Tanner runs Track

Year 2 of Tanner running track! Watching him compete has been one of those things that has made me so incredibly proud of him.

At the junior high level, only the top 3 or 4 students in each event get to advance to the meets, so there was definitely some competition! Tanner consistently ranked near the top, which meant he qualified for every meet. Watching him work hard and then seeing that hard work pay off was so exciting!

He ran the 800 (two times around the track) and the 400 (one lap), which meant he was running twice at each meet. And if you’ve ever been to a junior high track meet, you know those things can be LONG! Tanner would often have an event near the very beginning and then another one toward the end, so we were there for quite a while. But of course, we never minded because we loved getting to watch him run.

He even qualified for districts, which was such a cool accomplishment!

There was one meet where both Brad and I really wanted to go watch him, but Logan had soccer practice at the exact same time. I was trying to figure out how I was going to make it all work when I suddenly remembered… Carson can drive! 😂 He was able to take Logan to soccer while Brad and I went to Tanner’s meet. Having a third driver has been a TOTAL game changer!

More than anything, I’m proud of Tanner for the discipline he showed throughout the season. Getting up early every day, heading to practice, pushing himself to run and improve, and sticking with it takes a lot of dedication.

(In black shirt and red pants stretching his leg)

making sure we were watching

So proud of you, Tanner! Watching you work hard and accomplish your goals has been so much fun. 🏃‍♂️❤️

 

February Update

Other February happenings that I want to remember. 

Since I do the yearbook for Logan’s school, I spent a LOT of time there this month getting things ready for an upcoming deadline. But honestly, it was pretty fun getting to be around school so much and watch Logan in his element.  I've gotten really close with some of the teachers and staff at the school this year, and its been very fulfilling. 

Logan had a Special Pal this year! High school students come over once a week for about 30 minutes to hang out and play with the elementary kids. Logan absolutely loved his buddy, and the two of them got along so well. They played all kinds of games together, and we’re so thankful for the time and attention he gave Logan this year. 

I also got to be there for Logan’s art and music classes. His music teacher even pulled out the instruments especially for me so I could get some good pictures. I loved getting to hear him play and see a little glimpse of what his school days look like. 🎶🎨

One of my favorite school events this month was the Mother-Daughter Dance. Since I only have boys, I’ve never gotten to experience anything like this, so I was excited to tag along and soak it all in. The theme was Anne Frank, which definitely brought back some childhood memories! It was such a fun night. 

A few other February favorites:
📸 A picture of Tanner that Carson took that I absolutely love.

🚲 Chandler came into town, so the boys got together for a ride.

💃 Girls’ night! I went to my VERY FIRST CLUB and had an absolute blast! Definitely planning on more clubbing in the future!

February can be a month that drags on, but these were just a bunch of ordinary moments that helped make the month a fun one. 

Stories from a preschool teacher

 My cute class this year dressed up for pj day

petting zoo day

showing off our cowboy boots after our rodeo parade

I know its not very often I tell stories from work on here, but this year has had some real highlights that I have to document because they are just too good.  The kind you retell at dinner, text to coworkers, or laugh about long after the school year ends. It’s unpredictable, unfiltered, and often unintentionally hilarious. 

    First up: petting zoo day. If you’ve ever hosted a petting zoo at a preschool, you already know it’s equal parts magical and chaotic. This year, the star of the show was a very pregnant mama goat carrying twins. The kids were fascinated, especially when they realized they could actually feel the babies moving. Which, of course, one of my students who is obsessed with babies asked the question every teacher dreads: “How do the babies get out of the mommy’s tummy?” My eyes grew big and I looked at my teacher partner like what do I say? Every teacher within earshot froze. I chose deflection. “Why don’t you ask the farmer?” 😅 and this was a farmer farmer, probably in his mid 30's, wearing overalls and missing a tooth or two. Thankfully, he was a seasoned professional in answering tiny humans’ stepped in and said "very gently". I mean just the best response. Afterward, the rest of us exchanged relieved looks while he laughed and said, “I’ve done this a lot.” 

    Next up the time we had an unexpected classroom guest a very bold, very animated lizard right outside our window during pickup time. As the kids waited for their parents, this lizard decided to put on a full performance: puffing up his neck, bobbing around, completely unbothered by his audience of wide-eyed preschoolers pressed against the glass. Honestly, it was perfect timing. Pickup can be a restless stretch for little ones, but that lizard? Instant entertainment. My co-worker wondered if we could hire him to come back! Then one of the dads walked up to pick up his daughter when Dean (who is too smart for his own good) proudly announced, “The lizard is looking for a lady lizard.” Without missing a beat, the dad smiled and said, “did he just say what I think he did?  Well… he ain’t wrong.” Cue the teachers trying very hard to keep it together. 😂  ❤️

    Last but definitely the most memorable, the one that made me want to write this post.  The cream of the crop of preschool stories.  The one that will go down in infamy for me. The infamous “white cocaine” incident. 😅 

