Kaleb's Belated Birthday Party

With three kids in soccer games on Sunday, Sundays are a hard time to have a birthday party so Kaleb's birthday bash was delayed until mid-May when soccer was done.  

This year he chose to have it at the Nona Adventure Park, which is a big blow-up water obstacle course.  We'd never been before, so it was a fun experience and even Karis and William got out there!

The party group and the partial obstacle course behind them.

They had two hours to go around and play, with a break in the middle of the two hours to eat lunch and cake.  

Happy birthday kiddo - we love you!

Singing happy birthday and then chowing down on his lemon strawberry cake - yummy!

There were lots of different elements on the water course, including monkey bars, a huge slide, a "mountain" that they could jump off of, and lots of places to try and keep your balance on.  

Karis and Addison doing the monkey bar section

The high "mountain" in the background

And there Addison goes!

Taking a rest at the top - Evan, London, Kaleb, Kieran, Kai and Micah

Love this picture with Uncle William jumping in the air to go down the slide!  Kaleb and Micah are sitting on the "mountain" about to jump off.

Poor dad is tired out from all of the running, jumping, bouncing - needed to take a break!

Zach along with his friends Erick and Blake

That weekend was also the end of school and 8th grade graduation.  It was a busy few days for sure!  On Friday afternoon, Kaleb went over to his group of "Bible besties" house (Lily's house) for slip 'n' slide and food.  Great fun and a great group of kids - many, but not all, were part of his Uno Voce group this year.

Eighth grade graduation happened that Thursday night, and many of Kaleb's friends graduated so it was a little bitter-sweet for him.  As we held all of our kids back one year before going into kindergarten, they are as old as the next level class and so end up making friends in both their class and the one above. 

Our dear friend Kieran!

Very close Uno Voce friends - Micah and Mikaela

And some of the soccer team - Micah, Kai, Jonas, Carter, Andrew, Max and Austin

End of the School Year Events - Piano Recital, Uno Voce Concert, Soccer teams

How does the school year fly by so fast!?  It is hard to believe but it is the end, and there is always a flurry of activity that comes at the end of the year with all of the final events for music and sports.

Addison started off with her piano recital.  She wasn't sure that she wanted to do it, but with a small incentive of going out for Jeremiah's Ice afterwards, she agreed to do it.  She was a bit nervous beforehand and during it, but she got through it and we were proud of her for being brave and getting up there!  Good for you girl!

The whole group for those doing both piano and voice recitals

A fellow classmate of Addison's that she was friends with - they both loved the monkey bars this year and would do them at recess a lot!

We love Miss Esther - she has been a great piano teacher for Addison (and voice teacher for Kaleb and Zach)

While we were there at the recital, we realized that many of Kaleb's Uno Voce group members were part of the  voice recitals, so they took a quick picture together afterwards. 

Uno Voce also had their end of the year concert.  Kaleb had a solo part of the song, along with his good friend Lily.  It was fun to watch, although the microphone was kind of going in/out a little bit.  We were proud of Kaleb - it is fun to watch the kids try and conquer new experiences!

When they have a song with a solo, the two soloists come to the front.  They shared a microphone, so it was amusing to watch them try and pass it back and forth 😀

Afterwards, the kids all gathered around talking as they had really bonded this year after the play and then the trip to Tennessee.  Addison was having a hey dey with all of the older girls - especially with Lily as she is very sweet and paid attention to Addi.

Thanks for a great year Miss Esther!

Grandma and Grandpa - they never miss an event - we are blessed!

And in a funny, sweet nod to the trip to Tennessee, Tracy made her famous chocolate chip cookies and handed out oranges and cookies to all of the parents who went as chaperones at the last recital concert.  Yummy!

Maria, Tracy and Amy - we had a great time on the trip together.  Thanks Tracy for the cookies!

At the end of the year there is always the Pathfinder investiture as well, wrapping up their year and getting all of the honors.  Kaleb has enjoyed doing Pathfinders, and our friend Heather does the advanced patches with Kaleb and Kieran, so that has given him an extra challenge. 

Congratulations Kaleb for another year!

This year the club did inspection for the first time - they passed thankfully!

And just like music, soccer wraps up at the end of the school year as well. Addison had her first team this year which was a fun experience for her.  

Thanks Coach Cole!

Zachary has had the same soccer team for many years now, but as they are entering high school and starting to branch off to focus on different sports, we aren't sure how much longer the team will play together.  It has been a really fun time getting to know the other parents and watching the kids play.  Zachary is a talented soccer player - and has played many of the positions on the team - we have received many hours of parental fun watching him play - so it was a little bittersweet to watch the last game of the season.  

These are practically men out there now on the field!

Coach Billy and Coach Cole

Family Camp - We're Back!

After a 2 year hiatus because of Covid, we finally were able to go back to family camp - which made the Z family VERY happy!

