6th grade play

 

Sam was really sad that he was promised a part in the 6th grade play and then they couldn't do a play.  They ended up doing a revue so that only groups of 1-4 people were meeting together regularly. Sam had a solo and was part of a quartet and three more songs by groups.  He did great even with the difficulty they were having with some of the mics.  Only two guests were allowed per performance so my parents went to the morning one and Jer and I went to the evening one.

Crazies

 

These crazies make me happy.

Evelyn and Seth playing "chest".  Seth still doesn't get that it's called Chess.

We got sandwiches for date night and Evelyn and Seth decided that the bags were perfect muscle arms.

Seth helped me getting ready for Spirit Night at the school and was totally out in the 5 minutes in the car.

I'm grateful and slightly jealous that Jer can still wrestle with our ever growing kids.

Mother's Day

 

Mother's Day was very nicely low key.  I didn't sleep the night before for some reason, so everyone let me sleep as long as I wanted.  Then I spent most of the day in my pjs.  The kids made me a pancake breakfast too.  Sam made MOM pancakes and Ada did fried eggs.  Then we listened to zoom church for the last time (besides Stake Conference) and played games together the rest of the day.  

Back to the Temple and First timer

 

Sam has spectacular Young Men's leaders.  They have been working hard to include all the boys and do lots of activities now that we've been given the okay to gather in person every week.  They managed to snag one of the few baptismal times this last Tuesday and Sam got to go do baptisms for the dead for the first time.  Jer went to watch and I'm so glad that they got to share that experience!  Sam has been waiting for this experience for almost two years.  I asked him how it went and he said that it was really good.  He was tired by the end of the day because he had to get up at 4:30am, but he did it without complaint.

Who's got Spirit

Evelyn just got awarded the Spirit of Noah Webster Award. Basically it's the student of the year. I was recognized as the PO President. She was so excited to be presented an award at the same time as me. I'm so proud of her. I had no idea that she was getting it. She is everything that the school teaches. Reaching out to others, working hard, learning good daily habits.

side walk chalk

I bought some sidewalk chalk for my daycare. Within 5 minutes of getting it out I hear the 4 year old saying, "Look guys! I'm licking chalk!"

This last week

 

Friday we decorated the teachers doors at the school.  We had parent volunteers for the first time all year.  A lot of them didn't wear masks, so I made sure that me and my kids did still.  We're not quite done with the danger yet.  We had 28 doors to decorate and 11 volunteers.  Between Ada, Sam, Evelyn, Lyndi and I we decorated 6 doors in about 3 hours.  I'm so glad that I didn't have to do them all alone!  Today my President Elect went to the school and passed out candy bars to everyone.  Tomorrow I have a parent volunteer handing out cards for kids to make teacher's notes to give to them.  Wed we have mentos to give to all the employees. Thursday, my secretary is handing out a cute little thing she made and highlighter pens.  Friday, one of my board members is making and serving a teacher lunch.  I really hope it all goes well.  I planned a lot, but besides the doors I have very little to do with execution.

It was my brother, Seth's, birthday.  No matter how old he gets, I'm still older... Since movie theaters are struggling right now, it doesn't cost much to rent a whole theater.  We watched Back to the Future.  Jer and I sat by Reid and he made the comment that this was the 4th time he'd seen this one in theaters.  3 times when it came out in about 1985 and then this week.  

These kids are getting so strong and smart about wrestling that it's more about Jer protecting himself and less about him wrestling them.

This is what Ada made in shop class.  It's pretty cool and she's very proud of it.  I think she did a great job and I'm glad she's having fun.  Shop is actually one of the classes she never wants to miss.

 Change in Blogger.  They are no longer going to be offering emails to people following blogs.  I'm still going to blog, but it won't be sent out anymore.  Sad.

I caught a cold.  I'm not surprised.  Whenever I get super busy I get one.  And here we are, but the difference is that with a regular cold I can usually go still get things done.  In Covid, not so much.  Jer has been so nice about taking kids to school, ordering Sam's drops from the doctors office, etc...

Here's some of the teacher appreciation day.  I also ordered 100 tic tacs that got cancelled after 2 weeks of waiting for them.  I reordered from Walmart and have yet to receive them.

My brother Seth and I used to play with He-Man and Battlecat all the time.  Jer and I saw these at Walmart and had to get them.  I'm glad we did.  Seth takes them everywhere.

We have a game called Throw Throw Burrito.  This is one of the blow up burritos.  Evelyn was acting like it was her friend.

Happy Sunday!  As of this next week, we are scheduled to go back to every week church including Primary and Youth meetings.  I'm excited for the second hour but I kind of wish it stayed at every other week.  

