Happy 8th Birthday William

Washington DC July 2012

Tarpon Springs March 2012

Easter 2012

Dear William,

I just want to wish you a very happy birthday,  I can't believe you are actually 8!!!  I probably say that the same thing ever year, but I really can't believe that another year passed so quickly. 

I am so proud of you... you are a great student, friend, athlete and son.  You have made me so proud.

This year for your birthday, you asked for an I-pod, a tennis racket and a snow cone maker.  I hope you get all three.  You certainly deserve them. Today we are going to the Porter County Fair for your ATA demo.  Good luck and don't kick anyone... only boards.  Just joking!

I'm going to quit here... if I start writing sappy stuff, then I'll start tearing up and then I'll start crying. Just remember that my tears are happy tears.  You have grown up so fast and I wish I could slow things a down a bit and enjoy more time with you!

Love You My Little Guy!!

XOXO

Mommy

Last Day of School 2012

Goodbye Kindergarten

Goodbye First Grade

HELLO SUMMER!!

The LAST DAY of school 2012

The FIRST DAY of school 2011

Walking with our neighbor, E.

Central 2011 First Day of School

Central 2012 Last Day of School

Claudia and her kdg teacher, Mrs. H

William and his first grade teacher, Miss P.

William and his best buddy at lunch

Easter 2012

I'm way behind on the blog... again. Here are some of our Easter pictures. Looks like we went to church and then to Grandma's house. Great day!

The Bunny was here!

Mommy and the kids

Daddy and the kids

Daddy and the kids #2 



Claudia and Mommy

Being silly

Grandma

Playing at Grandma's park

Playing baseball with the cousins









William and his dogwood tree... planted after he was born.



Lemonade!  Lemonade!

What do you do on one of the hottest days of the year?

Sell lemonade, of course. You kids made over $50.00 which you donated to the Porter County Animal Shelter! 

Way to go!!!

Washington DC

After a rotten start to our summer... pneumonia for William and an eye and ear infection for Claudia, we still managed to squeeze in a short vacation to DC thanks to Brian.  Brian went to visit a job site in DC and we, including Cousin Sydney, tagged along.  We found a hotel one block from the Air and Space Museum which was great because we could walk everywhere except for the Lincoln Memorial.  It was way too hot to walk that far, so we took a taxi. 

Here's a few photos from our trip... not in any special order

Lincoln Memorial

Walking to the Capital Building on Day #1

Fountain at the Capital Building

Air and Space gift shop

The American History Museum

Sitting in a tee pee at the American Indian Museum

Lincoln

Smiling with Sydney

American Indian Museum... cool building!

My Babies



We actually found something with Claudia's name!

Playing with a canoe



Wright Brothers Plane

Chewy Lemon Cookies

Chewy Lemon Cookies

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• zest of one large lemon (I add a bit more than 1 lemon)
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1tsp lemon extract
• 1/2 cup sugar for rolling cookies (or skip this part and dust the cookies with powdered sugar when cool)

Preheat oven to 350F

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

In a larger bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in egg, vanilla, lemon zest and juice and lemon extract.

Add in dry ingredients, beating until just combined.

Roll rounded spoonfuls of dough into balls and then roll in sugar (I skipped this part and just dusted the cookies with powdered sugar after they had cooled).

Place on lined cookie sheets, about 1 or 2 inches apart.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes (10 worked for me). 

Remove from oven and let stand on cookie sheet for 2 minutes before removing to cook on wire racks.

Makes 24 – 36 cookies (if you don't eat the dough).

Bye, Bye Kindergarten

Claudia,

Last night I said "goodnight kindergartner" to you and realized that it was the last time I would ever be able to say that.  And so I cried a lot...

We love you and our so proud of you!

Welcome to first grade!

Love,

Mommy

Mother's Day Card

William's dogwood tree

Hi William,

I was just straightening up the book shelves and found a Mother's Day card that you had made, possibly hidden... and forgot to give to me :)

This is what you wrote:

Here's a Mother's Day poem for you!! :)

Mother's Day is a happy, cool, and nice day for you and this poem is the same.

I like you more than hot dogs, pizza, ice cream, root beer and pie.

I spell "LOVE"...  M-O-M-M-Y.

Happy Mother's Day!! :)

Love,
William

-----------------------------------------------------------

On the back you wrote:

William Cards by William Pics. Inc.

Thank You for the beautiful card.  I will scan it soon and include it here! 

LOVE YOU TOO!!
Mommy

William

William,

Mom and Dad received an e-mail from your first grade teacher this past weekend.  This is what she had to say about you:

Hi Mr. and Mrs. Stage!

I just wanted to send a quick email to say how lucky I am to have William in class. He is such a sweet and caring boy. Our class has really been struggling to make good choices, be active listeners, and follow directions but William has been one of few that consistently does the right thing. He sets such great examples for his peers and is very reliable and responsible. I just thought I would share that he makes my day a little brighter!!

Have a great weekend!!


Way to go Little Guy!  We're so proud of you for making good choices at school.

When I asked you why you don't act this way at home, you responded with, "I like to take the weekends off.".  Silly!

 

Christmas Day 2011

Please let there be a 3DS in here!

YES!  A 3DS and a game!

Happy Campers

I made this for you at school.

I made this at school, too!

All the beautiful handmade gifts and cards from William and Claudia....

Off to church...

Finally... I picture with Mom!

William and Claudia,

I really have to apologize.  I have totally slacked off with this blog.  I wish I had made more of an effort to download photos to the computer and keep this blog updated.  Not only have I neglected the photos, but writing as well.  I originally thought that once you went to school full time, I would have more time to write, but the complete opposite has happened!  I'm always busy with something else... school, sports, the house. 

I just wanted to let you know that I am going to start writing again.  Even if it's a few sentences each week.  You two do so many wonderful (and funny) things. I, as well as you,  want to remember these things years from now.

Love you both,

Mom

xoxoxoxo