7th up, umpiring and a piano recital

Bryce applied for and was accepted into the 7th Up program for his 10th grade year.  Students in this organization go into 7th and 8th grade classes and teach about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and smoking and teach students about natural highs as an alternative.  We're so proud of him for stepping out and doing this.  I think he'll be a great role model. 

Bryce signed up to be an umpire this spring.  We only signed him up for one weekend a month since he was going to be so busy during the week with school ball.  Unfortunately, this spring has been a bit rainy and two of his weekends have already been rained out. We picked up a machine pitch game this week and we'd forgotten how cute tiny baseball players are.  It was fun to watch but I felt bad for the boys when Bryce called them out.  But I know it's the name of the game. 

Emmy has decided to quit piano for the time being.  Even though she only has lessons once a week, the necessary time commitment to improve her skill was too much with gymnastics and the start of middle school and a little heavier workload.  I'm going to miss her teacher so much.  She's such a gift and has taught Emmy so much in the four years of lessons.  Maybe she'll decide to pick it back up one day. 

She played "Prehistoric Processional" and did a great job.

All of her fans came to support her. 

We've got one full week of school left and then we'll coast into summer next week!

a haircut, mother's day and chase's 16th

I went to another escape room with my tax people, and we made it out with only one clue!

School baseball season is wrapping up and we're going to miss it.  Not to worry!  Travel ball will keep us busy this summer.

Bryce's hair era has come to an end.  

I really do love his hair, but he was ready to buzz it.  He definitely resembles Jason more with his cut. 

Bryce started the school year with a lot of hair.  Then he got a mullet.  Then he cleaned it up (which has been my favorite style) and now he has a buzz.  I'm hoping it's just a phase. 

I had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Chase shared his 16th birthday with Mother's Day!  I think he fared pretty well.

 

skip day, some baseball and cinco de mayo

Bryce had a baseball game on Monday.  It was an easy team for them, and they won.  Summer arrived for a few days, so Emmy played hooky and went to the beach on Tuesday. 

Bryce had another game on Thursday.  This was a county rival.  While we beat the team when they played us at home, we fell short playing them away.  

Avery had an away game too so she stayed to watch the end of Bryce's game and then we went out to dinner. 

One of our friends turned 40 on Saturday and had a fun party. 

Five years ago we took this same picture at a derby party.  

It was fun to get out with friends.  

We don't all get together often enough so it was fun catching up.  

Emmy and a friend wore their taco leos for Cinco de Mayo today.  Jason and I went out for margaritas and Mexican!

Happy Sunday!

a good week

Bryce stayed after practice to watch Avery's lacrosse game on Monday.  They're so cute in their Atlee gear. 

Jason chaperoned a field trip to a working dairy farm with Emmy on Tuesday. 

We took the kids to Hotel Greene for lunch and putt putt on Saturday. 

Bryce was the hole in one king.  He got 2!

The cousin coffee crew prepped the coffee for church this week.  

I planted some spring flowers for the front porch.  I think the temperature has finally shifted to constant spring like weather!  YAY!

24 more days of school until summer break!

where did the week go

We must have been busy this week with little time to take pictures.  

I went to lunch and an escape room to celebrate the end of tax season. 

I took Emmy out for ice cream on Friday to celebrate the weekend.

Bryce and his friend Brayden umpired their first game together on Saturday.  It was a girls softball game and there wasn't much action, but they're looking forward to doing a few more games this season.

a total eclipse of the heart

Monday was the eclipse.  We went to South Carolina in 2017 for totality and had said we'd follow it again for this one, but the timing wasn't great so we just saw what we could from home. 

Emmy was out of school in time to see most of it.  Bryce was in school and then didn't bother with his glasses when he had a chance to catch a glimpse on the way to baseball practice. 

I wasn't coordinated enough to hold the glasses to my phone, zoom in and snap a picture, but luckily a nice man viewing it near me was, ha!

Emmy received the KINGS Award at school on Monday.  This is awarded to students who show the fruits of the spirit.  

It's only fitting and no coincidence that we had the fruit of the spirit verse put on Emmy's brick in the courtyard at school. 

We're so proud of her and honored that others see the same qualities in her as we do!

Bryce had a baseball game on Thursday and his team won with much contribution from Bryce!  I didn't manage any pictures though.

One of Emmy's coaches is leaving to coach somewhere else now that the season is over.  The girls were sad to see him go so they gave him a going away lunch on Saturday.  

The weather finally turned beautiful today, so we took advantage and went on a golf cart ride at Nana's.  

spring break

Spring break wasn't very springy or breaky!  Emmy's state gymnastics meet was scheduled for the last weekend of spring break.  As a rule, our gym doesn't allow gymnasts to miss practices the week before a meet so that shot our ability to do anything for spring break in the foot.  It was cold and rainy during the week, but we tried to make it fun for Emmy.   

Emmy went to the river to hunt for sharks teeth with MeMa on Tuesday.  It was cool and rainy when they got there, but it cleared up and warmed up enough for a few minutes in a bathing suit. 

We did a little shopping and baking on Wednesday and then on Thursday Jason and Emmy went ziplining at the zoo.  Emmy was too short the time Bryce and Jason did it so it was fun for her to get her turn. 

It was cloudy, breezy and drizzly but they made the best of it. 

We headed up to Christiansburg on Friday night to get ready for the meet.  We made a stop for lunch outside of Wintergreen on the way up and did some more shopping when we got there.  I enjoyed getting away from chores for a night and enjoyed relaxing and reading for a bit.  I'm way behind on my yearly book goal. 

Emmy had a great meet on Saturday.  As the levels have gotten harder, Emmy's goals for herself have changed.  She doesn't really have goals of how she places or how high she scores.  Recently one of her goals has been to score a 9.0 or higher on each event in the same meet.  She finally did that for the first time this season at the meet.  We aren't sure if there is a qualifying all around score to move to the next level, but she's had her eye set on 37.0 and she met that goal too!  She didn't have any personal bests at this meet, but those two goals were big and she placed third on floor and sixth all around.  Can't complain about that!

One of Emmy's coaches is leaving at the end of the season and the girls are going to miss him so much.  He is so good with the girls and so good at coaching them on the bars. 

Bryce wasn't thrilled to be staying home for spring break and the closer it got, the sadder he became.  He ended up deciding to tag along on Chase and Taylor's spring break trip at the last minute. 

They went to Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio with Dave's family.  It was cold and rainy there too, but they hiked and ziplined and relaxed in the hot tub.  

We're hoping the weather turns warmer and we see a little more sun in the next few weeks.  Emmy has 7 more weeks of school and Bryce has 8.  We are counting them down!!!