First Day of School 2014

Well, here it is August 5 and our first FULL day of school is now upon us!

Carter and I actually had a half day yesterday but LB did not have to go (lucky dog!), 

so we stopped today and took the traditional first day of school pictures!

LB beginning 7th grade!

Carter beginning 5th grade

LB loves having her picture taken!

Then we tried a selfie with the 3 of us.

It took 3 tries for SOMEONE (LB) to cooperate!

Happy First Day of School, everyone!

Fourth Grade Comes to an End

Carter had a wonderful fourth grade year!

He loved his teachers and they loved him.

He had great classmates.

He learned so much and we are so grateful for this great year of his!

The last day of school they had awards day and Gran got to come celebrate

a wonderful year!

Carter and Marico have been close buddies since Kindergarten!

Carter and Cory

Jada, Carter and Faith

Mrs. Crystal was Carter's class's aide this year.

Mrs. Bailey was Carter's homeroom, reading and social studies teacher.

Mrs. Snider was Carter's math and science teacher.

Thank you for a wonderful year!

CCMS Disney Style Talent Show

To raise money for Relay for Life, the CCMS holds a talent show each year.

This year, most of the classes did a show and Carter's class did 

"I Just Can't Wait to be King!" from The Lion King.

He LOVED it!

I believe the words, "Makin' Music Middle School Style" were mentioned more than once.

August 2013 Recap

For those who are were regular followers of my blog, let me apologize for NOT keeping up with this blog for almost an entire year! (GULP!)

To say that the past 10 months were crazy is an understatement and I know many people have been dealing with things FAR worse than what we have been.  However, I just really felt like the blog was a low priority and it has shown. 

I must admit I have missed blogging and I really hope to get back into it this next year. 

We really did have a wonderful year!

The kids had amazing school years!

The time that was left to me was just not to be spent on blogging.

So . . . now that summer is here, I am going to give you a month-by-month (or big event) recap of what the Welches have been up to the last 10 months.

I hope our time apart is not this long again!

August 2013 began with getting ready to start back to school.  We took the kids out for a back to school dinner (instead of my cooking it).

The next thing we knew school was beginning.  Damon took the kids for their first day since I was having my own first day of school.  Carter is going to have a great year with Mrs. Bailey and Mrs. Snider in fourth grade!

As much as it hurts me to say Carter is in 4th grade, it kills my soul to say that LB is in JUNIOR HIGH!  6th grade!!! AHHHHH!!!  She is ready.  Mom is not.

At the end of August, we said good-bye to 2 very special people - John and Erin Jones.  We were blessed to have known them while they were in college.  Then, this summer we were blessed again to have had the privilege of spending the summer with them before they left to be missionaries in New Zealand.  We know God is going to do AMAZING things through them and while we will miss them, New Zealand is now on our bucket list of places we want to go!

August brought us a new love - FLASHLIGHT TAG!  We live in a fabulous neighborhood with incredible neighbors.  The Allen's sent us a flashlight tag challenge one night and the kids have been hooked ever since!  Do they look serious or what?

Our challengers and the best neighbors ever!

What a month!  So thankful for the fact that I am a picture taking FREAK so even though it has been 10 months and I have slept - SOME, I can remember these times!

Fifth Grade Awards Day

Both my babies are moving on up to bigger schools this next year.

It is really killing my soul on more than one level.

I am still trying to figure out how they are getting old while I am just staying oh so young!

I was not able to go to LB's awards day but Gran and Damon represented.

I was super proud of Damon for actually remembering to take pictures for me!!!

LB came to the middle school very apprehensive, shy (in her own way), reserved and a little girl.

She is leaving the middle school confident, outgoing, independent and a young lady.

Our whole family has just been amazed at the change in her over the past two years, and it just warms my heart!

She had a fabulous fifth grade year! She was concerned because she had a MAN as a teacher!!

She pictured him old, gray . . . and as you can see Mr. Edwards was anything BUT that!!!

These two adored each other.  I tell people that if he had asked her to build a rocket and shoot it to the moon she would have done it in a heart beat and asked if she needed to be on the rocket!

We are SUPER PUMPED because Mr. Edwards is going to be LB's assistant soccer coach at the junior high!!!!!!

We are so glad we will still have him in her life for the next few years!!!

LB and her awards

 Damon said on the way out of school, LB had to stop by Ms. Holdren's class to see her.  This was her fourth grade teacher and now a great friend.  Diane would pick LB up when she had to go to school 

with me in the mornings.  They would have breakfast together and I am sure talked about things going on in life. LB LOVED her time with Ms. Diane and Ms. Diane LOVED it as well.

We are so thankful for these amazing people who have helped shape our little girl into the FABULOUS young lady she is today!!!

JUNIOR HIGH (gulp!), here she comes!!!!!

Fun Days are Here . . .

You have to love the last weeks of school with all the fun things you do to keep the kids

occupied and out of trouble.  We enjoyed Field Day with Carter.  Trying to be a teacher and parent was a bit hard so these the only pictures I got.

He really wanted to take this picture - can't you tell!

Mason, Tyricus and Carter - by a knee!!!!
Tyricus and Carter have been battling out the 50 yard dash since Kindergarten!

I have been blessed this year with a great partner teacher in Kim Murphy.

Next year, Kim and I are going to help the third grade teachers new to partner teaching get adjusted.

My partner (in crime) will be Belinda Anderson.

What a great third grade group!

We are sad to see Mrs. Susan (the one with the pink in her hair) retire, but we are excited because

she is going to bring us lunch!!!

Later on, LB had her field day. I was able to go over during my lunch and pe to see her.

I can't believe this is her LAST Field Day EVER!!!

So glad I was able to sneak away for a little bit to see her!

Aunt Becky's DAY OF FUN!!!!

I don't take to many days off of school, but when my babies are coming into town when I haven't seen them in 4 months - I take off!!!  Walker wound up not making the trip, but Lucy and I still had a great day together!

Started my morning off playing with this sweetie!

 Then we went to visit Pop Whittle and play with him!

The stairs are always a hit with the kids!

 On my day off, East Chester had their first annual ENERGY RUN!!  It was actually suppose to be the next day, but rain was a threat so they moved it to the day I was not there!

Richard, Lucy and I went to school to see Carter and my class run and run they did!!!!

Lucy even went around a lap or two with Carter!

Carter was a running machine! He ran 66 laps in a matter of 26 minutes.
Why? We have no idea!!!!

 After the ENERGY RUN we went to eat lunch with LB at the middle school.  Lucy loved waving to all the kids as they went by! She was a HUGE hit!!!

I loved spending time with my little Lucy! So glad I was able to have a day full of fun with her! (and Richard!)

80's Day at the Middle School

The Middle School celebrated Homecoming with a 70's/80's Day.

I was so excited because I will be honest . . .

I have been saving my New Kids on the Block shirt for THIS day!!!

LB, however, was not as excited.

Can you tell?

Rolled up sleeves with a shirt underneath . . .

New Kids on the Block t-shirt

Tight rolled jeans . . .
Neon socks . . .

Side pony tail . . . 

However, the look says it all . . . .

She is NOT a fan of the late 80's!!!!!