The Last Day of School

I'm still not feeling well. I'm functional (Yay!) but I'm tired and my throat is scratchy, my voice sounds funny, I have a giant hanging cold sore and a pesky dry hacky cough. Emma was 100% after 24 hours. Oh to be young again.

Since the kids only go to school for an hour and a half on the last day, Thursday was my only day to do everything I had to do before the kids were done. As I was driving home from my 101 errands I swung into Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. I got two caramel apples and called it good for the teacher's gifts. There just wasn't time to do more this year.

Here are the kids before school. They are thrilled to be going for the last time. I cut Andrew's hair into a mohawk for the occasion, because we're classy like that.
I'm already sick of looking at it. I keep threatening to shave it off in the middle of the night. He likes it, dang it.
Emma had an autograph graduation dog from my parents for everyone to sign.
One last shot of the two of them.
The bus driver has a fun tradition. She lets the kids pile out of the emergency exits on the last day of school. This year I was ready and waiting for them with my video camera and still camera since it would be Emma's last time to do this. However this time she was only letting people out the sides. I was disappointed but what could I do? I started filming the side exit and then Emma yells "Back, Back" so I hurried and went to the back of the bus where the older kids got to jump out. I guess she was waiting for the little ones to get off before opening the back since it is such a high drop. I almost missed it but I got these shots and some good video.
When he landed the backpack swung over his head. LOL!
Now there's a happy boy.
Emma's legs...
A happy Emma. I didn't get her jump :(
When we go inside we realized that Andrew had lost his report card. We drove to the school and the teacher's cars were still there, lights were on but everything was locked. We snuck in while one teacher was coming out and seriously, it was creepy. It was like a ghost town. I texted Paul and said I felt like I was in the Breakfast Club running through the deserted halls. We finally found one sub still in a room at the very end of the hall. She told us that the teachers were out at a luncheon. I wrote a note asking if his report card had been turned in and left it on the office door. I still haven't heard anything so I guess it wasn't. At least I don't have to worry about his grades. I was just hoping to take the card to the bank so he could get money for his A's. Oh well. It's his loss.

After our adventure at school we got home and they started running through the sprinklers. It was only 11:00 in the morning but warm enough. Remember, it had only been a few days since we had 4 inches of snow!!! (Yes I feed him)

Emma was a little late getting in on the action.
I think Friday was the longest day of my life. It just kept going and going and going.....

Finally Paul came home and the day eventually ended. It still feels like we are on Spring Break, not summer vacation.

And They Call it Puppy Love

Thursday night Emma was feeling blue. She is sad because her good friend, turned crush, turned "boyfriend", Sam isn't going to be going to the same school next year. She was afraid that "She may never see him again" (said in the most dramatic whine that only an 11 year old hormonal girl can muster) I didn't know what to do to console her. I tried reasoning, that didn't work. I tried comforting, it was a no go. Out of desperation I tried distraction. Success!!!

Emma has been dying to make cupcakes.

She wanted to use the cute liners and decorations that Joi go me for my birthday. This was the perfect time to use them.
She made everything all on her own.

They were yummy and she was happy. Perfect.

It's Never as Much Fun to Blog the Bad Stuff

Sunday after my nap I noticed my eyes were itchy. Not that shocking considering my history with make-up allergies and the fact that I had slept in my make-up. It didn't even phase me. Later in that evening, just like that, my nose felt funny and my throat got sore. Just boom and I was sick. I thought "I can fight this! I've been taking my vitamins religiously and eating quite well. It won't be too bad." Well Monday I felt like utter crap. I spent all day in bed. I felt feverish and achy.

This is the last week of school. This is the last week of Emma's grade school days. There are activities galore and I planned to be at each and every one dang it!

Tuesday I woke up feeling terrible. It was the day of Dance Festival, one of my favorite events. My parents were coming to watch and we were suppose to go to lunch for my mom's birthday. I knew I had to go or the kids would be very disappointed. As I got the kids off to school in the morning I felt like a zombie. As the morning wore on I had convinced myself that I could survive the day. All I had to do was make it through the next several hours and then I could crash in bed for the rest of the night. Miraculously I started to gather strength as I got ready. As the day went I on I felt better, not good mind you but better.

We went to Thai Drift for lunch and I got a basil chicken dish that was HOT. I think that helped clear my sinuses. After lunch we went to watch the kids. I was in a bit of a fog but I was there.

(Keep in mind, this is the day AFTER we were all freezing to death in the snow. Snow one day and the next day we get a sunburn. Crazy!)

I fought off the emotions knowing that this would be the last time I get to watch Emma in one of these festivals. It also broke my heart that I didn't have the energy to scream and yell for her.

Here are the kids before it started.

It started with the youngest and then worked up to the oldest. This year the theme was Disney (Perfect) and the 3rd grade danced to We Can Fly from Peter Pan. He loves his hat and has been wearing it all around since. He's in the center of the back row.

Emma and the other 6th graders danced to Prince Ali from Aladdin. Of course theirs was the most complicated of all the routines. (Although none of them seemed that intense this year)

Both kids did a really good job. They ended the festival with the entire school dancing to We're all in This Together from High School Musical. Here is half of the kids. It was so fun and sad at the same time.
I took it easy the rest of the day and then that evening Emma started feeling poopy too. She just wilted right before our eyes. Poor thing had to stay home from school yesterday.

She missed Field Day. That is a totally fun day where they have races and ice blocking and all sorts of fun activities. I normally don't go and watch since it is so hot but I was planning to this time since it was the last Field Day for her. She was too sick to even really care that she missed it. She spent the whole day laying on the couch. I was suppose too have one last lunch out with Maggie but of course I had to cancel. Sad!

