Q$G

Q$G.....Quinn cracks me up!  He has finished his junior year.  He hasn't wrecked the car yet.  He still has his lawn business and has a pet sitting job currently.  Quinn has branched out and taken a welding class at school and will take his 4th year of ASL next year.  He took the ACT, and did well in math and science.  He gets to take a TCU speed reading class this summer that should help him with the area he didn't do so hot in on the test ;)  He has gone on some dates....it's neat to see him get the car all cleaned up before he goes out (even though I'm sure it still smells of gas and sweat....)  

He was hoping to do some lifeguarding this summer, but about 5 minutes after passing off his swimming test, he became a live example for the lifeguard trainees!  He passed out, fell over and landed on his chin.  Apparently, he locked his knees, and after doing the test (and it being few hours from breakfast), just checkout out for a few seconds.  As fate would have it, I was on my way to Austin for Camp Grandma, so Scott took off work for the afternoon and spent it instead at the hospital getting Quinn stitches.  I didn't find out about it until suppertime that evening!  

I am proud of him for finishing his 3rd year of early morning seminary.  Quinn and I are excited to have Connor join us in the wee morning hours next year.  He goes to mission prep classes.  I don't know if he will leave on his mission next summer as soon as he turns 18, or if he'll do some school first.  I don't know if he knows yet.  It's hard for me to believe he will be a senior next year.  My first little boy, Q$G!

Connor and Cousins

Connor is a good sport.  He was kind to the cousins at Grandma Camp at the beginning of the month.  He is wearing his orchestra "costume" in the picture above.  He'll go to an orchestra camp at UTA this summer with his orchestra friends.  He got together with some of his friends a day this summer to play rugby and other games at the park.  He wants to do something like a book drive, perhaps, for his Eagle Project.  Connor is joining Quinn at the high school for summer work outs.  They both puked the first day of working out---brother bonding at its finest.  He is typically Quinn's mowing buddy for lawn jobs this summer.  He has earned his way for the high adventure in San Antonio this summer, and is saving for next year's Sea Base high adventure.  And, we're conducting an experiment this week:  Connor and Tanner share a room.  Tanner is at scout camp this week.  We will see who the messy monster is in their room.  Is it Connor, or is the claim true that it's Tanner who makes all the messes???        

Piano Love

Tanner loves to play the piano, and I enjoy listening to him play.  I also I love to hear Jim Brickman play the piano.  I pay Tanner to learn Jim Brickman songs to play for me.  But then, I started to feel guilty---what 12 year old really wants to be learning Brickman songs when they could be playing Pirates of the Caribbean?  I told him recently, that he doesn't have to keep learning them for me.  But, oh, how it melts and calms me to hear him play Brickman on the keys while I'm washing dishes.....  

Tanner plays Charlie Brown

Tanner played some of the Charlie Brown song for the Talent Show this year at school.  He thought up his costume himself.  He played a shortened version of the song, leaving out the "hard part."  Since his performance, his teacher did not let him off the hook from learning the "hard part."  He has diligently been working on it, and it sounds fantastic.  

Tanner Graduates

Tanner graduated 6th grade on June 6th.  Above are pictures from his Kindergarten graduation and his 6th Grade graduation.  His friend Quentin is still one of his best buddies!  He did well this year, and we were proud.  He received more than his fair share of awards, but also learned some lessons in being responsible, too, this year ;)  Better to learn them in 6th grade, than in college, right?!  I am always sad when one of the kids "move on" from something I am perfectly content with them staying in, but I was especially nostalgic when I considered I won't have any more boys at Corey.  Tanner's just stuck being my baby boy, and I guess that's why it hurts so much to see him move onto Boles.  Go Bulldogs!