Shew!! This week has kicked my tail. Besides starting back to school for meetings and professional development, Travis was out of town the past few days, so I was doing “all the things” at school and at home…including waking up at 5:30 to take Hayden to cross country. That’s usually “Super Dad’s” job!
As our summer break winds down, I’m looking back on my first summer as a “stay at home” mom with the kids.
Obviously, before the kids were born, my summers weren’t so structured or busy!
Even though it was fourteen years ago (how is that possible?!) the summer of 2010 was one of my favorites.
I was a little nervous going into that summer because juggling two kids on my own was going to be a lot of work! (Side story: I was on maternity leave from the day the kids were born (November 20) until mid-April after spring break. I had about eighteen weeks off with them. Around early February, I called Travis at work on a Friday and told him I was going to go back to work the next Monday. Being at home with two babies was hard work. Hadley had acid reflux and was often fussy…and I felt overwhelmed. He told me to hang on and think about it and that things would get better. (If I went back to school and then changed my mind, I would be giving up my FMLA) Well, we found out Hayden had colic, and about ten days later, both kids started sleeping through the night. That was a game changer! I did end up enjoying the remainder of my maternity leave with them 🙂
Anyway, that summer was so good. The kids were on a great schedule, they slept ten (or more) hours at night, took a two hour morning nap and a shorter afternoon nap, and they started to interact with each other. Honestly, we had a really great time together!
There was lots of tummy time…
…and rolling over…
…and sitting up!
They could sit by each other and entertain each other and play with toys. Plus, they weren’t crawling yet (that milestone came later in the summer), so I knew they would stay put!
(Also, FYI- Hadley was a very serious baby. I blame the acid reflux. Once she turned one, she lightened up and became her happy, free-spirited self that we all know and love.)
We were home quite a bit, but we’d go on walks and hang out on the back porch.
We even got a little pool that they could splash in on our screened in porch. They loved it.
Bath time was always fun!
They loved hanging out with our dogs, Shiloh and Scout. The pups were good to the twins.
We went to KC around the 4th of July, and that was the beginning of them wearing red, white and blue for the holiday.
On the drive back from KC, we decided to stay the night in St. Louis, so the kids had their first overnight at a hotel.
They thought it was great! Smiles and pacis 🙂
They really started to interact with each other and become besties!
I know we did more, but apparently I took less pics in 2010 😂
And…here are my big kids now:
Every summer has been great, but I will always look back fondly on those less hectic summers when they were little and needed me a bit more.
I’ve always felt like teaching has provided me a great balance with time with my kids during holidays and breaks as well as continuing my career in education.
I can’t believe next week they’ll be in high school!
These Fridays in July really are hitting differently! I’m starting to feel the time crunch of getting some things accomplished at home as well as starting to think about school. I’m always grateful for this time off, but I also always struggle with the reality of our summer coming to a close.
Anyway, as always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Well, it’s the part of summer where I follow through with promises I said we could do this summer…and that included Hadley getting her second ear piercing. There’s a new place in Lexingon, Hey Rowan, that I believe is a chain, but registered nurses do their ear piercings. Just like when Hadley was eight years old, she opted to have both ears done at the same time. haha!
The place was super cute, and we were in and out within 30 minutes.
I haven’t purchased as many flowers this summer, but once I got back from KC last week, I made a trip to Trader Joe’s and picked up some tulips. They matched my “vanilla cloud” candle.
Last Saturday, Hadley and friends played in a sand volleyball tournament. This was her first time playing in a sand volleyball tournament. It was a doubles tournament, and Hadley and her friend went 3-2 on the day and had lots of fun.
The tournament had free t-shirts, and these girls chose the brightest colors.
Saturday night, we met friends for dinner at a new Sri Lankan place, and the food was really good.
After three days of volleyball boot camp and one evening of tryouts, this girl found out she made the high school volleyball team!
She was so nervous, but we’re proud of her and all the hard work she has put in during this past year. She’s pretty much been playing volleyball non-stop for the past year, so while I knew she was prepared for the tryout, I understood the nerves.
We can’t wait to watch her (and so many of her friends!) on the court for their first high school season.
(She was channeling her inner champion for tryouts while wearing her “lucky” Chiefs Super Bowl t-shirt, and we celebrated with the “red plate” and her favorite –salmon for dinner.)
Time at our favorite book store was a favorite this week.
Hayden’s been at running camp most of the week, and I think he’s been having a good time. I’m ready for him to be home, though!
