Holy cow... it's been a really long time since I blogged last. In fact, I think I'm going to have to let most of the things that happened between then & now go, and just start with what happened recently!
1. Our old house finally SOLD!! YAY! It was on the market for 8 months, and we sold it to a very nice single mother with a daughter the same age as Ryan. We were so thankful that our home could be passed on to another good family. It was odd going into the house the night before closing... I cleaned and vacuumed one last time. I went to each of the boys' rooms & instantly remembered so many things that had taken place in there. Looking at different places in the house made me very nostalgic... the banister upstairs where Ryan used to sit & hang his legs down; where Brandon took his first step... It finally hit me that I'll never be walking through that door again, and I won't be able to look at those spots again. It made me sad! All of this time I've looked at that house as a "burden", when now I see that it holds so many memories. We've all closed a chapter in our book of life, and now will start a new one.
2. Ryan finished 4th grade! This was a big year because for 5th grade, he will go to the Intermediate School. The next time he & Brandon will be in the same school building will be when Ryan is a senior & Brandon is a freshman in HIGH SCHOOL. Agh!! The 4th graders celebrate in style as they leave. The day before school ends, they have a "Fourth Grade Celebration". This consists of water, water, and wait... more water!! 
Each of the teachers mans a game that has water involved. The kids have a mandatory clothing change because they end up SOAKED! They had so much fun though! Ryan had a really good year this year. His grades were outstanding, and his teacher, Mrs. Joseph, was just phenominal. 
She received a Golden Apple Teaching Award this year... which is a highly sought-after award for teachers in Indiana & Illinois!
Each of the teachers mans a game that has water involved. The kids have a mandatory clothing change because they end up SOAKED! They had so much fun though! Ryan had a really good year this year. His grades were outstanding, and his teacher, Mrs. Joseph, was just phenominal. She received a Golden Apple Teaching Award this year... which is a highly sought-after award for teachers in Indiana & Illinois! 3. Brandon finished up 1st grade! He too, had a great year & had a great teacher, Miss Seger. She was really great at getting the kids to think "outside of the box"! 
His grades were very good, and I think he learned quite a bit this year. He's really looking forward to 2nd grade and being one of the "bigger" kids. Brandon also hit a big milestone here in the past couple of weeks... he learned how to ride his bike WITHOUT his training wheels! HOORAY!! He was quite proud of himself, and I have to say, we were proud, too! 
Daddy had the privilege of running behind & alongside him while he learned. I was glad for that because it made me tired just watching!! ;)
His grades were very good, and I think he learned quite a bit this year. He's really looking forward to 2nd grade and being one of the "bigger" kids. Brandon also hit a big milestone here in the past couple of weeks... he learned how to ride his bike WITHOUT his training wheels! HOORAY!! He was quite proud of himself, and I have to say, we were proud, too! Daddy had the privilege of running behind & alongside him while he learned. I was glad for that because it made me tired just watching!! ;) 4. Just when you thought we were done raising amphibians & assorted animals, we adopted yet another one. UGH. While working outside in the yard, Mike found a salamander. Of course, he brought it up to show the boys. They instantly looked at me & said, "Can we keep it mom??? PLEASE????" After pointing out to me that we still had the frog aquarium set up (from our tree frog, Spritz... may he rest in peace), it would perfect for him... I caved. Why not? After "promising" that they would help take care of him, we brought him in the house. So "Sal" as we call him, now resides in Brandon's room in the former frog habitat. We don't see much of Sal because salamanders are nocturnal. Sal hangs out underneath the water dish. We buy crickets & dump them in about every other day. Sal is quite the cricket catcher! However, I have yet to see either of the boys feed him, give him water, or really, make sure he's still kicking. (sigh) Looks like I've inherited another job... and pet.
5. We went to the Indy Air Show. We had won 4 tickets from an auction, and since we'd never been before, we thought this was a great opportunity. Mike's boss did a fly-by with a KC-135... so the kids thought that was pretty cool to see daddy's plane in action! 
They thought the Blue Angels were pretty cool too. 
