June 2 - The Love Haters

Last week I went to Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church with a book club friend to listen to Houston author, Katherine Center, talk about her new book, The Love Haters. She writes rom-coms and it was a packed with over 500 people! I have been to several author events throughout the years and this was hands down the funniest one. Katherine Center was absolutely hilarious! One of the main characters in her book is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and she interviewed Coast Guard guys from Ellington Field, which is the base right next to our neighborhood. If you have the opportunity to listen to her speak, go!! You won't regret it. 

May 29 - Splash into Summer with the Brownies

We kicked off summer with a pizza party (plus cupcakes!) at the pool earlier this week with Jillian's Girl Scout troop. I'm thankful we were able to find a day before everyone's schedules get crazy with summer camps and vacations. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we pretty much had the pool to ourselves. We did various contests off the diving board but the most fun was definitely the cannonball contest! Our tagline is "Troop 140061, today was FUN!"

Making Memories

May 26 - Slip N Slide Fun

Friday was the first official full day of summer vacation and to the surprise of no one..
*Jillian did not want to get out of bed for swim practice but was excited for Friday popsicles 

*Luke and Jillian fought
*Luke announced he was 'bored'

*the kids ate more food than imaginable 

*Jillian's iPad was taken away

It wasn't all doom and gloom though. Leeya came over after lunch and the girls had some good, old fashioned fun. We played outside until the bugs overtook us. Then we baked chocolate chip cookies and then the girls played on the slip n slide for hours. It turned out to be a great day! Hot and buggy but great! Summer 2025, let's go!

Love these girls

May 22 - School's Out FOR SUMMER!

And that's a wrap for the 2024-2025 school year!

Julia
Favorite Class: Psychology

Least Favorite Class: Macro Econ

Summer Plans: Orca swim coach, Puerto Rico, possible trip to NC, college essays, final SAT prep

Mom's Memories: I feel like I barely saw you this year. You left for school at 5.30am every morning and when you arrived home around 3pm, you would eat a snack and then disappear into your room all evening to do homework (with a brief appearance downstairs for dinner). We had great college visits to Iowa State and University of Washington. You have a great group of friends (Mia, Tanner, Maddie) and you guys have fun going to the beach, brunch, shopping, etc. I'm proud of the way you handled swim and academics in a completely self sufficient manner. I'm also proud that you have managed your finances and have used your own money to fund your excursions throughout the year. You also helped out a ton when I was out of commission for weeks in Feb and March. Me, you and Luke are watching The Amazing Race together and I love those evenings. I can't believe you are technically a senior now and you are already planning a senior summer trip with your friends for summer 2026. Craziness! 

Luke
Favorite Class: Math

Least Favorite Class: ELA

Summer Plans: Orca volunteer swim coach (as needed), Puerto Rico, possible trip to NC and possible engineering camp at Penn

Mom's Memories: Oh my little man. You are now 5'6 and not my little man any longer. Your teenage boy appetite kicked in this year and I'm constantly surprised at how much you eat. You have a hard time waking up in the morning and your alarm goes off seemingly for an hour before you get out of bed. You are grumpy every morning and I'm happy to get a 'hello' grunted at me. I have driven you to school almost every day for the last 3 years and we've had a..unique..silent carpool with zero talking. Shawn and Teagan joined the carpool this year and Shawn's mom bringing you home has been a huge help (she also took you to get a few haircuts this year)! You normally come home from school, eat a snack (or multiple) and then hop onto the computer. I rarely saw you do any homework or studying and everything seems to come easy to you (just like dad and Uncle Greg). You are very into your drone as well as composing music. You have jumped in to help with Orcas when needed which I really appreciate.  Even though your friend group shifted midway through the year, I'm happy you have found good friends. You and I have started to watch Survivor together and I'm cherishing these moments together, as well as TAR with Julia. 

Jillian
Favorite Class: Art

Least Favorite Class: Math

Summer Plans: 2 GS Camps, robotics camp, theater camp, summer swim

Mom's Memories: Every morning with you this school year: dad goes into your room, turns off your fans and opens the shutters. You then start shouting "MOM!" repeatedly until I come upstairs and give you 20 kisses on your cheek, give you a hug (and sometimes Bella gives you a hug too) and then you ask me to help you get your clothes for the day. Sometimes you want me to stay with you to get dressed but I tell you to do it yourself so I can make your breakfast. You eat pancakes almost every morning (rotating between pancakes with butter and pancakes with syrup) and I make your lunch every day. Dad walks you to school every morning and he said you are a little chatterbox. You have a big personality and always wants friends over to play or want to be at someone else's house to play. You have recently discovered you can FaceTime Julia and Luke from your iPad and you FaceTime her ALL THE TIME. You love makeup (recently 'contoured' on your way to a birthday party with a blush kit you found in the car) and jewerly, especially earrings since we had your ears repierced this year. I was summoned to school multiple times by your teacher for 'earring emergencies' which included forgetting earrings, backings falling off and one earring breaking. Never a dull moment!

