Flashback: May

We didn't post much last month because we had LOTS going on, but now that we are on summer break (YAY!) we have a few moments to upload some pictures. May was a fun and hectic month. Ryan's mom came to help us out for the last month of school, and it was WONDERFUL to have her here. She took care of Leah during the day, and cooked us dinner in the evening. At night, we played a lot of pinochle, ate a lot of ice cream, and worked on getting Leah to sleep through the night again. (Which she did last night from 8pm to 7am. It's amazing what a good nights rest can do for you!) So, thank you Grandma Dainty!

Grandpa Dainty came for a few visits during the month she was here, and on Memorial Day weekend he and Ryan tackled our backyard. They redid our walkway so that it is wider and smoother, not to mention much more decorative than before. I can actually get the stroller out the back door and through the gate without pulling a muscle. We weeded and fixed up the fountain for the summer, too. Here are some snazzy before and after photos.

The path in progress above.

Ta-Da! The finished paved path.

Leah helped by entertaining Lucy, who thought the wheelbarrow was an evil creature to be attacked.

This is the mess that is the fountain post-winter.

But now it is gunk-free and functional!

In other news, my sixth grade class graduated from St. Vincent school, so there was a lot of hooplah around that event. I planned a graduation retreat, a graduation field trip, we went on a graduation luncheon, the kids made graduation power-points... It's intense. I also had the pleasure of choreographing a graduation dance that the kids perform at the ceremony. Yes. A dance. It's something they don't teach you how to do when you're getting your degree in science education... These are the things that no one tells you you're going to have to do when you interview for a job. Fortunately, I spent several years of my life dancing around our living room to the Pointer Sisters with my mom, and the fourth grade teacher helped me out. As you may guess, I'm enjoying a restful summer after all that excitement.

My students performing their dance to "I'll Worship You," by MercyMe.

Delivering the graduation speech is another perk of my job in May...

Finally, last but not least, Ryan's baseball team wrapped up their season the other week. The Marian Knights Freshman baseball team had a winning season. They learned a lot about the game since they began back in January and it was fun to see Ryan get 'em into shape! Ryan starts summer baseball this week.