Take Me Out to the Ballgame

We made a plan to take Dad/Grandpa to one of the last Royals' home games this weekend... me, Kayli, Marion, Jim, Jake, and Nick. It was a beautiful day and we stayed from beginning to the bitter end, watching our team lose, but still having a great time hanging out at the stadium, getting our fill of hotdogs, peanuts, and fresh air!

game over, heading home, all comfortably seated in the spacious "Lynn MiniVan"...

but still NOT ENOUGH SPACE between the boys!!!

Jake?!!!

yes, we saw you...

We'll definitely have to get the Royals schedule again next year and try to get out there sooner in the season!

Aunt Suzanne Camp

I hired Aunt Suzanne to stay with Kayli and Sprinkles for 24 hours while I attended a wedding in Omaha. After the "basics" were covered...a review of the medical bag in case of allergic reactions and/or breathing issues, a quick lesson on the "pop-up spacer" used for the inhaler, a list of foods to steer clear of (trust me, you don't want to go there) and emergency contact info covered, I left my sweet pea with a kiss and a hug and a "have a great time" and only came back twice within the next 5 minutes to get things I forgot, but eventually had my car on the road to "fun times", while leaving Miss K with plenty of spending money for her own fun times at "Aunt Suzanne Camp!"
Suzanne made a plan to head to the Renaissance Festival, and the two of them apparently had so much fun that they stayed 'til...the very end, 'til the last fairy house was spotted, 'til the last turkey leg was served, 'til the last juggler juggled, 'til the last knight won his battle, 'til the last bald eagle pranced and preened...

'til the last "prisoner" was locked up...

'til the last mermaid told her tale...

'til the last magic fairy wand was created...

'til the last arrow had been slung...

'til the last set of fairy wings and gypsy skirts had been purchased...

'til the last face had been painted and posed as Rapunzel...

'til the last ride had been ridden...

'til the last dragon had been slayed...

'til the lucky shamrock was found and the day was declared a success, and the queen and king bid them farewell...

then, the tired princess seamlessly slipped into slumber the minute the car hit the road!

Walk of Hope

This weekend, Kayli and I participated in a fundraiser walk sponsored by Families Blessed With The World's Children. The money raised through this event, went to an organization called "Half the Sky"...http://halfthesky.org/en This organization acknowledged research that shows how crucial it is to a young child's growth to be held, rocked, talked to, played with, smiled at, sung to... Children who lack these things often fail to thrive.  They decided to begin a program designed to "enrich the lives of orphaned children in China." They "provide model programs and caregiver training designed to offer loving, family-like care to children of all ages and abilities." It is their goal to "ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future. "
The t-shirts we wore during the walk, had the following phrase printed on the back...“All the children who are held and loved will know how to love others….. Spread these virtues in the world. Nothing more need be done.”- Meng Zi, c. 300 B.C.
We were more than happy to support this cause!
We were encouraged to bring a wagon or bike decorated like a dragonboat...we spotted Kayli's dragon costume in the basement and decided it would make the perfect wagon cover. Then, we strung up some hand made paper lanterns, and voila...

the early morning rain stopped just in time for the walk and cleared the skies for the rest of the morning, just long enough to complete the walk and all the other fun activities at this event...

there were BUBBLES...

Chinese Yo-Yo's...

Chinese "jump rope"...

T-Ball...

Tattoos...

New friends...this little cherub just arrived from China, awww, so cute...

there was a limbo stick that lent itself to all sorts of imaginative play...

there were these fun dragon boats to play with...

the kids had a ball with these "boats!"

there was a raffle drawing...

Woohoo, Kayli won a bucket of cool stuff!

there was a kids craft table...

 there were prizes for the best decorated bike/wagon...the contenders...Tai:

Jessica:

Kayli:

 Lily got the blue ribbon...

BUT... everyone got a "Big Winner" sticker, and called this day a Success!

A New School Year Has Begun!

2nd grade here she comes!!! My sweet pea is starting 2nd grade, and on one hand, I find myself wondering how the years keep flying by! On the other hand, I think I know exactly what's happening... 
Your kid starts school, you take pictures, you smile, wipe a tear from your eye, then BAM, suddenly you've got your first "assignment/ "family project" to complete, and it's due the next day! Then, you realize that you've got daily assignments to complete, yes, you and your sweet pea, well, you...leading your sweet pea, through word lists, number games, kid-of-the-week posters, which require every crayon, marker, glue, tape, piece of paper, you have in the house, all the while simultaneously making/eating dinner, feeding/walking the dog, answering phone calls, opening mail/paying bills, other household chores, and...finally, done, but oops, it's now 10:30 p.m. and sweet pea needs to be in bed, but what about the bedtime story? What about the clothing choices we should have made for the next day? What about that homemade, healthy lunch and classroom snack that needs to be made and packed in the appropriate containers? What about that long, leisurely calgon bath I was supposed to seamlessly slip into this schedule? There's always tomorrow...and then it starts all over again, and the year progresses with each day bringing new things for mom to think, do, plan, remember, forget, from day to day!
Each day, the evidence of learning comes home in the backpack, in packs of papers! Oh, how we labor over the decision of what to keep, what to throw, and what needs to be sent back! So, you stick it all in a drawer and...next thing you know...the school year is done! What? Wait? I think I've got a system figured out, but heck, it's summer now, and we can be foot-loose and fancy free again, and forget all about "systems"...until August hits again...WAY TOO SOON, and I have another year to try my luck at fitting everything in, and figuring out how to do IT ALL... in record time. That's where the years are going!
Here's to another busy, but fun school year...

There was a special night to come up to school for a frozen treat, and a chance to meet the teacher and see the classroom...

the 2nd grade classrooms have an "All American" theme...

1st Day of School...Kayli got to have her favorite white powdered donuts for breakfast!

we actually had time to spare this first morning of school...we'll see how long we can keep that up, haha...

unloading supplies...

but wait, is this a bracelet I see? for meeee? How did she know I love jewelry???

and an "official" name tag...

I just know I'm going to love this teacher!