Attention

I had a knack for letting my mind wander during class. Thankfully, my teachers always seemed to have a special talent for bringing me back to reality! 😳😅

New Friends

Just because I didn’t make friends on the very first day didn’t mean I wouldn’t make any at all. I was incredibly shy back then, and it took me a little while to come out of my shell and get comfortable around the other kids. Once I did, though, the friendships started to form naturally. ☺️

Friends?

Growing up, our parents thought friendships happened instantly. My sister and I worked a little slower - it took us time to start letting people into our worlds! 😊

Back in the Saddle

Back in the saddle again! Welcome to the start of the new school year!

Capturing that moment in class when I realized a week ago I was sleeping in and watching cartoons all morning. 😮‍💨

Helper

My mom would encourage me to run up to school before classes started, hoping helping my teacher set up would give me a “good start” to the year. I straightened desks and stacked books… but honestly, I don’t think it ever changed a thing. 😂

Stuffed

Back‑to‑school shopping always meant stuffing way too many school supplies into our backpacks — and those bulky Trapper Keepers never quite fit. A struggle we seemed to deal with nearly every year! 😅🎒

Trouble

When the sun started to set, our parents would shout for us to come home. We'd run home right away when we heard…but that usually wasn’t their first call. More than once, we walked in to find out they’d been calling for nearly thirty minutes—and yeah, we were definitely in a little trouble. 🥺🏀

 

Calling Us Home

There was always that moment when the day finally started to fade — after hours of running around the park, the sky turning that soft orange, and our parents’ voices carrying across the fields. Being so close to home meant they didn’t even have to come find us; one good yell and we knew it was time to head back, dusty, tired, and completely content.😊

The Game

A couple more kids hit the basketball court and boom — instant pickup chaos. Suddenly we were all playing like one perfect shot might earn us an NBA tryout. 😂🏀

Horse

Just one of those moments—the kid wandering over, not just passing by the court, but actually wanting in. A quiet round of H‑O‑R‑S‑E, and suddenly a stranger became a friendly opponent. 😎🏀

Space

One of those awkward moments at the park...another kid has wandered onto the basketball court. Ultimately we'd drift to opposite sides, shooting in our own little worlds, pretending the other wasn’t even there. 😒🏀

Swish!

Hitting a perfect shot - no backboard and all net - on an empty court, it was hard not dance in celebration. 🏀✨

Stuck

 

It felt amazing having the whole court to myself… but it came with its own disadvantages. Like when I managed to wedge the basketball behind the hoop! Typically I’d just wait for someone else to take a shot and knock it loose, but on an empty court, I had to rely on my sneaker to try and free the ball! 😅🏀

Shootin Hoops

Having the whole court to myself felt amazing! I could take any shot I wanted without anyone crowding me out. The only real work was jogging after the ball on the misses, but even that felt peaceful in its own way. 😊🏀

Empty Courts

It was a real treat rolling up to the park’s basketball courts and finding them totally empty — just me, the sun, and a number of basketball hoops to shoot to! 🏀✨ 

The Distance

 Once we made it into the park, we still had to trek across what felt like endless fields to reach the main section. Maybe it was just our short kid legs, but crossing those fields always felt like it took forever. 😄

The Jump

Getting to the park behind our house meant clearing the drainage ditch — and if you didn’t jump far enough, you’d land right in the rainwater. Nothing like running around the park with one shoe soaked to the bone. 😅

Park

Another popular summer hangout was the neighborhood park. We were lucky to live right on its edge, so we could wander over and hang out anytime we wanted. 😎🏀

...and yes, Zack is about to walk right into the screen door...that's a fair representation of my childhood clumsiness! 😂

Movin'

I always loved that feeling after skating for hours — stepping out of those skates and back into regular shoes, but still feeling like I was gliding across the floor! 😁🛼

Time to Go

Leaving the skate rink was utter heartbreak — kids still zooming around the floor, neon lights still buzzing, music still thumping like the night wasn’t done… and you’re getting dragged out anyway. 🥺🛼

Jam

We can't talk about the skate rink without mentioning the music! 🎶

The DJ would drop that thumping bass and -BOOM- the whole place lit up. The wilder the beat, the faster we wanted to fly around that rink!

I can still hear that click‑clat rhythm the skates made as we picked up speed on the wooden floor! 😊🛼

Nine Down!

 I started drawing these childhood‑memory cartoons just for fun, never imagining I’d fill one sketchbook let alone nine! I’m so grateful for everyone who’s followed along over the years. Your encouragement has carried me farther than I ever expected

Now… on to sketchbook 10!

Couples Skate

'Couples Skate' always hit with that weird mix of nerves and hope — you wanted to be out there with the right person, not just anyone. So when a girl asked if I wanted to skate with her, I was flattered, sure… but I definitely wasn’t ready to lock in a lifelong commitment during a slow song at the rink. 😅🛼

Anchored

 

The skate rink always had a couple of arcade games, and for me they were basically home base. I’d drift over there between laps, half‑mesmerized by the blinking screens and half just trying not to roll away! 😅🛼

Snacks on Wheels

After a couple hours on the rink, we’d hit the snack bar! The real challenge wasn’t buying the snack — it was wobbling across the floor without dumping it. Somehow, luck always got me to the table with everything still upright. 😅🥤🍕

Skates...No Brakes!

When it came to skating, I never did nail the whole stopping thing. I’d just rocket around the rink and slam straight into the wall like that was the plan. Exactly why I always went home banged up and bruised after a day of skating! 😅🛼