Day Camp and dentist appointments 6/3 - 6/9/2018

This week was filled with Cub Scout Day Camp.

Monday some of the kids had dentist appointments and Damon went to help set up day camp.  I picked him and some other boys up after the dentist and help set up a few canopies.  It was hot!

Tuesday - Friday went like this: centers in the morning if possible, some other dentist appointments, pack lunch, and then head up to day camp around 11:30. It was just easier if the kids ate lunch on the way up.  Damon needed to be there an hour early to help as a ranger.  I volunteered this year as a session leader.  I did the Tiger belt loop of Tiger Theater.  It was a lot of fun.  We did puppets, mime artistry, reader's theater, made masks, and played charades.  It was a fun week for me even though it was so hot.  Because I was helping the Tiger group sometime I would have a break because some groups didn't have any Tiger Cubs - that was great because then I could go visit Tyler and Chris and see what they were up to.

They of course loved the shooting sports the best.  They both did a great job on the range. Tyler built a tool box this year and Chris made a terrarium.  They had water sports, played games and had a fun time at camp.  The girls were in the Me-too program again and loved being inside in the air conditioning and doing crafts, watching movies, and having fun.  It was a busy and long week, but each year it keeps getting better.  This year was 4 days instead of 5, so that was big.  The last day was long because they invite the families to come and stay.  They brought in Chick-fil-a but that was kind of crazy to get everyone's orders out.  I don't think they will do that again. Overall a fun week, but glad that it's over. 

Rangers helping me with my puppet show.

 Damon was a great help all week, he worked hard and had fun helping Chris at archery.

Doug has been working a lot with scouts as well.  He got the trailer all ship shape for their scout camp next week.  He's going up for the first bit and then coming home on Wednesday.  

Memorial Day and Last week of school! 5/27 - 6/2/2018

Sunday I didn't have to teach, which was nice.  The sad part was that instead the youth had a combined lesson on what to do in an active shooter situation.  The stake had a FBI agent make up a presentation and had it okayed by the church and presented it to the youth and the adults (during 3rd hour).  I listened to the both presentations.  It's a sad world we live in, but it is good to be prepared.

Monday was a really fun day.  I made muffins quick and then went to the grocery store because we were out of essentials.  When I got back we quickly loaded up and went to discover a new 'beach' of the Spring Creek that is close by.  Doug and Damon stayed home to organize the scout trailer.

We had such a fun time at the beach.  There were lots of friends there and the water was perfect.  We swam and played in the sand until 1:00.  We came home for lunch and rested a bit then we went to the pool a little after 3:00.  We were kind of tired from the morning, but Doug and Damon wanted to do something to cool off and everyone had fun once we got there.  We went with the Monreals and invited them over for dinner as well. 

So during the break and after swimming and I was madly cleaning the house and making salads and prepping food.  We grilled hamburgers and hot-dogs and had a great summer dinner.  I had gotten some corn on the cob and watermelon as well.  The bummer was that our A/C seems to be going out, so it was pretty warm in our house, but we managed.  It was a great evening with friends and family.

I realized later that evening that I needed to make my traditional carameled apples to give to the teachers  that night because I would be going to the schools the next day and it would be easiest if I was there to help carry them.  So I stayed up late getting those done.  And because it was so humid and hot in the kitchen the caramel didn't cook like it normally does.  It turned out ok, but looked so much darker and was a bit grainy.  I hope it didn't turn to sugar to much. 

Tuesday I took the kids to Broadway to help deliver the apples, then I went to Tyler's school because of his award ceremony and to deliver his a


pples.  Tyler was on the A honor roll all year and actually had 100% attendance for the year, which surprised me.  He also received the Citizenship award from his teacher (1 boy and 1 girls from each class is chosen).  He was happy.  I was happy when the event was over.  It took over an hour to read all the names - way too long. 

We had pack meeting and Chris was so excited to finally get his Bobcat, he earned it months ago, but they finally gave it to him. 

Wednesday was Damon's Birthday.  It gets harder as they get older to make it seem special.  They don't get as many things because the things they want cost more and they don't like getting chalk, and stickers for their birthday. :) 

 He still loves Legos!

 He was very excited for jerky, whoppers, and lindts chocolates.

 Damon's big present was an X-Box Live subscription for a year and letting him play Fortnight.  He wrote a big persuasive essay to ask us to let him play and he succeeded. 

 Wednesday was also the award ceremony for Chris.  He also received all A's all year and earned good citizenship.  He is a good student.  He is starting to get a little too crazy and silly sometimes, but we still love our Christopher.

 Mrs. Smith

 They had a little party after the ceremony and then Chris came home early with me.

 Damon requested lava cakes which was awesome for me.  So easy and so yummy!

Damon is such a great boy.  He is an awesome helper and very responsible.  He helps me with dinner twice a week usually (dishing things up and cooking noodles etc) and I appreciate him babysitting so much.  I can't believe he is now officially a teenager - crazy!  He had a great first year at Jr. High in 7th grade and got all A's in all of his classes.  He skipped 7th grade math and went right into regular Algebra and did so well.  I'm so proud of him. 

We took Damon out to eat at a Chinese place and picked up my new phone while we were there.  We also watched the first little bit of the Hobbit.  Damon is very excited to start watching all the movies that he now has permission to see.  :)

Thursday was the last day of school, just a half a day.  I only had a few hours of quiet to myself and I tried to enjoy them.  I read a bit and worked on a few projects.  I had a cold for just a few days so it was good to relax just a bit before the craziness of summer starts. 

