First Quarter Down

So, I remember the first day of school in August.

I remember how exciting it was at our house.

Everyone had the new shoes, new outfits, new chrome books.

Cars were washed and pencil bags were stuffed.

It was a morning of firsts and lasts.

It was Courtney's first day of High School.

It was Corbin's last first day of High School.

It was my first day to have two students in High School.

HIGH SCHOOL???

I just don't know why time has gone so fast.

We blinked, and they grew up.

This was Corbin on his first day of Freshman Year. 

(He did not want me to take a picture....I did it anyway.)

This was the two of them walking into school his Sophomore year and her 7th Grade year.

He walked her in every single morning.  

She has NO idea how lucky she is.

So, that brings me to these pictures.

Freshman and Senior Year.

I'm a very, very lucky momma to have these two as my kids.

 So grown up!

 Tolerating a silly picture with mom.

 I know...just one more, please.

Then we all went to school.  I did very, very well until...

 I got to the office and saw our secretary, who also has a senior kid. 

 I started to sniffle.  

Within minutes, there were my kids!

They needed $50 for Chrome Book Insurance.

Yes, I said $50.

That killed the tears.  

 The Librarian snapped this picture for us before they left.

I love those always-asking-for-money kids!!

Last one.  We promise!!!

Anyhow, the first quarter is behind us.  

Each of them has been B.U.S.Y. with fall sports.

Corbin's soccer team just won Conference Championship game. 

They have a few more games to go before Districts begin.  

This coming Thursday will be Sr. Night, 

where we have the opportunity to honor the Senior players 

for their hard work and dedication to the team.

 #14, Corbin Schmidt!

That guy seriously kept pulling on Corbin to keep him away from the ball.

Grrr.

2015 Conference Champs!!

Courtney has played volleyball this fall.

It's been a fun season.

She has played well and had fun hitting the ball and blocking.

Her team did a great job and worked hard throughout the season.

Celebrating a point!

More celebrating!

Jump high, sweet pea!

That is a BLOCK!

Nice!

This weekend I have spent time in front of the computer.

More hours than I anticipated.

I looked at Senior pictures with the proverbial fine tooth comb.

I've studied each one...his smile, his eyes, his hair, his shirt collars.

I've looked at how grown up and handsome he is.

I've looked into those beautiful eyes and seen the kindness.

I'm very proud of the young mad he has become.

We've filled out college applications and Senior visit day registration forms.

The year is passing quickly already.

Stick with me if I don't post very often.

I'm busy enjoying every single minute of his last High School year.

I don't know what his future holds.

I know that for a while longer, he's still "mine."

I'm going to sit back, watch him do his thing, fix his favorite dinners, 

and enjoy every single minute.

Today is also the 8th anniversary of saying goodbye to my Daddy for the last time.

We buried him on Oct. 18, 2007.

The kids were 6 and 9 years old.  

This is the last picture we took before his passing.

I miss him every single day.

On days like this, though, I truly wish he were here.

I'd love to hear him giggle one more time.

I'd love to get a big bear hug one more time.

I'd love for him to tease the kids.

I know he is looking down from Heaven.

I know he is proud of them and their accomplishments.

It would be so special if he were here, though, cheering them on from the stands.

Pictures have become my new past time.

Sorting and saving them.

Moving them from one computer file to another ...just because.

Studying their little faces and watching how they've changed throughout the years is a hobby.

I've always noticed, but now I get it.

ENJOY the messy house, the peanut butter and jelly all over the table, 

and reading stories in the rocking chair.

All too soon, the chair isn't big enough, the story isn't long enough, 

and the messes are not as big.

The hands of time will have spun out of control, and the baby days will be gone.

It's not that these days are less fun.

They are fabulous!

I LOVE my kids and who they are becoming.

I enjoy spending time with them...visiting with them...talking with them.

I just miss the days of little people around our house.

We blinked. 

That's how fast it happened.

I'll be back during Christmas vacation, unless I just can't wait to share.

Imagine how much I'll have to share by then!!!

Hang on, friends.

Parenthood is Delicious.

High School Soccer has begun!

Our High School and Jr. Varsity Soccer teams began their season last Monday night. 

The Varsity team won 2-1. 

The JV team tied 2-2. 

Both were very well-played games. 

It was a fantastic way to begin the season.

We are excited about this week's games.

Go Bulldogs!

 

 

Hurry! Run!

This weekend was such a whirlwind!  It was truly a girly weekend with a lot of running around to different activities.  Corbin had soccer.  Our school had a carnival.  My neice had a gymnastics competition in town.  This is how it went down.......

