Exciting Happenings

Saturday we headed to Fulsher for Casen's baseball team party. It was held at one of our team members house who has a bit of land around their house. The boys had a great time playing on a water slide, playing wiffle ball (of course) and eating great food. Camden, Shane and I enjoyed playing some corn hole as well as visiting with the other parents. 

Casen was so good to go down the
slide LOTS of times with one of 
our team members brother who is 
autistic while the other boys played ball.

Camden and I often have the conversation that we are living the wrong life. We both would rather be on some land with animals and a pond for fishing. He tells me that once he graduates from high school, I need to move to some land and he will come and visit me. If only it were that easy!  So, it wasn't surprising that he was willing to hold one of their hens. I was glad he was able to experience that - it reminded me of being in high school and going to my best friend's house who had hens and a hen house and going and retrieving eggs. I always thought that was so awesome. 

Casen has been so good not to bug us for a phone, knowing that he had to wait until the summer after his 6th grade year to receive one (since that is when Camden received his). But the past few weeks he has been chomping at the bit to get his phone. Sunday, he finally received his first phone and he was thrilled! 

Back in March, Camden and I were selected to become members of the Young Men's Service League (YMSL). For the next four years, we will be attending meetings and performing meaningful philanthropy work together in our community. During the boys meetings, they focus on leadership, practical skills, social skills, life choices and civic responsibility. Aside from the valuable information Camden will receive, I am really looking forward to spending quality time with Camden while serving our community. Today, Camden was presented with a yard sign by one of the senior boys.

End of School Year Festivities

Today was the boys last day of school, which meant we had a few busy days of award ceremonies and parties. The boys have had a great school year. Camden had great teachers, made awesome grades and even learned some Spanish. Aside from Casen's science teacher (who we knew was going to be a challenge) he also had great teachers and made great grades. 

Yesterday I attended Casen's 6th grade  award ceremony at his school. He received several awards including the Presidential Award, the Cooperation Award and a Certificate of Achievement for his grades. 

Casen accepting his award

Proud of my boy!

Last evening we headed to Camden's 8th Grade Step-Up Ceremony. He initially told me he did not want to go and that a lot of his friends weren't going, but when I asked some other moms, I found out that their boys had plans not to attend, but the mothers had other plans (as did I). So we headed out to go shopping Monday after his orthopedic appointment, bought all new clothes and shoes and him looking sharp for his ceremony. 

A pic of Casen taking the picture to the left.

Camden and Cole (they have been
friends since Kindergarten)

Camden would not let me take a picture
with him and this award because he felt the
whole concept was 'dumb'. Sometimes my
boy is too smart for his own good.

Today was the boys last day of school. It closed yet another chapter of their lives as Casen is leaving the intermediate school and heading to junior high and Camden is leaving junior high and heading to high school. HIGH SCHOOL!?!?!?! How did we get here?? I could not be more proud of them, their accomplishments in both school and sports, and of the young men they are becoming. As much as I can't believe how fast time is flying and know that the amount of time I have left with them before they head off to college, is steadily decreasing, I really am looking forward to what the next several years hold for them both. 

And, as a chapter closed for the boys, one also closed for Shane. He has had at least one, if not both boys at either the intermediate school with him or at the elementary school literally right next door to him for the last 9 years. Since the junior high is a few blocks away, and the high school a few miles away, the boys will no longer be right under his nose. It will be an adjustment for everyone.

Because it is always fun to see how much they change in a school year, here are their beginning and end of school year pics. 

 

As I have every first and last day of school, I received a picture of Casen and Charlotte this morning from her mom. It made me teary as this will most likely be the last 'last day of school' picture of them, unless I can convince Casen to find her and take a selfie with her. It is a long shot, but one can hope . . 

Back in December, when Casen had his school Christmas party, he was not overly thrilled that I wanted to attend. We made a deal that I would attend just one of h is school parties and I chose the end of year party. The school decided that only parent volunteers would be allowed to attend the party, so I of course signed up to volunteer. Because I was busy handing out pizza to the kids, I didn't see him very much, but they had a glow party which included dancing, games, pizza, snacks and ice cream. They all had a great time! 

Casen and his friend Wesley

Now, onto summer!

An Unexpected Long Weekend

Camden and I did a little fishing earlier in the week, and of course had to take pictures of our catch! I really do love that he is enjoying fishing so much. There has been a learning curve for him as he is learning to use a baitcaster, but he is getting better. While he is using his new fishing pole, I continue to use the little Zebco we had from when they were little. As you can see from the pics, it doesn't stop me from catching fish. :)

Lately, we have been experiencing a lot of storms. It seems we haven't had normal rain lately. When it rains, it literally storms, which is what happened Thursday evening. Luckily I made it home just in time so I didn't have to drive in the storm. I instead watched it out of our living room window because I was convinced with all the rain and high winds that if a neighbors tree didn't fall on our house, then our trampoline would fly away. Fortunately none of those things happened, but we did lose power due to a tornado that took out power lines in the area. Thankfully, it wasn't horribly hot outside, so sleeping without power for two nights was not absolutely horrific.

Due to the damage caused to many peoples homes, businesses and schools, we did not have school on Friday, which was a welcomed birthday present. We kept receiving reports that we may not receive electricity back for several days so my friend and coworker, Sarah, who lives in Waller and never lost power, offered us her generator. Casen and I went to her house to pick it up and when we arrived she had two hot Pizza Hut pizzas and a cookie cake for my birthday. Casen says that was the best pizza he has ever had. LOL.

Once we got home, I worked and worked to get the generator to function, however after doing some research found that there was a wire that appeared broke. So we were unable to hook up our freezers to save our food. Friday night, the temps were not too bad, so the boys and I played board games and card games while enjoying treats from Starbucks that Shane picked up.

Shane had bought me an ice cream cake for my birthday, however since we did not get power back until Saturday evening, it was in no shape to eat. 

Regardless of the storm and no electricity, sports did not stop. Casen had a baseball tournament in Waller. His games were in the later part of the afternoon/evening. On our way home we received a message from our neighbor that our power was back on. That was a blessing because the temperatures had definitely increased and it was not going to be comfortable sleeping due to the warmth in the house. 

On Sunday, things were back to 'normal' and after attending Camden's soccer game and Casen's baseball game, I bought groceries to replace all the spoiled food in our fridge/freezers.

The boys headed back to school today, however since there were still a lot of people in Cypress cleaning up from the tornado and some still not having electricity, my school district remained closed. I picked up Camden a bit early from school for his follow up appointment with his orthopedist. He has been wearing his brace off and on the past week, which the doctor told him he could do at his last appointment. Camden said it is almost back to normal. At his appointment today, the doctor took another x-ray and while there is good bone growth, the doctor did not want to completely clear him for school athletics until he followed up with him again in four weeks.

Nice tan line!

Tonight we headed to Tomball Memorial High School for Casen's Spring Choir Concert. I am not sure if he would admit it or not, but I think he has enjoyed choir this year. He has always loved singing and dancing to music, so it is not surprising at all. 

Casen with his small group ensemble

Last time in his Northpointe
Choir shirt

Playing the kazoo

Casen will be in choir next year, so I am looking forward to attending more choir concerts. :) It is hard to believe this is the last week of school!