Friday I slept in! It was great!  We went to the new beach again and stayed until 1:30.  The kids all had a great time.  The water wasn't as deep, this time - it had rained right before we went on Monday.  but we all still had a great time.  We just chilled the rest of the day

Saturday we worked on scouting a bunch.  I'm trying to get Tyler started on some merit badges and helping Damon finish up some of his.  We went swimming in the afternoon. 

Storm, Play Room, Kindergarten Graduation, 5/20 - 5/26/2018

We had a big storm roll through on Sunday.  It made the power go out and was out from about 5:30-10:00.  We were talking to my family when it went out so we had to cut our conversation short.  We were just about to turn on the generator when it came back on.  It's amazing how much we rely on power.  The kids had fun using lanterns and flashlights though.

Monday was the normal laundry and grocery shopping - I spend so much time on those types of things to keep our family clean and fed.

Tuesday I worked on Day camp stuff, went to Walmart, and helped at the library at school.

Wednesday I listened to Tyler sing at school and then since it was over so quickly I was still able to hurry home, change clothes and go to my exercise class.  It it days like this that I am so grateful to not have any little ones at home.  I am so much more flexible by myself.

Thursday was Jenna's Kindergarten Graduation.  There are 9 Kindergarten classes at Broadway so I am grateful that they split it up into two days.  I was also glad that I could just focus on Jenna one day and Kaylee the next.  The program was great, the kids sing a few cute songs and then they read each students name as they cross the bridge to shake the principals hand and hug their teacher.  It's a little over the top in my opinion, but the kids like it. We had a little end of year party afterwards.  The teachers gave out a little memory book and we watched a slide show of pictures throughout the year.  Mrs. Bruner has been a great teacher for Jenna.

 Second row from the top, 4th from the right.

 Holding the 'G' in the Kindergarten Poem.

 This is Brock Haynes, who Jenna is going to marry someday.  :)

 Crazy, class of 2030!

 Love my Jenna girl! She has had a great year.  She is such a good student and excellent reader.  It's been so fun to watch her grow and learn.  When her teacher asked what she wanted to be when she grows up she replied, " A teacher, so she can teach kids their numbers and ABCs and also have Fun Friday."

Kaylee had graduation on Friday.  The program was the same of course, but so fun to watch Kaylee participate.  The funny thing was that in one of the songs there is a little interlude where the kids get to dance a bit and Kaylee just starts going all out.  There is a new move that is popular right now called 'the floss' and Kaylee is an expert and just stole the show.  I got it on video and it is priceless.

 Front row, third from the right.

 We loved having Mrs. Grabowski!  She has been one of my favorite teachers out of all of my kids.  So glad that Kaylee got to have her.

 So proud of Kaylee this year.  She is such a great reader and so crafty.  When asked what she wanted to be when she grows up she replied "An artist because I am the most happy when I am painting."

 We hosted a last minute game night on Friday.  Only 3 other couples were able to make it, but sometimes it's nice to have a smaller group.  I made a yummy strawberry lime cream cake.  It was a little drippy but still tasty.

 Saturday we cleaned in the morning then I took Jenna to a birthday party and wen to the Children's Museum with Chris and Kaylee and picked up pizza on the way home.  Doug took Damon and Tyler to see the new Star Wars movie Solo - that was also what they wanted for their birthdays.

Doug and I are in the process of getting new phones, Doug got his, but my new one had a glitch and so the store had to order a new one.  

Tyler's Birthday and a busy life 5/13 - 5/19/2018

Every so often Tyler's birthday is on a Sunday - which means that it's also Mother's Day.  He was a great Mother's Day gift when he was born 11 years ago.  Tyler has really grown this year, he had a great year in 5th grade and really was responsible for all of his classes.  We are so proud of him.  He is doing really well in piano.  I wish I would have started him sooner with a real teacher.  I didn't spend the time I should have when he was young and he just seems behind now - but he is learning quick and I enjoy listening to him play.  Tyler still loves all things with a ball, he asks all the time to be involved in some sport.  Sometimes he has to take a turn out and let his siblings play and he is a good sport about that.   He finished flag football most recently and I think basketball is next.  

Tyler asked for crepes for breakfast, chicken nuggets and instant potatoes for lunch and personal pizzas for dinner.  Tyler requested a banana cream pie instead of birthday cake which was so nice for me.  I made myself a key lime pie for Mother's Day.  I was in the kitchen a lot on Mother's Day, but that was ok since I knew I would be.  Doug helped with the mountain of dishes.  

 We got Damon and Tyler Imagine Dragon Concert tickets, in August.

 Tyler had fun lighting his own candles.

 Tyler had to wait until later in the week for us to take him out.  We were so busy almost every day with play practice, scouts, and other stuff.  He choose Chick-fil-a as well, mostly because he wanted his free milk shake.

My week was full of normal busy life.  I did a ton of errands on Tuesday - but met Doug for lunch so that was fun.  I finished hanging things in the girls room and it looks so cute!  This was our last institute class, it has been so good to go to class.  I also have enjoyed our exercise dance class that is at the church.  So many fun things to keep me busy.

Doug went camping with the scouts this weekend.  He spent a lot of time getting things ready, I helped with the food a bit - and actually forgot to pack the hashbrowns in the cooler - sorry boys.  I think they had a good time and Doug did a great job with his first time camping with the scout trailer.