Sharing our life - all our adventures and bumpy rides. Family of four with two young boys - moved back home to allow them the similar experiences and opportunities we had living in North Carolina. Come explore with us!
Kade celebrated his 11th birthday receiving a new-to-him Apple watch to go with his new iPhone. Now he can join his brother and Dad for exercise challenges!
The week before and the week of Kade's birthday, he spent his days at Jedi Camp and Zombie Camp at his old Taekwondo studio. He mentioned a few times this Spring that he was bummed about "having to go back", but once he was there, he really enjoyed it! And he remembered the choreography so quickly!
Kade was selected to be a group leader at Jedi Camp and even earned the Luke Skywalker Award for the most improvement from one year to the next! This also marks his Sixth year at Jedi camp - earning the rank Jedi Lieutenant Commander!
Finally what Kade has REALLY been waiting for - fun times with friends! Two of his buddies spent the afternoon - quick trip to the pool before a little thunderstorm, soccer in the backyard, and lots of computer games. Two of his favorites - Hot dogs for dinner and Pepperidge Farm chocolate fudge layer cake for dessert!
One of his friends was able to spend the night and so this marks his very first sleepover! He was so excited!
Happy 11th Birthday to our feisty, spicy, incredibly intelligent, deeply empathetic, endlessly talkative, fiercely independent, and wonderfully strong-willed boy! You keep us laughing, thinking, and on our toes every day!!
After End-of-Grade (EOG's) tests are done, it is time to celebrate the end of the school year! Brent and I volunteered for the 5th-graders' Field Day and wisely chose a station inside the gym. With temperatures soaring to 96 degrees outside, we were definitely glad to be enjoying the fun from the comfort of the air conditioning!
Kade's group was the second to cycle through to the gym. Unfortunately, he had changed out of the tennis shoes he wore to school and into his Crocs, which meant he wasn’t allowed to climb the rock wall—where Brent and I were stationed. And yes - both Brent and I conquered the Rock Wall between sessions!!
Kade said he had fun the rest of the day - Pelican's SnoBalls (shaved ice) in the afternoon and watched High School Musical (selected by Ms. Forrest) with friends.
On Monday, I volunteered to serve pizza to the 5th graders during their yearbook signing day. Kade and his friends happily smiled for a picture!
On Wednesday, we headed to Brock's school to celebrate his Honor Roll award ceremony!
He jumped right up when his name was called to walk to the stage!
Last day of school for Wake County Public Schools - June 11, 2026.
Each teacher selected one student from their glass to give a speech about their time at Washington - Kade's buddy was selected from his class and did an excellent job! "Once a wizard, always a wizard!"
Each kiddo had their name called and walked across the stage to receive their "diploma".
After the ceremony, families gathered in front of the school to enjoy cupcakes, say goodbye to friends, and officially check out from Washington Elementary for the last time. It was a sweet way to celebrate the end of elementary school, although the weather was anything but cool - the temperature topped out at a scorching 101 degrees!
With a line of families waiting their turn to take pictures on the front steps of the school, we opted for a shady spot farther away.
The Jeep stopped at Carnage for an early check-out for Brock on his last day before heading to Red Robin for lunch. The boys were in for a surprise with some cool graduation gifts!
Kade was convinced he was getting an Apple Watch, since Brock had received one after finishing 5th grade. I think he was in shock when he opened his gift and saw something different.
Brent and I were very proud of Brock's accomplishments - earning AB Honor Roll in middle school is a lot of work - especially in a Magnet School. He had eight classes on his schedule every day!
Brock was treated to a brand new Apple Watch.
Happy boys!
Last day of school for Brock and Kade! Now they will both be in Middle School together next year!
Left: First Day of School 8/25/25 vs. Right: Last Day of School 6/11/26
One last picture of this proud boy with his phone - and Graduation decor! :)
This spring, Kade played for the Outlaws, an 11–12 boys soccer team. Thanks to the age cutoff, he spent the entire season as a 10-year-old competing against older players. Although soccer was still a priority when signups opened in January, wrestling had become Kade's primary focus when the practices started, and as a family we decided this would be his final soccer season.
He still had a lot of fun on the field!
I took full advantage of his soccer practices during the week. Apex Nature Park is home to several amazing little wooded walking trails and while he was on the field, I would put in my AirPods, catch up on the latest episode of On the Media, and enjoy a peaceful walk surrounded by nature.
And it never failed - when I would return to my vehicle and I could HEAR Kade on the soccer field yelling to his teammates. That is him circled on the field! He is so loud - no idea where he got that from!!
Game day! Canopy chairs are an amazing invention!
I do have an idea where he got that hand on the hip thing from.... :)
We spot Kade on the bench, flipping his water bottle! Haha!
Always played defense. Never once asked to be a forward this season!
There's that hand on the hip!
Not bad - The Outlaws ended the regular season with a 4-4 record, placing 8th overall (out of 12). They won the first game of the tournament - beating out the #9 seed, but did not come out on top against the #1 seed they played next. A fitting final season on the soccer field as Kade turns his full attention to wrestling!
The month of May brought warmer weather, perfect for sitting outside and enjoying our freshly power-washed patio.
Kade’s 5th grade class had quite an adventure during their overnight field trip at Blue Jay Point in Raleigh. Over the course of two days, the students enjoyed scenic nature hikes, hands-on outdoor learning (dissecting owl pellets!!), and lots of fun with friends.
Making tacos for forty people was quite the experience! The class settled down witch a showing of The Lorax and enjoyed s'mores before heading out on a night hike down to the lake. I"m so glad I had the opportunity to chaperone, but I was exhausted afterwards and needed a full day to recover!
Brock enjoyed another year of chess club with his middle school - and took home a silver trophy from the end-of-year tournament!
The boys decided to join forces and make pancakes & sausages for my Mother's Day dinner - all by themselves! It was delicious and it was lovely to see them understanding how much work goes towards dinners!
A fun Thursday hangout with Papa - dinner at Salem Street Pub and ice cream at Fresh - with construction going on downtown Apex.
Now that both Brock and Moose are a little older, we trust Brock to take Moose for walks on his own. He knows how to handle encounters with other dogs and understands the responsibility that comes with carrying the little green bag!
Brent also celebrated a birthday, enjoying his favorite - vanilla bundt cakes for dessert!
