School Year Comes to An End!

End of the year activities continue with Cael's preschool graduation and Gavin's band concert.
Cael and his class marched in, then sang a couple of cute songs, got their certificate and posed for pictures with the cap and gown and Willard Tiger.

Congratulations, Cael on your graduation into Kindergarten!  I sure will miss picking you up everyday and hearing of your adventures in preschool.

I sure did enjoy going to Gavin's band concert.  He is learning to play the trumpet and has been in band this year.  Willard's Band Director, Mr. Church, is retiring after this year but is leaving a wonderful legacy in the Willard band program. 

These pictures are so blurry, but Gavin is on the back row between the kid in the orange shirt and the kid in the blue shirt.  It was great to hear what they have been learning this year to prepare them for the Willard Cutting Edge!

Proud Mema

Ava Hope Wallace is 3 years old!!

Ava chose to have a "Frozen" birthday party because she just loves Elsa and Anna.  Ever since the movie came out she has been singing the songs....and not just singing the songs but she puts all the motions with them very dramatically.  It's the cutest thing!

So...her party was at her house with all the grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, and cousins.  

We were treated to "Hans" sandwiches, Olaf's noses (carrots), and many other goodies.  
Then Ava got to blow out her THREE candles!

Time for presents, everybody!!!

Ava, I can't believe you are three years old already!  You are so cute, funny, and smart and I have so much fun with you! Happy Birthday and  I love you, sweet Ava!

Mema

Back to Houston

It's May and it's another birthday month....actually every month except January and September are birthday months for somebody in our family.

But this month it is Lucas, Micah and Ava.  Gary and I always travel to Houston in May to spend a little time with the boys for their birthdays (and everyone else).  And for the last couple of years we have gone on Mother's Day weekend.  It happens to be right between Lucas's birthday on the 3rd and Micah's on the 20th, so it's a good time to go.  Plus it lets Wendy and I spend Mother's Day together. 

We drove down on Friday, the 9th and after enduring an enormous amount of traffic when we got to Houston (6:00 drive time and holiday weekend) plus a huge downpour of rain, we arrived around 6:30.  Doug already had burgers and hot dogs grilled and we sat down with them for a delicious dinner.

Saturday morning we got up and went to Ruthie's two soccer games and Micah's one soccer game.  It was the last games of the season, so they handed out trophies and provided hot dogs, chips, and water bottles and had an ice cream truck there for all the players.

Ruthie taking a break between games

Micah getting his trophy.  By the way, he made the winning goal of the game!

Ruthie getting her trophy....and her hot dog!

When we got home, me and the kids went for a swim.   The water felt pretty good and it was nice to catch up on my water exercises.

Sunday we enjoyed worshiping with them at Houston's First Baptist Church.   Yummy lunch provided for us by Colonel Sanders.

Wendy, the girls and I went to see "Mom's Night Out" while Gary, Doug and the boys went to see Captain America.  We absolutely loved our movie!!  I would see it again in a minute.  It was so funny!

We got these pictures after church before everyone had a chance to change out of their "church clothes".

On Monday, Wendy taught her zumba class at noon, so I went with her and walked on the track.  Afterwards, we went to SmallCakes and got our annual Mother's Day cupcakes.

We're so happy, happy, happy!

Don't they look delicious!

How about these selfies??

Mema and Ruth

Mema and Bailey

Mema and Lucas

Mema and Micah

Lucas had another ball game Monday night.  It was sprinkling the whole time, but they played anyway.  He didn't see much action in the field....shortstop and center field, but he got a good line drive to center field and drove in 2 runs.  They won 14-6.

Tuesday was Wendy's and my day to shop.  First things first....our pedicures.  These were part of our Mother's Day gifts.

Then....on to the Mall.  First a stop at Toys 'R Us, then Target....then Willowbrook Mall.  Some looking...some buying.  All of it fun!  I just love spending time with my sweet, beautiful daughter, especially celebrating Mother's Day.

Well, it was a little harder to leave this time.  They won't be coming to see us this summer so it will be October probably when we see them next.  I miss them so much.

Love to all,

Mom/Mema

He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!

Blessed Easter Morning! 

Our kiddos in their Easter finery!

Easter Sunday, 2014 will always be an especially special day for Jadon.  He was saved about a year ago, but on this day he followed his Lord in baptism.  

We went to their church so that we could celebrate his baptism with his family.

Since they had a leak in their baptistry, the pastor went to WalMart and got a blow up pool so that Jadon could be baptized.  Another memory to add to this day.

Last minute instructions from daddy.

Being baptized by daddy......priceless moment!

The fam

Hug by Great Gran

Mom and Dad are so proud

So are Mema and Pappy Wallace and Nana and Papa Schmitz

Sunday evening we celebrated Todd's birthday with our annual shrimp dinner.  Usually we have some delicious morels with it but this year there were none to be had.  So we had french fries, corn on the cob, salads, fruit, and white cake with frosting.  I filled some Easter eggs with quarters and Karla hid them for me so the kids could have a hunt while supper was cooking.

  
What a wonderful weekend!  

The only thing missing was my brother, B.J.  This is the second birthday that he has celebrated in Heaven.  Since his birthday is on April 21 we always have his and Todd's  together.  I will always miss him being here for these dinners.  Although, he would have been pretty upset that morels are late coming up this year and we had none for this dinner.  He always started hunting them as soon as the signs were there.  Todd has taken up that mantel now.....I'm so glad he had those mushroom hunting years with his uncle.

So blessed to know that I have a home in Heaven with a loving Father waiting for me...along with family members who have already gone on ahead.

Looking forward to that blessed reunion,

Donna

Happy April!

April used to be our big birthday month, however, May and October have caught up with it.  We start off with Gary's birthday on the 9th.  This year happens to be number 65 for him!  Woo Hoo!  That means he just has one more year until retirement.....and maybe not even that long.  More about that later.  Anyway we celebrated his birthday with a Sunday dinner of Swiss steak, mashed potatoes and German Chocolate cake.

Then.....every other event in April happened to be on the same weekend.  Doug's birthday is on the 17th which happened to be on Thursday this year.  Also that day was the Willard East school program.  All of the classes were performing together so it was held at the high school gym.

Here's Jude's Kindergarten class singing "Houn' Dog" and "Here Comes the Sun."  Jude is second row up, third from the left.

Haven's first grade class sang, "Rockin Robin" and "We are Free".  She is second row up, fifth from the left.

Jadon's third grade class sang "Let It Go", and "Footloose".  He is on the top row, third from the right.

It was a really fun program.  Grand Finale was "YMCA" with the school superintendent riding in on his motorcycle!

Saturday, the 19th was Todd's birthday.  It was also "The Big Hunt" at Springhill.  So the day started with me,Jadon and Jude going over to the church.  Todd brought Haven after her dance class.  

The little ones were on the east side of the field and I caught these pics but as soon as this hunt was over, the bigger kids hunt started and I had to book it to get up there.  When I did, I could not find Jadon, Haven and Jude in the middle of the hundreds of kids in the field.  After their hunt, Haven kept going back out to see if there were any eggs that were missed.

It  was a beautiful morning for the hunt and we had over 700 people there.  The children played on the inflatables and everyone ate hot dogs and nachos.  So fun!

Thanks to Jami and all who worked to make this such a great event!

Then Saturday night, we went to Todd and Heather's for a celebration of Jadon's baptism on Sunday.  Todd smoked a ham and some beans and both families came to congratulate Jadon on his decision and wish Todd a happy birthday.  (Ham and beans were wonderful, by the way!)

Having a great weekend,

Donna