Another Busy Week!

Duane left for another business to trip to China. This is the second time in three months. It's so hard when he's away. We miss him so much! It's even harder for him being as far away as possible from his family. We tried to keep busy to make the time pass quickly. We spent some time at the pool, Lola spent the night one night and Molly got to have a sleep over at her friend Ryese's. We watched movies together and played games. On Wednesday we went to Massillon. We enjoyed having dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Scott. On Thursday we went to lunch in Amish Country with Aunt Susan, Aunt Cindy and Sara. After getting lost several times, we made it to Rolling Meadows Farm. We took a wagon ride around 80 acres of fenced in land where there were numerous animals from all over the world. The girls loved it! I on the other hand was a little freaked out, because I am not crazy about being that close to live animals! But I did it for the kids. They even got to feed them. I watched:) Friday couldn't come soon enough! The girls and I worked on Father's Day cards and went to the Massillon Rec to swim. We had dinner with Lynn and was grateful for the company and chance to catch up. After his flight was delayed and we thought he might not leave Chicago that night, luckily things worked out and I picked Duane up at the Cleveland airport that night. Madison and my father-in-law went a long for the ride. I was so happy to have Duane back with us. On Saturday we went to Megan's graduation party. It was at a community center with a pool. The kids had fun swimming and playing with their favorite boy, Logan. We drove home after the party. I was very much needing to be home. It felt so great to sleep in my own bed next to my husband finally. The weight of the world started to lift from my shoulders. Father's Day and my birthday were the next day. I missed being with my dad. Things didn't work out the way we had hoped. It was sad and unfortunate for all of us. I had a very strong need for my time in church that morning. Duane and the girls took me out to lunch after church. We spent the evening at the pool. Duane and my girls made me feel loved and significant that day and I really needed it. They reaffirmed who I am and what matters most to me. I pray that this next year of my life will be filled with peace, love and good health.

The First Week of Summer Break

We had a very eventful first week of summer break! On Saturday Madison finished up her last soccer game and ended the season with a pizza party with her team and Brian Barlow's team. She is very disappointed that she has to take a break from soccer. We are very excited because she tried out for a select team and made it to the second level team. There are three levels. She will be on the team for 2 years and Duane will be her assistant coach. Duane and I celebrated our 11 anniversary. The years are passing all too quickly. After church that evening he and I headed to Cincinnati for dinner at the Montgomery Inn on the river. It was great atmosphere and a wonderful time with my favorite man. On Sunday we headed to Columbus for Robert's graduation party. We all enjoyed good food and spending time catching up with family that we don't get to see often enough. On Monday the girls and I spent the afternoon swimming at the rec center. The weather wasn't cooperating for the out door pool. But we still had fun. On Tuesday Madison had to have an extra tooth removed. We were all apprehensive, especially Madison. She was dealing with a lot of anxiety for several weeks. She knew the procedure was coming up but we decided not to tell her until that morning. We wanted her to get a good nights sleep and not be so worried. It was heart breaking to see her that way. She handle the whole ordeal like a champ! It was so hard leaving her and waiting. They were putting her under which was a little unsettling to say the least! But everything couldn't have gone better. It was a big tooth! After a few days of rest and ice cream, we were all ready to get out of the house. So I took all three girls to see the movie up. It was such an adorable movie and the girls were all so cooperative and well behaved! Molly had been going to safety village every day that week. On Friday we went to her safety village graduation. It was very cute! We celebrated our first week of summer by having lunch at our favorite Chinese restaraunt. Just the girls and I! I sat there watching them slurp their egg drop soup and making attempts to use their chops sticks and I stepped into the future thinking about what lunch with my girls will be like in 15 year. It is a bitter sweet time for me now. I am enjoying that the girls are getting older and it's easier and more enjoyable to take them places. But that also means they are growing up. I wish they could stay little forever! It was a great first week of summer break!

Another School Year Comes to a Close for the Scott Girls!

Like every year, this school year flew by! With the willingness of friends and family to watch one or more of the girls, I was able to make it to both Madison and Molly's end of the year parties. Mallory woke up the morning of Madison's party with a touch of the stomach bug. But within a few hours she was her old self again. She stayed home with Aunt Susan that morning so that I could squeeze in some end of the year errands. After I dropped Molly off at preschool, I headed to my school to pass out special awards to the kids with Jodee. I like that we both make an effort to be there together for special things. There really is no such thing as part time:) I dropped off Molly and Mallory with Rosanna, potential stomach bug and all. The woman truly is a saint. I can't stress enough how I could not survive without her. Madison's class had a pizza party. We did the limbo and the cake walk outside. Everyone had a great time. I can't believe she will be a third grader next year! Jodee came in early on our half day and cover for me so that I could go to Molly's end of the year celebration. Everyone had to bring in fruit and we added it all together to make a friendship fruit salad. It was bitter sweet to see Molly finish up her preschool years. I cried after I picked her up from her last Godly play. It was such a beautiful experience for a young child to learn about good in such a hands-on and meaningful way. Now Molly is on to Kindergarten! Look out PVN! Here comes Molly! I had such a fantastic class this year. I hate to say goodbye to them! But everyone is growing up and moving on. We all deserve a nice, long enjoyable summer. No homework! YEAH!

Madison's First Communion

Finally Madison's much awaited First Communion day arrived. We spent so much time preparing for her big day. She looked absolutely beautiful! Mrs. Trick and Father Hammerle really went out of their way to make the day extra special for Madison. We precessed in with everyone at the beginning of the mass and had a front row seat. Father announce our family and explained why it was a special day for us. All of our family was seated behind us. During the offertory Madison, Duane and I dressed the table to prepare for the Eucharistic prayer. Then Madison brought the gifts to the alter with my parents. When it was time for communion Madison was the first to receive communion. Many people smiled and wished her well as they passed by. She just light up! It was such a beautiful experience. I sat next to her thinking about the day she was baptized and now she was already making her first communion. Any experience in my life that I realize how quickly time passes. It was hard to fight back tears. I felt so proud to be her mother. After church we hurried back home to do some last minute prep work for the party. I appreciated having lots of helpful hands. The weather was perfect. There was actually a 0% chance of rain! We spend the day surrounded by our precious family and friends. We were grateful for generous gifts and more importantly the honor of every one's company on Madison's special day. We missed those that couldn't be there. The grass had grown in, my mother-in-laws knees were healing enough that she could make the trip and the weather was as good as it gets. What a blessed day!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day weekend! As always we had plenty to do. As much as we enjoy soccer, it was nice to have a little break. We went to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants and had a family movie night to kick off the weekend. On Saturday, Molly had a birthday party and the rest of us went to pick up flowers and veggies to plant. We were all excited to get the garden started. We really enjoyed it last year. That evening we headed off to the pool. The weather was perfect! It was so exciting to finally get back to Pleasant Hill. The kids love the water so much. We'll be spending many days there. We had Monster Pizza (our home town favorite) at the pool, then headed home to start planting. The girls helped plant flowers and get the garden started. The next morning we headed to church. It was Duane's turn to help out in the nursery. That night Duane and I went out to dinner a lone. The next day we finished up the yard and did some cleaning to get ready for Madison's first communion party that was coming up the following weekend. We had a cook out that evening. The kids spent a lot of time playing outside with other kids from the neighborhood. Duane and I were able to both get some running in. He ran more, but I went to the gym so it evens out:) It was a fun and productive weekend. We remembered our loved ones that have passed and prayed for the men and women that have lost their lives protecting our country and those that are still protecting us. Even though this country has it's ups and downs things may not always go the way you hope, we are so blessed to call the United States our home.