(BTW – as we walked into the sparse college dorm room, he said, “oh…this is so preppy!” haha…oh the difference in boys and girls)
I tried two new recipes this week. A friend mentioned that she’d made ribs in the slow cooker, and my family loves ribs…but I never make them.
I also made this teriyaki chicken, and served it with snap peas and rice. Hadley said it was 10/11…so I will take that compliment!
Favorite Mom Meme:
I feel this deeply…but the other day I had a car full of girls who wanted frozen yogurt…and while I was ready to go home, I couldn’t say no to fro-yo, and enjoyed hearing all the gossip and laughs from the back of the car.
Weekly Recap:
I’ve still been a busy blogger this week. Here are my posts:
Well, I’ve enjoyed my little “Throwback Thursday” series this summer but…these posts have also made me feel a bit nostalgic…and even a little sad thinking about all the sweet memories from when my kids were little!
Earlier this week, we had to be out of the house for a couple of hours. The kids had a workout and afterwards, we went to Taco Bell for lunch, and then Hayden requested that we go to Joseph Beth Bookstore. Now, he’s always been more of a reader than Hadley has, but even this visit, he was on the lookout for the Kentucky Football magazine…not a book.
That’s ok…I was still grateful for time in one of my favorite places, and Hadley even picked up a book too.
When I went to round up the kids to leave, I spotted my boy…and it made me smile.
This is Hayden at the same book store in 2011:
Then, I got to thinking about how summer reading was such a big part of their childhood. We spent so much time at the library, especially when they were little. We’d go to “story time” a couple days as week, and then I’d let them play for a bit and check out books. They always thought it was fun to return the books in the return slot…and as they got older, they thought it was so cool to use the scanner to check the books out.
Every year, we’d go and pick up the “Summer Reading Program” paper to keep track of the books we’d read. Eventually, they’d read on their own….what a rite of passage. Then, at the end of the summer, they’d turn their sheets in and pick out their free books and other prizes.
I remember doing this as a kid with my mom, and even though my kids don’t read as much as they used to, I hope they remember all of our time going to the library.
During the elementary years, the kids had an amazing librarian at their school, and they’d check so many books out at the school library too. Of course, they lived for the book fair every year.
I know it’s natural, as they get older, to maybe not read for fun as much given their schoolwork, their schedule, technology (ugh!), and just having other interests. As much as I’ve always loved reading, there were stretches of time that all I read was for school. It’s been about seven years now that I’ve gotten back into reading really regularly. I hope they continue to find opportunities to read. Both of my parents are big readers, and I try to model that for my kids too.
Anyway, here’s a look at library time/summer reading through the years:
2012:
I’d say the summer of 2012 is when we started going to the library regularly. The kids would have been 2 1/2, so that’s a great age to take them.
We’d visited my mom in KC, and she was doing story time at the public library she worked at after she retired. (She was a 7th grade Language Arts teacher for over 30 years…and then worked (and retired from!) at the public library a couple days a week for maybe ten years?
The kids were on their best behavior. haha
Here the kids are at our library…
I loved that they could go and explore, play games, and check out books once or twice a week.
At the end of the summer, they earned their summer reading t-shirts.
2013:
Lots of time spent at story time, and Hayden finding any books he could about trucks.
Arts and crafts at the library… always is a good time!
2014:
Y’all, I distinctly remember the first time the kids sat down at these computers, and had no clue how to use a mouse! They’d never been on a computer before, obviously. It was so awkward until they figured it out.
Hadley loved the little reading nook, and I’d often find her there.
Hayden started wanting to read The Magic Treehouse series, and most nights we’d read them to him at bedtime. Hadley always loved books about animals, including the Critter Sitter Club books. I don’t think she’s actually reading in this pic. haha
2015:
Kindergarten time, so of course they loved Pete the Cat.
Hadley was starting to outgrow the library reading nook, but I would still often find her there.
2016:
This summer, they were more “independent” in the library whenever we would visit.
…Hadley found a buddy to read books to…
2017:
I took this pic at the end of the summer. We’d gone to pick up school supplies and get back to school hair cuts. We also stopped by the library for them to pick out their books that they earned from their summer reading.
Of course, Hadley loved Pinkalicious, and Hayden was very into the “Where is” and “Who is” books. He was (and still can be) very inquisitive.
2018:
Awe…they were getting so big…but we still went to the library often.
