June 12

Neighborhood Block Party!

This afternoon we got together with a lot of our neighbors at our block party!!  The city blocked off a street and let the kids play safely out in the street.  There was a trampoline set up and water being sprayed on the kids jumping.  For the smaller kids there was a small bounce house!

The Johnston Fire Department stopped by with a firetruck and sprayed water for the kids to play under!  It was so cool to see this and to see all of the kids in the neighborhood all play and get along.  After the fire department left the police department came to join in on the fun.  The kids loved talking to the officers and the older kids liked being cuffed!  Now lets hope we do not have to see Noah in cuffs!  But he did think it was pretty funny to be cuffed.

We had a wonderful afternoon with our neighbors!!!

A good view of the fun we had!

June 11

Today we had Brandon's Memorial in Creston.  Essentially, it is a family reunion.  It is great to see family that I do not get to see often.  I hate that this memorial/reunion had to come about because of Brandon's passing but I am glad that it has brought us as a family close at least once a year.

I didn't get many pictures this year.  But we had a huge spread of food.  Played a bags tourney and the kids got to go swimming.  Fun was had by all.

And he is out after a long day of FUN!

June 7

Today, Memphis and I met Brenna for lunch!  (For some reason Noah didn't want Mexican so he stayed home and played with the neighborhood kids).  After lunch, Brenna and I took the kids to the park to run off some energy!  The kids had a great time, we took Israel with us, a friend of Noah's.

We love summer!!!!

Lunch on the patio!

These two being silly!

All 3 boys having fun!

June 2

Today was the last day of school for both boys.  What a year.  Memphis finished preschool and Noah finished his last year of elementary school!  WOW, it is so hard to believe that Noah will be a 6th grader.

First and last day.  Sorry for the bad last day picture but the sun was too bright!  

First and last day pictures

June 1

Tonight Memphis' T-Ball team was picked to be one of the little league teams that got to be introduced and throw out the first pitch with the high school team.  It was so cool to hear Memphis' name over the loud speaker and see him run out to the field.  He got to throw out a pitch to a high school player.  It was pretty cool!  His team also stood with the rest of the team during the National Anthem.  It was a great way to end his season!

Getting ready to throw out the pitch

Standing with the team for the National Anthem

Even Stephen and Siena were at the game.  

Beautiful night at the field

May 31

Graduation Day at Johnston High School!!!  This day always makes me smile.  Most teachers do not attend graduation unless they have too!  I love attending because I get to see my students who worked so hard walk across that stage.  For some, they truly believe that this day would never happen.  Others worked hard and were just plain excited to be done with high school and ready for the next chapter in their life.
But to make this year even more special was that I got to see Bailey Bjorland walk across that stage.  (this is Brenna's daughter).  Talk about a kid who has worked hard!!!  I can't wait for her to go to the University of Iowa (YAY...GO HAWKS!) and kick butt there too.

Bailey is in the top left hand corner!  The rest are all my students.