Seth SLC

 Seth and I went to his Parent Teacher Conference (SLC) on Thursday.  We were the very last one and I'm pretty good friends with his teacher (She started there the first year that Ada was in her class and I've worked with the school in some capacity ever since.)  I LOVE that Seth has her.  She's perfect for his learning. She focuses on hands on learning and he learns best by hands on learning. Two things to note, Seth's reading scores for the beginning of the year is double what the bench mark is.  And is Math score is also double.  She said that most students score about a 40... the bench mark is 70... and Seth scored 135.  Super cool.

Ada Fire cadet

I finally started editing like mad.  Ada had her fire equipment at home for just a bit, so we took a minute to do an "in the dark" photoshoot.  One day I want to add fire to the background of a couple.  It might be a fun cheesy thing. 

 

Charlie Kirk

I've been putting off writing about two different things in my blog.  Partly because I wasn't sure how to process everything and partly out of exhaustion.  My Aunt Margaret passed away a couple of weeks ago, which I'm going to be writing about on my family history blog.  The other was the assassination of the public figure, Charlie Kirk, just minutes away from us. 

Jer and I were out getting our international driver's licenses renewed when we got notifications of a shooting just down the road at the college campus.  We didn't see any emergency vehicles so we assumed that it wasn't so bad and then a notification that Charlie Kirk was at the hospital.  Not long after, we got word that he'd died at the hospital just minutes from our home.  Why he wasn't taken to the bigger and better hospital... I don't know, and according to news outlets later it wouldn't have mattered.   I had friends that were present at the shooting.  My past daycare worker was present.  She didn't know who he was but was invited by a friend.  She's lived through lots of personal trauma and this did not help her anxiety and depression. Our nephew that works at the Walmart next door was in lockdown the rest of the day.  Seth's school went into lockdown.  (He was in gym so he didn't notice.... they just locked the door and kept playing their games).  

That first bit, I was in shock. I didn't know what to think that something so horrible could have happened right here.  Then the next day I was in mourning.  I am not a political person, but I did notice that this year especially he'd been teaching about Jesus Christ more.  I appreciated that about him.  

Jer and I were both having a hard day, but all our normal daily things still had to happen.  My job that day was to get our van fixed.  What I thought was going to be an all day activity ended up being a 20 minute one that they have to finish another day.  I needed peace so I dropped in to the temple without an appointment.  I asked if there were any openings for ordinances before kids got out of school.  They didn't but I went up to the Celestial Room and they suggested that I go do a couple of confirmations in the baptistry.  I did.  I appreciated that even though I didn't have an appointment, there was still a place for me there. My soul quieted and I just opened my scriptures to random points because I just didn't know where to start.  The first verse I opened to was about political unrest.  The next verse I turned to was about testifying of Christ.  The next verse was about calm. I went on the rest of my day with a sad but calm heart.  One of the sisters that I minister to was not so calm.  Then a child took an unloaded gun to school in their backpack at her kids' elementary school just a couple days later.  That situation did not help that calm either.

Over the next month we have seen an internation movement in response to his assassination.  Both because he was an international figure and also because of the availability of information (true and false) in our digital age.  Whether you like him or not, he has become a hinge figure in our history, much like Martin Luther King.  The kids didn't really understand what was going on.  I didn't want to make them afraid about living in our area, but I did want to explain that what they were living through was politically significant.  I showed them some of the clips of the vigils around the world and talked about the impact that this might or might not have on our world.  

I'm sad that anyone would believe that this was necessary.  I'm sad that people think that killing someone would change what they're saying, especially today where it just acted as a megaphone.  I'm grateful for the temple and the peace that I can find there.

 

farmer's market

Sam told me yesterday morning that he was going to be performing at the city farmers market again.  I called my parents and Janelle because an outdoor performance is something fun to share.  

There were bunnies that the boys wanted to take home, and we bought some bread and popcorn.

