Instapic

Tired of movies. Time to get competitive! via Instagram

Instapic

Toothless and before glasses, lil 3rd grader! via Instagram

Instapic

💙 via Instagram

Instapic

#mondayeve #sundaysadness #wheredidtheweekendgo via Instagram

Instapic

5 years ago today, making their own fruit pizza! #lilchefs #SoumBoys via Instagram

Instapic

This day is one of my top 5 favorite days ever. #jakesbaptism #brotherinchrist #saved #forgiven #sinwashedwhite via Instagram

Instapic

❤ via Instagram

Instapic

I miss my time with this kiddo! via Instagram

Instapic

I enjoyed my day with this sweet cutie! #LucasSoum #SoumBoys #momsontime via Instagram

Instapic

Where else can they get a burger slider, pancakes, steamed broccoli, popcorn shrimp, ice cream and cotton candy? #goldencorral #lilpiggies #getinmybelly via Instagram

Instapic

#Share4Adoption via Instagram

First Week of Summer Break

I'm preparing for Summer School, which I am working and the boys are attending, for the month of June. 

I will be working one-on-one with a student that is autistic. Thankfully, it's a student I already know from my classroom, so he should be somewhat comfortable with me.
I'm getting together a bag of his favorite things, which consists of pipe cleaners (you should see the little people he can make with these things!), miscellaneous Lego pieces, my extra tablet loaded with games, and markers to draw his Lego people. I think we will be all set...at least for the first week! Haha!

On Wednesday, we had the 2 older Martin kids over to play while their little brother came home from a stay at the hospital. All is well and he is feeling better. The boys enjoyed playing with them, and you can see they all loved ganging up and destroying the evil oldest child! Muahahaha!

Today we went to see the doctor again about Jake's arm. 2 more x-rays and a pediatric specialist's view and we are shocked to find out it isn't broken, even though hurting a week later still. We were all set to get a cast tomorrow and talking about waterproof liners. But the doc called back this afternoon and told us there isn't a break, just badly bruised. So we were relieved since we were looking at 6 weeks of no swimming, which is all they do in the summer. Especially when they were headed to stay the weekend with their grandparents, and the pool is ready!
Jake has to leave the wrist guard on through the weekend, and if his wrist is still hurting next week, we will look into having bone scans done.

Well, we took a short break from packing for the weekend and the boys rode their bikes up and down the street.
This is Lucas' first time riding his new bike on our street after learning to ride, and buying this bike with all of his birthday money. A big thank you to his Aunt Elly and Uncle Randy, and to a few of his friends, who all gifted him enough to buy this bike. It's a 20" Mongoose with handle breaks, something new to Lucas!

And here we are at the Dealership, waiting for Papa to finish work and for Grandma to show up and take them all home. Ready to swim. Watch movies. Play outside. Play inside. And eat whatever they want. Spoiled much? Yes. :)

Memorial Day

Of course, we had to have a BBQ.
Ribs and burgers, and steak. Mmmm...

I decided to make a new dessert. It was good, but not the "hit" I was hoping it would be. We should've just eaten the Snickers and called it a day. Not a fan of vanilla pudding.

But, if you are...

Chop up the apples. Chop up the Snickers. Make pudding. Add in layers in a trifle bowl. Cool whip on top. Eat. Simple.

It lacked chocolate.

...and maybe cake or something else.

It was Jake's turn for a movie, and he, of course, chose Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. I think he just wanted to see Anakin turn evil and catch on fire again. Little weirdo.

Check out the little creeper! Yikes!

We can't have a movie without popcorn, right?
Jake finally got to pop his dried corn cob he got at a cafe in Cuba, MO, when he was on the T.A.G. field trip with Brian.
Anyhow, you just put it in the bag provided and pop on high for 2 minutes.
And it was LOUD. And delicious. :)

Family Day at Church

It was Youth Sunday at church, being the 4th Sunday of the month, so the kids were part of the service.

After worship, we started off with Lucas singing a special. He sang, "Just As I Am", which is the same song he sang at the recital last Thursday. We were very proud of him!

After that, they showed the video that Jacob and I made about the end of our first session of "The Story", a congregation wide bible study that we have all been doing, from preschool to adults.

That was followed by Daniel Peregoy giving the sermon on Hannah, Samuel and Saul.

And our friend, Addie, was baptized by her Grandpa, aka Papsy. :)

It was a great morning worshiping together and enjoying this time as a family.

Big thanks to Ian for taking our picture!

Strawberries and Cabbage for Spike

Thanks, Google, for doing an "Auto Awesome" version of Spike eating! :)

Graven Lunch and Hanging out with the Tapson Kids

Hot dogs, chips and soda and Graven's Dealer Days Event.
And even better, we got to visit with friends.

Then I got to babysit the Tapson kids with their parents were working. It was only for a few hours in the afternoon, but we had fun. And they are so stinkin' cute!

Sleeping with my sound machine on my tablet next to him, so I can get the kids some snacks. The snuggling resumed. :)

A's version of hiding. I can't see her. Can you? Haha

A's "best" hiding spot...right next to Lucas! We all laughed hard at that one!

What on earth is that long hairy thing?

Last Day of School, the FALL, and the Tapson Recital!

Last day of school! Woo hoo!

Unfortunately, the cheering came to a halt when Jake fell off the WET monkey bars while playing during Field Day (think obstacle courses on the playground). He landed on his left wrist and elbow. The nurse gave him an ice pack but said it didn't feel broken.

I called Family Health and made an appt for 2:30 to have it x-rayed since it was hurting.

Then I headed to Esther with my dead phone to be at Lucas' picnic. A big thanks to Mrs. Starnes for the pic.

We left the picnic at noon and Lucas played Xbox with my coworker, Jacob.  Just killing time until the end of the day, which was an early out at 1pm.

And here is Jacob after the x-rays, which didn't show a break, but was sent off to radiology to be sure. The NP recommended a sling for the weekend. Jake was thrilled...

And the "Last Day of School" pic. Now they are happy!

First day of 5th and 1st grade, and last day. Both have grown!

Since Jake's wrist was really hurting, he was unable to play the piano at the recital.
Jake sat with us as we watched all the other kids perform, including Lucas singing his first solo!

We are so proud of him! He was fantastic! :)

Lucas with Papa and Grandma

Lucas with Cynthia and Caleb Whittington

Teacher Gifts

A big THANK YOU to my sister for making our teacher gifts!

Jacob gave Mr. McKimmey his favorite tea inside a personalized Buzz Coozie.

Lucas gave Mrs. Starnes her favorite candy bar, Snickers, and a personalized "pencil" that she hung in her classroom. 

♥