Kindergarten Prep...

We have been so, so nervous about Aidan starting school... He gets so shy at times when he's not in his comfort zone and gets horrified if he gets attention when he's not ready for it. Not the best combo for a new environment. We started ESage a couple of weeks ago, which is a super fun summer camp at their elementary. The kids only go two days a week and our hope was that it would warm Aidan up to the school... Drum roll please, he LOVES it! We're so happy with how he's adjusted and he's having an absolute blast. It definitely helps that Ryder is there and has more than taken the little guy under his wing. A birdie told me that when Ryder left today, he and Aidan had a HUGE hug. Sigh, that's a happy momma!

Aidan has been working on kindergarten workbooks this summer like a mad-man. He told me his plan is to give the completed workbooks to his kindergarten teacher and then "she'll be really proud of me." Double sigh. I think this kid is going to do just fine! 

Look who's on the down-slide to 40!!!

That'd be me! Yep, peeps, I turned 35 recently. I love it, bring it old age. I love that FINALLY people don't look at me at work like "what do you know about the real world young lady." (Although one of my new co-workers thought I was too young to have kids, and yes, I'll take that!).  I love that with each coming year, I have more time to laugh with loved ones, harass my husband endlessly and chase these little munchee-chees around...

The Bordner's treated us to a night out while they took the aforementioned munchee-chees for the evening. Ryan and I had a blast!

And we were shocked to pick up the kids and see THIS!!! Morgan riding a motorcycle. Now who is the old lady? I have a couple more gray hairs after seeing this... 

Big 'K' Bound!!

First, we celebrated having a BIG 2nd grader in the house... Then we got to celebrate our BIG preschool graduate/future full day kindergartner! Our family spent five lovely years at this school and I have to admit a couple of sobs escaped this old gal's face as we left for the final time... Words can't express what Garabatos has meant to us over the years! Need not worry, the moms and I are having our first "reunion" tomorrow night over happy hour!

How fitting is it that Aidan's garden was right next to his buddy Isabel's. We love spending time with that little sweetheart and are so happy/relieved/ecstatic that they will be in the same kindergarten class next year. Phew.

Well of course it makes sense to dance with pineapples on your head at graduation! Don't look closely for Aidan, you won't find him. He was busy completing surveillance of the yard looking for imaginary bad guys. No dancing for this dude.

Nick and Isabel breaking it down.

Not too shabby, he says.

Maestra Irene. We love that lady!

The kids made rain makers out of plastic crayons and put on quite the performance. Why do I have a picture of all their backs you ask? Oh, well that would be because my shy little dude DEMANDED that I be on stage with the kids. Don't worry, I can rock at a minutes notice.

Um, why am I shaking a plastic crayon filled with beans, he asks.

Not the best picture of Maestra Veronica. What a special woman to us. She taught our kids more that we could have ever imagined about science, nature, the arts, music, yoga, gardening, how to love, how to be accepting and how to get along, all in Spanish. 

Post celebration at the park. Yes people, even Kindergartners get picked up by their mothers. Well, maybe just this Kindergartner. If he'd let me put him in a Baby Bjorn, I swear I would. I can't handle how fast he is growing up... We are so proud of this little guy. He's grown from being our shy, timid little man to a *more* outgoing and adventurous guy. He loves deeply and is developing such a silly sense of humor. Aidan makes this family complete. Yep, we'll keep him!

Rainy Day Poster Contest

Morgan and Emma's entry into the 1st annual Krazy Kearney Poster Making Contest... I'll be curious to see what the "littles" (Aidan and Isabel) are currently cooking up. $100 says it's Star Wars related since Aidan is currently dressed like Darth and Isabel almost loves Star Wars as much as our crazy guy...

And just like that...

We have a second grader?!?!?! How did this happen? Wasn't she JUST dancing around with nothing on but Uggs, squealing with happiness over Elmo being on t.v.? Today was Morgan's last day of first grade. She said she's happy that it's summer but swore me to secrecy so I didn't let that slip to Ms. Scudder. She made Ms. Scudder a paper mache piggy bank to say thank you for a great year and in return got a big hug. The HUGE, goofy smile she had while telling that story made my cry a little... What a sweet pea!

Ms. Scudder put together huge notebooks of all the stories the kids wrote and special assignments they worked on. A real treasure for us! Morgan said this is her most special picture because it's our family... Gulp, this kid is working my tear ducts today!

I have no idea what this is about, but if I had to guess, I'd think this kid was being raised by a social worker. And open-minded she is, I think she'd try to be-friend a raging bull if she had the chance... We are so proud of our big girl!

*As a side note: Aidan tagged along to Morgan's end of the school year picnic today. He was dressed somewhat normally, but had a wrist watch that shoots disks the size of saucers (so in other words, the watch covered his arm), a sword tucked into the back of his shirt, a bow and arrow wrapped about his torso and I can't forget that he had a plaid belt on that was wrapped around his belly, over his t-shirt. He wondered why people were looking at him. Kindergarten is going to be interesting with this one!!!

D.C.!!!

I recently returned from a trip to Washington D.C. to attend the National Coalition for Homeless Veteran's Conference. What a trip it was... I realized just how fantastic my co-workers are, sharing more than a million laughs and learned how easy going these gals are when in a crunch... (We had a 6 hour wait on the tarmac on our way home, missed our connecting flight in Salt Lake and were left with a few hours of sleep and over 24 hours in the same clothes. What could you do? Just laugh some more).

One of my co-worker's cousins is in the Secret Service and we met up with him one evening. Unfortunately for me and fortunately for the country, he help up to his title and I couldn't squeak out much information (or really any). But he did mention this demonstration has been going on for years and years...

Oh Idaho, how we love you so! WWII monument...

Kids, kids, kids... I think every junior high was on tour, making me realize that I might be looking for surrogate parents for my children when they become this age (I kid, I kid) and also making me realize I will never chaperon this type of event! Sorry kids...

Vietnam Memorial. I would have been in tears if it weren't for the aforementioned humongous gaggle of hormonal tweens scooting around. Kids aside, it was amazing.

 More Vietnam Memorial

And still trying to heal...

Honest Abe!

Korean Conflict Memorial. 

Traveling partners!

Martin Luther King Exhibit

Amanda and I have worked together for years and years, sharing identical resumes (which is no small feat when you are a job-hoarder like the two of us!). Of course I had to come to the VA shortly after she did! This lady and I have shared some serious laughter and I'm so lucky to also call her a friend!

I had to get a picture snapped so I could send to my grandparents to let them know this small town gal was still alive and well in the big city!

I'm a big nerd, but this was a really exciting moment. Secretary Shinseki and Secretary Donovan accepting an award on behalf of the President. It was so inspiring to hear these gentleman talk about the future of housing our country's homeless veterans! (I told you I am a huge nerd.)

Thankfully, I rarely travel for work because I crave these crazy little people (and one big person) in my house when I was gone. I always get to come home to something special!

So when I refer to myself as a "nerd," I'm not alone in those feelings... Oh well, there are worse things I could be!