Fall Break Accidental Models

Fall Break is always a fun time with just mommy and the boys. This year it felt more like summer break than fall break!

I was fighting a terrible cold most of Fall Break, but we still get to enjoy some time with friends at Railgarten. Sadly, because of how I felt, there were no pictures. I was way off my game. 

The last day of Fall Break, we went to the Children's Museum to help out a good friend. Craig at Disciple Design/Disciple Photo was hired to take some pictures for a CMOM website update. He told us if we wanted a free day at the museum, we could come smile a couple time for him and then play away! So we did just that. He got some great shots of the boys and they are now on the CMOM website! Check them out here, here, and here. You may have to click the little arrows by the circles to scroll through. And while you are at it, follow my friend Craig here and here! 

So while they were playing, I captured some great photos of them too. Nothing like CT, but some that I still will cherish!

Goin' Buggy

The second graders at SGIS start their year off studying all about bugs. They complete insect rotations, go on an insect field trip, talk about bugs in every specialty, and most impressively start a business. The kids end the unit with an amazing performance called "Goin' Buggy".

This performance is one of my favorites! The songs are adorable. The costumes are adorable. The KIDS are adorable. The whole thing is adorable!

This year Luke played the all-important role of a caterpillar. He was a fuzzy-wuzzy caterpillar. 

The students start a business from scratch called The Second Grade Bee company. They partner with Thistle and Bee, a company dedicated to giving people a second chance, to sell products using their honey. Students come up with the products, make the products, design the packaging, package the product and finally sell the products at local Farmer's Markets. Yes...eight year olds do all of this. Of course, they have some pretty phenomenal teachers helping them out. 

Luke and the entire second grade did great with the entire unit! So glad he has people to always cheer him on!

Luke is EIGHT!

EIGHT IS GREAT!!

9.9.18

Luke, I just know eight is going to be your best year yet. You are silly and serious. You make us laugh daily. I love the way your brain analyzes and thinks things through. You have a BIG heart of your inner circle. I love how you hold people who mean the world to you close. You are smart and creative and comfortable in your own skin. You love your family fiercely. You will go to any lengths to take care of animals, Dee Dee being your favorite. You are unapologetically you and I love that about you.

Happy Birthday Lukey A. Luke

New Sports

Both boys decided to try out some new sports this fall and winter.

Luke joined football quite late, but there were a sweet team and group of coaches that decided to take a chance on him.

There was a lot of learning (and a lot of practices). Luke liked his first season of football even if he spent more time on the sidelines rather than the field. Football was much different than the other sports we have tried. This league, even though it's recreational, tends to be more competitive. We really aren't a competitive family. I spent more time telling Luke he was super cute in his uniform rather than yelling at him to hit harder or run faster.

His team made it all the way to the Peanut Bowl. They fell short in the last game of the season, but Luke was still super proud of his runner-up trophy. 

Luke with his 2nd grade cheerleader friends.

These two besties had their own 'pre-game' handshake.

Evan tried out soccer. He's been playing soccer with his friends at school for quite some time, but this is the first time he joined an official team. He did amazing. He found a niche at goalie (most stressful for the mother of the player...) and forward. I found a niche of cheering for him even if I had no clue what was going on.

And then we tried wrestling. Let me just say wrestling is not for the faint of heart...and my heart is faint. Evan went into his first tournament with only 3.5 hours of practice. The tournaments make for long days and high emotions. Wrestlers can go from scrappy fighters to sullen losers to ecstatic winners, and I've seen all three emotions within the same half hour. I've learned this sport is almost as mental as it is physical.  There is no team...each win or loss is you and only you and that can be difficult. Every eye is on you, watching your moves, watching you get pinned, watching you take someone down. It can be super intimidating as a young person and super heart wrenching for a momma. 

But in the end, I think wrestling teaches kids some important lessons. One, body control. Wrestling isn't about muscling your way to a win. It is about controlling your body and executing moves to a win. Second and impressively, it teaches the art of losing and winning. Losing AND winning gracefully is a hard skill that I see many adults even having a hard time mastering. When you lose in wrestling, you have to stand next to your opponent in front of everyone as they are declared the winner. You have to shake their hands and then shake the hands of the other coach. There is no smack talk. There is no gloating. Wrestling recognized everyone, winners and losers, work hard.

Both boys worked really hard this season! I am so impressed with them branching out and trying new things!

Two Elementary Schoolers

This year is the first year both kids are going to be in the same division. The next time will be when Luke is in 9th and Evan is in 12th...but let us not think that far ahead. I'm barely surviving having a fifth grader.

