Three Kids and a Dog: June 2025

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Peyton's Makes JV Cheer and Lands Her First Job

First Day of Work

It's been a few months of lasts for Austen and Hailey since they both "graduated" from their respective schools so lots of content to post about for them lately. But, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention all the exciting things that have happened to Peyton during this time too.

First, she made JV cheer again for her sophomore year. She wasn't too worried about tryouts and certainly didn't practice as much as last year but knew that since she is one of the few that has tumbling skills on JV, that she would make it. She's come so far too - last year she could only basically do a round off. Now, she has a round off backhandspring, standing back handspring and is working on a standing back tuck. She says she's very good at jumps and is an excellent main base for stunting. She may need to work on smiling though (and she wishes she was a better dancer but for not having really any dance practice, I think she's pretty good). This year, JV will compete so they didn't take as many cheerleaders as in previous years. She's also working on making Varsity next year because they get to travel to Dallas for their competition if they qualify.

In between her cheer practices/camps (of course it's already started for the fall season), Peyton decided that she wanted to get a job because there were many things that she wanted to purchase this summer. So she took the lifeguarding class and went on some intereviews at our local pools and ended up taking a job at the country club pool at the end of our street. So far, she really loves it and it's been good for her to not be sitting around all summer. The social aspect is a plus as well as being outside and getting some UV rays (with sunscreen on of course). She's met some great people and is making money doing something she loves. I call that a win! So happy she's still swimming too even if it's not her first love anymore.

Summer is off to a busy start with cheer and work but that's how she prefers it. Keeping busy.

Monday, June 02, 2025

Hailey's Lasts at Prospect

Our last child has finally ended their career at Prospect Elementary school. We started at that school in the fall of 2013 with Austen (Hailey was not even born yet) and finally reached the end in the spring of 2025 with Hailey. That's almost 12 years of consecutive time at Prospect.

Elementary school seems so long while middle school and high school just seem to fly by perhaps because our kids get busier as they get older. Since it seems like we've been there for years (and we have), I can't say that I wasn't looking forward to being done with Prospect although we've had really great years and some great teachers there.

Hailey was better about the end than I thought she'd be. It started in early May with a visit to the middle school for step up day. The incoming 6th grade girls then got together for a meet and greet at the local park complete with some getting to know you games and fun. Then it was time for her last Daddy Daughter Dance with Tom. A few awesome moms from our grade set up a special dinner for all the 5th grade girls at one of our restaurants in town before the dance. Then all the 5th graders walked on down to their red carpet debuts for their Hollywood themed dance. So much fun and Hailey looked very grown up! Of course I had to do her hair several hours beforehand due to the fact that I had to leave at noon to take Austen to a soccer game in Wisconsin and I wouldn't be back in time before she left for her pre-dinner. This was actually quite hilarious as I tried some bendable rollers in her hair the night before. However, I put a shower cap on her head for her to sleep in with the rollers (came with the rollers) and that effectively made her hair and all the products in it sweat so she woke up with wet hair and condensation in the shower cap! I could not stop laughing although I had to redo her hair in the morning. Despite this memorable moment, she looked great and had a good time with her Dad and her friends.

The lasts came to an end last week with her "promotion" ceremony for our 5th graders at Prospect on Thursday afternoon. Austen and Peyton were both present with Tom and I to see Hailey receive her diploma.

And while she's not exactly excited about middle school, she did not cry leaving Prospect. I'll take that as a win for my child that doesn't love change. Congrats to Hailey on finishing out 5th grade strong and qualifying for both advanced math and advanced language arts in middle school (the only one of my kids who qualified for both entering middle school - the other two only qualified for advanced math entering middle school).