Meet Bob and Spongebob!

Well my almost 2nd grader lost another tooth today. She is very excited to show off her new look and the tooth fairy coming. Isn't she gorgeous????This is Nick cleaning his bike. Please notice his seat is off bc "Mom, you can't clean your bike with your seat on." I don't know about that boy.

Please meet Bob and Spongebob. These are the kids new hamsters that attempted to replace the cat. They are brothers, but fight so they have their own cages.

This is Nick's spongebob.

This is Caroline's Bob!

We have been very busy this summer and can't believe it is almost over. Saturday we have our back to school picnic at school and go back on Aug 13. The kids are not ready and I don't blame them. It seems like our summer has been very short.

What have we been busy doing?

1. swimming and sitting by the pool.

2. Nick has been playing tennis (which is his new favorite sport)

3. Caroline has been swimming. She wants to go to stroke school in the fall.

4. I have been going to school and it has been a very busy 6 weeks.

5. Going to the drive in.

6. Going to the park and riding bikes.

7. SLEEPING LATE EVERYDAY!!!! WHOO HOO!

Lately,

Nick has been into:

taking things apart, building with legos, watching tv, NOT SWIMMING, playing tennis on the court and in the street, reading, and playing games with caroline.

Caroline has been into:

reading, swimming, riding her bike, building legos with Nick, playing games with Nick, playing with Mollie, very into clothes, eating (she has grown alot this summer), watching movies.

That is about all I have to report. I'm on my way out to school. Enjoy!

In Loving Memory of Zander!

Yesterday the Potts' Family had to say good bye to Zander (Caroline's beloved Cat). It was a very sad day for her. Had a little bit of time with him before we went to the pool. Yes she was given the choice of staying home or going and she wanted to go. So she went in and laid with him for a while and told him she loved him with all her heart and would forever. So very sweet. Zander had a very good life with CAroline. She took great care of him, he slept with her, she read to him every night and called herself mommy to him.

He will be greatly missed around our house. It is awful for me to see her so sad, but I know God will protect her and she will make it through this.

Here are a few of our favorite pics of Zander:

Z-bo we will miss you very much. You were a great cat.

Piano Recital!

Caroline had her piano recital tonight and she did great. She played Yankee Doodle and had no mistakes. She also looked gorgeous in her dress. I didn't think about having her try it on before tonight (never thought it might not fit.) so when I put it on her I could barely get it zipped in the back. Then we put on her shoes which were 2 sizes to small. Poor thing had to wear them anyway. She was walking funny too! We will never forget this recital.

End of school and beginning of summer

Welcome back! We have started the summer off by cleaning the house out. I mean basement, garage, cabinets, and drawers. It is big trash pick up here so we have had a deadline of Monday. I'm almost finished...thank goodness. But we have had some fun in there too. We got to meet Baby Charlie (the newest Potts' Family member.) We played at the park, we have been swimming, we have been reading and doing some school work, and all that in one week. The kids spent the first 2 days of summer break at Grandma's while I finished up my job at St. Matthews. The last day was very sad as it came to an end. But summer break here we are.

Today Caroline had a playdate with Lily. They went swimming and played at Lily's house. Here she is before she left looking so cute. She had the best time and can't wait to go back. Her and Lily have really become good friends since meeting last year in Kindergarten.

Nick played his last baseball game today. In the car on the way home he said, "I really like playing ball I don't want it to be over." I was afraid I wasn't going to hear those words this year and they were so sweet to my ears. He has started a little tennis clinic at the pool so that will fill his time nicely until fall ball. (these pictures are in order backwards)

Here is Nick with his statue after the game. Check out that smile.

Here he is up at bat for the 1st time of today's game. He hit it the first time in the outfield.

Here he is in the ceremonial photo shoot that he hates before we left the house. He is so not into getting his picture made right now. I'm showing the best shots.

I like this one. Yes he wears his sunglasses when playing the field because the sun hurts his eye.

Now to the end of school. The kids were both very sad to say goodbye to their teachers this year. Caroline cried herself to sleep for several days before school was over bc she isn't going to be with Mrs. A again next year.. Mrs. A made up for it by asking her if she would come back and help her set up her room before school starts. Caroline stayed after class everyday to help set up for the next day and whatever else Mrs. Armstrong needed done. They got very close this year.

This is Nick and Mrs. Speevack. This woman was my lifesaver this year. I don't know what I would have done without her and I am very sad Nick is not going to have her next year too. She hates to have her pic made, but she told Nick she would do anything for him. I truly believe she would too. For those of you that don't know it was a very tough year for Nick being diagnosed with dyslexia, add/adhd and Central Auditory Processing disorder. We would not have survived 1st grade if Nick had not had Mrs. Speevack to help him in class and out. She played a big role in the services Nick received and was a true advocate for my son. I can't put my emotions into words when it comes to this situation.

For the kids in my class I wanted to make something special they could always keep and that would remind them of a special day. I thought back to when my kids were in Kindergarten and what my most fond memory was...It hands down is the awards ceremony they have that honors each and every student for their strengths. So I decided to make picture frames with their picture in it receiving their awards and shaking Mr. Leffert's hand. They turned out so cool and I had many very thankful mom's. The kids liked them too, but they liked more that I got teary when I gave them to them and told the story that went with it. They liked my stories and I would tell one everyday.

Here are Nick and Caroline after they received their awards.

Here is Nick receiving his awards from Mrs. Beard the guidance counselor. He received a math, science, improved reader and junior achiever awards.

