Highway to .......

I've been working on my photography skills, and working on my life skills too. Sometimes those two are intertwined.

Last week was an especially tough one for little miss. She had summer school, and well, let's just say that any school time is about a half mile from hell.

We became about a 1/4 mile from hell when she didn't pass her swimming test, and Kevin did. Yikes, she isn't happy that her brother (4 years younger) is now in the same level. Luckily, we took the exit off of Hell Highway, and are heading northbound.

Today has been refreshing. We began exercising together a couple days ago. She was running at school each morning last year, so we thought it may help with energy, anxiety, and moods. Let's face it, I need it too, so I hope we stick to it. 2 days so far... gotta start somewhere.

Inside our walls

Happy Birthday America! You're, let's see... 236 years old. Old enough to know better, yet still the toddler of the world. Oh boy, so that's why we're throwing temper tantrums at each other and around the world. Got it. :)

Inside our walls lately, you'd hear children running around, "GET YOUR BATHING SUIT AND TOWEL" because we've been swimming like fish in the sea, you'd hear mad games of Crazy 8's, and "Mommy, I wanna go to the park!". Life truly, really truly, has been fun this past week.

Lots of changes for a not-so-little-one in the house. Good changes, I think, I hope. Time will tell. Life is good.

Two n' Two

You'll always know when there is a lot on my mind or when there is so much going on. HOW in the world will you know? 'Cause my blog is neglected.

When my noggin is overflowing, I have to stay away from this blog, otherwise I'll end up spilling something I shouldn't, or simply have diarrhea of the keyboard. Whatever that means.

So, you can put two n' two together, and figure out if I'm busy, overwhelmed, or both.

Get used to it!

Wanna share them. That's all.

I'm (occasionally) a lady of little words lately on this blog. Love sharing pics, so get used to it!!! HA!

Another vacay pic.

Happy 9th b'day Shadow!

One of my fav pics from this weekend.

Kinda Rocks

Vacation just kinda ROCKS! Especially when the ocean, (pretty much) well behaved children, and good company are part of the package.

Yayyyyy kiddos!

I opened the envelopes for both kids' report cards. I opened Juliana's first. I knew what would be inside, since I had the meeting with her teacher and principal yesterday. That meeting took the wind out of my sails. Maybe another day I'll share bits and pieces about THAT. Until then, I have to share about Kev for a quick minute or two.

Kev got the equivalent of all A's in every core area. As a matter of fact, he got 100 percent on every-single-assessment required. Not one wrong, NOT one! Shocked the pants off-a me! The best part of the whole report card was, "Kevin's attentiveness to friendships makes me smile." That was one sentence in the comment section, and it made my heart smile. So so proud of my little boy. She even said that his journal writing made her happy while she read it in the hospital room next to her niece. Awwww, that's sweet.

I'd love to share this on facebook, and perhaps even do a sky writing, but I won't. Too many people would wonder or ask why I'm not sharing about BOTH kids. Juliana struggles. Most of us know why, some don't know. It really isn't a secret, yet it isn't necessarily anybody's business as to WHY. I will say, the comment section on her report card made me smile too. Her teacher said she is "a joy", and I know he means it. It isn't simply a teacher stretching for words to write in a comment section. He truly cares for Juliana, and wants her to succeed. He will be missed. Kev will have the same teacher, same class, same classroom, same friends for next year. It's a "looping" experiment that I'm not overly fond of, but he's happy, so I'm happy.

I am sharing this via my blog, simply because I can't jump up and down in front of them. Because they are so drastically different, I do my very best to emphasize that report cards are not all about high grades, but about doing your best. Juliana's best is vastly different than Kevin's. I am so proud of her too, because her ambition trumps any grade she could ever earn. She may earn a "C/D (and an occasional F)", but her ambition is an "A/B" in most cases.

Who knows if Kev will always do well academically, and socially, and who knows if Juliana will struggle. I am so proud of them, and I am so proud they are proud of themselves!!! It is a wonderful feeling to know they are great kids and do the best they know how to do. Yayyyy kiddos!

Hello June!

Our lives recently have been uber duper busy! Every-single-weekend-day has been full, every school day has been eventful in one way, shape, or form. I'm loving it, albeit ready for it to slow down a little bit. I won't have my wish until, let's say, mid-September. :)

Hanging out with little friends. Kinda the best way to spend any afternoon.

Swimming in our pool with family. This is my niece taking the plunge into the chilly pool.

Favorite photo of the family day yesterday... my brother holding his breath, while his son is under water. HAAAA! My nephew came up smiling. I just adore this photo, and I adore watching my big bro be a dad. He's just so fantastic at the job of Daddyhood.

P.s. If you remember the drama with Kevin's eye last summer, well uhhhhh, he's heading back to Children's Hospital later on today. Who knows if it is the same issue or not. Poor little guy really needs a break from that place. We've tried to avoid it for him for 2 days to no avail. I think he's gonna be okay, but I hate to see his usually overactive little personality turn into a sad, I'm-trying-to-be-strong personality.