A Helper's Heart

So the above took place in Zane's classroom. Then today, while in gym class, Mr. Ensign awarded Zane the Top Dog Award for being a wonderful example in gym. Awesome, dude!!

He Rocks and Rolls

And that's all right with me!

That Place

Second Place (First Day of School)

It's so odd to think we have a 5th grader and 1st grader and still one to enter. Maybe not a great thing, but I've gotten so comfortable with Vanessa's and Zane's performances in school, I forget to download their "report cards". A blessing, for sure.

I realized by the end of June or beginning of July that I had not even looked beyond their first milestone of academic success of last year. Eek! Luckily I was still able to download and save before updates for this year. But I also realized the peace of mind allows me to focus more on the emotional and social aspects of it all. That's certainly a blessing, too. The prevailing comments are that both Zane and Vanessa are eager and enthusiastic learners and serve as excellent role models for their peers. What more can a mom ask for?!

The reality is that we're spreading our wings even more this year. I supervise a lot of what they do but neither really need me as much as they did even 6 months ago. Bittersweet indeed . . . but it also reminds me that Hendrix will be gone before too long, so I'll swim in the second dose as long as I can . . .

Total Eclipse (August 21, the First Day of School)

"Every now and then I get a little bit nervous". . .  by all the years gone by . . .

A Time

For the next 9 or so months, he'll get even more moments like these . . .

Another World

He makes me laugh . . .

His Own Leaps and Bounds

It started with Zane wanting to show his ability.

End of Summer Adventure (Part 5)

From the hammock . . .

By the cabin . . .

Taking out the trash . . .

In the lake . . .

Celebrating birthdays . . .

At the Tamarack . . .

Heading home . . .

Happy to be . . .

End of Summer Adventure (Part 4)

Our cabin was just about a mile from Summersville Lake. It's a very nice lake and worth consideration to go back to do boating and rappelling . . . yes, rappelling! 

The dam was extra impressive, although my mama's heart couldn't help but worry if the dam were to break how would I respond and get the kids out of there. :-) Crazy but somehow instinctual to think along those lines. :-) But we ventured down the riverbed even so, at least a short way. And can you believe people camp along the riverbed?! Crazy people. I wouldn't get an ounce of ret

We ran down to New River Gorge, and although it didn't hurt us to do it, the trip was disappointing for Daddy and me, since about 75% of the stairs down were closed for reconstruction. That kept us from the very best view.