This is Evan's last year on the Germantown Campus of St. George's and to say I have ALL THE FEELINGS is quite literal. He has been on this campus since he was 3 months old, so his entire life. He and I know nothing else! I have been desperately trying to savor and hold on tightly to our final year together before he becomes too big and moves to the other side of the world...the Collierville Campus.

Luke is in 2nd grade this year. I am partial to second graders since it was the grade I taught for seven years before moving to St. George's. I think it is just the best grade of the entire academic career. It's big boy stuff. Like big kid school and learning...so grown up.

 Goofballs...

Have a great year, boys!! Don't rush or hurry any of it by because next year will be here before we know it.

I'm very indoorsy...

Just after we both made it out of the 1.5 hour WILD tour

I am what I call 'indoorsy'. I am not saying I hate the great outdoors. I love the outdoors...from the inside. Give me a great view or even a nice patio, and I am great. Heck, I have even been known to hike off the trail before.

What I don't like is nature falling on my head, or sleeping in nature, or getting nature on me. That's where I draw the line.

So when my boss told me I was going on the cave trip this year....

This trip is all about pushing students outside their comfort zone. Apparently, that applies to adults too. McMinnville, TN is home to these amazing caves. We traveled through Shiloh since the kids have spent the first part of the year learning all about the battle that took place there. They got to see a musket being loaded and fired and heard about what it was like during the war.

Gran and Jed went a couple years ago and found an ancestor of ours! As we walked through the museum, I quickly found his picture. 

Then the kids took a tour of the National Cemetary. It was amazing to see how the soldiers were buried. There are only 2 Confederate soldiers are buried in the cemetery and over 2,300 soldiers are unknown. 

We got back on the bus for the four hour ride to McMinnville. We powered through with the help of some homemade cookies.

We were early, so we had dinner and plenty of playtime at the park. The kids were raring to get their wiggles out...even if it was raining!

We arrived at Cumberland Caverns and loaded up for the half mile trek to the inside of the cave. Now, a lot of the adults bring a cot to sleep on. I was no exception...or so I thought. My cot was pretty swanky with springs and a pad. People who made comments (and recorded video) were just jealous. Thankfully Mrs. Greenslade had a wagon and I was able to load it up with THREE people's items and roll it into the cave. I mean, dragging 3 people's stuff is hard work people. Quit with your judgy eyes. 

Being my first time, I didn't pack myself very well. Evan was packed perfectly. I, on the other hand, forgot some items. Thankfully my experienced cave dwelling friends helped out with things like a tarp, and rain jacket, a bandana, and wool socks. They love me.

We got to the entrance and delved inside where there was more walking. We went over 100 ft (I think) underground to find our final resting spot. 

Evan was in my group and we first went on the walking tour. I really recommend it for anyone who travels toward East Tennessee. It is well worth the stop.

Next up was the WILD tour. The first thing you need to know about the wild tour is you have to fit through a box before being allowed to go. A box. That looks like a coffin. And by crawl, I mean on your belly like a snake. 

I have never had a problem with small tight spaces. Never. I mean, I have a bigger problem with nature encroaching on my space, but tight spaces..I got this.

The next hour and a half can only be described by experiencing it. I was on my belly. I was literally jumping from ladder to ladder. I was hoisting students up and over rocks. I was in a space so tight, I thought my hips were stuck. The only ONLY time I got nervous was when a crew of students went ahead of me and I was facing a long narrow space that was completely dark. Pitch black. I had to turn on my side and alternate between my knee and hand to get through. I was super thankful for students behind me who I talked through. Had they not been behind me, I might have choked.

The whole time, Evan was at the way back of the group. I had no idea how he was doing. There were about 3 times we stopped and waited for everyone to catch up. I made eye contact with him and gave him a questioning thumbs up. He gave me a thumbs up back with a big of a smile.

We went through Bubblegum Alley ('a special kind of hell') and finally made it to the other side. I waited for E to make it out and picked him up for a big hug! I was so thankful his teacher Mrs. Greenslade was there to capture the moment. 

Around midnight we all settled in for a peaceful night's sleep. Who's laughing at my cot now?

I was so impressed with the kids' bravery and perseverance. I saw extremely nervous kids put aside their feelings to help another child through. Kids who encouraged one another and then cheered when their friends got through a difficult spot. Kids who ran BACK into tight spaces because they heard someone needed a little extra encouragement. Kids whose parents said, "I don't think they are going to do that...", and then ROCKED IT!! This crew continues to amaze me. So thankful Evan and I get to be a part of it.