Marching Band Begins!

Summer seems to be synonymous with marching band.  Fall will be as well with football season.  Thomas has looked forward to this for years.  I remember dropping him off at the High School 2 years ago as a 7th grader for the Homecoming parade that the Jr. High joins with the High School to perform.  I remember feeling the energy and buzz in the air.  Thomas was so hyped to be a part of it.  I remember thinking to myself how cool it was going to be when he was in High School and could do this all the time.  That feeling and those thoughts sure don't feel like they were 2 years ago.  I feel like I just blinked and now here he is, a Freshmen, fully engrossed in the Marching Band and LOVING every moment of it.  How can I be the mom to a High Schooler?  I am looking forward to the experiences he will have these next 4 years and the relationship we will continue to form; however, I am saddened knowing it will go by all too quickly.  I just want to freeze time and allow it to move in very slow motion!  Knowing I can't do that, I am trying to savor the moments and remember to spend my time with those things of greatest and lasting importance.

The day after we returned from our trip to Utah Thomas began a week of Marching Band Pre-Camp.  He was at the High School between 3-7 hours each day, sometimes in 2 different time frames.  He  would get home around 9:30 at night.  They practiced music, learned marching skills/steps, were fitted for uniforms, marched some more, memorized music, passed off music, marched some more.  He was in his element.

Then came the week for Marching Band Camp at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania.  They lived, breathed, and slept marching band that week.  He had the time of his life.  It was hard work and the directors keep them very busy.  He made quite the statement and gained "countless friend points" that week when he followed through on a dare.  

This is Thomas and his "Band Big Brother, Nick".

Before going in for meals they are lined up in parade rest.  They are to be silent and still.  If they move or talk they will be called out and given a "consequence" of some kind.  One of his buddies, Alex, dared him to run around saying, "the whales are coming!" during this time.  He said he thought about it for a while.  He had seen some of the consequences that had been handed out for infractions of talking while in line and he said they weren't too bad.  He also said the moral was pretty low that day because students were tired and it was nearing the end of the week.  He thought it might liven things up a bit and improve the moral of the band.  He even checked with one of the directors and told her what he was planning to do and asked what she thought. She told him he had to weight the reward with the consequence and make his choice.  She later told us she was very proud of him for doing this and that he gained many new friends by doing this.  He did it!  

When he told us about it I about died.  I would never have thought he would do this, yet I was proud of him for stepping out of his comfort zone and letting loose a little.  As for his punishment, he was called to attention by Mr. Monroe. (I would have loved to see the look on Mr. Monroe's face when Thomas did this.  I am sure all the directors had to pick their jaws off the ground!)  He had to march 128 steps forward (in doing so he ran into a brick wall about halfway through and had to finish the steps marching in place), turn and march 128 steps to the left running him into a pile of cardboard boxes, turn and march 128 more steps into another brick wall, and finally turn and march 128 more steps into a fountain.  He said kids were cheering him on while he was doing it.  By the time he had completed all the other students had been released to have their meal.  He was standing at attention awaiting to be dismissed and a bunch of his buddies came and stood at attention with him.  So proud of him!  I can't wait to watch him during high school!

These pictures were from when he got home from Marching Band Camp.  To say he was tired would be an understatement!

Grandma's Visit

We felt really spoiled this summer with all the time we were able to spend with extended family.  Then my mom made it even better when she brought Sam & Mary back to us and stayed for over a week.  She made sure to take each of the kids somewhere alone with just her.  They all loved their special time with her and have talked about their experiences with me quite often since.  I enjoyed the time we had together as well.  I'm always grateful that we can just enjoy the simple things together...especially when we would secretly escape from the house to run to Circle K! :)  It's always hard to say goodbye when it is time to part.  It's like a part of my heart goes with her.  How blessed I am to have such amazing parents that have taught me and continue to teach me and support me and love me and our children.

Grandma brought the quilt she made for Jacob's birthday.  Our kids all have
handmade beautiful quilts from Grandma.

Grandma helped Spring & I with one of her personal progress projects.  She made these
dolls and clothes to give to homeless children.  I'm so glad she was here to help us figure it out.

