More May

 May was a busy month! We kicked it off with Meet in the Middle and it just got busier from there.

Foster Kittens: 

A huge highlight of our May was fostering seven adorable kittens. We picked them up at 4.5 weeks old on May 5th and currently still have six of them with us. Rowan and Cruz need volunteer hours for high school and this was the way they thought would be the most fun. 

Week 1: It was so hard to get photos of all of them as they were so tiny. They weighed between 7 ounces and about 9 ounces. They were just starting to eat solid foods and the little runt was still being syringe fed kitten milk. 

Week II: This was a little bit more fun! The boys named the kittens after the Chicago Cubs team only to later find out that all but one were girls. From top left we have Nico, Ian, Suzuki (Suzy),  Kyle (runt), Michael, Pete and Dansby.

Week III: Everyone started to get a bit easier. I'd say this was the golden week. The kittens required less work but were also still young enough not be completely crazy. Unfortunately, Dansby had a reaction to a vaccine at the end of week three and ended up going back to the Humane Society to be monitored. 

Sweet baby Kyle 

 

Dansby 

Michael 

Peter and Suzy 

Cruz: 

Cruz had a sculpture in the Art Show that he did first semester in his 3-D Design class. He worked alongside several other students and I loved seeing it displayed. 

He's also been very excited to practice his driving skills and is already quite the driver. 

Happy 42: 

Dad turned 42 with some new golf irons, funny cards and key lime pie! We love you! Hope it's the very best year. 

Mother's Day: 

Coco and I were in Greensboro at Tremaine on Mother's Day but I came home to a sign on the TV and sweet cards/treats from my babies. 

Tremaine Greensboro: 

Cora ended her Tremaine regionals on a very high note as she earned a year long scholarship to Tremaine for next season. She has worked very hard all season long for this and it was a huge goal for her. So very proud of her workvand dedication. 

Athletic Awards: 

Cruz was awarded the Most Improved Award on his team. 

Rowan was also awarded the Most Improved Award plus the Scholar Athlete award. 

Rowan was recognized by the newspaper with end of the season honors. I'm so proud of him because last year's season was the kind of season that makes you want to give up. He didn't and he proved to himself that he could do it.

I only caught part of Cruz's coach's speech because I wasn't expecting this award for him. I did get Rowan's coach's speech as Rowan had an idea that it might be him. 

6th Grade Beach Party:

I still can't believe that we get to live in such a beautiful place. 

Beach with the Greens: 

Cora flew on her very first solo flight right after school got out. She flew to Nashville where she joined Claire and her family on their family vacation to the beach in the Florida Panhandle. She had the VERY best time. It was a quiet first week of summer without her but I did enjoy some special time with the boys. 

 

Crab Hunting in the dark! 

Cora was full of stories, fun and memories! What a great way to kick off summer! 

School is DONE!

Whew, we dragged ourselves across the finish line this month but we made it. I'm not sure why this seemed like the longest May yet but here we are with a full two and a half months of summer in front of us! 

 

Rowan:

Junior year was a pretty great year. It was full of independence, friends, first dates, school dances, challenging classes, college visits and driving. Rowan finished two tough AP classes and a dual enrollment class. He worked on the school yearbook for his art elective credit and did a great job.  He had a fantastic baseball season and was recognized in many ways. Can't believe there's just one more year left with him. 

Cruz:

Freshman year brought a lot of change, challenge and opportunity which Cruz handled beautifully. He managed his schoolwork with ease and tackled all of classes well. Honors Biology was a good kind of challenge as was World History. His Bible class this year grew his faith and encouraged him to ask some hard questions. Cruz had a great basketball season and organized his own personal training sessions with his coach on the off season. On the random times that Rowan wasn't driving the kids to and from school, Cruz enjoyed taking on that responsibility (with me in the car). 

Cora: 

What a year. for our little middle schooler. Cora balanced quite a bit between a full load of classes at school and a busy dance schedule. She worked hard, she fell and she got back up. Cora did an incredible job in her Advanced ELA class which she got moved to after the start of school. She will remain in Advanced ELA for seventh grade. Cora loved attending Youth Group with her school friends and had several "mountain top" experiences in her walk with Jesus. I pray that she continues to find her worth in who God made her to be.

 

Her classmates voted her "Most Likely to Start a Fashion Trend" which is pretty accurate. 

Cora and her besties got a rare school night sleepover the night before the last day. What a fun way to kick off the summer! 

Meet in the Middle

Another "Meet in the Middle" is in the books! Our home base was in Galena, IL and we ventured out for day trips to other various places.

 

Lunch at JJ & Freddie's in Stockton, IL 

Our next stop was at a local nursing home where we had a fun hour helping the residents play Bingo. We split up in twos and really, truly had a fun time being a part of the afternoon. Cruz and I sat with Sandy and Noreen. Noreen was 97 years old, the same as my Grandma! Rog couldn't join us until Friday night as he had an important presentation to give in Dallas. 

Our next stop was West Creek Sculpture Park where Grampy challenged us all to take one photo of something in the sculpture park to submit to him and then the rest of the family would vote for our favorite.

Everyone took this very seriously! :) 

Day Two started with a trip across the mighty Mississippi into Iowa. 

This was a new state for the Baum kids.

The Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium turned out to be a lot of fun and we learned a little something as well. 

 

The most creepy and realistic puppet in the hands on classroom! 

   

 

After a quick lunch stop at Tony Roma's, we headed to downtown Galena. The weather was a little bit chilly. 

Candy for the girls! 

We saw a fun and interactive magic show. There were about 25 people in all in the show and we all got to be a part of the magic. 

Back at the house, we hot tubbed, watched the Cubs, had S'mores, did sparklers and played a little catch. It was such a nice night. 

On Sunday morning, before we packed up and left, Grampy showed us all the photos from the sculpture garden photo contest and we gave each photo a number rating between one and ten. Grampy added up all of the scores and the winners (and everyone ;)) got Starbucks gift cards! 

Jade (not pictured) was in third place. Cora received second place.

And Row won first. This was so much fun. Thanks for organizing it, Dad! 

CUTEST bunch of cousins.

the whole gang! 

We packed up and headed out on Sunday morning but on our way back home/to the airport but not without a quick stop. 

This miniature version of Wrigley Field was so cool and so much fun for a quick family wiffle ball game. 

Thank you to Grammy and Grampy for such a fun weekend. We look forward to this every year and I'm so grateful that we all make it a priority. Also, I can't believe how big everyone is!