2019:
Throughout the elementary years, they always enjoyed reading at bedtime. Hayden was reading a story from an old textbook the teacher had sent home.
Of course, even in 5th grade, they read a lot as well…but that was the year they were mostly learning from home.
It’s no secret that one of my favorite hobbies is reading.
I hope my kids keep books as a part of their lives whenever they get the chance!
This was a fun stroll down memory lane, but I can’t believe how quickly these summers are flying by.
Well, I think this past year I’ve felt a little more sentimental than usual. I guess with the closing of the middle school chapter for my kids and knowing (fearing?) the next four years of high school are going to fly by, I’d like to capture a few more memories on the blog.
Like my “Summer Sunday” posts, I had hoped to start a Throwback Thursday post earlier in the summer, but never got to it. Now is the time 🙂
Hadley just got back from camp this week, so I thought it would be fun to have some of her camp experiences in one spot.
The first year Hadley went to camp was the summer of 2019 after her 3rd grade year. It was for six days and six nights. She went to a camp about an hour and a half from Lexington. Many of her friends had been to the same camp, but the previous years, for their age, it was just three days.
I remember being so nervous for her as she prepared for camp. I did take comfort knowing she was excited, and she would have friends there too….I had just wished that we had “tested the waters” for three days before jumping in to a week! When you registered, girls could write down one roommate, so again, I knew she’d most likely have a good friend in her cabin.
We all went to drop her off, and I left a “care package” for her to receive mid-week.
I did give the camp address to family, so she received lots of mail that week. The camp would post photos on Facebook every night, and those first couple of nights I would stay up late to see her smiling face. I just wanted to know she was having a good time.
I had told her that when I picked her up, I’d probably be there early because Hayden had a baseball tournament that weekend. We could pick up starting at 9:00, and I was there by 9:15. Once the counselor went to get her, she came out smiling, and the first thing I noticed (besides her smiling face) was all the bug bites she had. haha!
She immediately asked that I sign her up for the next year, and also told me she hadn’t brushed her teeth since Tuesday since she’d lost her toothbrush! haha
Once I got her packed up and in the car, she told me all about her week at camp before falling asleep for most of the ride home. I was so happy that she’d had such a great time.
We’d signed her up to go the summer of 2020, but that session ended up getting canceled. She was really bummed.
She proceeded to go to the same camp in 2021 and 2022. Both times, she had a blast, and I was definitely less nervous about sending her. I’m so grateful she’s had those experiences.
Hayden never seemed interested in going to sleep away camp, and since he’s a home body like me, I never pushed it on him. His first camp experience was running camp last year…and he loved it.
I feel like we’ve gotten pretty good at packing Hadley for camp. Last year, I wrote this post sharing what Hadley usually took to camp.
The camp she went to last year and this year provided a packing list, but she put everything in a suitcase since that is easier to load into the belly of the coach bus, and put other odds and ends in her backpack.
Last year, was Hadley’s first year going to Young Life camp in Missouri. There is a YL branch at her school, and she’s been involved in it all three years of middle school. She’s made amazing connections and has been provided great opportunities to grow in her faith with wonderful leaders.
This camp experience is different compared to what she did the previous three years as she packs a little differently, I don’t have to drive her to camp, and I don’t get to see the facilities (in person).
She boards a bus at a local church at 5am, and rides a coach bus the nine hours to camp. As they arrive at camp, the leaders take their phones for the five days they are there.
The leaders do send the parents emails with photos, and sometimes there are videos. Of course, I still want to see her smiling face, but I know she’s having a good time and worry less about her now that she’s older.
The camp is on a lake, so they have the best time boating, tubing, swimming, playing games, attending small group, cabin time, and club (for daily lesson/scripture) as well as journaling, playing volleyball and pickle ball, meeting other kids and more.
They don’t leave the camp until 1:00 PM (central time) on Sunday, so they don’t get back to the local church in Lexington until 1 or 2 am. I know she’s tired from camp, but I’m tired from the late pick up! haha
Last year, she was gone over the 4th of July, but they had a blast.
This year, camp was mid-June, and of course Hadley was excited to go. The packing list and logistics were the same. Travis dropped her off early last Wednesday morning, and after about eight hours, she texted us that she was handing over her phone and she’d see us in a few days.
Like in years past, I appreciated getting a few pics from the YL leaders.
For “theme” night for their group…they were Nerds. We didn’t have to provide anything for this costumer so this was a cute surprise picture to see. (Hadley is bottom row, second from left)
They had time on the lake…
…and enjoying the amazing setting.
