Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Olympics

I always wanted to be an Olympics gymnast. But I can't do a cartwheel. So, I've become a professional spectator. I love the Olympics. And I'm spreading that love to my kids. We've been talking a lot about the Olympics at our house. This is the first Olympics that Summer and Forrest are old enough to understand what's going on.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

First Day of 2nd Grade!


Monday was Summer's first day of 2nd grade. She was soooo excited. She picked out her school bag. No pink backpack for her this year, she wanted a more "grown up" bag so she chose this brown one with hot pink flowers. She got the teacher she hoped for and a class full of her friends. She loves her class. I was just so happy to see how happy and excited she was as I waved good-bye to her from her classroom door. It's going to be a good year... I can feel it.

Forrest's First Day of Kindergarten!

A big week in the Schultz house. Forrest started Kindergarten this past Monday. Hard to believe. He has been anticipating this day for quite some time. About a month ago Forrest chose his backpack and lunchbox. It is so cute to see how proud Forrest is wearing his big boy backpack on the first day of school. He pats it, looks in the mirror and says, "awesome!" Monday morning Forrest was giddy with excitement when I packed his lunch and got his backpack all ready to go "for real". We are so blessed he got a wonderful teacher this year (she was Summer's teacher assistant in Kindergarten). He was so nervous and didn't want to let go of me when I walked him in his classroom. When I went to pick him up on the first day he ran to me and said that he "wants to go to school everyday even when school is over!" I think that says it all. I loved every minute. These are the little details that I love and never want to forget. Here's to a fun Kindergarten year!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Summer's Party






Pink and orange... her favorite colors
Summer's party details included just the four of us at the beach during the day and then in our backyard for presents and the four layer birthday cake later in the evening. It was perfect and the best part was seeing how much she loved getting ALL the attention. She was beaming when we signed happy birthday to her. The American Girl "Praline" kitty (thanks Aunt Rebecca!) and pink legos were a big hit. I can barely get Praline off of her when she goes to school and bedtime. Look how proud she is as her brother hugged her.
It's good to be 7!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Summer is 7!



My Summer turned 7 yesterday. It's hard to believe. I can't even express how much I love her. She is the sweetest girl ever. If she sees something she can help with, she'll walk straight over there. The other day she saw an elderly man drop his dime at Target. Summer ran to pick up the coin only to give it back to its owner. At her school orientation last week she helped her classmates find their desks. She collects litter from the lake and beach every time we go. See, she has a huge heart. My favorite thing is when I ask her something to help me with, her answer is ALWAYS "sure, mom!" It's so sweet. She's a happy girl though and though. I can't believe I get to call her mine.
I love you, Summer. Forever.

My Summer




Thursday, July 19, 2012

Fire Truck

I'm a fire truck, brave and red, 
I'm the best, the fire chief said, 
Ready at all times, day and night, 
Steady and read and ready to fight.

Hear my siren, stand aside, 
Firemen jump on, speedy ride, 
Through the city, crowds all stare 
Heroes, here goes - we'll be there!

Big red lights they flash and say: 
Fire truck - danger - out of the way! 
Engine revving, big tires hum, 
Hear my loud bell, here I come!

Billowed smoke, a life to save, 
Hydrants, hoses, firemen brave, 
Water pouring, ladders climb, 
Just a night's work - just in time!

I'm a fire truck, here for you, 
Always ready, needs are few, 
Tires and fuel, I'm tireless, clean, 
Big red fire truck, your machine.

Poem by Australian Poet Graeme King

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Water Girl


My sweet Summer LOVES swimming. I know I've said this before, but she really does. I think it's incredible that they have these young kids out there doing flip turns, the butterfly, diving off starting blocks and competing. Summer likes it because she gets to jump in the pool with her friends each week. Recently she was in a swim meet and had to compete in two events: butterfly and freestyle. In her mind, butterfly is her best stroke. She makes it look completely easy with very little effort. The gun went off and Summer dove in and swam her little heart out. When she tagged the wall at the end she suddenly realized that she had come in second place. I immediately saw her eyes begin to fill with tears even before she got out of the pool. My heart sank. She grabbed her towel and buried her face in the chair. David was so sweet and immediately went to her side to give her a pep talk. He's really good at those. She was crying and so, so sad. Her time actually improved by quite a bit from the last meet but she just happened to be paired with one really fast swimmer. We talked about how it's just about having fun and I then chimed in with a funny and true story of me almost making my high school cheerleading team by only one point. That made her laugh but she still proclaimed that she would never get in the pool again. All of her little swim friends came and gave her hugs and lots of encouragement. She was so nervous because her next event was freestyle which she thought was her worst. Well, we convinced her to just try her best and to go for it. It worked and my cute little Summer got right back out there and ended up coming in first place in that event. I was so proud of her. I think it was a good learning experience for her but things like that are so hard to watch as a parent. First or second place she was our very favorite swimmer out there that day.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Fourth of July

As you can imagine, Forrest and Summer were over the moon with excitement when they saw what their Grams had brought them for the Fourth of July. Lots of streamers and pinwheels. All they kept asking me is, "Mom, decorate our scooters?" I couldn't say no to their sweet faces. I think they loved watching the pinwheels spinning each time they rode their scooters. There was a neighborhood Fourth of July parade at the beach house where we stayed last week. The kids got to join the other kids riding their bikes and scooters. It was so cute. We had a fun day. A cook out and lots of swimming with the cousins during the day and a firework show that night from the roof top of the beach house. A busy and happy day.
These Schultz kids have been inseparable this summer. They do EVERYTHING together. I was so happy to capture this photo of them together because this one pretty much sums up what they are. Best friends. Forrest adores Summer. It is really amazing considering how often Summer knocks him around. No one can make Forrest smile like his big sister. There is nothing sweeter watching these two together. Forrest wants to do everything Summer does. He even puts up with Summer's baby dolls, dress-up and princess things. It is quite funny. Summer is protective of her little brother. How blessed they are to have each other. I love you Summer and Forrest and I love that I get to be your mama.
p.s. I can't get over the cuteness of Summer's missing front tooth.