Sam's friend had a very beloved dog die.  Sam decided to write some Haikus for him.  I thought that was adorable.

My brother went in for a quick surgery, but I love that they capped his bald head but left his full beard out!

Holding my breath

 this next month is going to be a doozy.  It's the last month I'm on the family committee, but that includes going up to clean and open the cabin.  It's the last month I'm the PO president, but that includes Teacher Appreciation week, 6th grade graduation, kindergarten graduation, field day, providing volunteers for a field trip and end of year gifts for the teachers. My Ward has decided that the youth can go back to weekly activities... some on zoom, some in person... instead of every other week. (I really wish they had waited until the end of the school year!) I have the last 4 shots on my SI joint and hopefully I'll be a "normal" person again. Ada's choir concert, Jeremy has a caucus, Sam has a solo in the 6th grade play, Evelyn has a dance recital.  For how much we are doing digitally, it still is so busy.  One more month and then I can breathe and hopefully focus more on my kids rather than the PO.  By next year they are planning on full day in person school.  Maybe with masks and maybe not, but it will be more like it was before the last 2 years.  I'll have two kids in Jr. High as well.  Sam is so excited and nervous. 

Some fun things going on right now: 

Ada is taking shop class and loves it.  She loves the power tools and making things.

I love listening to Sam practice for his play.  

Today was Career Day at school.  Sam dressed normally and said he was a computer programmer.  Evelyn did her hair in a bun and found her stethoscope and is telling everyone that she's a med student.  Seth found a paint brush and a little shovel and is saying that he's a Paleontologist.  

I get to see Emma Byrd about twice a month and I've really been enjoying that.  

My cousin's daughter, Alyssa, is getting married.

My Mom's heart surgery went well and she's home now.

The two babies in my daycare are getting older, which is easier.  They like to get into things more, but they require less physical care.

I like the new YW's President and she works directly with my class so it's been fun. She is fun, smart and a go getter.  

5 of my YW are graduating, so that's exciting.  (It's weird... The YW that were in my class last time I was called to YWs are all back from missions, married and having babies. The ones that I have had the last few years are going to college and a couple getting ready for missions.  I kind of like teaching the oldest class.  It's fun but it's also hard to change minds sometimes because they have already made up their minds about several things at this point.

Because FSY has been cancelled for the year, my parents are taking the 4 grandkids that would have gone this year on a spiritual get a way.  My parents are going to hold gospel classes, hold fun activities and asked Jer if he would come up and take them on a hike sometime during the week.  I think it's a spectacular idea and will be remembered by the grandkids forever.

Sam might get to go to the temple soon!  He has his recommend and they're opening baptisms up by reservation.  My Mom is trying to get a reservation.  I think it might be hard to at first because of the temple being closed for so long, but hopefully soon!

I only have one more meeting as the PO President and I've already done a training for the next one.

Spring Break

 

I had to work during Spring Break, but we got to see my family and do a couple activities during the week.  

Evelyn got two teeth extracted. She did really well.

We went to the Provo Rec center.

They have put in a ninja obstacle course.  It was so fun.

Sam keeps finding fun hairstyles through the week.

Reason 121 for loving where I live

 There are large controversies everywhere about why America isn't such a great place to live.  I've always loved America.  I don't believe we are greater than other countries or peoples, but here is another reason why I love my country.  

My friend had her mom visiting from Ecuador when Covid hit last year.  Her mom is a very high risk individual and Ecuador has been hit hard with first the earthquake and then Covid.  She chose to stay here with her daughter until things got better.  Then she started feeling ill and losing weight.  She was taken in for testing at the hospital (which because of Covid, the daughter's family has been out of work and couldn't afford a hospital bill).  They did some tests and found out that she was positive for Covid as well as stomach cancer.  She was kept comfortably in the hospital while her Covid passed and then taken home.  She has no insurance and no money.  But the doctors come directly to her home for consultations and she has started receiving chemo treatments.  On the flip side, her husband who is still in Ecuador has been waiting for 6 months to receive treatments for his throat cancer.  They think that the economy is so bad right now that the doctors are pocketing their money and selling the treatments on the black market.

While everything may not be a Utopia in America, I am grateful for checks and balances that keep workers more honest and for programs that help those that are in need.  I saw corruption with the Kenyan authorities when they needed bribes to let school supplies donated to schools into the country.  I saw corruption in the police in Ecuador that required bribes or threats for jail time.  I'm sure that there are some police here that are corrupt, but the checks and balances keep them to a minimum not to an every day thing for every day people.