Once she got her phone back on Sunday afternoon, I was excited to see this text from her:
I picked her up at 2am on Monday, and I was excited to see her of course. She filled me in on all of the activities and fun she had with her friends. I think this year felt a little different for her. This is a big group of girls, and a few of them are going to a different school for high school. They’ll all still see each other, but it will be different.
Hadley said on the final night, there were tears and they stayed up extra late hanging out.
I’m glad she’s had such wonderful camp experiences through the years. Each year has provided lots of memories, but going to camp has allowed her to spread her wings a bit, be independent, and navigate life a little out of her comfort zone.
We miss her when she’s gone, but I know she will look back on these camp experiences with fond memories.
Well, the first Friday of summer sure hits different! I was very happy to not set an alarm last night…so that’s definitely a favorite of the week.
As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andreafor this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
The kids had the middle school state track meet last Saturday.
When they came out of their rooms that morning, they were “twinning” in their t-shirts from the distance festival in honor of Trav’s dad. As Hadley likes to say, “Twin telepathy!” (while Hayden cringes!)
It was a hot day that started with an hour and a half thunder delay even though we never saw lightning or rain.
This season, Hayden qualified in the 1600, 800, and 3200. He ran the 1600 and placed 8th overall with a PR. He decided not to run the 800 in order to focus on the 3200, but his hip was bothering him. Overall, I know he was disappointed in the day, but I know he did his best.
Hadley qualified in the 200, 4×100, 4×200, and 4×400. She was very close to a PR in the 200, but her relay team shined in all three relays. They set school records in all three relays, and their 4×400 came in 4th out of 65 teams.
It was a long day (we were gone for over 12 hours), but we had dinner out on the way home, and then they let me snap their pic with their medals before we all cooled off, showered, and went to bed.
I can’t believe their middle school track “careers” are over, but I know they will have a lot of fun competing in high school track too.
The kids’ 8th grade promotion ceremony was Tuesday night, and it was a really nice celebration of them and their 230 classmates. It was nice seeing everyone dressed up and supporting each other.
They’ve made some really great friends and some wonderful memories these past three years…but I’m guessing the best is yet to come!
After their ceremony, we went out to dinner with friends, and then they had some ice cream cake.
Wednesday night, a lot of the 8th graders got together for a pool party.
The weather was cooler, so they mostly ran around and played volleyball and pickleball, but it was a fun way to wrap up middle school.
New Fave Find:
Amy has shared about the Chobani, and my Kroger had this flavor. It’s so good!
Yesterday, Travis and Hayden traveled to St. Louis for Hayden to run in the Hoka Distance Festival. He ran in this race last year, and had such a good time. I’d hoped to join them, but with the busyness of this past week and some end of the school year responsibilities, I just couldn’t make the trip happen.
Overall, I think Hayden was pleased with his performance. I think that was his last official race as a middle school runner! Hard to believe.
After his race, they stayed and watched the high school runners and professionals which Hayden really enjoyed last year as well. Hoka puts on a great event that’s a fun experience for the runners.
Fave Follow:
I have a new favorite influencer to follow. @bobbiwiththeeye on Insta! She shares lots of “day in the life” as well as cute and affordable clothes and other products. Go check her out.
Favorite Mom Meme:
This meme is probably the most relatable one I’ve ever seen! I also feel this deeply as a teacher. haha
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
Look at my little daredevil back in 2015. She was always on the playground doing tricks, and saying “Look mom, no hands!”
What are your weekend plans? I need desperately to get caught up on my life. I want to take this weekend to relax a little but to also get caught up on laundry, empty out my school bag, run some errands, meal plan and more. I feel like I’ve been “winging” it the past couple of weeks, and that’s not my best self!
Hopefully, I can start reading some of my summer books and relax a bit too.
Cue Alice Cooper….”Schoolssss out for the summer!” Finally.
Last week, I did a recap of my kids’ middle school years, and today I’m sharing about the last few days of school.
Last day(s) of middle school:
Well, truth be told, my kids have been over school for a bit now. They turned in their Chromebooks last Thursday leaving four days left in the year with not much to do.
Last Friday was “Clash of the Classes” field day and yearbook signing. I’m glad they got to have some downtime with the classmates, and I remember how much fun it was signing yearbooks. I did have to ask Hadley why so many people wrote “HAGS” in her yearbook, and she filled me in that it meant “Have a great summer.” I guess I should have known that!
