Alleluia

This year, we joined my mom's stake to do an Easter program.  It was so fun. Sam was in the orchestra (except had a fever the day of and had to stay home), Ada had a solo, Evelyn and Ada were in the youth number, and my mom, Jeremy and I were in the regular choir. It was so fun and all of us came out just beaming.

 

Celebration of "mediocrity"

I don't like aiming for perfection, but I do like to do well.  I like being mediocre and would prefer to be able to be mediocre in a lot rather than excel in one thing. I love that my kids are doing well... I just hope they learn that they don't always have to win to do well. We had three wins this week. Seth got third in the class spelling bee.  He lost on the word 'impeccable'. If the first or second place people back out, he'll be part of the school spelling bee on the 18th.  Sam's esports JV2 team has been doing their semi-finals against the Utah high school teams.  Sam was MVP at the match before this last one and lost this last one at the last minute.  It's the way it goes and he's done great.  His team is currently in 3rd but they might have to play one more match to determine 3rd/4th place... out of Utah high schools.  I think that's impressive. Ada just did her first FBLA competition for the year.  She got 3rd and 5th place and is ready to go compete at State.  She was disappointed because last year she placed in 5 different events and this year just 2.  But I think it's awesome that the 2 she placed it were both ones that she's worked on really hard.  Visual Design is one that she's done both years and been marvelous at.  If she can get first place at one of those, she won't have to pay to go to Nationals.  If she gets in the top three, she can go to Nationals and compete... just not for free.  Again, I'm so proud of all the work these wonderful kids are doing and I hope they learn to love the experiences whether they win or lose!

Evelyn was supposed to read half of The Book Thief by Thursday.  She started Wed afternoon and finished Wed night.  I used to be a fast reader, but she takes the cake.

My crochet helper

I've been helping Cristina's branch choir.  Their pianist just up and moved without telling anyone.  4 weeks before Christmas.  They were going to sing acapella, but they asked me to help them practice.  I've been roped into playing for their Branch Christmas party.  I don't mind.  It's been a fun cultural experience.  I'm used to being in branches with all Ecuadorians.  This one has latinos from everywhere and they're always asking where each other are from... and what food/language/cultural things are in their hometowns. They're always so happy and joking with each other.  Many of them have perfect pitch.  Many of them don't read music but have great ears.  I can play something and they can repeat it.  Which means that I need to play the timing and notes correctly, but if I do, they pick it up quickly.  This last Sunday, they told me to be there at 4... I get their and they're all eating tacos.  We chatted and ate, then off to practice.  Cristina kept saying the tacos were magic and made everyone sing especially well that day.

Seth is moving and was getting rid of his couches.  They fit our teenagers growing bodies much better than the ones that we had down there.  They weren't too excited to move couches but they loved them once they were in.  I'm very proud of them and how much they worked together.

Jer's white elephant gift exchange at work was absolutely spectacular.  It was a "6 million" dollar piece of art.  A banana taped to the wall was just sold at auction for 6 million dollars.  I guess it made it to our house.

 

Easter Sunday

Easter we took our yearly Easter picture...These kids are all getting so tall and wonderful. We're truly blessed.

In the morning, Jer arranged our Easter basket hunt. Grandma and Grandpa Wilcox came to sacrament meeting with us.  That was so nice. The Primary sang Easter Hosanna. Seth did great and I cut out palm leaves for the kids to wave during the chorus.  Then I played for the choir while Dad and Ada sang.  Ada had a solo. I know that my Redeemer lives. She did marvelous. She had a sore throat, but you'd never know it.  Then Sam had made LOTS of brownies for the linger longer.  They all got eaten. 

Peep microwave war.

 

The rest of the week

My Dad's book is on the shelves!  It's so exciting!

Ada went to a glow in the dark multi-stake dance. Neither of us knew that it wasn't a dress up thing... we got there and she didn't want to be the only one dressed up, so we put her hair in a bun and took out the flowers.  She went and had a blast.

Evelyn's sweet 1st grade reading buddy was taken home on hospice this week.  It's been sad, but I'm glad that Evelyn got to be part of her life.

Ada had two choir concerts last week.  One was during Evelyn's play, so I went to the other... which took place at Mountain View where I graduated from. I haven't been back for a while.   The chairs are nicer now, but the acoustics are still spectacular.

Young Women's was Hungry Hungry hippos.  It was so fun!

And Ada did a thing.  She chopped off her hair.  It's super cute on her and she likes not having to brush it as much because her hair is so thick.  She had so many people ask to cut her hair for her.  I definitely like taking her to my high school bestie, Mesh.  She does amazingly.

With Jer down, we had a very happy visit from Jacob.  He came to distract Jer for a little while.  It was fun to see him.  I haven't seen him for a few years.  He's now a manager at the pizza place that he introduced us to.  I'm so proud of him!

 

December proceedings

Jer the chocolatier.

I was getting the daycare kids their snacks when this baby decided that she was hungry.  Seth was so cute.  He went in there without prompting and started singing to her and bouncing her.  I wish I could have recorded it, but I needed to finish feeding the toddlers and warm up her bottle before she got too desperate.  My heart took a picture though.

