Fri. & Sat. May 20-21, 2011

Friday (& part of Sat.) was a cleaning day (well--at least morning).  I started cleaning about 8 am and didn't stop until about 1 pm.  

 As I was folding laundry, I spied Callum in his room cleaning.  He had the little vacuum and was cleaning away.

 Pretty soon he came to me and said, "Since my room is clean, can I have a sleep-over?"  Zane was getting ready for an overnight camping trip with the scouts.  

As much as I appreciated Callum cleaning, I had to tell him no.  Rusty & I went on a date (and shopping trip) to town  & didn't expect to be back until close to bed-time.

I vacuumed, swept, did 4 loads of  laundry, put clothes away, made beds, and got the dishes done.  So at 1 pm, Zane left on his camping trip, and Rusty & I headed to town.  We ate at a Chinese buffet, and then went shopping.  Rusty looked for work boots and we also looked for a lawn mower (the one we've had for about 18 years "died" last fall after Rusty mowed out at our land).  Plus we did grocery shopping.

We got back about 9 pm.  And again--we had to unload the shopping stuff.  I sure wish that it could somehow put itself away!

Saturday I did more cleaning.  Emmalee asked if she could take some pictures with my camera.  Here are a few that I kept (she took about 50--had a blast!)

 Her book

 A balloon

 Yummy chocolate chip cookies

 The kids' couch

 Her play tent

 Benjamin

 Zane & their table full of "school library" books

 Callum

 A napping Benjamin

and the car "garage".

After lunch, I went & volunteered at our Bountiful Basket site.  Every other week we get a basket of 50% fruit/50% veggies for $15 (if you order the Monday before).  It is nice to have the convenience here--and it makes me eat/use more fruits & veggies.  

Thurs. May 19, 2011--Play Day

Actually it's "Track & Field Day", but they used to call it Play Day (and as far as the kids are concerned--they do get to "play")

 First we had the broad jump.  Here's Callum jumping like a frog.

 And Emmalee's turn.  It was a cloudy & windy day.  Most of the time the kids had their jackets on.

 Callum at the softball throw.

 Emmalee in action

 Next was the tug-of-war.  They had older vs. younger grades, boys vs. girls, and parents vs. kids.  It was fun & everyone had a chance to "win".

 Emmalee is in the purple coat (like I said--it was very windy)

 Callum throwing the ball during the obstacle course.  They run through the tire, around the swing sets, jump rope twice, go through more tires, and then back to the beginning.

 Emmalee getting ready to run--I videoed her race so this is the only picture I have for this event.  By the time they kids are done, they are tired!

 Then it was the 50 and 100 yard dash.  Emmalee didn't want to take off her coat.  And she didn't realize the whistle started the race so she stood there for a couple of seconds before she realized everyone else had started (the teacher said "On your mark, get set," and then blew the whistle.  Emmalee was waiting for "GO"!

 Callum hung in there--last week when he was swimming on his field trip, he hurt his foot when he was climbing out of the pool.  So he almost had to gallop.

 The long jump--Rusty was in charge of this event.  And it was our last.  

 Emmalee in action.

Nice landing, Callum.  When it was over, I felt like my face was wind-burned.  But the next morning I realized that is was also sunburned--along with my arms (I didn't wear a jacket most of the time).  I didn't even think of sun blocking me because it was so cloudy.  At least it was just a little bit of a sun burn & didn't hurt.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Middle School awards were at 10:30.  After a couple of loads of laundry, Benjamin & I walked to the school.

Things started out pretty good--Benjamin was eating his snacks & playing with his Toy Story toys.  But the first 15 minutes was used to give the awards to the high school students who did not attend the awards night Wednesday night.  So by the time they started with the middle school, Benjamin was ready to go home.

He really wanted to sit with Brienna, but she ended up being in the middle of one section of bleachers, and Ben didn't want to have anyone else touch him to get to her.  So he had a few fits.

 Zane is the second one from the right.

 Last semester Zane had good (enough) grades, but he didn't put a lot of effort into school.

 He has finally decided it is better to do his best (and get all his work done) and be a good student.  