The past couple of years, my kids have asked to not go on the last day, and I always make them go. I tell them it’s more for a “rite of passage” as an 8th grader not to go on the last day since the 8th grade promotion is the night before the last day of school. Plus, I’ve never wanted them getting in a habit of thinking attendance is optional.
So, that meant that Tuesday was the last day of school for them. Tuesday morning, Hadley and friends met up at Starbucks before their last day of school.
Then, she sent me pics with her friends all throughout the day. While they didn’t have much to do, I’m glad that she had some time with her friends. A few of her friends are going to a different school next year, so I do think the girls were a bit emotional about the last day of middle school.
The boys…not so much.
The 8th grade promotion was Tuesday night. Before Covid, I believe their school did this celebration the morning of the last day of school in the school’s gym. Post-Covid, they moved the promotion ceremony to my high school’s gym which allows for more guests, I guess?
In order to use my school’s gym, they have to have the ceremony in the evening. Anyway, Tuesday night was the 8th grade promotion.
I was able to get a couple of pics before we left the house.
It’s getting harder and harder to convince them to hold up the last day of school sign, but I’m grateful for the tradition.
For fun (or a few tears), here’s the first day of 6th grade. Wow…I know I’ve shared these photos through the years, but I really can’t believe how quickly these past three years have gone.
The promotion ceremony lasted a little over an hour and was really nice. A couple of students spoke as well as the principal. Then, each teacher shared a bit about their subject area and students who excelled in that subject. Then, all the students walked across, shook their principal’s hand and received their certificate.
It was really nice hearing all the students clap for each other, and all of the students seemed to be engaged and paying attention. It was a really nice celebration of three years of school. The principal acknowledged how the students spent most of their 6th grade year wearing masks, how much they’ve grown and matured, as well as what great classmates they all are.
As a parent, I appreciated the teachers and the principal speaking so highly of the student body.
After the ceremony, we snapped a few more pics.
My brother and sister-in-law were there.
There were lots of pics with friends…at least where Hadley was concerned. Boys aren’t as into pictures, and were more worried about where we were going for dinner.
Hadley really has made some wonderful new friends while keeping close friendships from elementary school. (Hayden too, but again…boys!)
The weather was beautiful, and we got a few family pics before walking to the car.
Officially promoted to high school:
…and a family photo which means more to me than they realize.
We went out to dinner with friends before heading home for cake.
Y’all know we love cookie cake and Bundt cakes, but we’ve been on an ice cream cake kick now.
Baskin Robbins for the win:
They squeaked in a couple of more smiles before enjoying their cake.
I went to bed not long after as I was tired…both emotionally and physically….and, I still had one more day of school to get through while they got to sleep in!
Wednesday evening, a few moms organized a pool party for the 8th graders, and they had lots of fun.
The temps had cooled off, so the kids mostly played volleyball and pickleball. It was a great evening to wrap up middle school.
I know I shared this meme last week, but it’s certainly hit home over the past few years.
…and while I know it’s hard parenting young teenagers, I know that being a teen isn’t easy! I just pray they continue down the right path, learn from mistakes, grow, mature, try their best, and be kind.
I love and believe in them more than they’ll every know.
How was your week? Overall, ours was pretty good. It helped having Tuesday off to regroup after a busy weekend.
That being said, the end of the school year activities are in full force, and the alarm clock is officially a nuisance.
Of course, I had some favorites this week, so I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Last Friday, was the end of season county championship track meet for our district. So, only middle schools in our district had teams running. Unfortunately, the first half of the meet was rainy. Hadley ran the 4×200 and 400 in the rain, and Hadey ran the 1600 in a steady rain as well.
Hadley was battling some nerves, but both kids ran great. Hayden won the 1600 and 3200 while Hadley placed 6th in the 400 and 7th in the 200, and her relay teams placed 2nd in the 4×400 and 3rd in the 4×200. Her 4×400 relay is in the top 5 in the state.
For the second half of the meet, the rain stopped. Yay!
It was a long meet and a late night, but they collected their hardware before we left.
Hadley was up bright and early on Saturday for volleyball. She got to play libero again, and she was excited for that opportunity. This was the last tournament of club season. They went 3-0 on Saturday, and won their first two games on Sunday which put them in the championship game of the gold bracket.
While they did lose that game, they earned a medal for 2nd place, and went 5-1 on the weekend. It was a great way to end club season.
