Spring Break

This year we did not go to Florida. This is the first time in 3 or 4 years. Instead we went to Indianapolis for a long weekend. The boys loved it. Give Ashton a hotel, eating out, pool, hot tub and the boy is happy for a lifetime!!! We went to the Children’s Museum, Zoo, and to the Pacers’ game. We left on Thursday and was planning on coming back Saturday night after the game to be home in time for Easter that Sunday. However, Zach woke up Friday night / Saturday morning sick as a dog. At first he thought he had food poisoning. Then he thought he just had the flu because he was having hot flashes and was dizzy. He could not get out of bed let alone walk around the zoo, mall or game that we had planned for our Saturday. So we had to stay an extra night and Zach stayed in bed all day long. He had to order room service and that out of everything made him madder than anything else(and this is the first Easter he’s every missed at his Grandma’s in 32 years!!!)! Food is good but marked up like 500%. So it was me that had to entertain the boys for the day. I was nervous at first but it was so much fun. I really think the boys thought it was silly we were going out in the city by ourselves. Stephon was a really big help with Ashton and Ashton was just soaking it all in!! I even drove to the game and totally didn’t get lost. It helps that the garage to park in on the same street as our hotel but my boys didn’t notice. I even got back to the hotel on the one way streets with no problem. I forgot my camera for the game but I did get pics from the other places we were at.

OH – we took Zach to the ER on Sunday when we got home the next day and it turns out that he had vertigo. He’d had a sinus infection for about 2 weeks before we went to Indy so they think he got it from that. Since he gets sinus & allergy infections quite frequently they said that he’ll have vertigo many more times in his lifetime. That was about 4 weeks ago and Zach just got over it this week!! He was home that Monday and Tuesday. I was home sick with a sinus infection that Tuesday – Wednesday and Thursday. Ashton was home sick Thursday with me. That following week Stephon was home sick Monday – Tuesday and Wednesday. I’m just thankful that most of us waited until after the trip to get sick J He’d had a sinus infection for about 2 weeks before we went to Indy so they think he got it from that. Since he gets sinus & allergy infections quite frequently they said that he’ll have vertigo many more times in his lifetime. That was about 4 weeks ago and Zach just got over it this week!!

Science Fair

Ashton chose to do the Science Fair at school this year. He’s very interested in how things work or why they work they way they do. He’s always asking questions about stuff I don’t know how to answer. Zach just loves this because he works in the testing lab at Depuy / Johnson & Johnson. So they teamed up this year to do an experiment and since Ashton got a book for Christmas (501 Science Experiments) he chose one out of that book. They agreed on the rubber egg experiment. They both had fun doing it together and “they” got 5th place.

Middle School

And speaking of becoming 6th graders…….this is probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with so far. Sending the boys to preschool – nothing. Sending them to kindergarten – hard but got through it. First grade, being at school all day and eating lunch in the cafeteria – harder yet but still was ok. Stephon going to middle school is making me tear up as I write this. It’s not something I thought would ever come and as it’s nearing it’s really hard to deal with. In March, we had a parent’s night at the middle school for the fall incoming class. The parents and kids both got to go, meet teachers and visit classrooms. I was very silent, didn’t say much. I just went through the motions. We walked around with a few other families that we knew and so I just tried to blend in. One teacher singled me out though! He simply said “is this your first one?” I was just shocked that he even noticed me in the crowd I was with. “Yes, he’s my first,” I answered. He said “it’s ok it’s only middle school – we’re not taking them away from you.” I had to leave the room because I broke down crying. I know it’s only middle school and I know it’s not the end of the world. But it’s my oldest baby growing up faster than my heart is wanting him too. I’m an emotional mess and I can’t imagine how I’ll be in August when it’s time to go back to school….which starts on my birthday….bitter sweet?

Basketball

This year has been a very busy one and it’s close to being half over. Where does the time go??? Stephon and Ashton were both in basketball again this year. Ashton was on a youth center league and did very well. Each year it’s so nice to see how much they improve from the previous year. We were so happy that this year he was aggressive and there were no cartwheels and no high fives to his friends on the other team. He’s getting really tall and lanky like his dad so we hope he’ll excel in this sport. He’s been practicing in the backyard with Stephon so that can only help. I did play PIG and HORSE with him last weekend and beat him every time!! This time next year I have a feeling it’ll be the other way around.

Stephon was on his AAU traveling basketball team for the 2nd year in a row. They did really well this year, too. This year they got an earlier start than the previous year so they got to practice more and got to have more games as well. Every weekend in March was a different tournament at a different school. It was a very hard, challenging season for the boys but they didn’t give up and they didn’t stop trying. They are all learning to be a team and playing as a team. I’m very excited to see what they can do next year when they are all 6th graders (sniffle, sniffle).