April 2026

April was a busy month for us! So it's probably easiest to just get right to the pictures.....

I have loved the days when Mellany comes to school with me. I have to be in the building at 8:00 but school doesn't start until 9:30. There are some days when she prefers that John drop her off closer to start time if he can, but then there are days when she likes coming with me and working on her homework. I especially love those days. On this particular morning, we felt the need for Starbucks. When she saw the green cake pop on the menu, she had to have it. And I'm a softie and couldn't say no. :)

We watched the space shuttle launch on tv! 

They initiated a selfie after Easter Saturday service all on their own!! LOVE!!!!

For Easter dinner, we had the Okos' over and tried out a new egg hunt which was a huge hit! They found eggs in the yard with letters in them that they had to run back to the table and match up with the prize. Once they completed a word, they got that prize. It was so fun! 

Winston in his usual spot!

The boys love when it gets warmer outside so they can hang on the rock while waiting for the bus.

Johnny tried something new this spring and decided to play soccer. He had really enjoyed it and is planning to play again in the fall. 

Mellany ran track again this spring and had so much fun. She ran hurdles, the 100m dash and long jump. She made it to the conference meet in long jump and set her PR there! It was a great season. 

It was also a big month for Mel as she got her braces off!!!!! She was so happy! 

I am still at work when the boys get off the bus, so if they decide to get off the bus at home (as opposed to getting off at school) they send me a selfie to tell me they are walking home. It's a favorite part of my day! 

The 8th Grade Band Trip to Chicago took place mid-April and was a jam-packed two days of fun! I got to be a chaperone and was so impressed with these 8th grade kids....they were phenomenal! We took a super nice bus, went to see the infamous bean, ventured to Navy Pier, the aquarium, Midievel Times and listen to a Big Band. We even had time to explore a mall. 

During track season, you never know what the weather is gonna be....it was super hot before we left and then got chilly at the track meet. 

Administrative Professionals Day had a whole new meaning this year! I was showered with so many kind words and gifts it was unreal! 

Johnny decided to expand his flock and Charlie even joined in on the fun too!

Another track meet....this one was hot...and we baked in the sun

Three girls excited for a sleepover after the track meet. 

Winston loves a good stack of blankets or clean clothes. 

Our hardworking man ....we ended up pulling into the neighborhood behind him after he had cut down some limbs at the front of the neighborhood. I love his heart for having a good looking neighborhood. 

We picked dairy cows for 4H and are so excited for the season! 

During Johnny's soccer practice, John and I decided to hit a trail and take a nice long walk. 

Johnny got to hang out at his favorite place (other than home) before soccer practice. 

Charlie has loved archery for 4H and is a pretty good shot too. 

Chicks are getting so big! 

So many fun things and it only gets more exciting as we get into May!! 

 

March 2026

I think I've set a personal record in the longest time to pass between posts and while I don't love it, I've got a pretty good excuse. In March, I started full time as the Principal Secretary at our middle school. I said I would never go back to work full time, but after subbing in the building and realizing our kids don't quite need me as much during the day, I decided to apply when the job was posted. I have really enjoyed it and actually think that having been on the teaching side of education is really helpful for the position. I got to spend time with Mellany in her last few months in the building and next year Johnny will enter the middle school so I will get three full years with him as well as Charlie! The job is super flexible and the principal is so understanding knowing that John travels often so when I've got a sick kid (or two) or appointments, etc, she tells me to "just go" and I don't feel guilty about it. 

But now that summer is here, it's time to catch up on what our spring looked like! Hint: it was busy and it was definitely a bit of an adjustment for all of us. 

The boys participated in the cub scout pinewood derby and came home with 1st and 3rd place! They were ecstatic.  

When we were at home, Winston soaked up every bit of us being there...

The boys set out all their old paw patrol toys for our friend's little boy to play with when they came over for lunch one day. I'm not sure who loved the toys more! 

