Summer Fun!

This summer is super busy with school and my internship, but we have been trying to include some fun into our summer as well. The kids and I have been hitting the gym 3-4 times a week, which they love because they get to play. We've met up with Jackie and Jackson a few times and they love the play place at the Great Bridge YMCA. We've also been using the pool there. 

Last week we met up with Tanner's best (girl)friend from school for play time at "jumpy jump" and lunch. It was so cute watching them play together. Kaylee literally squealed when she saw Tanner and he was the kindest sweetest boy I've ever seen while he was playing with her. We was just on cloud nine the whole time....I think we're in trouble! We're planning another play date this week. The kids get along great and I have a good time with Kaylee's mom. Hopefully we can keep this up since they will be going to different schools next year (more on that later)!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to our wonderful Daddy and Granddaddy! We love you both so much and are so thankful for all that you give to us and do for us. We are also thankful for our Papa, uncles, cousins, Godfather's and other father figures that make our life so wonderful. We hope you all have an amazing, relaxing, and fun-filled day!

The Bittersweet Last Day of School

I've been watching everyone post about how sad they were to see their kids finishing preschool and going to kindergarten and I get that it is a milestone, but I really didn't understand all the tears and emotions........until today!

For the past three years our kids have been taught, nurtured, and most importantly loved by the wonderful teachers at Greenbrier Manor. We have loved our experience there and highly recommend it to anyone on the hunt for a preschool starting as early as age 2. We are waiting to find out if Tanner gets accepted to the preschool program in Hampton, so right now this may be the end of our experience at Greenbrier Manor, and that was sad. 

Tanner with Mrs. Michelle and Mrs. Amy...Izabel had them when she was 3 as well!

Izabel with her preschool teacher Mrs. Cathy

 Watching my kids go into school for the last time and watching their teachers get teary eyed was all it took for me to start crying. Especially Mrs. Bridget. She has loved my kids more than we could ever have asked a teacher to love them and she is so sad to see them go! We are more than grateful for her and all she has done for our family and she will be missed more than she knows.

Then there was the first day and last day picture comparison that got to me. They have grown SO much this school year. I couldn't believe how much more grown up my Izzy looks since she started preschool. Now we walked out of the building with a kindergartener and yes it is a little sad. She is so smart and friendly and wonderful and I know she will be happy and successful throughout her education...but it is sad to see her growing up so fast. 

First day and last day of preschool and pre-k 3 2012-2013

For now we will enjoy the summer, anxiously await our placement for preschool and kindergarten, and try to slow down this crazy life of ours....well at least a little bit!! 

Tanner with his girlfriend Kaylee....they are so cute together!

Happy Last Day of School :)

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial day weekend is such a tease because we have so much fun doing summer things for three-four days and then we have to go back to work/school and finish out the year! We had a great time this year even though the weather was not as nice as we would have liked. Friday Noah and I went to see Fast and Furious 6 and then Saturday we took the kids to see Epic! We recommend both movies. After church on Sunday we headed to Busch Gardens with my parents and the kids had a great time. Izabel is enjoying trying out all the big rides that she is tall enough for now. On Monday we headed to the zoo with the Ingrams and enjoyed spending some time with them before they make the move to South Carolina. Summer can't get here soon enough!

Excalibur Gala 2013

This past Saturday was the annual Excalibur Gala and this year both kids got to be involved. Tanner is in the preschool class and Izabel is in Level 1. The gala includes all levels of gymnastics and all of the kids do routines along with a dance. It is really cute and the kids did such a great job. 

Spring Break Cruise

This year Noah and I went on a cruise with our friends Candace and Matt. I was very nervous about being on a boat for five days since I tend to get motion sickness, but I was also very excited. We went with Royal Caribbean and opted for a balcony room which gave us lots of space and fresh air. We flew to Ft. Lauderdale and sailed to Belize where we went cave tubing and zip lining and then Cozumel where we shopped and had the best Mexican food. We had the most amazing time! We can't wait to go on another cruise!!

There was always a photographer around

Cozumel, Mexico

Shot of our room and some of the pools

Cave tubing in Belize

More pics from the ship

An Amazing Accomplishment in Anaheim!

Kecoughtan DECA 2013 ICDC Competitors

All school year I have been working with my state officer on an international officer campaign. I've done this before with another student and we were unsuccessful. It was an extremely painful experience after working so hard, but it was also an amazing experience that I learned so much from. This time I was more prepared and my student worked very hard. She was always very positive. Running for a DECA Officer position is no small feat. It costs anywhere from $5,000-$10,000. It takes all year to put the campaign together and the campaign only last about 3 days. You basically run for those 3 days with no sleep and barely any food. This is not for the weak! 

At the campaign booth

But to win...to win means you are one of the 5 student leaders that will lead over 200,000 DECA members worldwide for the next school year. This is the highest position a student can get in DECA and a huge honor - and this year one of those officers is my student! I can't possibly describe the feeling of hearing her name called in a room of 16,000 people after all of this time and energy and emotions have been put into the campaign. Not only have we been investing in the campaign all year, I have had this student for four years and have been able to see her grow and mature. In that moment all of that emotion has to come out and the only way we are capable of letting that much emotion out is to cry...and we definitely cried. 

Our new International Southern Region Vice President!

I'm so incredibly proud of her and all of the students that helped her get here. She will be a great leader and I'm so excited to watch her on the International stage through the next school year. While we were at this conference I missed my teacher of the year banquet and found out I was not selected as the high school teacher of the year. While this was disappointing, I realized that nothing I could ever accomplish in my professional life would be more rewarding that helping a student accomplish something that will change their life forever. 

We spent our very few hours of downtime at Disneyland!

So I check something else off my list. I did not get to check off the finalist or winner at nationals this year. My students that competed did an amazing job and I really thought they would make it, but these contests are subjective and it just didn't work out this year. I unchecked one thing - I am the VAME Eastern Area Teacher of the Year but we don't find out who won overall until August. I also added some things because I don't think we should ever allow ourselves to have a completely checked off list. You have to keep adding new goals so you can continue to learn and grow!