Sam

Sam's Super Smash brother's team made it to the state championship. They went up to Weber and KSL Sports broadcast the matches.  Dad and I watched.... They played Toelle HS.  They have a 4-person team.  The first two won easily... the third one struggled but did win.... and then the stream ended before Sam, the 4th person, played.  It turned out that because the other three had won, Sam didn't have to play.  He was sad about that, but he said that they played some just for fun after the competition was over and he did really well. I'm glad he got the chance to do it.  What a fun thing to be part of.

We also got to see Sam perform with the SUU symphonic band.

 

FBLA State competition

Ada did her 3rd and final High School FBLA state competition. She came away with a 3rd place medal, 4th place, a $250 scholarship, a recognition of work and I think a 7th place.  So she will be going to Nationals in July.  She did great and should be very proud of the work she's put in.  

 

Full week

 

This week was busy too.  Never too busy to take a break with cats though.

Sam does Pep band as part of the Jazz band class.  Ada does the concessions for FBLA.  I don't usually get to see them, but I finished work and Ada called to get a charger for her computer to finish her online course work.  I took it over and stayed for a minute to cheer both their efforts on.

Jer was able to get to Seth's Show what you know presentation.  I really like both of us working from home.  It's great how flexible it can be. And it meant a lot to Seth to see Jer there.  They did a rap about the water cycle.

I love swing music.  In High School, my lunch time was split between working in the school store and the swing club.  We'd dance for a half hour and then back to class.  Sam's Jazz band had a fundraiser concert in connection with the Wasatch Jazz.  They're the professional band in our county.  I'd been looking forward to it for weeks.  I even heard that there might be dancing and mingling.  Unfortunately, because it was a Saturday, we had to get all our stuff done before going.  Jer was at the grocery store and by the time we got all the groceries away, we were late.  Then we were misdirected at the doors to the volleyball game going on instead of the jazz band.  So we were later.  We missed Sam's band.  I was so sad.  And then seeing my Sam's face when he told us that we missed his solo (which he'd told me he didn't have this time...) Made me sad.  Fortunately, we were able to hear their last piece together.... so we got to see one.  No one really danced except for Sam's cute group of friends.  I wanted to go dance with them, but which teenagers are thrilled to have their friend's mom start dancing with them? 

This week, I also did a family photoshoot and a missionary photoshoot.  Jer was able to join McKay's family as a missionary send off as they took Devin to the MTC.

On Sunday, we were able to celebrate Grandpa Robertson's birthday with them, the Hansen's and Joe T.

Grandma's annual lasagna.

Sam, Ada, Evelyn, Joe, Karl, Mariah, Millie, Amy, Jon

A birthday zoom call the Robertson siblings.

Watching The Wind Rises.

4 Robertson men

Ada did a voice assessment and is going to be starting Opera lessons this week. I'm excited.  She has power in her voice.  It will be fun to see what she thinks of it.  

Wednesday, Sam took part in the solo/ensemble for the flute. He and a couple of his flute "harem" (he's usually the group leader but it's always a bunch of girls.  We started joking with Seth that he should learn the flute then he'll have no shortage of girls to date.) did their ensemble piece.  Then he and I played Allegretto for his solo piece.  I hope that he gets a good score and feels good about how he did.  I've been enjoying listening to him and his flute teacher, Maddison, play duets in the front room.  Sam almost didn't do the solo competition.  He didn't want to pay for an accompanist.  I've accompanied for violin and vocal competitions before, so I raised my hand to volunteer.  It really is so fun working on music with my kids.  It's one of the biggest joys I get as a mom to teens.  Jeremy went out of his way to help me be able to help Sam too.  He sat with the daycare for the hour or so that it took to go to the High School and play with him. Bless him for being willing even if it's not his preferred activity.

The kids don't have school today, Except Ada, who's doing a technical school outside the district.  It's fun to have the kids around doing various stuff.  The daycare is kind of quiet too.  So I took the time to get our taxes started.  Next, I need to go practice the organ.  I've been asked to sub on Sunday for the first time since the new hymns have come out.  A lot of the new hymns were not written for the organ.

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.

 

FBLA Nationals

Ada got to compete at the Orlando FBLA competition this year.  She had such a fun time. They competed, went to Sea World, Disneyworld, Universal Studio, etc...They got caught at Universal for three hours waiting for Tropical Storms to clear up before they could go back to their hotel.

Ada dressed as Schmee from Peter Pan.

Stuck in the tunnel at Universal waiting for the storm to pass.

 

FBLA

Ada did amazing!  Their FBLA club went to State.  She had prepared 3 presentations and I think did 3 tests.  She didn't place in the tests, but she got 1st place and 2nd place for two of her presentations.  She's been working hard and she's scheduled to go to nationals in Orlando, Florida. Jer might go out there and say hi to his sister while he's there.  We'll figure that out once we have details.  She's worked hard and I hope that she's proud of the effort that she's put in.

For the first place presentation, she and her team were awarded a $100 bill.  She drove me to the bank and she got money to split between the three of them.

They also won chapter of the year for their service hours and activities.  

During Sam's Sophmore night, Ada was running the school store with Jimmy and Alexx. Sam likes the idea of doing the retailing class, but Ada is not keen on having him in her declared space.  I think Sam has enough that he's interested in that it won't end up being a problem.  Ada has already registered for classes for next year and I think she's got a good thing set up.  Sam's got his wish list registration put together.... we'll see what he ends up with.

 

last couple of weeks

It was warm and so Jer and I took his lunch break and rode our bikes out to check on the Lindon temple.  It's got the weathering up. 

Baum's Christmas trees.

Seth and Evelyn

Evelyn and Ada

Evelyn's almost ready for braces.  I'm glad they pulled some teeth last time.  The adult teeth used to be growing into the roots of the front adult teeth.... they were worried that they would cause damage. Looking much better now.  Might not have to do braces, but might have to do a spacer.

Seth's class made different kinds of indian homes. 

Ada has been working hard the last couple of weeks.  She joined FBLA at school.... Future Business Leaders of America.  Her club has about 20-30 people in it.  The just did Regional competitions.  She presented 3 group presentations and took 3 tests.  She got 5 rewards.  She got 1st place for one of them, 3rd for 2 of them and 5th place for 2.   All her hard work paid off.  Next is State.  For state they can either perfect what they presented or they can choose a new thing to present on. If they get in the top 10 for state, they will get their travel expenses paid to go to Nationals.  That's what Ada's hoping for.

After a false start (The first time we went to get a tree, they had just closed.... then we were sick for a week), we were able to find a very pretty tree in a pretty fast time.

My Mom invited us over to make wreaths with her.  It was fun.  It reminded me of all the toll painting and hot glue crafts that we used to make. My mom is a maker and I love it.

For Primary on Sunday, I brought my bells.  We were practicing for the ward party this Saturday.  Turns out that the song that we were going to go wasn't in the same key as the music for the bells, so I dug up new bell music and we're going to be playing Silent Night. 

The cats like that these mat tiles aren't as cold as the cement.  It's pretty funny.

Evelyn's friend, Maylee invited Evelyn to the Salt Lake City Hale Center Theater to watch The Christmas Carol.  She loved it, and loved being with her friend.

I think Seth's pants are beyond my fixing.  The crotch and both knees are just hashed.

Seth has started taking almost daily naps under the Christmas tree.  I love it.  He curls up by the heating vent with a book and just falls asleep.