Jaden's Patriotic Program

Jaden's FIRST GRADE class held a PATRIOTIC PROGRAM

the last week of school!

All serious business for Jaden!  No smiling allowed!

Jaden had the longest part of all the kids from both classes.  And, he said it SUPER FAST! But, he did a great job memorizing it!  Just no smiling!

Not sure what was going on here.....but I did capture ONE smile from the MANY pictures I took during the program!!!  ONE SMILE!!!

The 4 boys---

Logan, Carson, Jaden, and Caleb

These boys are un-separable!  I sure hope Jaden has at least one of these boys in his class next year!  I am sure Mrs. Short separated them and won't allow them ALL to be together again!  It was a FUN year though!  These boys made it an easy transition from Kindergarten to 1st grade for Jaden!

Cheerleading

Dance, Gymnastics, and now CHEERLEADING!!!!!

What will Paige decide she likes?  or doesn't like?

I'd say she likes it all at this point!

**These pictures are all taken through the glass--that's why they aren't the clearest!**

Next she's trying TUMBLING and then I think dance again, at a new place.

There's talk of basketball next winter!  We've been practicing already!!

I am grateful we have the "means" to be able to let our kids try all these different activities.  It's NOT cheap!  Now that I am a parent, I realize how much money my parents spent on me and my brothers!  I remember being upset because I had to choose 2 types of dance---ballet and tap and couldn't do the third, Jazz. 

NOW I GET IT!!!!!  More classes, more shoes, more costumes, more, more, more......

I GET IT!!!!!!!

 But, THANKS to my parents for always allowing me to try everything and be in everything when I was a kid!  I want to do the same for my kids!! 

Tanganika Wildlife Zoo

Ms. Williams Afternoon Kindergarten class

Goes to Tangankia!!!

Petting Rabbits!

Kangaroos!

Can you see the babies legs and tail coming out of the mother's pouch!  TOO COOL!!!

Feeding Lemurs right out of her hand!

If you hold a cup of sugar water--the birds ATTACK YOU!  super silly!

The birds actually pulled Paige's shirt off her shoulder! 

Friends!!

Spring Basketball

NO Baseball for us this summer.....Just More BASKETBALL!!!

The boys were given the choice---to play baseball this summer or play Spring basketball.  They both chose Spring Basketball!  We were pretty excited about that choice because last summer we spent 4-5 nights A WEEK at the baseball field!

For Spring Ball Steve made a team of 1st graders AND 3rd graders. 

They are playing in the 2nd/3rd grade league!  So far, it's worked well. 

 Jaden is a bit intimidated, but getting better each week. 

Aren't they the cutest little basketball studs!!



Tyler and Ethan

Jaden and Carson

Celebrating!  WE WON!!





More Easter

Easter at Grandma and Grandpa Roth's

Grandma and THE GIRLS

Tradition at the Roth's is  A MAP to show where the Easter baskets are hidden!

Checking out the map---where could it be??

The boys got these NEW SHIRTS in their baskets and Paige got her NEW OUTFIT!



THE BOYS!!

THE GIRLS!!

                                                          MOM AND DAD!!   AHH!!! 

And... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!! 

12 wonderful years TODAY!!!



Easter pictures

Easter 2012

Seriously....our family does not take good pictures!!  But , this is simply adorable!!  (Jaden is usually our "troublesome one" when it comes to pictures!!  And look how cute he smiled!!)  YEA US!!!

Tradition at GMA and GPA Balzer's is always dying Easter Eggs.

I think I have only dyed Easter eggs 1, maybe 2, times with my kids at our house!  I just know Gma will take care of it so I don't have to hassle with it!! 

Jaden---the man of many expressions!

The BOYS!

Jaden--6         Paige-5         Tyler-9

Gma and Gpa Balzer with the kids!

We are just missing Jeremy and Sydney!!!  We miss them back in Michigan.

2 wheeled riding

Paige-- 5 years, 8 months and riding with NO TRAINING WHEELS!

To Paige---this is BIG GIRL STUFF!!!

Steve taught the boys to ride their 2-wheel bikes!  I taught Paige!

 I think it took Paige quite a bit longer than the boys to learn.

Stopping was tricky!

Starting was trickier!

Turning and curves were scary!

The "mountain" (hill) in our neighborhood--SUPER challenging!

But she DID IT!!!!

 As hard as it was and as much time as it took---I am glad I got to teach her, since I didn't with the boys!  And, when I say "hard" and "long time"---I mean maybe a week practicing before or after school.  SO, not really THAT LONG....

just not 15 min. like the boys!

And, now she thinks she OWNS the neighborhood!  She wants to ride her bike EVERY SINGLE DAY!  EVERYWHERE!  She is begging to ride around "the loop" (basically our block) with her friend Leah and without an adult!  YIKES!!!  I haven't said yes yet....but I think she could do it!