Good-Bye K and 1st: Resiliency

 Dear Leah & Logan,

Awards Day, May 2018

Wow! and just like that we have a 1st Grader and 2nd Grader in the house!

Congratulations on the completion of another school year! I can’t believe how fast this year went by. It seems like just last week Leah was standing on the gravel pile modeling a new backpack, and Logan was getting on a school bus for the very first week of school.

Awards Day for Rockvale Elementary was last week. Leah, you received your class’s Most Outstanding (that’s 2 years in a row) from Mrs. Massengale, and Mrs. Smith gave Logan the Super Accelerated Reader Award. Both of your teachers were really good for you both this year, and I’m guessing we are all going to miss

them!

Other highlights and recent events include:

Bird Whisperer

• 3 Ninja Warrior Competitions
• Leah’s Class Trip to the Zoo
• Logan scored 35 goals this Spring Soccer Season (U6)
• Hockey Camp
• Skate Nights!
• Neighbor nights out!

I don't know if it would possible for you two to be any more involved and active as you have been the last year. You've met so many new people through activities and in the neighborhood...I'm glad you're able to branch out and keep meeting new people.

As I look back at this year, I realized there is one thing that I'm super proud of for both of you that I never talk about it: You two are as resilient as they come. You both tackle everything in life full speed

4 Flamingos

ahead and head first. You give everything you have on everything you do and those kind of people are hard to find sometimes. Plus, you two have been through more over the last few years than any 6 and 7 year old should have to endure. I'm sure there have been some super-confusing times, and probably even more times that you didn't get the answers you were looking for. Yet you took everything in stride and conquered all the obstacles in your path....and if you were down, you got back up. So, let me tell you- that's probably the greatest life skill you can have...always getting back up. Remember that...because life isn't always going to go your way.


So we'll head toward a great summer in 2018....and then another school year. But no matter when I decide to give this blog to you, promise me one thing: You'll always get back up. No excuses. No giving up. Just get back up and try again.

Love you both- I'm very proud of you.


Dad
5/22/18

Ninja Warrior Competition, May '18

Hammock Party

Top Goal Scorers Spring '18

Trying Something New: Hockey, Spring '18

All Geared Up for Night 1

Dear Leah and Logan,

This Spring, I was able to get you both into a hockey camp sponsored by the Nashville Predators.  Every Monday in April, we raced up to Ford Ice Center and you 2 laced up your skates!

Grandma and Grandpa joined us on week 1, and I was sure grateful. I had no idea how to get all the equipment on you.  Grandpa played hockey, though, when he was young, and he made it look easy!

Luckily, you both had been on skates when we went to the Murfreesboro Outdoor rink. Rockvale skate nights probably also helped It was pretty obvious that many of other kids had never skated.  However, carrying a stick while skating and chasing a puck, both proved to be quite the adventure.

Every week, you both got better and better, and you both were participating in scrimmages at the end. It was great to see you navigate on skates and chase the puck relentlessly.  It didn't come without falling on your butts a whole bunch, but you popped up every time.

Cadence McCarty Came to Camp, too!

Hockey Camp Group Photo

I was very proud of both of you for trying something new! I want you to always remember that- every once in awhile, just trying something that might seem difficult or outside of your comfort is what life is all about. You might like it....or....You might hate it...or you might not be any good. But at least you can tell yourself that you tried something, and that's what creates great life experiences.

Love you both,

Dad