A Family is a Gift That Lasts Forever...

A Family is a Gift That Lasts Forever...

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Piano Competitions



Jaxton enrolled in several piano competitions this winter. He has an amazing piece called Fantasie by Chopin that he has mastered all on his own. It was a self taught piano solo and it is incredible that he is able to learn something as difficult as this. He entered into these competitions, hopeful to earn a scholarship, and to have an opportunity to share his skill. The first competition was at the Wagonwheel in Warsaw. There were 12 contestants. Jaxton did not win, but it was an opportunity for him to perform on a beautiful stage and share his skills.  He was in the competition with a fellow GarrettBand member, Abbey. The second competition he entered, was the Gene Marcus piano competition at PFW. This one was much more stringent and had more contestants. It was nerve-racking and stressful, but he performed so beautifully and got really good marks. Then he entered the same piece into the solo ensemble festival  at ISSMA Indiana regionals. He got a perfect score there. He will be performing Fantasie one last time at the winter Garett concert in a week. He is one incredible musician. 






Gramps’ Mission Call



Gramps received a mission call to be a software trainer for the senior and service missions across the United States. In his younger years when he met my mom, he had a desire to serve a mission, but was told he was a little bit too old and needed to move on with his life. I think he always wanted to serve. He is beaming in these photos and is so very proud of this call. The work is right up his alley. He gets to create a system to teach service missionaries remotely how to use Excel and Word and other software programs and is assisting the senior missionaries in learning these programs as well. These programs help keep track of things in each mission and Gramps is helping to teach these computer software skills. It’s a volunteer mission and he is taking it to the next level. Wearing that badge is a symbol of pride for him. Congrats Gramps! 




Uncle Mike Riding



Uncle Mike passed away this last November. He had a service in California city on February 17. My mom and dad attended the service. It sounds as though Ken and Marilyn and Kendall and her husband along with Carol and Mary were all there to support Jane. I did not know Mike very well, but I do remember being called Tara Treetops as a little child. He would smile and greet me as Tara Treetops and give me a giant hug. He had step children with Jane and five grandchildren who adored him.  He was 85 years old. I have been in touch with Jane a little bit through Facebook. She has commented on my posts and I have commented on hers. We connected about Mike and I sent my love her way. The celebration of life brought positive memories and positive feelings for my mom and her family. 

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Kaylee’s Birthday Party

Kaylee wanted to have a birthday party this year. We decided on a slumber party with a mall scavenger hunt. She wanted to invite everybody. We had quite a large group. We picked 13 girls from the school on a snow day afternoon in our giant big van and took them to the Fort Wayne mall. Kaylee came up with a really fun scavenger hunt to do at the mall and we split the girls into three groups and set them free. So much fun and lots of memories made! They all came back to the house to hang out open presents, eat dilly bars from Dairy Queen and watch movies. Some girls were up almost all night. They had a blast. Dawson helped me make pancakes in the morning. What a fun time! 
















Cub Scouts Super Science

Since I teach the third grade, Cub Scouts, we had a requirement to learn about science. We did some water experiments with salt and sugar and we did color morphing, and some other interesting experiments with colors. The boys actually loved the experiments and it intrigued their interest. So much fun!









Kaylee turns 13

Kaylee turned 13 today! I can hardly believe it. She is such a beautiful and sweet girl and we love her to the moon and back. Here are some fun things about Kaylee at age 13:



1. Kaylee’s favorite color is sage green.

2. Kaylee is an animal lover. She loves her cats more than anything in the world. At Oak farm she cares for the goats and is anxiously awaiting for the baby goats to be born.

3. Kaylee loves cheerleading and she loves to be on top of the pyramid stunts. She has no fear of heights and no fear of flipping around in the air and trusting others to catch her. She must get that from me:)

4. Kaylee‘s closest friends these days include Jorja, Stella, Hannah, Nora, Ana, Bella, Ruby, and more. She is friends with everybody, and is always including everybody. She’s very aware of her social interactions and insures that everybody is included.

5. Kaylee loves fancy drinks. She loves to make smoothies and create her own recipes. She also loves to stop at coffee shops and get sweet drinks.

6. Kaylee is in seventh grade this year. She ran cross country and is planning to start up track this spring. She’s a runner!

7. Kaylee likes to organize things. She likes containers and contraptions to store things in an organized way. She loves to organize stuff.

