ARMPIT HAIR!

If you squint your eyes real tight - you can see it - Tyler man has his first arm pit hair - it's a big day in our household! These boys have been checking for a couple of years now! Congratulations son! ha ha!

ELI'S BIG HELPERS!

Eli's team Ignite disbanded at the end of this season so we are stuck finding him a new club team to be on. He wanted to try out for Mound Magic Baseball and we wanted to help him feel confident going into the tryout. Jared and I knew it was a try-out but we didn't want to make Eli nervous so we told him it was a fielding practice with them. He was excited to go. We got him some hitting practice in with Coach Alfred at the cages and then this morning Logan Schwenke and Ty Pohlmann came over and worked on him with his pitching, catching and throwing. Logan plays baseball fro Arkansas Tech and Ty plays baseball for UNLV. He was very excited they came over. When they left he was VERY confident in himself. Both boys parents told me later they thought Eli was good and ready and would have no problem making the team. I love that these college athletes were totally willing to give up a summer morning and come help out a little boy who they owed nothing to. They brought smiles to my heart. That night on the way to the try-out Eli started getting really quiet. Then when he saw the line of boys waiting to get name and number to wear on their jerseys he looked at me and said, this is a tryout right and you are tricking me?! Still not wanting him to get nervous and get worked up in his head, I showed him the email from the coach that said to come out tonight for a "fielding practice". I am still not sure if Eli believed me, but he did seem slightly relieved. Eli went out there was awesome! I was so happy for him. The Coach said they would reach out to everyone in a week and let them know if they were invited to the summer clinic or not. Jared got an email from the head coach the very next morning inviting Eli to the summer clinic and they said they were very interested in him. Fingers crossed he makes. Sweet boy got in my car on the way home and said, Mom if I don't make it I will still be happy cause I know I went out there and did my best! Love him!

LAST DAY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ELI!

No mom fail here - I made sure I took off the last 2 days of school so I could attend Eli's assembly and help out at the 6th grade dance and then the clap out. Eli wanted to make sure I watched him play the drums - you got it buddy! He also was very mad I made him dress up so much - the teachers said Sunday best so we did it - him and Tanner were the only ones who wore a tie so he was dubbed Tie Guy all day. I did let him wear vans for his shoes and let him change his clothes. Eli spent the whole year either on principal list or honor roll. He was NOT happy about his one B in the first quarter - sorry kid, Mrs Huggins was teaching him a lesson - ha ha! The 6th grade dance was awesome. I mean blowing up a million balloons for them ripped my hands up but it was worth it to watch him cut a rug in front of everyone. He was totally up there dancing the whole time with friends, getting in dance circles and did manage a quick game of baseball with Jackson using balloons. He had smile on his sweaty face the whole time - I loved it! Then it was time for the clap out. Now that's a gut check. Clearly by his face you can see he loved walking through all the halls while every kid and parent high fived them and treated them like celebrities. Not ready for this sweet boy to go to junior high - it better not change him. He better still hold my hand! (Seeing how I am writing this 4 days before junior high starts I will be sad to report to you that yesterday at San Tan going to get his schedule I asked him if he wanted to hold hands, he was quick to break my heart but at least he smiled when he said no). For some reason the only kid who got a picture next to the signs this year was Alyza!

TWINS LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Sadly, I had to work during the twins assembly - I did a big mom fail and forgot to request it off - mostly because I thought it would be a different day - oops! Luckily for me, Melissa Shumway was there and had no problem taking pictures for me! I heard from Melissa, Tyler and Tyson and a couple of other people they felt bad for Tyson because they all thought he didn't earn his honor roll because when they called Tyler's name they never said Tyson until the very end - phew - crisis averted! The cute girl in all the pics with Tyson is Afton Harris - his little girlfriend. This year was such a big year for Tyler. When Jared and I went to parent teacher conferences during the first quarter Mr. G told us that Tyler had a talking problem and that Tyson was really quiet! I literally stopped Mr. G from talking and asked him if he knew who each boy was and made him describe them to me - he did indeed know each boy but their personalities totally changed. Tyler talking to kids?! YES PLEASE!! I did have to tell Mr G I would ask him to stop but that he would not be in trouble because I was so happy he was being social I didn't care! Nothing makes a momma heart happier than hearing about her kids blossoming. Look at each picture of their class in front of the white board - look at the boys breaking out of their shells - get it weirdos! These boys did so well. They made honor roll every quarter and would even randomly want grade checks to make sure they were on task.  When the final bell rang Mr. G said when you leave my class you can fist bump, high 5 or hug goodbye your choice - my boys must have liked him cause they hugged. Before the boys left for school this morning they made sure to check that there would be signs for them when they got home! Another successful year in the books for them. 5th grade, check!