A good Citizen!

Hayleigh was honored this year at her elementary school to receive the local Ruritan Chapter's Citizenship award! Way to go Hayleigh!!!

The Barn Swallows that weren't swallowed!!

When my parents were visiting recently, we had an interesting 'show' in our carport compliments of 2 black snakes and some barn swallows. I've talked about the stupid barn swallows in a post before - the ones that insist on building their nest near our house instead of IN THE BARN........ Anyway, this year there are 2 barn swallow nests. One is under the deck - we didn't take it down before they layed their eggs, so we had to leave it there. The dog, who spends his days on the deck, goes absolutely nuts trying to get to the nest. It is very funny to watch him cock his head different ways so that he can see between the deck wood into the nest! There is a 2nd nest in the carport.

It is up in the rafters, stuck right on the side. We had to move Tim's Harley because they kept pooping on it. Being in North Carolina, there are a lot of black snakes. They are supposedly 'harmless', but it's still a snake - scary!!! 2 black snakes spent a couple of hours trying to figure out how to slither up to the birds' nest. The went around and around and around, but they couldn't get to it.

One snake even tried to use Tim's Harley to get closer. They were very persistent. The baby birds were so quiet and the mom and dad kept flying back and forth and watching - they were so upset!

GOTR

While her brothers played soccer this past spring, Hayleigh practiced running 2 days a week for Girls on the Run. At the end of the GOTR season, the girls ran a 5k with a 'solemate'. Hayleigh chose her brothers to run with her. The boys all dressed the same - CSC shirts and red shorts - and ran in a 'formation' around Hayleigh - kind of like the secret service. It was so funny! Maybe they should've worn black and had sunglasses and a wired earpiece! All the girls were given a race number to pin to their backs - they were all #1. It is a great program for girls!

It's HOT

Summer in NC is VERY hot if your house doesn't have air conditioning!!! We really like our new geo thermal unit and it works really well - and it would still be on if the pond hadn't sprung a leak! Can you believe it??? Our big pond drained in a couple of hours. What a mess!!

Happy Birthday Dallin!

Now we have 5 TEENAGE boys in the house!!!

Dallin is 13 years old today!

One more day!!

The last day of school for the year is tomorrow. Tyler is done his exams and I picked him up when I dropped Keenan off for his last exam. Ethan has an 8th grade dance tonight and then graduation tomorrow morning. Dallin is 'just watching movies, can't I just stay home??'. I'm leaving in about 10 minutes for Hayleigh's awards ceremony.

I have so many things on my list that I want to get done this summer! And there are going to be so many willing hands to help - hahahahaha!!! Maybe if I take the Wii remotes til the work is done???

Kirsten was overheard saying something funny the other day. She told Dallin 'you better back off or you're going to make me mad'. It wasn't very nice, but 12-almost-13-year old boys ARE SO ANNOYING sometimes!!!