She’s had the best experience with great coaches and amazing teammates, so it was extra special to end on a high note.
In my Mother’s Day recap, I shared about the ferns we got for the front porch. Travis noticed there was a nest with an egg in one of them on Saturday, and then on Sunday when I took a peek, there were two eggs. Now, there are four eggs!
It wouldn’t be summer without a nest in my fern for a bit!
I’ve had a Sonic diet cherry limeade twice this week. Tuesday, we didn’t have school (definitely a favorite) for election day. It was nice to ease into the day, but we were pretty busy for the rest of the day.
The kids did a workout on my school’s track, and I went to vote. After the workout, we went to Sonic. They got lunch and slushies, and I got a Diet Cherry Limeade. It certainly hit the spot.
A local church brought Sonic drinks to us yesterday as a way to support our school, and we appreciated the love.
Yesterday, Hadley came home with her artwork and pieces from art class this semester. She drew Homer, and a self-portrait and made a cup and coaster as well. I love seeing her creations.
Favorite Clothes:
I’m officially trying to wear some of my favorite outfits the past couple of weeks of school.
I wore a cardigan with the dress below, but had taken it off for the pic.
I told you I’m loving my new Target sandals. I’ve been wearing them often (and see the above three pics as proof!)
Trader Joe’s:
Amy messaged me that Trader Joe’s has their Brazil Nut Body Butter out, and I missed out on it last summer. So, I headed to TJ after school on Wednesday and stocked up! (along with a few other items)
And…how cute is this little plant? It’s the perfect touch for the stand on my island tray.
Favorite Meal:
Well, I don’t have a picture of it, but we had chicken sandwiches the other night, and they were a hit.
It was basically Chick-fil-A dinner at home. I used these chicken patties from Aldi, and then put them on a brioche bun with pickles and CFA sauce. I made waffle fries in the air fryer. It was a quick and easy dinner that everyone loved.
Favorite Mom Meme:
This right here…
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
Well, in honor the kids having their 8th grade promotion ceremony next week, here’s a flashback to 5th grade graduation three years ago.
*side note: When I shared my summer sandals post, I mentioned the Instagram Reel that Hadley helped me create. I said if it got 1,000 views, maybe I’d pay her $10 for her time and effort. Well, the reel gained a little traction with more than 1k views. This is a small feat for a small time blogger who rarely posts on Instagram. haha
I guess I better go find some cash!
What are your weekend plans? As I mentioned in Tuesday’s post, it’s been a hard couple of weeks at school. This week has felt really somber and even stressful sometimes as the school year wraps up.
I hope to find some time to relax a bit as we head into the week with 8th grade graduation (cue the tears!) and finish up the school year.
Well, a week from today, it will officially be summer for us.
How is middle school already over for my two?
While they still have a few more days, they turn in their Chromebooks today which means it’s pretty much fun and games the next couple of days.
You know I like a recap, so I thought it would be fun to have all of the middle school memories in one place.
Here’s a stroll down memory lane.
6th grade:
The week before school started, the kids went to the 6th grade orientation week. They were very nervous, but the nerves eased up with each passing day.
I think this was a three day session, and on the last day, they picked up their schedules. There were two sixth grade teams, and the counselor said they always put twins on the same team, but not in the same classes. Well, a lot of their friends were on the other team, and my mama heart was very nervous for them. That being said, they were kind of forced out of their shell and did a good job making new friends….and that orientation definitely helped them feel comfortable at a new school.
Notice the mask around Hayden’s neck…They started the school year wearing masks.
First day of 6th grade:
They look like babies!!
Hayden started the school year on the cross county team. It’s crazy to think that while he loved running, we didn’t know what to expect as he started running with middle school runners.
In late September, Travis ended up with Covid. Then, Hayden had it followed by Hadley. They all ended up being home for around ten days…remember all the Covid regulations?!? Right before our fall break in early October, the kids went back to school.
Since Hayden missed his school cross country pics, my brother-in-law took some of Hayden, and they turned out amazing.
Hadley made the dance team and started going to Young Life/Wyldlife which has been an amazing group for her.
In the winter, Hayden made the basketball team.
The 6th grade team ended up runner-up in the district tournament which was a amazing because they had a tough start to the season.
We survived our first middle school science fair projects.
On March 16, 2022, they finally went to school without a mask…and sent me the selfie smiles to prove it.
Track started after spring break.
