More Graduation

This was a video collage of all the kids as young kids then a current picture. Unfortunately I wasn't fast enough so it's slightly out of focus, but so cute (I cried)

Kirks parents were able to watch and listen to the graduation from their mission in Japan through Facetime on Kirks phone. Once my mom heard about that she Facetimed me and she also watched the ceremony! It was so cool!!!

This was the picture from the video, it's Matts first day of kindergarden in Santa Rosa CA. Such a stud!!

This is the other picture from the graduation video from prom last year. The store offered to let him wear one for free this year since he looks so good in it he's a walking advertisement lol. But he won't be attending now. 

Matt preparing to lead the pledge.

Matts High School GRADUATION!!! 2013

Matt graduated this last Thursday! He has been attending a school through our county that allows him to do his school online at a school with teachers in the room which allowed him to go at his own pace. Which meant really really fast this year! The last 3 years have been a rough journey for him. He suffered from really bad depression. It took awhile and a few program to find what his demons were and fight them. This process put him behind in school by several classes and so we worried he would need extra time to graduate. Instead he finished early and is thrilled!! I admit I cried through a good portion of the ceremony. He lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. And then was one of 3 students who won awards with cash prizes for Outstanding Senior Project!! It was a very large project that took him a few months to complete and he had to find a mentor and then give a presentation to a panel of leaders from the school and community. He rocked it. He basically had people crying lol. His subject was drug addiction. :) He has promised me that he will wear his class ring even though it says 2014 and he is now class of 2013 lol
I know the picture above isn't quite what I had in mind, but I had vertigo for 3 days that week and that day could only stand for short periods if I kept my head bent all the way to my right shoulder and when we took that picture I was put on Matts let and wanted my head to be closer. So I fell after the picture like a drunk person. Connor needs a haircut badly and won't do it, and didn't feel like sitting through graduation as you can see from his cheerful expression. 

First day of school 2013

This is a unique year for me, one that won't happen again. I have 3 kids kids graduated from their schools this year! Matt graduates high school. Aj graduate middle school and Elle graduates from elementary school! I think May is going to be fairly busy! Matt is trying to graduate in December so we will see! He is ready to be off seeing the world and being his own man.

Matt my colorful senior!

Connor my sophomore!

Aj 8th grade! Ready for high school next year!

Elle 5th grade, ready for middle school next year

Our cat Bones

Elle found this stray cat in the neighborhood maybe a few months ago. It is a beautiful cat and amazingingly well behaved. Kirk helped her build it a house and she got it a food bowl and food. He came by twice a day and meowed loudly until we fed it. He tried coming in the house once or twice but because Kirk is allergic we couldn't let him stay.  Unfortunately there is a large red stray cat that is a total bully, he kept chasing Bones, our cat, out of our yard. At night a few times I heard them fighting in the woods. Well a week ago a neighbor sent out a email to the neighborhood asking if Bones belonged to anyone because they wanted to bring him inside their house and keep him. I informed her that we were taking care of her and she was my daughters. She said thats fine they would just go to the pound. Then it occurred to me, that we were being selfish. If this cat could find a home where he didn't have to be terrorized by a bully cat and sit outside in the rain and possible snow, it's like wining the lottery and we couldn't block his good luck.
So their family brought him in and she is adjusting really well. When I told Elle she cried so hard and  felt terrrible. She understood that it was a good chance for Bones, but that doesn't make it easier. The family let us come visit her yesterday and Elle got to see how well she is doing and they asked Elle to come take care of her in November when they are out of town. It was funny to go visit a cat. But really sweet of them to let us.

Peachtree Road Race

Heres a nice post. My mom and Aj and I got to run in the Peachtree Road Race on July 4! Its the biggest 10k in the world, I think around 65,000 people run it and so many people apply you are chosen out of  a lottery. Aj wasn't really trained for running that far so it was awesome when he did it! About mile 4 we realized he thought he was running 10 miles not 10k and he was very happy to hear that! Poor kid! It rained and rained the day before and after we were done but luckily it didn't while we were running. The race ends in a giant park that was a huge mud pit, we sloshed everywhere!
All in all it was amazingly fun to run with my mom and son!

Delayed Posts

It's interesting. I've used this blog to share funny stories, sad stories, updates on our life. I tell the embarrassing stories and whats hard if I can make it sound funny. But this summer wasn't my best summer. Most of it I can't quite make funny yet. We are all still here, alive and well. But I'm not sure what and how to share yet. I've also learned that by sharing I meet others who share similar stories that I didn't know about and that helps. So give me a little more time and I'll be back to blogging our adventures.

Climbing

 This is Allenbrook in Roswell. A fun small historic area, I guess the house here was built in 1850 and the owner also built the cloth factory 1/2 mile down that was burnt down in the civil war. I couldn't have lived here with young kids, the beautiful green all over the ground is poison ivy and this cliff is in their back yard. It wasn't a perfect climbing day, it had drizzled that morning so the rock and leaves were a little wet and we called Porter to come along but he had a friend visiting and the friend made it a little difficult. At one point he slipped trying to go to the bottom and slid about 6 feet and barely caught himself before falling 10 feet. I was above him and couldn't even cry out it scared me so bad. My kids who are part goat basically skipped down the same area.

 The is AJ and Elle down below the cliff, this area is really only for rappeling. Which we didn't get to.

 Kirk tying up the ropes. He drove there with his helmet on which got him some awesome looks.

 This is where our friend almost fell off. I made him sit there until kirk could come help.

 Elle climbs like a boss! Her size, flexibility and fearlessness is perfect. Maybe her next team sport should be the climbing team, the heck with dance! :)

 Aj was the only one who could do the level 10 (?) cliff face, his amazing arm and core strength cannot be beat. Add in his total desire to be the best and not fail... so fun to watch.

 My first time belaying. I know I don't need my hand on the rope since it's attached to me waist but hello, thats my baby on a cliff.

Kirk got to repel down once, all his hard work. He's so great.

I didn't get any great pictures of me, mostly because AJ was taking the pictures and that kid can't hold still to save his life. But at least I got a few that show me on a cliff, I have to admit, I am a natural. If I only had AJ's upper body strength. Which only requires 10 hours of gym time a week :)