This air show was pretty relaxed, and we were able to bring in our bag chairs along with a cooler. It was nice to be able to claim a spot, sit our stuff down & relax instead of standing all day. :)
They thought the Blue Angels were pretty cool too. This air show was pretty relaxed, and we were able to bring in our bag chairs along with a cooler. It was nice to be able to claim a spot, sit our stuff down & relax instead of standing all day. :)6. Ryan participated in a dance recital earlier this month. Now, before you start jumping to conclusions... no, he does not take dance lessons. Our neighbor across the street, Becca (who is 2 years older than Ryan), takes dance classes; ballet, as a matter of fact. For their spring recital, they were performing Cinderella. The girls needed a boy partner for the "ballroom" scene. She came over & asked Ryan if he would help her... he immediately said, "sure". Mike & I nearly passed out. This is coming from a kid who we could not sing "Happy Birthday" to for the first 3 years of his life because he would put his hands over his ears & scream; this is coming from a kid who for every single school musical, looks like he's going to vomit at any given moment... so for him to say yes to this, frankly, surprised the heck out of us!! After weeks of going to practice, he learned his part of the "dance"... which mainly consisted of following Becca around, holding her arms while she did turns, and when they bowed, he bowed along with her. 
It was awesome seeing him up there. He looked so handsome and he did such a GREAT job... and didn't once look like he was going to vomit!! It also helped that his buddy Max, Becca's brother (who is Ryan's age), did the dance as well. Max couldn't dance with his sister because he is quite a bit shorter than she is... Ryan was more her height, hence Ryan doing the dance with her.
It was awesome seeing him up there. He looked so handsome and he did such a GREAT job... and didn't once look like he was going to vomit!! It also helped that his buddy Max, Becca's brother (who is Ryan's age), did the dance as well. Max couldn't dance with his sister because he is quite a bit shorter than she is... Ryan was more her height, hence Ryan doing the dance with her. 7. Ryan turned TEN!!! Where did my baby go? It doesn't seem possible that he could be 10 years old. My baby is double digits now!! To celebrate, we always let the kids pick out a place to go & eat. Ryan chose "Abuelos", a mexican restaurant. We told the waiter it was his birthday, so he brought out this yummy dessert!
However, Ryan didn't realize that we were ALL going to want some of it! ;) 
Grandpa Ron & Grandma Bernie joined us for his celebration too!
However, Ryan didn't realize that we were ALL going to want some of it! ;) Grandpa Ron & Grandma Bernie joined us for his celebration too!Much to his dismay, we had to spend his birthday at Cub Scout camp with Brandon. In Ryan's words... BLAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. He wasn't thrilled; however, I think he got to see what it's like to be an adult along for the ride at camp! ;) Nevertheless, he kept himself occupied that day. How, you ask? He got a cell phone for his birthday! It's a touch-screen dealie, and he has unlimited texting. So for any of you that he knows, and knows your cell number... LOOK OUT!! He has mad texting skills already! ;) The first day he had his phone, he received 27 texts. ugh. It's amazing how many of his friends have them. I keep telling him that I was TWENTY-FOUR when I got my first phone. He just rolls his eyes... Since he'll be at a different school next year, and on an entirely different schedule than Brandon, we wanted him to have a phone... in the event he misses the bus, stays for homework club, has a sporting event, etc...
8. Cub Scout Camp. Brandon is going this week, June 22-26 to a day camp. Mike is his den leader, so he has been going along with him...all but Tuesday, when Ryan & I went with him. It has been, quite possibly, THE hottest days yet of summer while this camp has taken place. It's been in the 90's each day with about 90% humidity & tons of sunshine. For the one day I was there, it reminded me just how much of a heat wimp I am, and how I'm really not an "outdoorsy" kind of girl! This girl appreciates air conditioning! Brandon has been having fun, but isn't enjoying it as much as we thought he would. Each year he'd go along with Ryan, he couldn't WAIT to do what Ryan was doing... and now that he can, well, I don't think it's quite as exciting as he thought it would be. But, I'm sure the heat isn't helping either...
9. Webelos Adventure Camp. Ryan & Mike are headed out on Sunday for overnight camping adventures until Wednesday. While Mike is gearing up for it, Ryan has voiced MANY times that he doesn't want to go!! Unfortunately, I think our boys have inherited my camping skills... or lack there of, for that matter. I think once he gets there, he'll be fine & will end up having fun. Right now, we're just trying to get all of his gear together & I'm labeling his clothes, yes... even his underwear, with a Sharpie marker.
10. Okay, I couldn't let this end on an odd number! ;)
I think that's about all of the news I have for now. I am going to try & do a better job of keeping up with this thing!
Love, Jenni
