't get to do things just the two of them very often, so that was pretty special.

Duane and I packed up the truck and took Ryan over to Grandma H. The boys spent the day (and night) there so Duane and I could go out of town for my cousin's wedding.

The wedding ceremony was lovely!

My cousin (actually first cousin once removed) Alex and his beautiful bride Jackie

They took off in a pretty sweet ride!

My cousin (again, first cousin once removed) Melinda and her hubby Zack

Their adorable son Aiden

My aunt Marilyn greeting her great great nephew!

My uncle Phil and aunt Marty

Two pretty awesome - and awesome looking guys!

Parents of the groom - my cousins Sue and Gary

My dad and Lynne

While we were at the wedding, Grandma and Grandpa H. took Wesley to his final soccer game, then to the awards picnic to celebrate the end of the season.

Then it was off to the reception to party the evening way with the bride and groom. It was one of those receptions where everyone just had a really good time. Exactly the kind you want!

Me, my cousin Lynne and my uncle Phil

Me dancing with the love of my life. Now and for always!

 

It was so much fun. And even better, Duane and I got to crawl into bed in a quiet hotel room with NO KIDS and sleep in the next day as late as we wanted. Heavenly!