May

Well looks like I only have time to update my blog once a month right now, AND I’m a month behind, so here goes our whole entire craziness that was apparently only the month of May….

Oreo and Otter have finally warmed up to each other and fight and play just like brothers! Oreo is extremely jealous of Otter and wants all the attention, and Otter is so gentle and patient with Oreo.

First time walking both at the same time and they did awesome!

Literally the day after we got home from Hawaii I signed up to volunteer at the district 5th grade choir rehearsal. It was a combo of half the schools in the district, so they never sang together. They got a day off school to practice and perform at the high school for all the parents in the evening!

Love that the teachers ask me to help out at all of the events, and that I’m blessed enough to be able to!

All dressed up for the evening concert!

Brooks sings with all his heart, and just love all of his facial expressions!

Love that I also get to go to Field Day!

Brooks and Shep had their field day at the same time the first half of the day. I didn’t volunteer this year, so I just got to walk around and hang out with them!

I didn’t volunteer because I signed up for a tennis mixer way before I knew the dates for field day. It worked out perfect though…I went early to hang with the boys, left to go to my tennis mixer, and then went back in the afternoon to hang with Ellis!

My tennis team is the best! The mixer was “pink” themed if you couldn’t tell!

They split the field day up 3 grades at a time with K, 2, and 5 in the morning and 1, 3, and 4 in the afternoon. My tennis mixer ended just in time for me to be there for Ellis’ afternoon filed day!

This is the very first season for Shep to be in kid pitch. He’s been dying to pitch for as long as I can remember, and I absolutely love finally getting to watch him do what he loves!

Ellis made Oreo this shirt with the Taylor Swift lyric, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me”, lol, because he’s driving all of us bonkers with his puppy biting and pooping and peeing all over the house. He’s lucky he’s cute!

Ellis had her last state level competition with her teammate, Marley. Her level 3 team was divided up into divisions, and the divisions competed at different times throughout the day since state is a bigger competition!

Ellis competed on the beam for her first event!

Such a pretty split!

Second event was floor!

Then vault…

And last was bars!

Daddy had to take Brooks to his baseball game, but it ended early so he surprised Ellis and drove over an hour to see her last 2 events!

Ellis got 3rd place for her floor routine!

Third place for bars!

And 3rd overall!

We’re so stinking proud of Ellis for accomplishing this her very first year on team!

Brooks had his very last 5th grade choir performance at the school!

I had no idea how awesome and fun choir was going to be for Brooks! His level of commitment and desire to be involved makes me so proud! I really hope Ellis changes her mind and decides to do it next year too.

Sheps caterpillar finally became a butterfly!

Ellis’ room make over is finally complete and I absolutely love it and wish I had a room this cool when I was growing up!

It’s that time of year again for our annual Mother’s Day friends brunch!

Brooks got his very first grand slam and I’m so glad we got it on video!!!

The moms sneakily changed the boys walk up songs for Mother’s Day, and it was hilarious! Brooks was not amused, lol…

Pink belts and socks for Mother’s Day , and he got the game ball!

He wanted me to take a pic with all the sides, this one says, “Grand Slam”

This one says, “18 RBI’s”

Love my little baller so much!

Of course the boys took me on my date to the movies for Mother’s Day like always!

They are newly obsessed with Star Wars, and it just so happened to be the 25th anniversary of Episode 1, so it was playing at the movies!

First ever Star Wars movie and now I know all the things!

Always wrestling!

I tried to get Ellis to take me on a date to get our nails done, but all she wanted to do was go to Starbucks to get Oreo his first “pup cup”!

He devoured it!

Of course we had to get a treat too!

Cheers!

This boy makes me laugh ALL. THE. TIME!!!

I’m invested now!

Sushi to go for Mother’s Day, yes please!

Love the sign they got me for the lake!

These are always my favorite! Shep thinks I’m as pretty as a princess, silly as a monkey, smart as a scientist, sweet as a flower, nice as a heart, and as cool as a butterfly!

Ellis had her end of season gymnastics banquet with all of her sweet gymnastics friends!

Coach Jenn is the best!

I just loved her little dress and hat!

And her Hollywood Star!

Last ever time to have lunch with my big 5th grader at school! I think it’s dumb you can’t eat lunch with them in middle school. I’m going to miss going to all the things with him and having him right up the road 😭

5th grade graduation! Love that he sported his Astros socks!

