May is quickly coming to an end and it has been a busy month for us but things are finally starting to wind down.  I’m excited for the slow down and I’m looking forward to having some more quality time with my kids and time to read.

Sports Madness

Most of May kept us super busy with sports. Baseball geared up full force during May and won’t conclude until mid-June. I’ve really enjoyed baseball season this year.  Jackson moved up from t-ball to coach pitch. He was so nervous that he almost talked himself out of playing.  Thankfully, we convinced him to just give it a try and he has done wonderful.  He didn’t get very many hits the first few games but after a little practice he is hitting the ball almost every time he is at bat. One of his biggest fears was that he would get hit by the ball and that hadn’t happened until last week. Last week he was hit by the ball twice and now he’s a little skittish at bat.  I’m hoping that experience doesn’t ruin baseball for him but so far he is still hanging in there and trying.  He has four more games on the schedule and then possibly a tournament if his team continues to do well.

Soccer is finally winding down.  Emily played her last game last night and Jackson played his last Saturday.  Soccer was a bit lackluster this year mainly because of all the rain we’ve had.  Every game but three for each child was rained out.  Emily’s team made an effort to make up several of her games during practice time through the week but Jackson’s team didn’t really make up that many games.  The kids enjoyed what little they were able to play but I do felt like they were more committed this year to baseball and dance.  Soccer may be the sport we have to rethink soon.

Dance season also wrapped up this month. Thank goodness! After spending three nights a week at the dance studio since last September, I am so ready for a break from dance. Honestly, I think the girls are too. Recital week was pure craziness and left me exhausted.  Because at least one child was dancing in both the Thursday and Friday night recital, we had to be at rehearsals Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in addition to the recitals on Thursday and Friday nights.  Each recital and rehearsal required us to be at the theater for about three hours each night.  The girls did wonderful though!

Graduation

Around the middle of May, I finally walked across that stage and received my diploma for my master’s degree! It was a pretty surreal feeling.  The amount of time and effort I put into this degree was by far more than what I have had to do in the past academically. It was a long road but so worth it.

While it was difficult, it was an experience I am very thankful for.  I made some, hopefully, lifelong friends that I could not have made it through the program without.  We compared notes, vented to each other, and encouraged each other every step of the way.  They understood what it is like to read the huge amount of historical literature that we were required to read and try to absorb it all while maintaining your sanity. I’m thankful for their support and friendship all along the way!

The day after I graduated, I said good-bye to the graduating class of the high school that I teach at.  I have tried to run up to the graduation ceremony and wish the graduates good-bye each year but this year was particularly bittersweet.  The class of 2017 was the first class that I ever taught at this high school.  When I started my job I taught freshman civics and economics.  The next year I moved to junior English and the year after that I began teaching senior English as well.  Many of the kids in this graduating class had me as a teacher their freshman year, junior year, and senior year.  Needless to say, I was pretty attached to them.  I’m proud of the adults they have grown into the last four years and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them!

So, what now?

School is officially out and I have been home on summer break with my wonderful kids for a week now.  We haven’t really made any summer plans because I really think we just need some downtime. Our little family has been running full force for really the past two years. I’ve went to graduate school. We’ve bought a new house and welcomed two new babies in the past year.  We need a bit of time to relax.  Of course, our version of relaxing probably still seems busy to some.

No trips or traveling this summer but swim team practice starts next week. That will take up three mornings a week and then we will have some swim meets on Friday nights and Saturday mornings over the summer.   I have a list of books that I can’t wait to read and Lauren is looking forward to baking and cooking with me.  That is about all we have planned for the summer!  What are your summer plans?