It’s been quite the month for Blake as he finishes up middle school! Full of so many fun “Lasts” and also some very fun “Firsts!” (See Florida Band trip)
8th grade beach bash–this was human hungry hippo. It was a blast. 
Last Middle School band concert for the Banks family! We have loved all our years with Mr. Tyler. I feel very thankful for teachers who love middle schoolers. It makes all the difference! Blake got to play the drums for Old Town Road. It was fun to get food at the food trucks and listen to these kids play. 
8th grade Graduation! If was a fun, if not long, night of celebrating these kids and all they have accomplished in their middle school years. They started 6th grade fully remote. Then had hybrid learning, back to fully remote, got to all come to school together with masks on, and then FINALLY masks off at the end of 7th grade. WOW. They have been through a lot. Mr. Duhan, or Crissy, as Blake calls him, gave a speech about all the ups and downs and everything these kids learned through this unique experience. He mentioned each of his students by name–it was quite touching. 
Dash and I worked hard on this poster to take to The Final Lap 
We cheered these boys along as they took the last lap around the middle school track. I love this tradition. 
HS here they come!
Dear Blake,
Happy 14th Birthday! I love you so much. I am really proud of the work and effort and improvement you made at school this year. We had a fun week celebrating all your Middle School accomplishments. You also had a great season on the football field. Dad and I were on the edge of our seats when you caught the game winning touchdown in double overtime in your playoffs game. SO FUN. I love to see you doing the things you love.
You have also been doing Fitness Edge with Walker and working to improve your speed and agility. And playing a lot of dodgeball. Your favorite pass time is playing on your computer. You also love to take my ebike up to King Sooper and bring home one million snacks.
I’m so excited for you to start HS in the fall. It’s going to be such a fun new chapter in your life full of lots of opportunities to grow. I hope you take advantage of all the opportunities to try new things and have new relationships. My best advice for starting HS is to remember that you are “under construction.” Your mind and your body are going to be doing a lot of growing during these next four years. This comes with some bumps and scrapes along the way, both physically, mentally, and socially. Give yourself some grace to get things wrong. If you take responsibility for your actions, and learn to try again and again, you are going to come out just fine.
Dad and I are TEAM BLAKE! Never forget that. We want all the good things life has to offer you and we are confident that this next year is going to bring great things. That doesn’t always mean easy or smooth sailing. But, as we lean on and support each other, we can get through it all.
Love, Mom
It was a fun birthday this year. Blake got a phone! He got a Samsung, which he wasn’t super thrilled about. But he decided he’d rather have a brand new Samsung, than an old, crappy iPhone, which was his other choice. He also got Stang–the world’s most sour soda. And, in adding to his kitchen appliances, he got a mini freezer. Now he never has to leave the loft. He’s got his computer, fridge, microwave and freezer. He and I went to lunch and Mod Pizza and got a birthday cupcake from Small Cakes. That evening the whole family took a ride to KS to get a birthday treat.
Blake got sick the day of his birthday party (probably from consuming a mountain of junk food–see pic below) so we postponed his party until after his Florida trip. It was worth the wait! We ate pizza, had ice cream sandwich cake, and went to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Then, the moment they’d been waiting all year for…..The Band Trip to DisneyWorld! Blake worked hard all summer selling shave ice. We also sold cookie kits on many holidays. He earned $1500 toward his trip! I’m proud that he set his mind to a big goal, and didn’t give up! I don’t have a ton of pics, but some highlights included the beach, the Velocicoaster at Universal Studios, Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot, Tron ride at DisneyWorld (and getting the Genie+ pass that day). They got to hang out in groups of 3 or more, and then just check in with their chaperones every hour with a photo. It was really fun for them to have their independence and choose exactly how they wanted to spend their days.
Blake and I had a ton of fun making these Mr. Tyler tshirts. Mr. Tyler said seeing them all in the shirts was a highlight of the trip. We also made these fun Backpack labels for his friends. 