Spring's 12th Birthday

We celebrated Spring's birthday in shifts this year!  She turned 12 while we were on vacation so it wasn't a normal year for her.  A few days before her birthday we celebrated with the Biggs family.  She and her cousin, Rylie, share a birthday so Uncle Jared & Aunt Haylie surprised the girls with a cake so we could sing to them.  While we were at the Powell reunion we celebrated Spring and Grandpa Powell's birthdays with cake as well.  A few weeks after we arrived home we finally were able to have our family celebration of Spring's birthday.  She chose Mexican food for dinner and an ice-cream cake for dessert.  This girl LOVES ice cream.  She tells us she could live on ice cream alone! :)

This was also an even year so she had a friend birthday party as well.  She had about 10 friends over one evening for pizza, homemade root beer, chips, chocolate, and you guessed it-ice cream!  They started to play a couple games but never really finished them.  They giggled and talked a lot. They  played outside on the trampoline and the playset and just enjoyed being together.  I am grateful for the wonderful friends she has made.  She is a great friend to others and she attracts great girls.  I'm so grateful for this.

Spring was so excited to be in Young Women's now and she is blossoming.  She loves the Personal Progress program and is working so hard in it.  Grandma Powell and I are doing the program with her; however, she is much more dedicated and focused than I am! :)  It has been so rewarding to learn and discuss and share our feelings and thoughts as we work through the program.  I'm grateful for this amazing daughter we have been blessed with. She is doing and will continue to do amazing things in her life and bless the lives of those around her.

Mary & Sammy's Adventure

Mary and Sammy were able to go back to Washington with Grandma & Grandpa Powell from the reunion.  They flew to Seattle and spent almost 2 weeks there.  Then Grandma flew back to Ohio with them.  Sam and Mary LOVED their time.  They talk about it all the time and keep telling me more and more things they were able to do.  They really loved the individual time they were able to spend with Grandma & Grandpa.  They never even got homesick in the least.  I'm so grateful that it is important to my parents to spend special time with each of their grandchildren and to make the time all about them.  With a family of our size that doesn't get to happen very often.

They were kept super busy by my parents.  They rode with Grandpa in his corvette in the Whaling Days Parade.  They were able to steer a ferry and then go down into the engine room where Uncle Brandon works.  They spent time in the hot tub, went to Dungenus Spit and played in the driftwood improving a fort already started, went to a ball game, and even went to Chuck-E-Cheese.  Sam spent time at the gun range with Grandpa helping out as well as shooting.  He also went to an Outdoorsman Expedition and was able to throw tomahawks and knives.  He LOVED it!  Grandma helped Mary sew a skirt and make a wall hanging quilt.  They spent some time with Uncle Brandon's family as well.  They went to a Children's Museum and to Wild Waves.  Even Sammy mentioned that he got the feeling roller coasters aren't all that safe...it didn't stop him from riding them though!  

They made memories these couple weeks that they will always keep with them.  They said it was one of the best parts of their summer.  

Jacob's 1st Birthday

The day after we got back from our trip out west, Jacob turned 1 year old!  That was one very fast year!  In fact, I feel like the years keep going faster and faster and I can hardly keep up.  We celebrated his momentous day with a trip to the Dr for immunizations and cheesecake brownies for dessert.  We love this little man of our's.  

1 Year Old Stats:

Length: 28.5 inches (10th percentile)

Weight:  20 lbs 2 oz (25th percentile)

Shortly after he turned 1 he began to pull himself to a standing position against couches and chairs.  The funny thing is a month later and he still hasn't figured out how to sit back down once he is standing.  So he will stand up in his bed and then cry and cry because he is stuck and can't sit back down.  It is comical even though I feel bad when I go to get him and his eyes are puffy and his nose is running because he has been crying.  As soon as he sees us though, he is all smiles because he knows we will be picking him up.

He loves to eat!  It's funny how in the beginning he wouldn't eat in the NICU and now we can't get him to stop eating.  He loves whatever we are eating...especially meat and fruit.  He will devour an entire apple, including the core if I don't get it from him soon enough!  He still army crawls; however, we have caught him on rare occasions crawling 'for real'!  He giggles and laughs all the time and loves to be with his siblings or me.  He does not like to be alone at all!  He will stand at the screen door and jabber to the kids when they are outside hoping they will come and rescue him.

How blessed we are to have this sweet boy in our family.  He brightens my day and helps me remember to slow down and enjoy the most important part of life!