Friday 

my sister and niece came to town. 

 a girls' night at our local Holiday Inn--complete with a little pool time. 

 ONE queen bed for all 4 of us girls. 

 Eek!  

We pulled the bedding off and slept sideways. 

It was awesome.  

Saturday

 Starbucks!  

  gymnastics competition.

    Nana brought donuts from our childhood bakery. 

 Yahoooooooo Nana!!   

Congrats to Cameron for qualifying to go to California.

We are so proud of you! 

What an accomplishment!

K-1 performance at the school carnival. 

My kinder kids were terrific! 

They sang their little hearts out and were as adorable as could be. 

 They worked so hard to prepare for that performance. 

  Corbin's soccer game.   

 The weather was really nice, and the kids played well. 

WooHooo Corbin for scoring in the second half of the game. 

 He had one foul for pushing....makes a momma proud. 

Ha ha.

Whew!  

  We landed at a favorite pizza place for dinner. 

 We were able to sit and enjoy dinner on the patio while we visited and caught up. 

  It was wonderful to have my family in town for so many good things. 

Sunday

Don't be shocked.

 We had so much fun. 

They stayed another night!  

We girls spent Sunday shopping and having more fun in town. 

We are turning into our mother.... we know.   

 Sister, if you are reading this, THANK YOU for coming this weekend. 

 I'm so happy we got to spend such an amazing weekend together. 

 We must do that again SOON.

It was delicious.

Finally Friday

Whoa!  The last post was January 24th.  Where did those weeks go?  Too much time has past since I last sat down to this blog.  Yes.  I know.  I actually pulled it up a few times and just had nothing to say.  (That's very weird.  I ALWAYS have something to say.)  Let's just say that maybe, just maybe, I could not find anything nice to say.  And as we all know......if you don't have anything nice to say... you just don't say anything at all. 

So, now it's Friday, February the 10th, and I have so many things I wish I had posted about!  Sheesh!  Let's begin with volleyball.  I LOVE volleyball.  Courtney is playing on a traveling club team and we love watching her play.  (It is more exciting than watching her cheer, which she also LOVES.) 
This past weekend, we traveled to Springfield and had a great day.  The girls played much better than they did the tournament before, and it was exciting to see them have some really good plays.  When the tournament was over (for us), we hit Bass Pro and dinner out before heading home.  It was a long day, but so much fun.

Soccer:  Well this is a different story.  Because of Courtney's  schedule, Corbin's games are usually viewed by only one in our family.  Poor thing.  It's a good thing that she and I have attended a LOT of really cold, snowy, rainy soccer games so that we can miss a few now and then.  Excited for Corbin's indoor soccer season to be winding down.  There are talks of Spring soccer already in the works.  This is a little scary because the track schedule just came home today.  I vaguely remember the track and soccer season last year.  If I remember correctly, and it's likely that I have blocked out parts, it was do-able.  Corbin says he is up for playing both sports.  (sigh)  I just THOUGHT that things would calm down in the spring.

Destination Imagination:  Here's a new-ish one for our family.  Courtney participates in "D.I." with a group of friends.  They are busy creating a skit, scenery and props, big and elaborate plans for a competition that is 3 weeks away.  (gulp)  They have a crazy "trailer" to a made up movie.  It is an interesting concept, and I am not allowed to say much about it, provide any input or suggestions or ideas or support, so I just basically drive her there, kick her out of the car with a $5 bill for lunch, and pick her up when the practice is over.  I don't ask any questions so that I do not feel tempted to offer any suggestions, question their technique or give any what if's.  I'm pretty much in the dark about this project, and it's just safer that way.  Sorry, but it's the teacher in me wanting them to cover every angle, every possible idea, every way this could go wrong, etc.  Good thing I'm not the adult in charge!  We'd be disqualified for sure.  (See?  I said WE...it should have been "THEY!")

Kindergarten:  Now here's a fun thing.  Lots of things coming up.  I LOVE VALENTINE"S DAY!  Valentine's day is super fun at school because in my classroom, Room 29, we also celebrate Elegant Day. We all dress in our fancy clothes, eat a fancy snack by candlelight, and find ourselves pulling out chairs for our friends, (and I do not mean pulling them out from under our friends) escorting each other down the halls to our classes and lunch, dancing to ballroom music, and practicing our very best manners.  The kids enjoy seeing the fancy clothes, and I love seeing the fancy manners and behavior!!!  Ahhhh.  I can't wait!  (with the exception that I don't really know what I'll wear to such a formal event this year.)

Sigh.  I could keep writing, but I should stop.  Maybe I'll write a second post this evening!