Ok ok hold on because this is a good one. I have a student with a food allergy, I always text her mom ahead of time with the ingredients we’ll be using for our monthly cooking activity. It’s a simple step that helps keep everyone safe and informed. One of the ingredients that day was white chocolate.  Except autocorrect had other plans. Instead of “white chocolate,” my phone confidently changed it to “white cocaine.” 😳💀 how did chocolate get changed to cocaine and why my phone thought that was ok, I will never know. But yes… I hit send before my eyes registered the word change. The second I realized what happened, pure panic set in. I was frantically tapping “unsend, unsend, UNSEND!” like my life depended on it. Eventually, it disappeared but let’s be honest, once something like that is sent, the emotional damage is already done. 🤦🏼‍♀️ 

Fast forward to cooking day. We always do our activity at the end of the day right before pickup. When that mom arrived, I immediately confessed and explained the situation. Thankfully, she burst out laughing and admitted she did see the message before I unsent it. She was actually about to respond when it disappeared. At this point, another mom nearby overheard the story, and we were all laughing so hard we could barely hold it together. And then somehow… it got even better. Her daughter walked out of the classroom with white chocolate all over her nose from licking the plate clean. Without missing a beat, her mom looked at her and said, “Oh… was she sniffing the white powder?” 😆💀 We absolutely lost it. But honestly, moments like that are exactly what make preschool unforgettable. 

Logan part 2

Logan's growing up and we're soaking in this stretch of time with Logan as much as we can.

I jumped at the chance to chaperone Logan’s last elementary school field trip, and I’m so glad I did. The trip was to the Katy ISD Outdoor Learning Center, and it could not have been a more perfect day. The weather was beautiful, just right for being outside all day.

The kids rotated through different outdoor activities like fishing, archery, and exploring nature. While the fish weren’t bitting too much (apparently too many recent field trips had them well-fed), that didn’t take away from the experience. There was still plenty of laughter, friendly competition, and just pure fun being out in nature. Getting to watch Logan with his friends in that setting made it even more special.

That weekend was a Scout service project with Keeping Fulshear Beautiful, where we spent time picking up trash and giving back to the community. It’s always rewarding to see the boys take pride in their work and understand the value of service. As a bonus, after we finished, they treated us to lunch, always a win! There was even a table set up where the Scouts could check out some snakes, which of course was a huge hit.

To coincide with Thanksgiving Logan’s elementary school puts on a family picnic. Unfortunately, I had to miss that because of work, but I was so grateful that Brad was able to step in and spend that time with Logan. 

That night they also got to attend the Father-Son activity, which made it even more meaningful. Two years ago, when it was their turn, Brad had a business trip and couldn’t make it, so it felt extra special that they were able to go this time especially since it’s Logan’s last one in elementary school.

The best part about being the yearbook photographer was that I was able to go to this event that I normally wouldn't have and capture these  capture these sweet memories.  They had a great time.

Boys and their 6 7

These events just make me feel a little nostalgic. Logan is growing up, and while it’s bittersweet, I’m so thankful for moments like these that let us soak it all in.

Homecoming

Homecoming felt a little extra special this year, and not just because it’s one of those milestone high school moments—it was Carson’s first time going to Homecoming with a girl, his girlfriend, Priya. They’ve been dating since the summer, and getting to see that relationship carry into such a fun, memorable event made it all the sweeter.

But before the dance even began, there was serious prep work involved… and I mean serious.

Carson wanted to do something creative and meaningful when asking Priya, which led to one of my favorite memories leading up to homecoming. We had a whole group of neighborhood girls over, and let me just say—they are unbelievably talented. The house quickly turned into a full-on crafting studio! They designed an incredible poster inspired by their favorite show, One Piece, and it turned out so fun and personal. On top of that, they made the most amazing flowers out of pipe cleaners—honestly, I didn’t even know pipe cleaners could look that good! The effort, creativity, and teamwork that went into it made the whole moment even more special.

Carson's face cracks me up in this picture!

And then there’s the Texas homecoming tradition… the mums. If you know, you know. These things can get big—like, over-the-top big. I even came across one from Carson’s school that was absolutely massive! It’s such a unique tradition where girls wear them like a giant necklace and boys have a smaller version worn on their arm for the game and throughout the day. I have to admit, I was a little relieved (and so were Carson and Priya!) that they decided to skip the mums this year.

Here instead of corsages, they do mini bouquets.  Isn't it beautiful?

So handsome

When the big day finally arrived, everything came together perfectly. Just wish Carson already had his drivers license so he could drive her to the dance.  Luckily she has her own car and was able to drive so that Brad and I didn't have to embarrass him by driving them.

Carson and Priya went out for a nice dinner before the dance, which made the evening feel even more grown-up and special. Seeing them all dressed up and ready to go was one of those “how are we already here?” kind of moments. They were absolutely adorable together.

Most importantly, they had a great time together and being with their friends.  It was such a fun night. Watching Carson experience these milestones is equal parts heartwarming and a little bittersweet, but mostly, it just makes me so happy to see him enjoying this season of life. 💕