Karis and the kids went up early on Friday as that was the only day the blob was going to be open (staffing shortages just like everywhere), and who wants to miss the blob!?  Amy unfortunately had to work late that Friday for some deadline, so she ended up just sleeping a home (sleeping in one's own bed is always a blessing) and then got up very early to make it there by breakfast, which also then meant that we had two cars there so that some of us could stay late on Sunday, so it all worked out well

Blobbing was a first for Addison, so that was quite an adrenaline rush~

We always do a big potluck dinner on Sabbath supper - and this year was no different - we had about 80 people including kids, so it was fun to walk around and visit with folks. 

Saturday night for the first time, one of the activities was game under the pavilion - which ended up being super fun - with a table playing Dutch Blitz and Pit, and then a table playing the Logo Game (always good for a few laughs).  What really made the Logo game table funny was that all of the men there couldn't read the cards and were using Amy's sparkly reading glasses, passing them from person to person - what a hoot!  Getting old is for the birds 😂

Not only Amy's glasses (on Kevin, the guy reading the card) but also needing a flashlight to be able to see.  We're all in the same "I can't read that boat" so it gives us all a good laugh. 

Pit - fierce and fast!

The last game table still going strong.

While there were games in the pavilion, there was also soccer in the field, gaga ball, lots of Spike ball, hay rides, s'mores and just lots of good old fashioned fun.  Addison wandered back into the pavilion at one point and was so filthy Amy had to take a picture of her hands - it took a lot of scrubbing to get this little girly clean that night but what a happy memory of fun times with the church!

On Sunday, one of the things that Addison really really wanted to do was to go on a horse back ride, so Amy and Addison took the group ride in the morning - which was a fun experience walking quietly through the woods (at least it was shaded!) before heading back home. 

Ready or not here we go!

Addison had a very nice horse that was calm

That Sunday was Mother's Day, so when we got back from family camp we were able to spend some time with Mom and Lyle, which was lovely.  We went out to dinner in Winter Park.  Amy is blessed to have her mom is town - it has been awesome to be able to have our lives intersect and to have her be part of the kids' lives so much.  Love you Mom!

Outside table at the restaurant

Other recent happenings:

Our sweet friend Elin had a end of the year dance recital, and invited Addison to come along - Addison was delighted to go cheer her on

And we always enjoy having the family over to celebrate birthdays, and we finally were able to find a quiet weekend to have the family over to eat some cake!

Playing games together afterwards

And in a very random, not so attractive picture - Addison and Amy did face masks recently - fun bonding experience but wow, these things make you look a little nutty for sure!  Good for some laughs!

A New Era - a new Driver and new Job!

Ach, how can this be?  How can 16 years have gone by so quickly!?  Zachary now has his official driver's license and can drive wherever he pleases!  He has been a very responsible driver and has done very well with learning.  Thankfully he doesn't have to drive on I-4 very much, which can be a madhouse at times, but that will come with time as all new things do.

Driver's license proof! 

This time of year is always FCSL soccer league at our SDA school - my kids always love this tournament as it is just fun with kids that they know.  Karis the last two years has been the coach for both Addison and the boys' teams, so he is one busy dad!  This is the first year that Zachary isn't participating as a player as he has now graduated, but he was able to come back as a referee which was a whole new experience....dealing with yelling parents who think that they all know better is a different ball of wax.  Thankfully it wasn't too bad and he navigated through it - it was certainly a new learning experience!

Kaleb's team came in 2nd and Addison's team came in 3rd.  Addison also got the medal for Most Sportsmanlike behavior - which in her mother's opinion, is a pretty top award to get - character and how we treat others of course being the best way to let our light shine for Jesus - so way to go Addison!  Addison played goalie for most of the season, which she enjoyed very much.  Kaleb played mid-field and got 2 goals this season - we were super excited for him as his normal position on his club team doesn't allow him to try to score as much so this was his first two goals - Yahoo - good job Kaleb!

Sporting her two medals

Addison's team

Kaleb's team - way to go guys!

Blake and Zachary both reffed, so it was fun to see them out there

One reason that the Z parents love FCSL is that basically you're out at the school twice a week on the field with a LOT of other parents, so you get to catch up with your friends, which is always fun for us extroverts!

Kaleb giving Miss Jennifer a hug, along with London and another friend's very grown-up girl Calleigh.  

The other big news for Zachary is that he now has a job!  He started to work at the church this Spring, which thankfully is right beside the Academy and therefore he can just walk over there after school and work for a few hours.  It has been a great experience for him and he has done very well with his grades keeping them up.  He works on average about 10 hours per week, and gets a whole $10 per hour.  He could likely find other higher paying jobs in the community but this allows him to have steady work that is flexible around other appointments he may have during the school year and then vacations during the summer - so we are feeling blessed by this.  In addition, he got paid for reffing at FCSL so this kid is going to feel like he is "rolling in the dough" 😂

First Paycheck from FLEC

Other random happenings:

With Zachary having his own driver's license now - he has access to our old van to drive when he needs and has been golfing a LOT with his good friends Aiden and Cristian - it is a nice way for him to connect doing something he enjoys, and not just sitting around in front of the Xbox, so we are all for it!

Zachary, Aiden and Cristian