Jungle adventure

Today was nature day at the Rousehouse (not one of my favorite activities)!

We had a great time! We have gotten a lot of rain recently and then a few
huge storms this morning. All that rain added up to some pretty exciting
nature views.

First we headed down the bike path through the wooded area of
Country Club (or as Avery calls it, "the jungle") We spotted a couple
of deer and a lot of puddles and worms!

Avery loves being in charge of Jack!




The spillway was incredible. The rushing water
was so loud!




Our next stop was the lake. It was overflowing!

These rocks under water are where we usually
stand to fish.....



We all enjoyed watching some HUGE fish
surfacing close to the edge. They had come
out, from deep down in the middle of the lake,
for some of the easy food washed up by the rains.




The girls just couldn't resist getting in....

And then in a little more.....

I have to admit, this was one awesome nature walk!

We all loved seeing the power of water and the beauty

of God's handiwork!

Splishin' and Splashin'

Reason # 39 why I love Avery's DMACC preschool so much:
They not only let them play in the puddles, they encourage them to do it!

Avery's class got to tromp around campus yesterday exploring the various puddles.


"Mom never lets me do this....."



"Look what I found in the puddle!"

Last day of school

No more classes, no more books.
No more teacher's dirty looks. School's out for the summer!
Gone are the days of homework and backpacks and lunchboxes.
No more rushing to the school bus. No more volunteering in the classroom.
School is out!


Happy? Well, kind of. Although, for us, this year is bitter sweet.
Because we had to say goodbye, not only to the school year, but to our
school building as well. We had to say goodbye to our principal, our nurse
and our teachers. Goodbye Walnut Hills Elementary. You have been
very good to us these last 3 years.


Hello Shuler! While we will miss WH and all those amazing teachers,
staff and friends we leave behind, we get to say hello to a new school.
A school very close to our house (too close for the bus!) filled with
a new group of friends, a talented group of teachers, and a passionate
group of administrators. We get to help open the doors to the school
we will (hopefully) call home for the next 9 years!

So, it is with a few extra tears that I say goodbye school year, hello summer!


Here are a few of my favorite things from this school year:
Ella's starting Kindergarten!
Claire qualifying for ELP both semesters!
Ella making so many girlfriends.
Claire helping to form the "fabulous four".
Ella kissing a boy on the playground! Wait, that's not a favorite!
Avery loving every chance she had to eat in the cafeteria.
Volunteering for the school and the teachers.
Going to and actually enjoying the Saylorville field trip!
Finally figuring out a way to keep Ella healthy and at school,
and then discovering how great she can do when given the chance!
Getting to know so many great friends and their families.
PTO, PTO, PTO
Spending so much time at school the principal said he missed
me when I wasn't there! : )
Having the opportunity to head up Teacher Appreciation Week.
Sneaking over to watch Ella just be a kid.
Watching Claire grow up right before my eyes!


Thank you 09-10. You were a good year. See you next year!


The best Kindergarten teacher ever!






Best friends are great!





Real lockers, oh my!





The best 2nd grade teacher around!