fireflies and goodbyes

Most summer nights, the boys beg us to let them stay up and catch fireflies.  These are photos from a couple of different nights of firefly catching this summer.  In some of the shots, you can see the fireflies that look like blurry little dots of light.  It is difficult trying to catch a good photo of an already busy 4-year-old chasing a firefly.  Luckily, fireflies almost seem to flutter slowly around and blink on and off- making them the perfect target for little hands!

Both nights photos included the Mizukawa family.  For some reason, when we get together for a cookout, it usually ends up with firefly catching outside.  The Mizukawa family has moved away from Nashville and were wonderful friends that will be missed!  Luckily, they are moving closer to the city that we will be moving to next year (hooray), so we'll be planning some fun get-togethers in the future still.

You can see the firefly at the top of the photo.

Ben with his firefly catch.

Ben honing in on one!

Jack

Pete showing his catch to Ashley.

 

The Mizukawa and Van Horn Families.  We will miss these guys so much!

the best yard sale EVER!

Pete helped me make a list of 50 things we could do this summer and one of them was to have a bake sale/lemonade stand.  Our friends were putting on a yard sale and so we thought it would be the perfect time to have our kids sell their goodies.  My friend, Julie, also ended up selling her home to someone who came to the yard sale, hence it is now referred to as "the best yard sale EVER!"

Notice the summer buzz cuts- my favorite kind to do! 

Goofing around on the job.

 And, of course, no yard sale is safe from my boys.  Pete had to have a toy (he ended up with the calculator).

our REAL superpowers discovered

It all started when Jack became upset that I wouldn't let him have anymore chips for a snack while I was making dinner (mean mommy).  He sent me to time out FOREVER. 
"You have to go to time out. FOREVER." 
So, being the obedient mommy that I am, I went and sat on my bed (with the obligatory pouting lips of course).  Jack was even more upset that I actually went to time out, but after some coercion, he finally came in to "get me out" of time out.  I asked him why I had been sent to time out. 
"Because you weren't being nice." 
This is where the wrestling began.  I picked up Jack and "tossed" him over me.  There was some tickling involved and then Ben came and joined the fun.  Sometime during the commotion, the boys said they wanted to use their powers.  Ben quickly discovered his rolling power and thus began the somersaults.  I was given tickling power which is very useful and quite dangerous.  Jack took a little longer to discover his power, but soon it was clear, Jack has jumping power!  You should see that boy jump right over Ben's rolls.  It is a sight to behold.  Peter joined in at the end and we never did discover his power, until later that night at dinner.  "Mom, I have dancing power!" he said. 
Our wrestling sessions will be much more exciting now that we know we have REAL superpowers.

1st grade, the end

 Pete had an amazing 1st grade teacher this year.  I can't tell you how grateful I am to wonderful, caring people who love and teach my little ones. It is very difficult to send my kids away for the day, but it was so much easier knowing he was in Mrs. Nava's class.  She took care of him, taught him academics, helped him learn the proper way to behave, taught him not to eat his boogers, and helped him reach his goals!  I'm sad to see it end, and it is bittersweet to see Pete growing up and moving on to 2nd grade.

Super Fly Science Guy and Honor Roll!

Pete with some of his friends from 1st Grade

Pete with Alli.  Pete and Alli were also in kindergarten together.  They have plans to go to prom together and then get married (this is seriously their own plan, not influenced by parents at all)!

Pete with more 1st Grade buddies

With Mrs. Nava and the cupcakes we made for the class.

Getting cupcakes and ice cream at the end of the year class party.  Even Jack and Ben got in on the action!

 With Mrs. Nava, 1st Grade Teacher.

Goodbye 1st Grade

joy school graduation

Joy School Jack

Joy School Ben
(I told him to smile, and he said "smile")

Joy School was a challenge for several reasons this year, including the fact that Jack and Ben are VERY energetic. This photo is misleading, since I don't think that they stood still like this for more than a few moments (all year long!).

Some impromptu dancing courtesy of Ben during the Joy School Graduation Program.

super mario brothers seventh birthday

We asked just a couple of friends over to eat cake and ice cream, the kids played, and Pete got his coveted AT-AT Lego set! He's been saving his money and this year for his birthday we contributed to the pot along with grandparents to get it for him.

so long soccer saturdays (for now)

Soccer has ended for the Spring Season 2011. Our last game for Jack and Ben was this week and it ended up raining for the better part of it. Ben was not a happy camper (in his defense, he had been sick the week leading up to the game), but Jack continued to play his heart out. Jack has really proven to be a soccer star, scoring goals at most of our games, and more importantly, seems to LOVE playing (as evidenced by the huge grin on his face in most of these shots).

Jack going after the ball despite the rain.

Jack turning it around.

Taking it down field.

One on four.

These shots give the illusion of some amount of organization and talent that really don't exist in U4 soccer. It is still mostly chaos with children often distracted and running in random directions. Jack, however, does seem to be honing his skills in soccer and has improved remarkably over the season.

After the game, Jack is pleased.

During the game, Ben stood still, shivering, and repeating over, and over "I don't want to get wet, I don't want to get wet." He was still not totally back to himself after ALL three boys had the flu this past week. And he didn't like the rain :).

burgess falls

easter

pinewood derby

Pete participated in his first pinewood derby in March 2011. He and Wade spent many hours working on it together (and Wade spent plenty of his own time researching and planning out how to win!). In the end, Pete didn't make it to the last rounds, but he did get 3rd place for the Tiger Cubs (his age group of kids).

Pete's car is the red one on the far right.

Watching his car race.

3rd place for Tiger Cubs!

The Tiger Cubs!