Busy June

We've sure packed a lot into this month. Garrett's last day of school was June 3rd. We've decided to keep him at Brushy Creek Elementary. Even though we won't be living in the school district, we've been really pleased with his progress, so it's worth the extra 20 minutes or more each way to see him do well. Also after our final IEP meeting, we decided it would be best for Garrett to repeat the first grade. We just feel an extra year will help build his confidence particularly in reading, spelling, writing and comprehension (he's got the math down cold). And supposedly the rising first graders are very smart (half are already reading at G's level), so he should do well. We didn't break the news to him immediately, so when an acquaintance asked what grade he was going in, he proudly said, "second." Ooops. But we explained it to him the best we could and he seems okay with it. So we'll keep our fingers crossed that we made the right decision.

Next morning we closed on the house and that afternoon I boarded a plane to the Twin Cities to celebrate Sade's graduation from high school. Since the day I met her, Jan. 25, 1998 to be exact, I told her I'd be there to see her graduate high school. And here she is beaming in her cap and gown. Posing with her mother Rosie. A family portrait. Suzanne and I took her out to Buca's to celebrate.
I'm so proud of her; she's accomplished the impossible and from here everything is gravy. She has officially enrolled in a community college and plans on taking a full load come August. Way to go Sade.

The rest of the weekend I spent visiting with my girlfriends. I sure miss 'em. A week later, we boarded another plane to Milwaukee. We were attending our first Kazapalooza—an annual event for families who've adopted children from Kazakhstan. It was fun to meet so many people in real life. These families are the amazing and like I've said many times before they've been our support through thick and thin. Even more amazing is that most of us have met each other through our blogs. And to see our children playing together was more emotional than I could've imagined.









Last, but not least, Garrett has been busy this summer at the YMCA. Besides day camp, we've got him signed up for Super T ball. And he actually seems to be enjoying it along with Coach Bob. It's so much fun to see father and son on the field. It's also so darn cute to see 6 and 7 year olds fumbling for the ball.

Now I'm off to pack up the apartment—it'll be good to finally put this move behind us. It's been eight months of living out of boxes and eating off card tables.

Y'all come visit us ya hear.