8. Kaylee was nervous for Middle School at Oak Farm but has found her groove. She is loving it more than she thought she would and claims that it’s way better than ever elementary.

9. Kaylee has been selling her homemade jewelry with her friends, Layla. It’s been a fun hobby and they’ve made some good hard cash.

10. Kaylee emulates her middle name, joy she brings so much joy to our home and family and spreads joy. Everywhere she goes. Her name couldn’t fit her more. Happy birthday, Kay!







Saturday, September 24, 2022

Dawson Plays Tennis

Dawson has joined a tennis league. He is learning the basics of tennis and enjoying it a lot!!








Sunday, September 18, 2022

Dawson’s Birthday!!



Dawson turned 10! Double digits! It is hard to believe that he is already 10. We had some family gatherings and a Dairy Queen ice cream cake for his birthday I’ve got to celebrate a little bit with Cassidy, his cousin who shares his birthday. He got an extra large monster truck remote control vehicle and they difficult Lego set for a pullback car. He got other goodies from family and friends and I think he felt special. We love you Dawson! Here are some fun things about Dawson at 10 years old.

1. Dawson is one of the most reliable kids. He is extremely aware of the clock and aware of his responsibility is most of the time. I can generally rely on him for anything. He is particular about things being correct or Put in the right place, so when it comes to cleaning he is the best cleaner in the house. Everything has a place and everything has the order.

2. Dawson is an early riser. He’s usually up at least a half an hour before everybody else on school mornings. I think he likes the peace and quiet and to be ahead of the day.

3. Dawson loves to build things and create things to the instructions. We can give him a piece of furniture and have him follow the instructions and he can do it. He is very step-by-step with everything in order and he thrives on this type of work.

4. Dawson is a very good friend. He’s kind and thoughtful to his friends at school. And he’s a very hard worker as far as academics. His teachers love his smile and his positive attitude.

5. Dawson is into Pokémon lately. He loves to attend Pokémon club and battle with his friends and ride cards. He also is getting introduced to Pokémon go and loves that as well. He likes everything Pokémon right now.

Saturday, September 3, 2022

United Way Day of Caring

Simplx participated in the Fort Wayne United Way Day Of Caring.  The entire team took half a work day and spent it helping the new YWCA to prepare for construction. The YWCA purchased the old Don Halls Guesthouse on Washington Center Road and they plan to turn it into a women’s shelter with multiple purposes.  Simplx was able to haul tons and tons of furniture out of the building, wash and work with linens, and help landscape for the organization.  It was a great opportunity to serve an organization with such a great cause.  












Cub Scouts

Cub Scouts has started! Owen is a lion this year. He is so excited to be at scouts! Dawson is a way below and Nathan is a wolf and I am helping to lead the walls done again this year. It should be a great time!




Play Dates

We’ve had some fun play dates lately!  Here are some photos with the kids and their friends!














Girls’ Day

Kaylee was the only kid that did not start school on Monday. Because of their staggered start and she’s a returning student to her classroom she did not have to go on Monday. So Kaylee and grandma and me had a girls day! We went shopping at hobby lobby and went to lunch at Qdoba. Then we stopped in at TJ Maxx and had a lot of fun before we went to pick up all the boys! Fun times!




Back to School Photos














New School Routines

We have had to prepare for new school time routines. We are trying out the bus in the morning and the bus and some carpooling in the afternoons. I wanted to try to continue doing swim team during the school year. I know it’s going to be difficult but I thought I would see if it would work. If I do swim team then I cannot get home until about 7:10.  We have to leave the house by 7:30 to catch the bus. That means the kids have to get up and get ready all by themselves. Week one we tried to set everybody up for success.  It did go well! Owen kept his list by his pillow so he would see it first thing when he wakes up. The Littles are motivated to get ready fast so they can watch a movie in my room. Some days when I return from swimming I find them backpacks on watching a show already ready to go! It’s hard to believe that they are this independent. It makes me happy. 






First Day of School

School has begun for the 2022-2023 School Year!  The time just keeps going!  All the kids are at Oak Farm this year and Jax does marching band and concert band at Garrett High School. 














Cross Country Kicks Off

The cross country season has kicked off! Cooper and Kaylee have enjoyed the season so far. Kaylee is getting a competitive edge and has been using a Garman watch to time herself and Beat her times. She’s beginning to want to achieve goals and it’s exciting to watch her growth. Cooper is running for Oak Farm high school. They have a team of four, so it’s small, but he is proud and he is fast!