August

Mustard Seed 5K:  This year all 4 kids ran in the charity 5K benefitting Mustard Seed ministries - it was the weekend before school started and Nicholas' BT cross country team was highly encouraged to run or volunteer to support the event.  Even though it was not an official BT XC meet, it was the first opportunity to letter and guess what...Nicholas not only crushed his 5K PR but easily made Varsity lettering time as a freshman!  We were all so excited for him - what a great way to start your high school cross country career!  The other 3 kids all ran really well too.  We all had fun!  

All the BT XC kids at the race

Sam race most of the race with Coach Matthew and the sprinted at the end

Grace and her friends all placed 

Post race breakfast with friends

Grace and I attended our first NCL Tea

Nicholas ran his first official high school cross country meet - on Varsity - and crushed it!

Henry and fellow scouts volunteered at church family day

Caleb invited Nicholas for an all inclusive Braves game

Henry went with the scouts to the McKenna Lake house for a camping, fishing, boating weekend

Nicholas volunteered to make sandwiches for the homeless early before school one morning

Samuels' summer baseball team, the Roswell Renegades Black, had a special day at the AAA Gwinett Stripers game.  They were the featured little league team, getting to meet the players, get autographs, be on the field for the national anthem, then watch the game and eat a meal.  It was a super fun day!

That's Samuel out there with the second baseman getting one more autograph right before the game starts!

Henry's friend Rory had some of the guys over for one last summer hoorah before school started.

 

Happy 15th Birthday Nicholas!

 Dear Nicholas,

We could not be more proud of the young man you are at 15 years old!  You are smart, athletic, kind and thoughtful, easy going, fun loving, and well rounded gentleman.  You continue to excel in school - making straight A's your whole life so far.  You also do a great job balancing school with many extra curriculars which include running cross country and track, swimming, Boy Scouts, church youth group, and alter serving, just to name a few.  You have held various leadership positions at school and in scouts and are looked upon as a Christ like friend and leader by your peers (which is what we are most proud of in you!).  You remain an avid Lego and Star Wars fan (requesting yet another Star Wars themed cake this year) but have also become a sports fanatic as well - following baseball, football and hockey all very closely. You still enjoy reading though we find your reading sports articles on your phone more and more over books.  You enjoy spending time with family and are a great big brother, playing with your siblings as much as you can.  You aren't too eager to get your driving learners permit but I'm sure we will get it soon now.  We can't wait to see what this next year holds for you, especially as you enter high school.  Our prayer for you on this birthday is that you always keep Christ as your center for decisions and as your moral compass.  Continue to let Christ's light shine forth, just the way you already are, and you will do great things - we know it!  We love you so very much Nicholas!

Love,  Mom and Dad

Henry got him some of his favorite sweets!

Grace made some beautiful creations for him

Samuel made a custom desk shelf/picture holder

He asked for a Molina jersey

Now they match :-) Nicholas has been so great with playing catch and helping Samuel practice baseball and pitching in the yard.

For his birthday "party" Nicholas as to take a few friends to the game when the Cardinals were in town playing the Braves - they had a great time!

NICHOLAS' FAVORITES AT AGE 15:

Stuffed Animal - Patch

Food - sushi

Movie - Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith

Show - Ahsoka

Clothes to Wear - hoodie and shorts

Game - Ticket to Ride

Snack - Goldfish

Animal - dog

Song - Burn, Burn, Burn by Zach Bryan

Book - Thrawn

Friends - Caleb, William, Chris, Jacob, Jackson, Dom, Alex, Nick

Drink - Dr Pepper

Outside Activity - throwing the baseball

Sport - running and swimming

Park Activity - throwing a ball

Inside activity - play with siblings

Place to go - Grandma's house

Fruit - pear

Vegetable - carrot

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Architect

What brings you joy?  friends, family and sports

What makes you sad?  lots of homework stress

What do you think heaven is like?  really peaceful, quiet time with God, pure joy

First Day of School

On Aug 7, Nicholas started 9th grade at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School!  He was ready and excited. He was moving from a K-8 school with about 500 kids total to a 9-12 school with about 1000 kids total.  Thankfully most of his QA class goes to BT, and he'd met even more friends the summer practicing with the BT cross country team all of June and July, so he started the first day with confidence and a good friend base!  We are so excised to see you continue to learn and mature in your high school years Nicholas!

Nicholas and his friends on the first day of school.  Fr Tamiru came over from SPC to shake the boys hands and give them a blessing - what a great way to start school!

On Aug 9, the other 3 kids started school.

That day was "House" day for Nicholas (hence the T shirt)

Mrs Benedetto has taught all 4 kids 3rd grade!

This table grouping won't last long!...looks like trouble to me!

6th gr homeroom - Mrs Bickerstaff

7th homeroom - Mr DiRoma