Here's what Jaden's been up to . . .

A couple of weeks before school let out Jaden represented the 3rd grade on their recent Author Study presentation at the High School Fair. She set up their 3D board and did her best to answer any questions about their project. My favorite part of the night was watching her interact with two male class mates (set up on either side of her) who were there to represent other 3rd grade projects. Next to each of their displays was a bag to collect comments from passers by. Jaden started a friendly competition with the two boys to see who could produce the most comments before the nights end. The dynamics of the night changed from standing their post and waiting for inquiries to some serious proselyting. Unfortunately, the bags were collected by the teachers before comment cards could be tallied. Jaden holds strong that she won by a landslide (as I'm sure the other boys claim too). And, yes, there might have been one or two comments from her mom as well as a few from her moms friends.

Here is Jade at her awards ceremony as she graduated from the 3rd grade. That is beyond unbelievable. We are the parents of a soon to be 4th grader? Crazy.



Starting the summer off with a bang Jaden had a week long cake decorating course for two hours each day. Let's just say fondant will now be a staple for birthday cakes at our home. She loved the class and this is what she produced and got to bring home on the last day.

Above: Ms. Jaden teaching her summer preschool. This is the preschool invitation she sent out (with a little help from mom).

Dear Mom's of preschool age children who have a relationship with Ty,

To help keep busy this summer I am offering a summer preschool. Over the past year I have been collecting and creating lesson plans for Ty and his friends. I love teaching so much I asked my mom to turn our game room into my school. I would like to invite your child to attend my summer preschool. The cost is $2 per lesson (or day). Lessons will be every Tuesday from 9:00-11:30 (unless otherwise notified due to vacations and holidays or if my mom says that it won't work).

It is important that your child knows that while this class promises to be fun I will expect them to be willing to sit and learn from the lessons I have prepared. Of course, we will have play time too. And some field trips within the neighborhood.

Please let me know if your child will be attending my summer class. If Tuesday's aren't good for you we can change the date. Thank you.

Excited to teach,

Ms. Jaden

P.S. we will have snacks too.


I have loved this summer responsibility for Jaden. Not only does it keep her Tuesday's busy but any other given day of the week (as any teacher can attest to). She's often found adding to lesson plans, redecorating, reorganizing and rearranging her class room, surfing children's education websites for print offs etc. She thinks like a teacher and shops like one too -everything she lays her eyes on has the potential to be a lesson. Her lessons are very age appropriate. Aside, from typical lessons (math, reading, writing) they will be taking field trips around the neighborhood and to her school library that happens to only be open on Tuesdays through out the summer. Also, she has informed me that one of their " specialty" lessons in science will be experimenting with a freezer pop to compare the rate at which it melts indoors to the rate when left under the hot Texas sun.

It has been so fun to peak in on her. She prepares and teaches entirely by herself. I have helped here and there with printing things out or added my two cents to a lesson she informs us about over dinner, but that's all, really. She is in charge. I love it.

Kyle soaks up a well deserved break. . . in the shade! Where he should always stay.

Here sits Kyle (next to Reese's beach chair -we start them young) deserving a long overdue relaxing day at the beach after an eventful couple of months at work.

First, Kyle argued a case for AIG in the 5th Circuit. As I had to have it explained to me there are 11 Federal Circuit Courts in the US and Kyle's case was argued by him alone in the 5th Circuit Court which includes the southern states: Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi. We have not yet heard back the results. But he did put in plenty of time preparing. Some of that time was spent in the evening hours after kids were put to bed, in the drive way, inside his Camry where he sat fine tuning his oral argument . He said he needed somewhere to be alone so he wouldn't be embarrassed by my watching him turn into his theatrical character, hand motions and all. I still peeked. It was awesome.

Secondly, he had his first trial. That too was done by his lonesome and as far as his firm is concerned he came out with a win. He was excited the day of the trial and wasn't too nervous. He enjoyed the process including jumping through all the hoops -specifically jury selection was fun for him. The firm he works for is rather large, therefore, obtaining a jury trial is very rare. It is so highly coveted because so much is learned through the process. Plenty of lessons learned later -he has two major accomplishments under his belt and we are proud of him. Nice work babe!

Update: Kyle won his AIG argument.