Next year: senior, freshman and 3rd grade. 

May 21 - Let's Go Orcas

The Orca season started April 30th and our practice meet was last night. Half of our team is brand new to the sport of swimming so it was good for them to see how a meet runs. Julia was coaching, Luke was a volunteer timer and helped set up and clean up after the meet, while our little sprite swam and had fun with her friends! I worked concessions

Girl Scouts and Swim Friends

Jillian and Leeya, besties since preschool

Ella's first meet, she loved it!

May 20 - Finish Line

Jillian & Hannah

The finish line is in sight! Julia's last day of school was yesterday while Luke and Jillian are done this Thursday. Jillian's end of school 'luau party' was Friday and we had a great time. The kids each received a lei and had pizza, fruit, brownies and cookies. After lunch, they rotated through all of the different 2nd grade homerooms for games. They did the limbo (Jillian's favorite), bingo, bottle flipping and a party game involving straws and red cups. They had a blast! This year was my 15th time as room mom and I worked with 2 other moms (ironically, both named 'Kelly') and it was the smoothest room parent experience ever. So great year for the kids and for the moms too!

We also squeezed in the Flair dance show to support Hannah and Reese (Girl Scouts and Reese is also one of Jillian's swim coaches), which was awesome. Jillian is determined to be a Flair when she's in HS :) . We also went to the HS pop show to support Imina, Kimi and Ava (swimmers and incredible singers). The show was a long 3H but wow, some of those kids are talented. JD and Luke went to the middle school pop show to support Riley and even JD admitted they did a good job!

HS Pop Show

What weekend is complete without a birthday party? 

She wanted curls for her class party!

And Orcas!

May 15 - Squirm The Musical

We are marching to the end of year, counting today: 6.5 days to go! Yesterday was another busy day with the Yamo kids. Julia had another AP test followed by work until 7.30pm. Luke had his last ever band concert, performing with the jazz band and symphonic band. He was awarded the Citizenship Award for helping the band directors all year with the lower level bands and various tasks around the school. Congratulations Luke! Jillian performed in the 2nd grade "Squirm the Musical" and her group took center stage for "Squirm." She had so much fun!

Squirm

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2BFXfk8X7XZC8UR2A

She insisted on the 'space buns'

May 14, 2025 - President's Scholar Award

Luke, Shawn & Justin

Luke was awarded the President's Scholar Award at the 8th grade awards ceremony a few days ago (it's the straight A award for middle school). Unfortunately, the award ceremony lasted over 2H and I didn't get many pics as I had to run back to pickup Jillian. But we are very proud of him! Last night he had a band concert at the high school. JD was able to attend and said they sounded great. He has 2 performances tonight for another band concert (jazz band and then symphonic band) that JD will attend while I will be at Jillian's 2nd grade concert, 'Squirm the Musical.' 

Julia knocked out one AP test Friday, 2 yesterday and has several more this week. Busy busy!

May 5 - Yule Ball

On Friday, the symphonic band went to the Opera House at the University of Houston to perform and record their UIL music. The recordings are going to be submitted to a recorded band competition in June, competing against other middle schools across the US called 'National Wind Band Honors.' Not sure when the results will come out but cool opportunity. 

Immediately after coming back from the band recording, Luke rushed home, ate dinner, changed into his new suit and headed back to school for the end of year dance, the "Yule Ball." A teacher told him that he and Shawn were the best dressed ones there (they were the only ones in suits). After the dance, Luke and Riley headed to Cheesecake Factory with some friends from school and had dessert. It was a busy but fun Friday for Luke!

May 3 - Field Day

Happy Birthday Uncle Bryan!

Maycember activities began yesterday full steam with field day, a band performance and the 8th grade dance. We'll focus on field day here. The kids have been doing field days for 12 years and this was the BEST weather ever. It was overcast all day and simply amazing (it's usually rocket hot with sweaty, miserable kids complaining). 

After spraying the kids hair various colors, they did a grade level tug-of-war. This is the first time they have done tug-of-war in 2nd grade and Jillian's class was tied as co-champions. Go Kramer Minions!

After tug-of-war, the kids played various games, gaga ball and jumped in the bounce house. It was a great day!

Love this girlie