Neither of us are 100% but she went to school and I have to go out for milk and bread. Plus I want one last lunch with Paul, just the two of us.

Today is the awards assembly and the 6th Grade vs. Teachers Kick Ball Game. (I doubt she will play) We both are much, much better but still not as full of energy as we usually are. I am crossing fingers, toes and anything else that will cross that Andrew stays healthy for another 36 hours so he doesn't miss the last day.

I still can't believe it's almost over.....and we're almost missing it. :(

The Last Week of School

It's the last Monday before SUMMER vacation and this is what I send them off in. Are you effing kidding me?

This was earlier in the morning, it's only getting worse.

My poor tomatoes. My poor peppers. Poor me!

Weekend Re-Cap

We've been busy, but then again the end of the school year always it. Friday night, after graduation, Emma went to Sam's for a birthday party. She had a great time watching The Spy Next Door outside in a wind storm!

Before the party we went and got Taco Amigo while Paul and Andrew were are Iron Man 2. That left me we a little over an hour of glorious, alone time.
Saturday we had to go to Provo to return the dresses from Dillard's that didn't work out. We figured while we were down that way we would go the BYU Creamery. The problem with that plan was the kids ate right before we left so by the time we were done at the mall they were still full. We went to Kohl's, we went to Quicksilver, kids still weren't hungry. We decided to see if the Bean Museum was open. It was so we went it to kill some more time.

I can't even count how many times we have been here but the kids still love it and act like they've never seen the displays before.

The elephant is back.
The guy was pretty fancy.
The birds are so cool.

A butterfly made out of butterflies.


Face to Face

Check out his big fuzzy feet.


Check out the whole wall of creepiness.

It's a Liger!
After we finished at the museum we went to the creamery where we got burgers and ice cream. Their cheeseburger with guacamole and garlic fries is really really good! We made a few more stops then we were in for the night. I had a lesson that needed some finishing touches.

Today I found out that bullies come in all shapes and sizes but one thing they have in common is they all suck.

We came home after church, took a nap while the kids played outside and then started working on dinner. The kids came in when it started raining. It is May 23rd and it is cold enough that I am wrapped in a blanket and the kids wanted hot chocolate!

I can't believe that tomorrow starts the last week of school. Where has the year gone? We have the Dance Festival, Field Day and a 6th grade vs. Teachers kick-ball game. Exciting stuff!

I'm putting this out there to the universe so maybe I will actually do it. Last summer the kids were so good about their chores but I never got into a good rhythm of chores, homework, activities etc. throughout the school year. I slacked, bad. I am anxious to get the kids back into a routine and have a house that is more in order.

As it is planned right now (and kids have agreed it sounds like a good idea) we will be up by 10:00 am. (This really could be a challenge for Emma) They will get breakfast and then spend 30 minutes on some type of brain activity (handwriting, math flash-cards, practice piano) and then they will do their chores. After that they will be able to do what ever they want. If they do all that is asked they will earn an allowance and a reward in the form of an outing.

Some of the outings we have come up with are~

1) Pool (Will it ever warm up?)

2) Movies

3) Park

4) Walk/Hike/Bike Ride

5) Pirate Island

6) Library

7) Go out to Lunch

8) Lagoon

9) This is the Place

10) Zoo

11) Caldecott Mine

12) Enter things into the fair and go to the fair

13) Hiking to the waterfall

14) Canyon

15) Timpanogos Cave

16) Scera Outdoor Play (Willy Wonka is playing this summer!)

17) Seven Peaks

The list could go on and on. I doubt we will be able to do all of these things but that's okay. Maybe we will put them all in a jar and do what we pull out? Some, like Lagoon, are really expensive so that may not be a realistic option. I will be watching City Deals for bargains you can be sure of that. I am hoping that this works the way we all think it will, but who knows. We dream big but have issues with execution.

Class of 2010

Today was the 6th grade graduation at Emma's school. The theme was Alice in Wonderland and all the graduates got Mad Hatter hats. What a special day! The parent's who put it all together did an amazing job. This is a day that I will remember for a long time to come.

Now onto a ton of pictures.

Here is our graduate.

They had a professional photographer there to take the kids' pictures before they got their diploma.
Then they got to shake the other teachers' hands.
Here she is back in her seat after getting her diploma.
The decorations were so fun. They really transformed the gym into Wonderland.
Proud momma

Emma and her teacher. We love Mrs. Krall. She has been a great teacher.

Proud papa
Proud parents
Proud Grandma (see a theme here?)
Here are all the graduates from our ward (we are actually missing some boys)
Emma excited to be done
More pictures of Emma (sorry I don't know how to edit myself. I want to include tons and tons of pics so I did.)
After graduation we got to take the kids for two hours before the dance started. We went to Zuppa's with grandma and grandpa where they gave her her gift, a graduation bear.
She loves her bear.
When Emma came to me a couple of weeks ago asking if she could have a new dress for graduation I went nuts. I immediately started searching the web. We found her dress on clearance at Dillard's but then we needed shoes. These were perfect. After we got the shoes we had to get our toes done. It was so much fun getting her all matchy matchy from head to toe.
After lunch we ran home so I could put her hair up for the dance and then we took more pictures while we waited for the dance to start.
This is an amazing chair that Irene painted a few years ago. I love that I have a picture of Emma in this chair that was painted by my friend. It really is amazing.
She was so happy to graduate and so excited for the dance. She was just glowing.
Here is her messy bun. I love her hair like this. (it took a dozen bobby pins and several rubber bands)
Here are some pics of Emma and her friends before the dance. I got them before the parent's got kicked out.



Here are a few pics off of Emma's camera. This is right before graduation.
This is Sam during the dance.
Action shots!

The fun isn't over yet. Emma is now off to Sam's house for a party. Our baby girl is growing up.