Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Last day...

...of gymnastics for Luke!  Everything is starting to wrap up with the school year ending next week.  Luke really loved his gymnastics class !  He had so much fun and it is amazing how much he learned to do in such a short period of time. 

Luke's bridge

Back roll

Walking backwards on the balance beam!

Parachute time!  Oops, one the the bugs got stuck!

It was also John and Luke's last day of soccer.  The team celebrated by having a pizza party before the game!  The boys had so much fun playing soccer that I have already signed them up for the fall season! 


The boys were soooo excited to get their trophies! Luke was so cute!  He kept saying, "I can't believe that I got a trophy! This is my first trophy ever!"

Luke & Coach Perez with his trophy!

John & Coach with his trophy!

Great soccer season boys; I am so proud of you!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Beaver Camp!

Katie's 2nd Grade Class went on an awesome field trip! It was muddy! It was a chilly!  And it was WET ... but we all had FUN! 

Katie trying to keep dry in her raincoat!

Playing a small group activity!

The students spent the morning doing small group team building activities.  Thankfully we got a break from the rain and ate lunch at the indoor pavilion. 

Katie having lunch with some of her friends!

My and my girl!

Mrs. Abbass' 2nd Grade Class
What a wonderful group of children!

We spent the afternoon doing the high element courses!  Katie loved the Flying Squirrel!  It was an amazing experience for all of the children!  They were so great cheering each other on and smiling despite the rain!

Katie all harnessed up for the flying squirrel!

Flying up in the trees! 
We had a fantastic day! I love being a part of these special days!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

1st Project Down

I have been wanting one of those magnetic screens for our backdoor for a while now.  Why we didn't get one last summer I don't know, but I snatched up the last one at Bed, Bath, & Beyond with my 20% off coupon.  Score!  Of course, as soon as I got home and opened up the package, I knew this was something that I would have had Donnie put together.  So, I folded it back up and put it right back in the package.  At first, I thought well at least we will have it when he gets back.  Then I thought, maybe I will wait until my sister, Melissa, is here in a few weeks and we can put it up together.  Seriously, this is ridiculous, I told myself!  So today after finishing up the yard work, my assistant, Luke and I put up the new magnetic screen! 

TaDa! The finished project!
Luke testing out the new screen.
I am lucky to have such an awesome helper!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Elmo & Friends

Today we took a trip to...
...to see Elmo and some of his friends.  It was a wonderful event put together by the USO and Sesame Street especially for military children.  What a wonderful opportunity for the kids!  Every child got a really cool light-up spinning Elmo and a USO flag bandanna as they walked in the door.  As you can imagine the kids loved the spinning Elmo! 
Luke was able to enjoy this event with his buddies Abbey and Audrey, and I got to chat with Krissy a bit too!

Luke ready to rock out with Elmo!

Kiddos dancing around with Elmo.


The kids got a little bored mid show,
so we made a cool holster for our spinning Elmo!
And took a few pictures.

The pace picked up again at the end.

Luke loved getting to touch Rosita!

Everyone got to go up close to
the stage at the end of the show and
give Elmo and his friends a high five!
A fun afternoon with the little kids! 

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Do over...

...that is just what I feel like I need for this weekend. I was excited that we had a free weekend.  No birthday parties, no soccer games, nothing big we had to do this weekend.  The only project I wanted to accomplish was to get Donnie's care package ready to mail.  Check!


It was going to be a relaxing weekend. And for the most part, it probably was, but I feel defeated.  As one of my sweet and loving children put it, "I miss Dad because he is more fun than you and he doesn't yell at us as much as you do."  Yes, they are right.  Dad is more fun, and he doesn't yell as much.  I tried to be fun, calm, and relaxed.  But, I continually found myself being short tempered and frustrated this weekend. 

For example, I thought we would run a few errands this afternoon.  Maybe this doesn't qualify as fun, but I agreed to let the kids bring their wallets so they could buy something with their own money if they wanted (this was going to be the fun part).  I hate it when they spend their money on junk, but I let them buy what they want with their money.  So we came home from our errands today with a new water gun, spinning sidewalk chalk, two new beyblades, and a dip-n-dot making machine.  And no matter how good they really were, three stores later and hungry kids doesn't = a fun, calm, or relaxed momma.  Once we got home, put away our groceries, and got some lunch; they were ready to tear into their new toys.  I don't have any fun pictures of them playing with their new toys, because I was too busy helping put them together, showing them how to use them, or cleaning up the messes from the dip-n-dot machine.  Again, something that should have been fun left me grouchy once again.  Ugh!  I'll spare the rest of my examples from the weekend, but you get the picture.  It wasn't all bad. We did have some sweet and relaxing moments...


I will focus on the sweet moments and do my very best not to lose my patience.  Here's to next weekend! We have a jam packed weekend, so maybe that will be more fun and relaxing!?! 

Friday, June 1, 2012

Friday Mass

Today I attended Mass with the kids at school.  I didn't want to miss John participating in the readings.  John can be very quite, and is certainly not one for public speaking. I was very proud and surprised when his teacher told me that he had volunteered to read.  He did a wonderful job! I am so proud of you, John!


It is a little hard to hear, John said,  "For vocations to the priesthood and religious life; we pray to the Lord."


June 1st marks the feast day of St. Justin Martyr, an early Father of the Church and one of the first apologists for the Christian faith.  Not being Catholic this wasn't somthing that I knew going into Mass this morning.  But it really touched my heart when I heard them talk about St. Justin.  I couldn't help but think of my brother, Justin.  I miss you so much.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of him.  It is always moving when you are in church and get a sign from God.  I know Justin is my angel in heaven. 

Justin Michael Lynch
October 23, 1984-February, 19, 2009



Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Feeling the love...

I am so blessed to find wonderful friends wherever the Army takes us. I was able to celebrate my birthday with a delicious breakfast at Tin Pan Galley with a great group of ladies.

This card that I got today really does sum it up. I can't tell you what a comfort it is to be surrounded by such a great group of friends.

And if breakfast wasn't enough, Krissy also made me a delicious birthday dinner. A lime marinated chicken topped with a mango salsa and to top it off a cheesecake for dessert! So yummy! She even sang me Happy Birthday (which was extra special because while the kids told me Happy Birthday on my birthday and I got lots of awesome birthday wishes, no one sang to me)!!! Thank you for making me feel special! 
I love my beautiful new hanging basket!