From left to right is the principal, Kristen Ellis, and Brooks’ 5th grade teachers, Mrs. Gullickson (ELAR), Mr. Carroll (Math), and Mrs. Lamica (Science)

Mr. Carroll was his homeroom teacher, and he’s a big Astros fan!

The graduation was in the morning, and afterward I surprised the kids and took them out of school to go to Six Flags!!!

It was hot, but way less crowded since everyone else was still in school! A core memory I hope the kids will remember forever, getting to skip school to go to six flags!

Only in Texas will you see a bunch of cattle behind the outfield at a baseball game, lol!

Brooks and Shep both had tournaments over the weekend, so I got to take Brooks to his games while Adam took Shep to his. Brooks’ tournament just so happened to be in Arlington, which is where six flags is, so we rushed over after his last game to ride a few rides the last hour before closing! I bought season passes for us, so it was totally worth it!

Will always treasure the one on time with this sweet boy!

Ellis insisted on taking Oreo to Nancy’s for his first swim. I don’t think he’s a fan…

Look at how happy she is though!

So one day we were in the car and out of no where Brooks said, “I think I want to get my haircut”. You better believe I raced as fast as I could to sports clips before he changed his mind! Don’t get me wrong, I love his beautiful long hair, but I missed his clean cut!

Phase 1–scissors…

Phase 2– clippers…

It’s insane the amount of hair this boy has!!!! He had to of been miserable in this Texas heat!

Wait, I thought she shaved his hair with clippers?? Where did that Long hair come back from?? Oh my gosh all of that was just the bottom layer!!!

Haircut Round 2– top layer…

Finally an end in sight!!!

I can’t even! So handsome!!!!

Before and after! Adorable no matter what!

Shep got a cool fade too!

Is it summer yet???

Front yard After school baseball before it gets too unbearably hot!

Last time ever dropping Brooks off at Elementary school. I’m not crying, you are!

Brooks’ last day of 5th Grade!

Shep’s last day of 2nd Grade!

Ellis’ last day of 4th grade!

Shep fixed his hair all on his own. I love that he’s starting to care about his appearance!

Sweet girls on the last day of school!

The 5th graders do a last walk through the halls at the end of the day, and the whole school gets to watch and the parents are invited too. It’s so emotional, but Brooks is more than ready for middle school!

Best Buddies!

Last time ever leaving Wilmeth Elementary School. Man what a ride it’s been! Such an amazing school!

One last picture with Mr. Carroll and his buddy since kindergarten, Henry!

Of course we had to head up to the lake after school let out! We surprised the kids with the ‘Stolarski’s at dinner! They had no idea they were coming up for the weekend!

Evening boat rides are the best!

Oreo was not amused for his first boat ride!

Daddy still thinks he’s young!

I love that Nancy and Joe wanted to ride on the tube!

Wipe out!

These silly kids are like siblings!

Daddy’s and daughters dancing– is there anything sweeter?!?

Breakfast of champions!

Shep stole my phone and took a bunch a selfies on the boat and I just love him!!!!

Best place and company to kick off summer and spend Memorial Day, PK with the Dimlarski’s!

Of course we always spend an extra day at the lake, just our family, to have one more day of fun and clean the boat and the house…

Brooks’ first wakeboard of the summer….

Ellis…

The longest Shep has ever stayed up!

Went home for a day to do laundry, repack, and then head back up to the lake for our “end of season tennis retreat!“ Anne Marie went early with me to help set up!

Our team was the “Big Girl Balls– BGB”, lol! We got last place, hence the “worst team in Dallas”, but we did win the “sportsmanship award”, which basically means we are the awesomest and most popular!!

Of course I had to show everyone the cliff at sunset!

Half the team made it the first night…Fran, Mandy (lol, her face), Megan, Anne Marie, and me!

Fran was so scared of the “crack”!

Cheers to an awesome first season!

Some late night fun with putt putt and dancing!

It rained all morning, so we played hilarious games and got to know each other way better. Thankfully, the sun finally came out and we got to play some tennis too!

Catherine, on the far right, joined us the last day!

We had to show Catherine the cliffs at sunset too!

I’m so glad I got suckered into joining a tennis team! It helped me get out of the house during some pretty dark times and brought lots of joy to my life. Who in the world would’ve thought I’d be a tennis player?!? I’m still not good, but I at least know (most) of the rules now!