Last car line selfie! 

Mellany had one of her most artistic years yet.....this piece was submitted for the "Bug Bowl" and won honorable mention.

And she worked really hard on this mural with some friends. 

Her Japanese inspired piece was also exhibited in an art show (and then eventually won a HUGE award in May!).....(see May 2026 post for info on that!)

Dance was in full-on competition season in March and our girl was nailing it on the dance floor. 

First day of work for me! The boys get on the bus at 7:45 and then Mellany goes to the school with me (until it gets warmer and she can walk, or she rides with John). I may have cried once the boys got on the bus and gave me the most excited waves good-bye. They were happy tears of course, but it was so bittersweet-just yesterday we were all at home just playing playdoh together. 

The Dance Team made it to state dance, so all of the Raider Nation schools came together for the State Send-off. Such an impressive group of dancers. Mellany is on the very far right. 

Binge watching Gilmore Girls is definitely a favorite activity when it can happen. 

Officially official on the corporation website!

Making the rounds in the school building gives me perks like this ....seeing these talented girls working on their mural. 

State Dance! Our girl did an amazing job! Again, I may have had a few tears watching her routines, knowing this was the end of her middle school dance years. 

Her pom routine was so early in the morning, that the boys didn't come down to Indianapolis until her hip hop routine. 

Found this selfie on my phone.....taking selfies during the hours before school starts. 

After a couple of weeks back at work, dancing and scouting, it was time for Spring Break!!! This year John had a conference in Nashville for a couple of days so we tagged along with him for that and then decided to head over to Gatlinburg for the rest of the week. 

While John was in his conference, we explored a bit of downtown Nashville. We found a super cool Predators mural on the way to eat at Pucketts. 

And then enjoyed some good food at Puckett's

After Puckett's, we ventured to the Country Music Hall of Fame and met John there. On our journey, the kids got to experience a bit of Broadway and thought it was pretty cool.

The Country Music Hall of Fame did not disappoint. The kids really loved it and I'm so glad because John and I loved it when we went the first time. 

Mellany almost walked out with these boots but eventually decided on something else for her souvenir. 

There is a Dolly exhibit at the HOF right now so Mellany and I were major fan-girling. It was fantastic. 

The boys especially loved the cars....specifically Elvis' car

Our visit was complete with a duck selfie to win a prize at school. :)

After our visit to the HOF, we were hungry and wanted the kids to experience some live music in Nasville, so we walked to Blake Shelton's bar Ole Red. We had food and fun drinks and live music and the kids declared it the best part of Nashville. 

The next morning we headed out of Nashville to Gatlinburg. A stop at Buc-cees is always required and whenever I can get a pic of our 3 babies all together, I will take it! 

Before getting into Gatlinburg, we wanted to our the Tuckaleechee Caverns. It was so cool!

In Gatlinburg, the boys went to the knife shop and the girls got dropped off at the outlet mall. When the boys came back to pick us up, they found this sitting spot and insisted on a picture. :)

The "big" thing we decided on doing in Gatlinburg this trip was Dollywood. The weather was perfect, the crowds weren't huge and we were able to ride everything everyone wanted to ride. It was an amazing day!

John and I even got to ride in a car ride, just the two of us. Mellany and Charlie rode in a car together, Johnny wanted to ride by himself, so that meant John and I have reached peak parenthood and rode together! It was amazing!

The train ride was a hit too!

I love a good photo op in the park!

The day after Dollywood, we walked downtown Gatlinburg a big and then had tickets for the Stampede. John and I had been several times to the Stampede in Branson, and Mellany went when she was maybe 1 or 2, so we felt like the kids really needed to experience it! They really loved it and Charlie even got chosen to chase some chickens during the show! 

We headed out of the mountains the next day and back home to have a full day at home before going back to school and work. Spring Break is always such a tease for me......I love it when everyone is home all together and I'm so ready for summer break at this point!