 

Fire Prevention Night

Ada, Seth and I went to the Fire Prevention night.  We hit the tail end of it, but we did get to experience a "car crash", the helicopter taking off (the neatest thing), checked out the ambulance and played at the kids favorite park ever.  We used to go almost daily while we waited for kids at clubs. 

 

misc

Sly properly accompanying me while I submit my daycare food claims.  She was sitting on the one little tiny slit of table that was clear of all my papers and projects.

Poor Sam learned a hard lesson this week.  To back up slowly and check your distance in the parking lot.  Sam's Jazz band played at the city's farmer's market.  I didn't know about it until last minute, so Sam went on his own.  He was pretty tired and in a rush to get home.  He backed up into a truck in the parking lot.  The truck got a scratch on the bumper and light, but our van was a little worse for the wear.  I tried to get the window replaced, they said they couldn't replace it without fixing the dent.  We had an appointment for the mechanic to fix something else so we took it there first.  That took a week and didn't get fixed.... so we took it to the body shop.  They popped out the dent and put in a windsheild, but there is broken glass in the door so it rattles when you open it now.  Now it's sitting waiting for the mechanic.  The life of an old car.  We almost bought a new one, but we're hoping this makes it through Evelyn learning to drive next year.

Seth and I had our Primary Program.  We had a whole bunch of visitors and it was so nice.  My parents, Jer's parents, Joseph Brasher and Joe Tarkington.  It was Seth's last Primary program and the Wed after the program, they released me as the chorister.... so it might have been my last one too.  I've been so lucky to have been able to serve in callings with all 4 of my kids.  I was Sam's Primary teacher for two years, Ada's and Evelyn's Young Women's leader and Seth's Primary chorister.  I loved being with all of them.

Ada crocheted a hat for her Perry the Platypus, but it fits the cats pretty well.

President Nelson died this week. I love the testimony that he's left with us.  The three High Schoolers were invited to wear their Sunday best to school in remembrance.   I only got a picture of Evelyn, but they all three said that it was a great experience.  Evelyn also got to play for Seminary for the first time.  I'm so proud of her.  Accompanying with instruments is a different skill to master.

Conference weekend, Ada and I began the day nice and early with a fall photoshoot up at Cascade for her graduation photos.  Then we listened to the first session in the car and the rest with our family at home. We did get to join Jer's parents for the Sunday evening session and my parents for a Conference chat and dinner for family night.  I love this tradition.  It's so nice to be with Grandparents.

 

Witchfest

 

Last year, Janelle asked me and my kids if we wanted to go to Witchfest over the weekend.  Sharon was coming down that weekend so it ended up being all three sisters.  This year Janelle wanted to do a Harry Potter theme.  We just happen to have all the Harry Potter things at our house, so it worked out.

Ada invited Alex and Elise to come too.

These two found a friend.

Janelle was Trelawney, Evelyn was Fawkes, Seth was Hagrid, I was Hedwig, Seth was Harry Potter, Jer was Crabbe dressed as a dementor, Viv was Hermione, Thea was Crookshanks, Sam was Goyle dressed as a dementor, Ada was Bellatrix

I had all the fabric, we just spent a couple hours to make her wings, tail and headband.

Seth hit the nail on the head with his costume.

My mom dressed up as Mad Madam Mim, but it was a very hot afternoon and I don't blame her for not wearing the whole afternoon.  We were vanless for a couple of weeks, so my mom switched us cars so that our family could go too.

Sam was pretty beat after his soccer game and maybe had a bug.  He was exhausted and spent most of the time in the corner reading.

If I were rich, I would decorate with this one.

I took off my Hedwig costume after getting a little warm.   Seth had no problem playing both Harry Potter and Hedwig simultaneously.

soccer

I still have yet to make it to any of the soccer games this fall.  That's rare for me, but it is what it is.  I'm still proud of my boys.  Sam actually made a goal this last time. I love it! 

Seth still loves to play defender.  He's so cute.  I love watching him grow!