First Half of Summer

     This summer has been one of the toughest, most exhausting summers of my life!  I spent four weeks in school.  I was in school all day, every week day for those four weeks.  I knew when I decided to go back to school and get another Master's degree it would be challenging.  I had no idea just how challenging it would be.  Going to school is hard enough, but with four young kids, it is a whole different level that I just wasn't prepared for.  Four kids are enough work, but once you add tons of reading, response journals, final projects, and tests, I barely survived.  It was beyond hard, but I can proudly say I managed to earn all A's and I passed my big certification test and I am now a CALP (Certified Academic Language Practitioner).  I am much closer to getting my degree, and now I just have my Master's Thesis (ha ha!) and some other classes before I get my degree in May.  The good news is the bulk of my work is now done!  I survived and I am now convinced if I made it through that, I can do just about anything I put my mind to!
    I could not have gone back to school without Joey's amazing support.  For the four weeks I was in school, Joey was with the kids all day. Not only did he do the stay at home dad gig, he also did an incredible job keeping the kids entertained. He made sure that each and every day they did something fun and that they weren't just sitting at home all day watching T.V.  I came home every day to exhausted kids with great stories to tell, and usually a clean house and dinner on the table.  I lucked out with such a supportive husband!!!  Here are some pictures from the fun adventures they had while I was in class each day.

Dawson wrote a paragraph about how much he liked pizza and Louie's is his favorite. Joey knows Louie and told him how Dawson wrote about his love for his pizza.  Louie told him to bring it in and they would hang it on the wall and Dawson would get a free pizza. Dawson was so proud as were we.  

Showing off his free pizza

Celebrating my sister's birthday

Dawson watching his dad play softball one night

The kids spend A LOT of time at the neighborhood pool

Sky Zone

Gracie started gymnastics and she loves it!

 

Some bowling fun

She is learning to master the arcade games

Doing some dancing at the arcade

Celebrating my brother's birthday

   One day, Joey took the kids up to Denver to the Nature and Science museum.  We became members again and I can't wait to make many visits this coming year!

Joey on Father's Day.  Looks like both his heart and his lap are full!

Gracie insists on riding this horse every time we go grocery shopping.

Joey got Dawson a fancy baseball set up to practice hitting some balls.

Tie dying some shirts

At Touch a Truck at the community center