Another School Year Begins

I have a 2nd grader and a middle schooler...how did this happen?!?!  Both were excited to start a new year. Landon is attending Thomas Jefferson Elementary school again this year. He's off to a great a start with his buddy from last year in his class this year. Claire is in 5th grade which is at the middle school here. She switches classes and has a "schedule". She made the choir and is running for Student Council. She is loving it all!  She has lots of neighborhood friends there with her. Ready to rock this year!

Landon ready to go!

Claire in her home room. 

Gram and Poppy Time

The kids and I spent several days in Kansas with Gram and Poppy. We of course stayed very busy!  I'll let the pictures tell the story for this trip. 

Poppy and Gram bought a BB gun and a bow and arrows for the kids. Both of them enjoyed aiming for the target, and became quite good at it too. Unkie got in on the fun later in the weekend with Landon. 

Of course we did some fishing!  Like Landon's hat?  It was his first thrift shop buy. 

Twilight on the pond.  Gram and Landon accomplished a feat never before seen; they both caught the same fish at the same time!  

We visited the Rolling Hills zoo and museum. The museum had life-size animals from different regions. It was quite impressive!

There were also penguins at the zoo!  And not just these two cuties!

We went to the county fair too. Watched some sheep, rode some rides and the kids enjoyed their first rodeo...in the rain. They didn't care, they had new cowboy hats to keep them dry!

The cousins came out to visit too. The kids played in the pool among other things. Love this pic!

End of the Summer

Our last few summer days were filled with fun with friends, and a little family time too. Landon is getting ready to start football practice with pads. Scary!!!  But he's excited. Claire had a swim party to get to know all the members of her new dance team. They all bonded and the moms did too!  Our family enjoyed a day at the fair with a couple neighbor friends. This worked out well...Geoff and I didn't have to ride the rides!  The kids and I played some mini golf one of the days it was unseasonably cool. And our family enjoyed Frozen Tung (snocones) and a trip to see the "Bucky Ball" at the Crystal Bridges art museum one evening.  We have started back to school (that's another post) and are ready for the schedules to begin!

Landon in his football gear

Dance Company

Tilt a whirl with the neighbors

Playing miniature golf. 

The Bucky ball

Self portrait at the Bucky Ball. 

Sport Camps

Landon attended a baseball camp with the NWA Naturals. He had a blast learning from Naturals players on their field. Landon also attended a football camp with the Bentonville High School

players and coaches.  For two days he ran drills and scrimmaged with the big boys. 

Baseball-playing kids warming up. 

Ready to play!

Practicing stances. 

Agility course. 

Big Cedar Lodge

Our family spent an extended weekend with the Jones family at Big Cedar Lodge near Branson the weekend of Fourth of July. We've known the Jones family since both our daughters were born and have been friends since. The children are close in age and the adults share Coleman history so it's never a dull moment. We had a wonderful time relaxing and playing. 

Boys playing checkers. 

Sweet girls at dinner. We ate on sight at the restaurants all but one evening. They were fabulous!

Picture of the governors suite that we shared. It was amazing. 

Kiddos tie-dying tshirts. There were lots of fun activities to do besides swimming, mini golf and a lazy river. 

We rented a boat one day and spent several hours on Table Rock Lake. The kids enjoyed swimming and sunning. 

Summer trip to Kansas

The whole family and the dog loaded up to visit the family in Kansas. We spent several days with Gram and Poppy and then several days with Nana and Papa. Of course all the cousins were present and played with at both places!  We had tons of fun and are planning another trip before school starts!

Wheat weaving with Gram. Harvest was happening while we were there and both kids got to ride with Uncle Frank while he hauled the grain from the field to the grain elevator. 

Fishing on Poppy's pond. We actually caught a few! ( Well Unkie did)

Charlotte and Claire at the farm. 

Ranger rides!

Belated birthday presents for Lucy and Laney. 

Paddleboard fun on the lake with the cousins, Papa and Maddie dog. 

Goin for a ride with Papa. 

Laid back summer fun

Lunch with neighbor friends before bowling. 

Launching the bowling ball!

Biking in the neighborhood and found a weed as big as the little man. 

Swimming at neighborhood pool. 

Sno-come stand at a friend's house. They actually made some money!

Late evening golf cart rides with the neighbors. Realize my kids aren't visible in this picture. But they're in there!

More bowling!

Dancing Fun

Claire's dance company competed in nationals this year in Texas. The original plan was for the whole family to attend and have some vacation time. But after Landon making the All Star baseball team, our family had to divide and conquer. On a side note, although this made us sad, we are so proud and happy to have children dedicated to activities that they love enough to warrant this type of division.  Claire's dances did well at nationals, and our girl trip was lots of fun, including shopping, swimming and dinners with friends. 

Outlet mall shopping was very successful.

Summer Ball

Landon's baseball season was extended this year as he was chosen to participate on the All Star team. He enjoyed getting to play in a tournament and hone his skills for a little longer. Since mommy was with Claire in Texas for dance, pictures of the All Star games are scarce. But we are so proud of him for his hard work and dedication!  The pictures below are from the end of his regular season with the A's. 

Daddy and the ball player. The medal was a great ending for a fun season!

And the ball player with his sister...who learned her brother has lots of patience sitting through hours of dance after she had to sit through his ball games. 

Last Day of School

As we finished up another school year, bittersweet memories were numerous. After a quick move during the summer, the kids had to adjust to a new school at the beginning of this year. And now Claire will be moving into Middle School next year! New school, new friends...crazy!

The kids auditioned for and performed a piano duet in the talent show at school on the last day. Then it was home to celebrate the start of summer!

Visits from the Family

Two weekends in May were filled with family fun for us. First, Nana, Papa, Lindsey, Lucy and Laney came to hang out with us. We watched Landon play baseball, shopped, played and then got to watch the Wingnuts play baseball in Joplin.  It was lots of fun and the kids really enjoyed playing with their cousins. 

At the ballpark in Joplin. 

Lucy and Landon. 

Claire and Laney. 

Gram and Poppy came to visit the next weekend. While the kids were in school, we went to Crystal Bridges, an art museum. The rest of the weekend was spent watching baseball and a dance recital. The kids also went on a hike and out to dinner with grandparents. Another fun weekend!

After the game. 

After recital.