We did a rush to get our tree this year.  We had an hour between daycare getting out and Evelyn's dance class.  We decided to rush and get it.  Ada was late getting home from school because of play practice and she decided to stay and hang out with a friend at the elementary school playground.  We called her to get home quick.  We all got ready for dance and potty breaks.  By the time she got home and we were all in the car, we only had 30 mins to drive to Provo, get the tree, drive Evelyn to dance by our house and then home to set up the tree.  I grabbed a coat for Ada so we didn't have to wait while she went in to get one and it had already gotten pretty cold.  I told her to hurry into the car and told her that here's her coat.  She got so mad at me.  She couldn't possibly wear her coat because she was wearing her hoodie.  I told her she could wear both but not zip up the coat, and she didn't want anything to do with that answer.  We were running late so I told her to not worry about the coat and just jump in the van.  She told me to chill.  I lost it.  I just did 10 hours of daycare, got people dinner, got Evelyn ready for dance and told Sam that I'd take him to the insta-care after grabbing a tree.... then in waltzes my teenage daughter who had just come from playing at the playground and tells me to chill because she doesn't want the coat I had thought to grab as I went out the door.  I get that she's a teenager and was probably just misreading what was going on but being told to chill when I was working so hard to take care of everyone really hurt.  Teenagers.  I won't hold it against her, but I really hope she learns from it.

Sam and I got dropped off at the instacare while Dad took Evelyn to dance.  I really think that Sam had a sinus infection after having RSV for two weeks.  The doctor said that he thinks it's the flu.  He never did any nasal swabs or anything.... and I'm stubborn.   I still think it was a sinus infection.  Sam spent 2 days with a fever. We gave him decongestants and air humidifier in his room.  No one else has caught it so...Ada just caught the RSV... Sam, Jer, Seth and I all had it, so maybe Evelyn will get it next or hopefully not at all.

Ada had her Christmas choir concert this week.  She did a great job.  She's been assigned to be an alto.  She has a nice warm tone and large range, but I think she is an alto to balance out their sopranos.  You could hear them really well, but not so much with the altos.  I think Ada brings out their part in a good way.  Because I hear her singing all the time, I could pick her out, but I don't think you could just pick her out without being familiar with her voice.  I could also pick out Dani's voice.

For YW's we taught about DSLR cameras.  They are a dying breed.  Only Ada and one other girl knew about them at all.  We showed a couple tips and then let them have fun.  This is one that Ada took.

Ada and her friends Christmas shopping.

Finishing up chocolate dipping for friends that didn't make it to the party.

Sam had his band concert too.  I missed it because I had a concussion migraine.  I didn't think that a jr high band concert was the best venue for me at the moment.  Jer says he did great.

Annual grinch picture.  We forgot to get a family picture at the tree lot though.  We were in a bit of a rush.

 

Ada's fall concert

 

Days of the week

For Labor Day, we found a fire pit that's a double burning one.  It does make smoke, but not as much as a regular fire pit.  Which is nice right outside our door.  We tried it out this week.  We had a fire and our family night lesson about the Word of Wisdom and nutrition.

Evelyn had her parent teacher conference.  She's in 6th grade and she's progressing consistently. Her reading and English learning arts are about a grade above grade level.  Her math is on grade level but progressing consistently.  Her teacher said that her RISE testing score was interesting.  Most people do a 10-20 point jump in their test score from one grade to another.  In 7 years of teaching, Evelyn's test was the only one she's seen that has jumped 100 in a year.  Evelyn was very flattered to hear that.  I'm proud of the work she is putting in.  

Ada had her first concert of the year.  As part of Chamber choir, she has about twice the number of concerts than she has the previous two years.  She has a concert this next Thursday too.

Evelyn did have a rough week, but it was better by the end.  She was taken from the level 3 ballet and put into the 2.5 class.  She just needed extra help with her form so that she doesn't hurt her feet.  She was very upset, but Jer and I decided to get her a 1/2 hour private lesson every week.  She LOVED it and so did I.  The entire 1/2 hour was very engaging for her and the teacher got right down on the floor next to her feet and would help her correct them as she goes.  I asked her acrobatics teacher how she was doing and she said that she's doing very well in there.  I asked if she was half trying or if she was really putting in some effort.  The teacher said that's she's progressing well.  I love that by talking openly, Evelyn is getting what she needs.  Her teachers are aware of her foot problems and want to help the best they can.  Her acro and school teachers both have ADHD themselves and they have been excellent in terms of patience, encouragement and skills that Evelyn can use anywhere.  I with Janelle had had this in Elementary instead of a teacher that told her she was dumb.  

Some mornings, I come sleep on the couch because it's easier on my hips and I don't wake up feeling like an old lady.  Some mornings the kids come and join me.

I want to have a hysterectomy done for several reasons, but on my way to get some biopsies and have a doctor consult this sign was in the elevator.  I thought that was really funny.

Seth and Moana, the double headed dragon.

D&D with Seth and the Komen's