Here is Caroline receiving hers from Mrs. Beard. She received the academic excellence honor(the biggie), Accelerated REader, and the friend one (we can't remember the exact name of it)

I am so proud of both of them. They changed so much during 1st grade. Caroline has developed such a love for reading (just like her mother) and Nick had so much improvement in reading and writing I'm amazed. It was a hard year, but good one.

I think that is about all I have for you. I will try not to wait so long before posting again. I haven't taken many pictures yet this summer because we have been so busy cleaning. Now that it is finished I will.

Star Search

My gorgeous boy performed in his 1st grade play on Friday "Star Search". It is about the planets and moons. The planets loose their moons and are searching for them. He did a great job, said all his lines (at the right times) and sang and danced. The dancing was hillarious and I wish I had a video camera.
Here are a couple other moons.

Here is Nick dancing. You don't get the whole effect, but it was so funny.

A funny face.

Some of the cast.

The Planets.

Getting ready to start.

I am so proud of Nick and how well he did.

It has been a busy weekend here. Got the yard cut, a garden planted, the grocery, and some studying. Nick has been wanting to plant a garden so we went to Kmart today and got pole beans, carrots, and corn seeds. 2 tomato plants, bell pepper plants, a squash (totally caroline's idea) and some sunflower seeds. It was a lot of work, but the kids helped with all the work of preparing the dirt and planting all the seeds and plants. Now if they just keep it up. I will post a pic of garden tomorrow.

Spicy chicken & mushrooms

Here is the much requested recipe John and I have falllen in love with.

1 TBSP olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1 TBSP minced ginger (I still haven't found this)
2 c sliced mushrooms
4 scallions, sliced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (be careful they make it very hot)
1/2 tsp each salt and black pepper
1lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 1/2 TBSP low sodium soy sauce
1 TBSP rice vinegar
1/2 c cilantro
3 c cooked rice (I use minute rice)

Heat oil in a medium size skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger to pan; cook 1 minute. Stir in mushrooms, scallions, red pepper flakes and 1/4 tsp each of salt and black pepper; cook 3 minutes, stirring often.

Reduce heat to medium. Add chicken to pan and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 tsp each salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring, for 4 minutes or until cooked through.

Stir in soy sauce, vinegar and cilantro; cook 2 minutes. Serve with rice, if desired.

Makes 4 servings Prep 20 min Cook 10 min

This is so easy and quick and we love it. I hope you enjoy it.

Lots to share

I added my pictures first so I'm going backwards. This is Mother's Day Eve. The kids wanted to take me to dinner at my favorite mexican resturant and we got these pics before we left. Of course Nick had to wear a tie because it was a special occasion. Note: Caroline's hair she has started fixing it herself. Somebody help me.she kept wanting to tilt her head back like in the first pic so I was holding her ponytail so she wouldn't which cracked her up.

My sweet sweet boy giving me a kiss because, "You're the bestest mommy ever."

That's my boy.

My class had their play at school last Friday and here are the crayon I put together for them as a small gift. They did such a great job. I was so proud of them. The play was named the Color Factory.

The day of Nick's surgery he got a prize of these lego men and a star wars sticker book. (these pics are for Nick's very special friend Riley)

This is how the ship goes together. No I'm not sure why the men stick off the side. I haven't figured that out.

This is Nick drawing the lego ship with side walk chalk for Riley to see.

Ok over Derby weekend the kids thought it would be hillarious to put the cat in the build a bear stroller and push him around. Yes he sat there and didn't complain. Go figure.

Here are pictures from Nick's first ball game. This pic is after sliding into home with a homerun. Yes he had 2 homeruns (not over the fence) that he knocked into the outfield.

Here he is batting on of those homeruns.

Throwing the ball into home with a huge smile on his face.

Here he is waving to me after one of the homeruns. He was very excited.

This is before we left for the game. I'm not sure about that face.

Here is CAroline reading to Nick and Zander on the picnic table outside one day after school. It really was too cute.

Everyone here is doing good. We are counting down the days left of school which is now 15. We are looking forward to no homework, no getting up and not being on a schedule, and being able to do what we want all day, especially the pool. HOpe you are all doing good.

Ear tubes

Nick is having ear tube surgery Tuesday morning please keep him in your prayers! 30% hearing loss is back in each ear. He lost his previous tubes 2 weeks ago. They are putting in long-term ventillation tubes. They will stay in for a couple of years (they hope) then he might have to have his ear drum patched, but the dr said we will deal with that then because there is not an option. Please pray this is the answer. I will update tomorrow after surgey.

Eggs, hunting, and duvet

I hope you all had a Happy Easter. Saturday we colored eggs and the kids again this year got dye all over their hands. They were so funny this year. It was like they had never dyed eggs before they were amazed with the color. Sunday morning Caroline wanted me to hide her eggs outside, but Nick didn't want his eggs outside (they would get dirty) so only Caroline hunted. Yes that is what she slept in. I know don't even go there with me. Here they are coloring eggs. They colored 3 dozen eggs.

John and I have been working on the house since we got our new furniture, which you can see in the previous post, so we got this new duvet cover, shams and brown sheets. I put them on today while I was home with Nick. We are going to paint the walls, get curtains and get a new shower curtain and we will be finished. I'm also going to hang pics of the kids on the walls. I figure since the kids are 7 now we can be a little fancier than we have been in the past. I'm ready to move past the hodgepodge we've had going on.

This weekend Nick had a rare several reaction to some of the meds he has been taking so he didn't sleep for 3 nights this past weekend. We were at the dr yesterday and thankfully he slept last night. He seems much better today and I appreciate everyone's prayers. I will keep you updated.