In the state meet, they both ran the 4×800 relay.
They accomplished a lot and had so much fun. I also realized how much I enjoyed track meets. Track is such a mix of kids and such a variety of events that I think it’s one of the best sports for a student athlete.
May 25, 2022 was the last day of 6th grade. We They officially survived the first year of middle school.
In 7th grade, they didn’t get their schedules until the first day of school…and were surprised to find that they had gym class together. haha
In 7th grade, foreign language begins, and Hayden chose Spanish while Hadley chose French.
Hadley joined Student Council and continued with Wydlife.
Hayden started cross country, and Travis became the coach.
My brother-in-law took the team pics, and he got another good one of Hayden.
Hayden had a great season, and it was fun watching Travis and Hayden together.
In October of 7th grade year, Hadley got her braces off…
….and tried out for the volleyball team. A group of her friends decided they wanted to play, and they all made the team.
We had so much fun watching them play, and I think they surprised themselves with how good they were.
The girls finally got to experience a school dance! In January of 7th grade, the school organized a school wide dance (mixer) with music and games.
I worked the check in table, and the girls were so nervous when they checked in. I just think they didn’t know what to expect.
Hayden opted to go to a basketball game with his friends instead of go to the dance. Are we surprised?!?!
They completed another science fair project.
In January, the 7th grade basketball season started for Hayden….
…and he got his braces off!
They both went to the 7th grade Valentine’s Day dance. Again, Hadley was excited, and Hayden was hesitant. Hadley pretty much drags him through life. haha
Track started in the spring.
In 6th grade, Hadley ran the 800 and 400….but by 7th grade, she really upped her speed and started running the 200 (as well as the 400).
Hayden continued running the 1600 as well as the 3200 and 800.
In the state meet, Hadley ran the 400, Hayden ran the mile, and they both ran a couple of relays.
I wrote a 7th grade recap post at the end of the year.
The last day of school was May 26, 2023.
Hadley went to Wyldlife camp last summer, and she loved every minute.
8th:
While they are never super excited for school to start, at least they knew they were “top dogs,” and there weren’t any nerves.
They were in the same gym class again as well as the same Language Arts class. Oh…the stories I get to hear…(mostly, Hadley filling me in on Hayden and his friends’ shenanigans!)
Like all the other years, Hayden (and Travis) had cross country in the fall…and another great pic thanks to my brother-in-law.
Hayden ended up winning the end of season county cross country meet, and we were so happy for him.
He had a strong showing at the state meet placing in the top 10.
The kids always attended sporting events throughout middle school, but it seemed like they didn’t want to miss anything in 8th grade. They had fun supporting their friends.
Hadley had another fun season of volleyball.
We had 8th grade night!
In January, Hayden started his 8th grade basketball season.
Of course, the season concluded with an 8th grade night for him.
I do feel like these seasons went by in a blink.
This year, they went to the cotillion dances. I loved hearing a recap of each dance.
With each passing dance, they were less nervous.
And, of course, they’ve had one more track season.
The season is wrapping up, but they’ve accomplished their goals this year. They’ve both improved on their times, they’ve qualified for state in events that they’ve been working on, and Hayden won the district 1600 and 3200 races last week while Hadley’s 4×400 relay team is one of the top in the state.
Hayden also ran in the Dream Mile a couple of weeks ago which was a major goal for him during his 8th grade season.
While he was doing that, Hadley was at the 8th grade dance. Of course, she had lots of fun.
The state meet is up next.
School Pics:
I’ve shared these before, but the difference in the kids’ pictures from year to year blows my mind.
Some other thoughts:
I know I share a lot about sports and what they accomplish, but they’ve accomplished a lot in academics too. I firmly believe that the middle school years are a time to prepare for high school….and we’ve had struggles and celebrations.
They’ve had to learn study habits, time management, how to advocate for themselves and many other life skills.
While they know hard work pays off in athletics, they’ve learned that same lesson in academics. They’ve been on the honor roll every quarter, tried various elective classes, joined clubs, and more.
Overall, I think they will look back on their middle school years with some fond memories. I remind them that the middle school years can be really tough for some kids, and while it hasn’t been smooth sailing for them all the time, they really have learned lessons, grown, matured, made decisions, and formed friendships.
I’m thankful for the teachers and coaches who have championed and supported the kids through the years.
Now people are asking me if the kids are ready for high school and my response has been that it’s more about the fact that they are over middle school! (and very ready for summer)
Next week, they have their 8th grade promotion ceremony and a pool party with friends.
