The biggest reason for my blogging silence has been the changes in my life. Last October I began working in the cafeteria at Todd's school as a food server working from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Once I got used to 'clocking in' at a job, I quickly realized that it wouldn't be difficult at all to work more hours. So, I began looking for a job within the school district that offered more hours.
In March, I changed jobs and became a 3rd grade teacher's aide with hours from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. I loved it! It was fabulous getting to know the kids in our room, the teachers and other staff in our school, as well as the parents associated with our school. I have renewed appreciation for all that our teachers do to teach our kids! Just incredible. They do NOT get paid nearly enough for what they do each day!!!!
While I've been adjusting to working outside of the home again, all of our family activities have just kept on moving along at normal pace. Even though I haven't had time to blog about it all, I have had time to take photos! It will take a few posts to catch up. I'll start with our very active first born, Lena.
When I last wrote about Lena, she was swimming. Here's proof that she developed quite the muscles during swim season!
It was shocking to see the food that this girl could pack away during swim season!
But, swim season ended and Lena was on to track. Literally. Swim ended on Friday and she started track practices on Monday. Amazing!
We learned something about track. They run NO MATTER WHAT!
Is it raining? No problem. We can run.
Is it a torrential downpour? No problem. We can run.
Thankfully, they cancelled the track meet the evening there were threats of hail and tornadoes.
Anyway, the result of running no matter what the weather conditions might be is this...
...incredible amounts of dirt and mud. When we shop for track clothes next year, I am going to be looking for black! Black shorts, black shoes, and especially BLACK SOCKS!!! Wow! Who would have guessed!?!
But, Lena really enjoyed track. I have a few photos from a track meet.
Here she is cheering on her teammate in a relay.
Getting ready to run her leg of the relay.
Go Lena go!!!
I love this photo. Lena's friend Margo is running the race, but Lena is running on the inside of the track alongside of Margo cheering her on! This was a really long race - I think it might have been the last 100 yards of the 1600. These girls were wonderful cheerleaders for one another!
And, of course, they had some fun too. It is always to wonderful to see the fun Lena has with the great friends she has at school!
Lena has decided that she is going to run track all throughout high school because she absolutely loved this sport! Sounds good to us!
Lena also turned 13 in April. Hard to believe it, but we really do have a teenager in the house. Here's are photos of Lena during her birthday party and 13 year old photo shoot at Matter Park.
The end of the school year was a blur of activity. This young lady did some rather amazing things.
Because of her grades, she was inducted into the National Junior Honors society. (I'm pretty sure I got that name right!) Mark took these photos at the event.
This is Lena's principal, Mr. Perkins.
Mark said they were speaking some kind of oath here.
Lena had to sign a membership book.
Here's the group of 7th graders in this group. They all got a free t-shirt too.
And, here's Lena with two good friends.
She was awarded the Presidential Award which has Mr. Obama's signature on it, no less. :-)
She also had an end of the year choir concert. We didn't realize it would be a concert where honors would be given out to students or I would have had my camera more readily accessible. Lena was given a Leadership Award by her choir teacher. That was a shock to Lena as well as us. Her choir teacher said some pretty amazing things about Lena!
After the concert, I got a nice photo of Lena and Margo. These two have become very close friends this year. Margo is a GREAT gal!
Then, they had an awards night for all of Junior High. Let me see if I can remember the awards Lena received. She got awards for maintaining a grade above 94% for the entire year in Math, English and Literature. She was awarded a young writers award and given a free journal by her English and Literature teachers. And, she received an award for having straight 'A's' for the entire year in all subjects. Way to go Lena!!!
(Every photo I took of Lena accepting awards is blurry of Lena because she is moving. Here's the best one of the bunch, but she is half covered by the guidance counselor who is handing her an award. Oh well!)
If there was ever a worry about how well Lena would do in school in English (vs. French), she certainly put those worries to rest for good! Lena did an outstanding job in school this year! Her teachers have recommended her for honors Math and Literature next year. She is excited to meet these new challenges in 8th grade...plus play volleyball, basketball, swim and track. It should be another great year!
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