Hallie

May has been a busy month for Hallie. She had her percussion performance, cultural program, lost another tooth, finished up rec soccer with the team she has been on for the past year and is hoping to make a comp soccer team for next year. I am so proud of our daughter and the human she is becoming. She is reliable, smart, funny, friendly, talented, such a great sibling to her brothers, and so much more. I saw this message the other day and it sums up a lot of how I feel. So grateful to have cute Hallie in our lives!

Poem she wrote to me using all the letters of the alphabet

I love her confidence! And I have to admit that she is right.

Last day of academy with Coach Matt, Because Hallie was born in 2014 and most of her team was born in 2015, she will need to separate from this team and tryout for an older one. She is sad to part with the friends she has made but I think playing up with the older girls will be a good challenge for her. 

Snow cones after her cultural program with her class

Kids

 While I was at work, Russ was having a good time with the kiddos. Haha!

Brooks pulled up his shorts to his belly and said, "Look. I'm Stanley." Haha!

Memorial Day

Memorial weekend was a good one spent with family. The weather has been cool all 'summer' with afternoon rainstorms pretty much every day/night. It hasn't gotten in the 90's even once this year yet. My whole family met at my brother's grave and then just our little family went to Russ' mom's grave. Hallie wrote the sweetest note to Grandpa Joe to let him know how she was thinking of him during this holiday weekend. She really is so thoughtful in that way. Always wanting to make something for someone. 

Brooks

Brooks is our sweet little tormentor. He is so sweet when it is just me and him. And then his siblings or Rosie come into the picture and he finds joy in bugging/squeezing/not sharing with them. With school coming to an end, I am not sure how I am going to survive the summer with him and Hallie both home at the same time. There will be so much fighting all day long! It's a good thing he is so cute!

He put Rosie in Stocko's crib and then climbed in with her. Poor Rosie. She takes so much crap from Brooks. 

Cultural Program

 Hallie had her cultural program today! It was the cutest thing ever complete with individual parts, songs, costume changes and a Mexican dance with a partner. She had a smile on her face the entire time. I loved watching her be so happy while showing off all her hard work through the year. Hallie loves Spanish and is doing so well with it! She has the cutest accent when she speaks Spanish and is one of the top in her class. It seems to come so easy to her. 

Comp Team

Hallie made the team A comp soccer team, which is the best team she could have made in her age division! We are absolutely thrilled for her!! We thought she might make the B team but was hoping for the A. Coach Parker, who she played indoor with in the winter season, is the coach. I think it helped that he already knew Hallie and has seen her play several times. When he called us to tell us she made the team he said he "loves Hallie's go-get-em attitude." Parker is a great coach with a lot of knowledge of the game and we are stoked she gets to learn from him.

We took her out to dinner to celebrate her accomplishment. She chose to go to Watermoon, a Chinese restaurant. She loves their orange chicken. Congrats, Hal! We would have been proud of you no matter what but are excited to continue to watch you develop your natural soccer abilities!

 

Stockton

Oh my cute little Taco baby! He has a mind of his own and wants to do everything his older siblings are doing. He is stubborn and wants to be so independent. His speech is coming along but he is only saying about 10 words in total. His black eye is improving but still very much noticeable. He loves his treats and would a whole bag of treats in one sitting if I let him. I swear he eats no regular food throughout the day though. He does things his own way and in his own time. I'm quite certain his is the cutest two year old to ever walk the face of the Earth. I sure love my Taco baby!

Brooks Last Day of Prek

Brooks had a fabulous year at preschool! He gained a lot of confidence, made some new friends and learned that school isn't so scary after all. I am so proud of all of his growth this year. I was nervous beginning this year and am thrilled with how it all turned out. This boy is ready for kindergarten and I can't wait to watch all of his growth this coming year.

We went to his end of year program on his last day of school! He did a great job singing all the songs they learned. I love watching my kids light up when they find us in the audience. He didn't take his eyes off us the whole time. He wanted to make sure we saw it all!

Holding hands with one of his school friends, Cooper.

His smile could light up any room!

Cooper and Brooks

His teachers. Miss Sadie and Miss Whitney

 Brooks specifically requested to get a picture with Russ by this sign. His love for his dad runs DEEEEP!