Bartlett Lake

We kicked off the summer by going to Bartlett Lake with Seth’s sister, Kiersten, and her family for Memorial Day weekend. We camped out for two nights and went boating, cliff jumping, fishing and tubing during the day. I’m still not 100% sold on camping but it does help when there’s an RV and a boat involved. Rachel and Jeremy were not with us this weekend, hopefully we can make it back to the lake at some point this summer with them.

Cliff Jumping

Sun Bathing (wish I had gotten a picture of Alex jumping off the cliff)

 

Seth contemplating jumping

A few catches

Swimming

 

 

D-Backs & Date Nights

I have a friend who has a friend who was selling some of his Diamondbacks season tickets. So we bought four games, two seats each game (really good seats) and Seth is taking each one of us on a D-Backs Daddy date night throughout the summer. Well, I guess when Seth and Jeremy go it will be more like a Boys-Night-Out than a date night.

Rachel  and Seth attended the Diamondbacks vs. the Colorado Rockies game. That night the D-backs ended a ten game loosing streak, pulling ahead of the Rockies in a dramatic final inning — seems like the Manwarings are good luck! Rachel had so much fun, she came home so wound up and excited. It was fun to see the excitement they both shared and hear about her near death experience: a foul ball that grazed her shoulder. Sounds like it was good daddy/daughter time!  (Darn it, I wish I had them take the camera!)

Five Years Ago This Summer…

Wow! It’s been five years since I left sunny California and moved to the hot, brown desert of Arizona. Alex and I have been so blessed since our move here. I’ve had the opportunity to own a home, make some great friends, and get my dream job that I had prayed for prior to moving here. Most importantly, I met my wonderful husband. Who knew I would have to leave my family, friends and a 10 minute drive to the beach to meet him? I would have done it a lot sooner! Alex’s life has been blessed with good friends, horseback riding lessons, piano lessons and tumbling! Most important blessing for her was not being the only child anymore. She went from the oldest/only child to the youngest child with an awesome older sister and brother. As I look back on the past five years I would not change a thing!

Our family five years ago

Our family today

Another School Year… Where Does the Time Go?

I can’t believe how quickly this school year went by! The kids successfully made it to the next level: Jeremy will be entering 11 grade, Rachel 7th and Alex 6th. This is a bittersweet moment for me because this will be my last year teaching Art Masterpiece and helping out in Alex’s class room. I also taught Art Master piece in Rachel's class this year and will miss spending time with her in class next year.

On the last day of school we made our annual trip to Krispy Kreme to cash in on free doughnuts for every A the kids got! I must brag for a moment and congratulate Alex for her straight A’s on her report card. She also gets $100 for her hard work this year. We gave the kids a goal and if they got straight A’s they would get a $100 as their reward. I was comfortable with this goal thinking that It would be impossible to achieve… guess I was wrong! Rachel is now determined to get straight A’s next year. Both girls made the A/B honor roll for first and second semester, Alex received an Excellence award in PE in her grade level and Rachel received a Compassion award in her grade level.

Now let the summer festivities begin!

Jeremy

They say that a picture is worth more than a thousand words. So, I’ll let the pictures tell the story…