 And he earned a lot of awards.  His awards were:  Outstanding AR Student (418 Accelerated Reading points), 2 million word reader award (2,873,655 words), English Excellence Award for 7th grade, 

 Outstanding Life Science Student 7th grade, Leadership Award--7th grade secretary, 

 Oops--there goes Benjamin!  He was tired of sitting and took off a few times.  I packed the diaper bag full, but nothing was entertaining  to him.

 Not even taking pictures of himself and all of this toys.

So Benjamin took off down the hall & past most of the classrooms.  Thankfully he passed the front doors and came to the Jr. High doors that are too heavy for him to pull open.  Otherwise, I think he would have been out the back doors headed home.

While I was off chasing Ben, Zane received his last award:  Typing.

As soon as they were done, Benjamin couldn't wait to get home.

Just in time for lunch & then off to the elementary school for track & field day.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

I needed to make cookies this morning for a few reasons:  PTO/Boosters needed to bring refreshments for the high school awards night, Thursday was dessert night for Relief Society, my family likes cookies, and I thought I should send some cookies to Ethan.

So I made a triple batch of both ginger snaps and chocolate chip cookies.  And I used egg replacement so Callum could eat them.

(I forgot to take pictures, so these are from Google images, but they look almost like mine)

I had to go to the school to pay for the kids' yearbooks.  I thought I had paid for everything at the beginning of the year, but we found out that they didn't add the yearbooks to those fees, so I ran in and paid for them.  

After fixing (& eating) dinner,  me, Rusty, & Brienna went to the awards night.  A long time ago, they used to hold the awards at night, but not since we have been here (8 years).  They held them during the day so a lot of parents can't attend.  So I'm glad it was moved back to nights where it wasn't so rushed and more parents could attend.  It was a nice evening. 

 Brienna received the Outstanding Math Student Award--her teacher said she hasn't missed a single question on any math test this year!

 Josey & Brienna holding awards from Physical Science.

 another award--for Creative Writing & also one for Outstanding Speech Presenter.

 The past year's Student Council (2010-2011)  Josey (Parliamentarian), Brienna (Treasurer), Edith (Secretary), Amanda (Vice-Pres.) & Mary (President).

 2011-2012 Student Council:  Brienna (Parliamentarian), Josey (Treasurer), Samantha (Vice-Pres.), Lindsay (Secretary),  & Salvador (President)

Brienna was also recognized for excellence in:  high honor roll, yearbook staff, ASB (Associated Student Body) Treasurer, and Trustee scholarship recipient.

Monday & Tuesday, May 16-17, 2011

Monday--I was home for most of  Monday.  I did lots and lots of laundry (Callum & Ben both had to wear jeans for church because I hadn't done laundry since Wednesday!).  I also worked on dishes and putting some of the shopping away from Friday (I know--it all sat in the middle of my living room!)

Rusty & I like to watch "Survivor" but we have been recording it because the kids never seem to want us to watch it.  So we watched the finale Monday evening (from Sunday).

Tuesday--I was home for a few hours in the morning.  Then I had a meeting about Benjamin's speech services.  When the kids are 2 1/2,  they have a transition meeting with the school people.  It wasn't long & nothing new was discussed.  There will be another meeting after school starts in the fall & we'll see if Benjamin still needs speech services.

BTW--Ben is trying to talk a lot more.  He loves to say prayers (although only Heavenly Father understands all of what he is saying) & he takes a turn "reading" scriptures.  You can understand more & more of what he is saying.

Then we went to the post office & home to fix Rusty his lunch.  After lunch was the elementary Spring Sing.  

 Benjamin had fun dancing in his socks.

 Emmalee getting ready to sing "Pop Goes the Weasel" (all in pink)

 They had a daddy-daughter/mother-son dance for the kindergarten & 1st graders.  Emmalee was really happy about it!

And poor Callum--didn't get to sing.  His class doesn't know how to behave, so they worked on walking back & forth from the classroom to the music room, being quiet, and trying to learn to behave instead of learning songs for the program.  (His class is the one that teachers dread!  Rusty is already reading up and planning new discipline strategies for that class).

Sunday, May 15, 2011

I got up & typed up the piano recital program & got things ready for church.  I take so many bags I could use a wheel barrow!!  (a diaper bag, keep-the-kids-quiet bag, my scripture bag, 2 primary bags--so I don't have to have one jumbo bag--and each of the kids have scripture bags.)

