South Mountain

I was doing a lot of hiking up South Mountain with my friend Heather before it got hot.  One Saturday Bill took the kids up the trial.  I was not there but since Alex doesn't really like walking, I was wondering how it would go down.  Apparently Bill had to carry Alex part of the way!  It looks like they got high enough to get a view, so that is good.  I like how they both wore their orange dry weave work out shirts!

Alex the Narrator

Aunt Terri came to see the play!

Alex and Ms. V.

Alex's special ed teacher Ms. Alba

The last week of school, Alex's teacher invited us to a class play of the Three Little Pigs - Alex was the Narrator and did a great job!  Alex had a great 2nd grade year - he was integrated into the typical 2nd grade class and was usually there a few hours each day.  He loved his aide Ms. V.  But unfortunatly she is retiring and won't be there next year.  Alex is now a 3rd grader and we are so proud of his accomplishments!

Bye Bye 5th Grade...Hello Middle School

Ben used his no uniform pass on the last day of school!

It was also his birthday!

Ben & Mr. Keating

Mr. Keating and Tiana

Ben is now an official 6th grader -- - here is a few pictures on the last day of 5th grade.  Ben had a great 5th grade year - he ended up with all "A's" and also got to have all his buddies in his class - Evan, Jacob and Tiana to name a few.  Ben also had the good fortune of having Mr. Keating as a teacher for 5th grade.  Mr. Keating made learning fun and almost daily we got a dose of "Mr. Keating said.....".  Ben really loved 5th grade and he really excelled at math, getting put in the higher math class and at the end of the year, learning 7th grade math!  I know..right??!!!  Good job Ben, we are so proud of you!

Nerf Wars

Ben's party this year was a Nerf Wars party.  Everyone came equipped with weapons and bullets.  Ben put everyone on teams with name tags and they ran around, in the house, backyard and the park, non-stop for 3 hours!  They barely stopped to have a hot dog.  The girls got a little sick of Nerf after a while, so we had a bingo station up and Heather helped me with that.  All in all, it was a great party and I think Ben was happy with the way he started his 11th year! 

Ben is 11 years old now!

Even though he's 11 he was like a little kid on the morning of his birthday.  He got the entire house up at 6 a.m. saying "it's my birthday!".  We all got up (ugh!) and Ben found his brand new 12-speed bike!  He was pretty excited!  Then he opened some other gifts including a giant nerf gun from Nana & Papa - perfect for his nerf party later that night.  Ben is a great kid - he is quiet at times, but can be very loud too!  He's sweet to his brother, but can fight like crazy with him.  Ben is obviously entering into full on "tween", but he is also still like a kid in a lot of ways.  Ben is my first-born and is such a great son and brother!  I love you so much Ben and we are so lucky to have you !!

Christian Michael

My nephew is growing up!  He will be 20 this July - I still think of him as 5 years old coming to visit my sister and I in Phoenix - he lived with his mom in San Diego at the time.  Chris has lived in Yuma for the past many years with his dad (my brother) as his sole custody parent.  Chris is planning to enter the military and has been accepted into the Marines.  He'll be going in January I think.  My boys love their cousin and really look up to him - he better take care in the Marines and be safe, or else!!  Aunt Kim loves ya kiddo!

Markie's 9th

Markie had a fun 9th birthday party.  First, the kids jumped at jump street for over 2 hours - then we went to Markie's house for swimming, pizza and cake.  A few boys, including Ben, went to Markie's football game and then had a sleepover.  Whew!  How does these kids have the energy!  Happy Birthday to Markie - a boy who both my boys love to be with!