Baseball season is upon us. Many of the kids have nicknames. Not Jonas. So, Jared calls him “J-Money”. I don’t know about him.

He spends a fair amount of time in the outfield, which he tells me is boring. But, I send him with sunflower seeds and Gatorade, so he is good to go.

He is terrible at hitting the ball. His strong point, is he is short. So, his strike zone is tiny. He just waits it out. Then walks to first. His coaches announced his on base average is 1000. Jared thinks that is wrong, Jonas agrees with the coaches. Anyway, it is a good method.

Then he starts stealing bases. Oh so much fun.

J-Money got one run tonight. He was beyond excited. It might of even been more fun than spitting sunflower seed shells.

My niece graduated today. Graduated from preschool.

The graduates each had written on their hats, what they wanted to be when they grow up. Kids wanted to be doctors, dentists, vets, princesses, REAL princesses, hyvee workers, work at baskin robbins and more. Very cute.

She wants to help sick animals when she grows up.

This is my first preschool graduation. I did not graduate from preschool, nor did any of the boys.

It was quite cute.

We celebrated Mother’s Day with my grandma today. It was a mother’s day tea, with a special guest saxophonist playing. She really wanted Alex to hear the sax player. It was hat day, today at her home. She decided to wear my grandpa’s World War II army hat. We listened to the saxophonist for about a half hour, then I gave a private mandolin concert in their room. It rocked, as always.

Every day with Grandma is a gift at this point. We thought we were going to lose her, but we did not. I endured perhaps the hardest week of my life, thinking I would never get to have her with me again. But, it was not her time to go. I visit more often, declare my love for her more frequently, and give more hugs. I do not take any visit for granted any more.

I also use to be sad a lot, thinking.. what if this is my last ever visit. I would start to tear up. I have been having these feelings for about fives years now. After our scare. I just enjoy it. I feel like we are stealing time. It is all bonus.

We got together with some extended family this past weekend. Jonas’ friend asked how we were related to the people we were visiting. Jonas explained, very quickly, with no hesitation… “They are my double cousins twice removed.” I just love, that we are close to, and enjoy the company of all the family.

It was a bit of a bittersweet gathering. We were in Jared’s great aunt and uncle’s house. They moved out, and their children (pictured here) were cleaning up, and selling the house. As we just did this for my side of the family, I understand what they are feeling.

The boys had a blast. Because there was pool.

We really need to get a pool table of our own. They boys love it so much. Jonas loves the mathematical aspect.

He does prefer bumper pool. These boys just love pool though.

I found a pool table for $50 on craigslist, but I don’t think it was in that great of shape. We were going to put it in the garage. Then, the garage flooded. There goes my pool room. I would still love to have the pool table though.

As soon as I clean out the garage, I will keep looking for a great deal.

Jonas is running for sixth grade class representative.

Story here. He was originally told he could not run. He had too many late assignments this quarter. He told me, in tears, out in the parking lot, he didn’t think that is what the paperwork said. He knew he couldn’t have late assignments when he was elected, but he just felt so strongly that the rules did not state that he couldn’t have late assignments to run.

Side note. All this happened just shortly after a two week break from video games, because he was not turning in assignments, therefore his report card was terrible. He turned them in ASAP, but had to wait for the grades to be updated. The timing was terrible for him.

So, he went back inside school, asked his teacher calmly for the packet back. The two of them read it together. She agreed with his point. He came home that night, and wrote a letter to all of the teachers explaining his side, and asking them to reconsider.

His first draft was a bit bossy and demanding. The third draft was pretty nice. They let him run.

Four kids get elected. He said about half the grade is running. He told me, he thinks he is about the fourth choice for everyone. I hope my baby gets elected!

Caleb could not believe he was once small enough to fit into this costume. He thought it had shrunk.

My last year at Riley County Grade School I worked with an amazing kid named Peyton. I got to spend most of my day with him, and became quite a fan of this kid. Leaving him behind was one of the hardest things I left in Riley. (My in-laws are in Manhattan… not a contest)

Peyton is wheelchair bound. His mom does not have a wheelchair van. I will not go into details about how wonderful he is. His story is not mine to tell.

However, May is National Mobility Awareness Month. There is contest, for a wheelchair van. This would help out this family tremendously.

I don’t think I have readers here, that I don’t know on facebook, but it is worth a shot.

Go vote. Once a day. Until May 13. If you have never voted before, use the promo code 837, to get five votes instead of one. It is quick and easy.

http://www.nmeda.com/mobility-awareness-month/heroes/kansas/leonardville/1300/kelly-carmody

This summer, Jared, myself, and five young Harry Potter fans are going to go to Universal Studios Islands of Adventures to immerse ourselves in all things Harry Potter.

We’ve been fans for awhile. Anxiously awaiting our next trip to Orlando.

I debated making robes for the two youngest (Jonas has one already, of course). But, a black robe, in the heat of Florida in July. I think maybe not the best idea. Also, if two kids had robes, would the other three want robes? Even though they are teenagers, and surely that is not the cool thing to do? That might be more than I want to take on.

We need to start re-watching the movies. I probably need to reread the books. I was thinking about getting books on tape for our 24 hour drive there. Oh how much fun we will have.

Our calendar is basically empty. One child has his last academic bowl meet today. One child is done with everything. One child just started baseball. But baseball is only on two days a week. I can handle that. Which means. Nothing is written on our calendar!

I only have 3 weeks of school left. College that is. Only five weeks of work left, until summer school. But, summer school is a breeze. The boys never have homework. The days are more relaxed. There are no after school activities (except for baseball). Just a nice relaxing work atmosphere. No tests to teach for. No stress.

My garden is planted. It is my first full fledged vegetable garden. The plants have survived the cool nights. Caleb’s did not, but mine did. I am not sure what the difference would be. We will replace Caleb’s all will be good. Alex and Jonas still have to plant their areas. But MY area is done. Just daily weeding.

The yard is beautiful. There are not a ton of plants yet, but what is here, is blooming and beautiful. I am landscaping in my head. I have to avoid boys and their sports, and cows that eat my plants over the fence. This is what I am working with. I can handle it. I bought some water lily seeds for my pond. No cows or boys in the pond.

It is nice to have a break. I should probably get back to work on homework now.

We had an Easter egg hunt at my parents’ house today. Many, many eggs were hid. I hope most were found.

The boys were given a limit of twenty eggs each, but after everyone seemed to get bored (I.E. the girls), the boys were told to go crazy. Find more eggs.

They walked away with money, and chocolate. Not back for an afternoons work. They they took some time to swing and climb trees.

This one stopped hunting eggs once she discovered there was chocolate in them. Then, she just wanted to eat the candy. A girl after my own heart.

Alex took his job of helping his cousin’s very seriously. As soon as he found his twenty eggs, he went into “older cousin” mode, and helped them with endless patience find the eggs. He told me not to long ago, as he went outside to play with the girls “There is a reason I am their favorite mom… then ran off with them to play.” It is amazing to watch him interact with them.

Jonas has the excellent opportunity each year to attend the Children’s Literature Festival at the University of Central Missouri. It is a well done festival, that is filled with authors. Many of the authors are well known, or authors of the Mark Twain nominee books. The kids get to listen to four different authors speak for 45 minute sessions.

Here, Jonas is with the illustrator Ard Hoyt. We heard the author of this book speak as well, so Jonas felt he got a bargain, two autographs on one book. I do believe listening to this speaker was his favorite. The man was so full of energy, and told good stories that kept the audience engaged.

Jonas walked away, ready to go to next year’s festival.