Emma's bridals

I can't believe this beauty's getting married.  She's a sweet guy and I feel good about their marriage.  I wish them luck and happiness as they follow God through their lives.  Love you Emma!

 

 

Birthday party

I asked the kids if they wanted separate parties or to do the parties together again.   They chose together.  They each chose and activity, we invited their friends and let them go to it.  Sam's group did soccer games and an obstacle course.  Evelyn's group did water color painting.  Poor Evelyn hyper-extended her knee right at the beginning of the party.  She recovered enough to sit and paint and by the end of the day was running around like normal.

Seth kept asking Uncle Seth to trap him.

Kindergarten graduate

This sweet sister graduated from Kindergarten today.  It looks like we have another smart cookie on our hands.  The average test scores for the end of the year are at 130 and Evelyn was scoring in the 235 area.  She loves her friends in class and loves being actively part of something exciting every day.  Her imagination has bloomed this year as well.  She loves being able to read everything and will read over my shoulder and ask questions about what I'm reading. Evelyn and I were both very glad to see Grandma and Grandpa Wilcox there as well as cousin Vivien.  Evelyn and Seth have gotten very close, not just because of their ages, but also because of having a half day together without the other two kids.  Evelyn decides to do something and Seth is right there.  It's super cute.  She told me this morning though that it was all Seth's ideas.  She said, "Seth has an idea and we do it." (This while watching them watercolor in the backyard and I had to tell Seth to stop licking the paints.)

Ms. Fordham (assistant teacher), Evelyn and Ms. Monroe.  Without these ladies Evelyn would have been completely bored all year.  I'm so glad that they were patient, loving, understanding and flexible.  They both tell me how much they're going to miss Evelyn.... I think the feeling is mutual.

Sam's growing pains

Sam does a lot of things very well. Like most boys, he doesn't catch onto social cues with ease.  He's used to being the best at everything without really trying... Just putting in day to day effort.  Top of the fencing class for several years, best soccer player on the team, reading music and playing the piano without stuggling, kid that knows all the answers at Primary, only second grader in the fourth grade reading and math classes.... but because he does things so easily it's hard on him when he has to be patient and work on something. This week, he's just starting to realize that everything is not just about him.  In Primary they didn't call on him because they were trying to get others to participate.... he came home absolutely distraught and wouldn't talk about it until Dad took him into a room by themselves and got him to open up.  He couldn't understand why they wouldn't call on him when he knew the answer and held his hand up without just blurting it out.  At school yesterday he called me in tears saying that he didn't get to play his favorite game during recess because he kept getting out and had to go back in line. 

Life's hard lessons.  We don't always get what we want, when we want it... just because we want it.  Sam tends to pout.  I know he'll grow out of that part, but for now it makes it harder for him to move on from these learning situations and get on with life.  Now's where I need to try to follow the spirit in what I do and say... my own learning experience.  And a piece of advice for everyone that feels not talented/good enough.... even the most talented and the smartest have lessons to learn.

Neighbor

Or neighbor is moving. They've been amazing. I really hope that they do well on their next adventures. They invited everyone over for a fire and chatting.

Awww

I asked Evelyn too go get me the stuff to do her hair. She was playing with Sam and apparently he offered to do her hair for her. I found him trying to make his way through her snarls. I helped them con if and Sam put a barrette in for her. Awwwww.

Organ helper

Occasionally the kids help me practice the organ. This week it was this cute reader. He read and sang along with the music. Them he wanted to play with the registrations.... super cute.

Ward service day

Ada and Sam were such cute workers. It makes me happy to see them willingly help.

Frisbee golf

Our Ward mission leader has been trying to do Neighborhood activities.  Sometimes there's a big turn out, sometimes not.  This time it was us, some youth and the Lott's.  The kids loved having the "golf course" all to themselves though.  They thought it was fun to try to hit the poles with their Frisbees and did the course a couple of times before running off to play at the play ground.

Acrobatics recital

Evelyn's always been our most flexible child... probably because she was born folded in half.  She's loved acrobatics.  I wish it were a little more like gymnastics, but that's okay.... it was worth a try.  They had their recital the other day.... I haven't found the pictures.  I think they were on the sd card that got lost with our family pictures.  They did their routine to Michael Jackson's Black or White song.  Evelyn was so funny.  I think she has a little ADD in her and gets focused on one specific thing and forgets what else is going on.  She got up there on the stage and focused on something... and pulled her shorts all the way up so that you couldn't see them.  It looked like she was wearing just a shirt. Then she didn't get a chance to do her solo trick because she got distracted and forgot her cue.  It's okay though.  I got a video of their practice the day before.... I have proof that she really did know what was going on.  She loved the hat... she kept talking about it for weeks before the show.  I took this picture because I thought I wouldn't make it to her recital.  It was right when I had a fencing class to teach, but then no one showed up and I said, "Yay!  I'm leaving!" 

Seth with a baseball bat down his shirt.  Off for adventure.