Fridays in May just hit different. I feel like we’re crawling to the finish line of the school year!
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
The 8th grade dance!
Y’all, I know. I know. I’ve shared lots of dance photos this year, but those were the four cotillion dances. Friday night’s 8th grade dance is the only school dance of the year.
Friday night, Hadley & Co. were ready to mingle with their classmates. The theme was “Vegas” hence the “little black dress” attire. Of course, kids could wear whatever they wanted, but these girls leaned in to black dresses.
I still had store credit, so Hadley got another cute dress from Hello Molly.
They danced the night away, got Chick-fil-A on the way home, and had a great time.
Meanwhile…
Travis and I were with Hayden at a track meet in Louisville. Hayden ran in the “Dream Mile” which is a race with the top 16 middle school milers in the state.
It was a beautiful evening to watch him run.
He has gotten to know most of these guys over the past couple of years from cross country and track. It’s neat to see them chat beforehand, run together, and support each other, while exhausted, at the end of the race.
It was a fast race and the pace was pushed; Hayden had a 4 second PR…4:48 mile.
Mother’s Day was great! After a busy Friday night and Saturday, Sunday was a bit more low-key. I appreciated the gifts, the family time, and then sunshine!
I’m loving my new candles for spring. I think Summer Rose Bud is my favorite.
Favorite Mom Meme:
This has been an issue for quite some time. haha
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
The end of the school year means field day in elementary schools. I used to love that day.
When I was in the 4th grade, I was on crutches at the end of the year, and couldn’t participate in field day. I was so bummed.
The past few years, my kids have had the middle school version of field day. At least they’ve been able to get outside and have fun for a bit with their friends. They also usually sign years book on that day which is fun.
How was your week? We had amazing weather, but I feel like the temps heated up quickly! It was nice to be outside a bit more, go for walks, and enjoy some time on my front porch.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Well, I know I share about track every week, but this really is a fun season (of track…and of life), and I can’t say enough how much I love that track is the one thing they both still do.
Friday night, I got this sweet pic of Hadley cheering Hayden on as he ran the 3200, finishing with a state qualifying time.
Don’t get me wrong…there are many times they don’t get along, but I do think they encourage each other more often than not.
Hadley has had her eye on the prize trying to run a state qualifying time in the 200m, and she’s accomplished that the past couple of meets.
Friday night was a late one, but my mom got this pic of the kids after the meet, and I think it’s a good one!
The last cotillion dance was a fun one! Hadley’s dress was my favorite one she’s worn so far. It’s the “fun is calling”dress from Hello Molly, and it comes in a variety of colors.
The moms of the girls in this group have shared some dress stories…some dresses never arriving, wrong material, not what they ordered, etc.
Thankfully, for these dances, we’ve had lots of luck from Hello Molly and Lulus. (FYI for returns, Lulus will give you a full refund if return within the window of time…but Hello Molly only does store credit. Believe me, I learned that the hard way. haha)
I stopped by Aldi’s for a few snacks, and this “charcuterie party platter” was a hit.
My mom came to visit last week, and we celebrated her birthday a bit early. I was going to order a bundt cake, but I thought an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins sounded good.
It was pretty and tasted delish.
Smiles and ready for cake…
I shared some new book trackers and added them to my Instagram highlight.
These have been a fun and creative outlet for me.
Feel free to use them to share what you are reading! Tag me if you do. 🙂
I ordered this in early spring, and I was excited to wear it yesterday now that the weather is warmer. It’s the “Taylor” dress, and while sizes do seem limited, there are a few colors. I wear my typical size large, so I think they do a great job running true to size with what they design.
Favorite Mom Meme:
Honestly, I am surprised that I don’t feel like we have more laundry than we do. Sunday continues to be laundry day, and everyone usually has one load. One thing that still is an issue is getting the laundry put away! The kids put their own clothes away, but tend to be on their own timelines for that. haha!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
I’m sure I share this every year, but the week of Derby is big around here…even at school…especially elementary schools.
The kids made these hats in kindergarten, and were so excited to show them to me when they got home.
Weekly Recap:
Here are my posts from the week in case you missed one:
We have a slight break from sports this weekend, but today is the Kentucky Oaks, and tomorrow is the “most exciting two minutes in sports” is when the Kentucky Derby horses “run for the roses.”
showmeandsweettea.com 