Rusty made German pancakes on the wood stove  (yes--we are still having fires in the morning).

Then church & home.  

After lunch, I copied all the recital programs and got the awards & treats put together.

Rusty decided to stay home with the 2 youngest & watch the video of the recital later.  Trying to keep Emmalee from bugging everyone, and Benjamin from running up to me or trying to play the piano is more than a full-time job & extreme work out!

I took the older kids to the church so we could move the piano into the cultural hall, set up the chairs and get the refreshments ready.

And then the piano recital started.

 Callum 

And Zane.  Zane was videoing for me,  but after his performance, the batteries died, so he put my regular camera on the tripod & used it to video.  So Brienna didn't get a regular picture of her playing the piano.  We did get a group picture though.

I haven't done much with the video, but if I get it edited, I might try to post the video in a week or so.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

what a busy day!

Callum had his shooting test for hunter's ed., so Ethan had to take him since Rusty & I had to leave for Morgan & Dusty's wedding.

They got married in the Idaho Falls temple.  It was a wonderful ceremony & I loved the advice the sealer gave to them (& everyone there).  One thing he said was to remember to have JOY:  Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last.

After the ceremony, I took the truck & drove to my Wood Badge training in Pocatello while Rusty stayed at the temple with his dad & Marge (while pictures were taken).  I got to the training at lunch (but it was working lunch) & quickly changed into my scout uniform.  (training had started at 8 am so I missed half of it).

When it was over, I changed back into my church clothes & since I had a couple of hours before the reception, I decided to go to WinCo & Wal-Mart.  I found a few things (snacks of sugar-snap peas, pepper-jack cheese sticks, oranges, chicken...) and then I parked at Burger King (just off the interstate) where I was meeting up with Rusty & the kids in the van later.

I read a book I brought with me until they got there.  Then we got food at Burger King & drove to the wedding reception.  When we got to the church, Benjamin had a messy diaper--only it wasn't an ordinary diaper.  It was a swim diaper (the kids had been playing in the little pool--after all, it was in the 60's!).  But no one had changed him.  And swim diapers aren't made to absorb, so of course it had leaked all over--and not a change of clothes for him.  So he went to the reception in a shirt, diaper & suit jacket.

And Ethan didn't "know" that he was supposed to dress up for a wedding reception (I guess I never "taught" him that) so he just had a t-shirt  & shorts on (but at least the shorts were nice ones).  

 Rusty, Callum & Zane

 Rusty & William (Clark) talking & Cody, Ethan, Tammie, Mike & Ken in the background.

 Emmalee was happy to be there!

 The bride & groom--Dusty (Michelle) & Morgan Stewart.  We said she should never forget our names:  Rusty & Michelle (Dusty Michelle)  

 Brienna caught the wedding bouquet.  She shared some of the flowers with the little girls that wanted some.

 Ethan helped decorate the car.  We weren't going to stay the whole time, but Ethan was enjoying some cousin time so

We ended up staying until Morgan & Dusty got into their car & drove away.  The Rusty & Callum took Ethan back to Rexburg  & I drove the van home.  We got home about 10:30.  Another long day!

Friday, May 13, 2011

(Sorry--no pictures)

I took Zane, Emmalee, and Ben to town with me.  Wow--what a combination.  If I have to have kids with me while shopping, I would prefer Callum & Ben, or Brienna & Callum.  But Zane and Emmalee are spoons (stir things up!).

We went to Rexburg (visited Ethan for a few minutes & a couple of stores) & then to IF.  We had to go to a lot of stores so by the time we got home, we had been gone 10 hours.  And I still had all the groceries to unload & put away.   I got things unloaded, but not put away.

Rusty & Callum had their field trip to Green Canyon Hot Springs (swimming) & bowling.  And Brienna went to Lagoon for the science convention & then to ride the rides.  They all had a lot of fun.

I was going to pick Ethan up to come home for the weekend (for his cousin's wedding), but his friend, Joey, was celebrating his birthday that night, so Joey just picked him up in Rexburg & they went to IF.  He didn't get home until after midnight, so I didn't stay up.