We are Living Lawge

Mrs. Bryant's son, Kyle, has a Friederich's Ataxia. It is a disease that slowly attacks the body and causes forms of paralysis. He has become the national spokesman for research in this area, making movies and holding events all over the country to raise money. He came to the kids school right at the end of the year so that they could all participate in an event. The younger kids were just supposed to ride around the basketball court while the older ones rode a longer course around Lincoln. Since K and A ride bikes on trails all of the time, the school let them come with me. They did great, until the end with the bigger hill. Poor Kate was huffing and puffing and was so tired. She had tears streaming down her face as she pumped her little legs. I was so proud of her! It was hard, but she made it and didn't give up. 

 End of the year always brings crazy hair day. We had some fun this year coming up with things to do. Nathan is always such a good sport. He didn't want to shave this off after school.

 The actual last day of school (well for ENKA). It was Bailey's first day of cross country practice.

Melanie and I had our last day at the temple for the school year. President Steed, one of the temple sealers, took our picture. After he took the picture, he asked us if we saw the family behind us near the fountain. You can see some of them in this picture. He told us that the mom in the wheelchair had recently lost her baby that was born five days before. He told us that the family came to just sit at the temple grounds to mourn the loss of their baby. The temple, he said, is healing even when you are just sitting outside and cannot go in. It provides a place of comfort that families can be together forever. This family came to be reminded of that promise.

 This was a big year in the not really a graduation, but it's called a promotion department. Bailey finished 8th grade and now heads to high school. His high school is in the same building as his jr. high, but the not so big status as a freshman still applies. This is his cross country and track coach who was also one of his teachers this last year, Mr. Dahl. I know you can't tell in this picture but if Jimmy Fallon and Chris Kattan had a baby, this is what he would look like.

Kindergarten graduation is also somewhat anti-climactic. They stay in the same class next year for 1st grade, with the same teachers. But, it's a thing to graduate from Kinder, so there is a ceremony. This was my last Kindergarten graduation ever. Mrs. Bryant has had all five of my children and made it without retiring to get through the entire clan.

 A selfie with out entire crew is quite an ordeal. We took this one day while anxiously counting down until summer break was here. I also take advantage of taking pictures on days I take them to school dressed and wearing makeup.

 Poor Emma was house ridden with pink eye one day and decided to make herself a racoon outfit. See reference in an earlier post about not knowing whether she is five or a teenager.

 She can also convince her little brother that she can sit on him.

 Or use him as a footstool.

 or sit on him again...

 She also thinks this is the best way to listen during Family Home Evening. Some days this girl needs her own reality tv show.

Somehow this happened. I was thinking about how I might like to start substitute teaching one day. I started researching a little, but didn't do much about it. I saw my friend, Marie, after school one day and asked her how she went about becoming a substitute teacher. Before I really knew what was happening, I had a job that same day with Rocklin Academy. I planned on starting the next school year but they had two jobs for me before summer even started. I always used to say how I didn't like other people's children very much and probably wouldn't like to be a teacher, even though that is what my degree was in. I have to say that once I started doing it, I really do enjoy it. The money isn't bad either :)

Tales from Substitute Teaching:

In one classroom I was in for half a day, one of the kids had special needs. He brought in his own snacks to keep in a drawer that he was allowed to access all day long. Since I was only planning on being there a half day, I didn't pack myself a lunch. I also forgot a snack. I took the kids out to recess and came back to the classroom and the bin of snacks was staring at me! He wouldn't miss just on, right? Well, if he did, I wouldn't know because I would be long gone. So, I grabbed a pack of extreme cheese goldfish and tried to eat them as fast as I could.  I thought I was in the clear until I accidentally spilled the crumbs under the teacher's desk. Thankfully, no one saw me frantically sweeping the crumbs away over to the rightful owner of the snack's desk. He had a bunch of crumbs under there anyway...

I made it in time to pick up the kids from recess and no one was the wiser. But I am now officially a terrible person.

 Over the summer, we would have girls in and out of our house. One day, they decided to put Emma's sewing machine to good use and finally make her curtains. They also made stuffed animal accessories. They are such a cute group of girls!

 A few times over the summer, when Emma would really want Abby to stay for dinner, she would volunteer to do the cooking. Who can say no to that? Emma loves to cook, and even though she has some attempts that don't turn out well, I'm glad to see she enjoys it.

 We have put together a Girl's group for all the 5th (now 6th) grade girls in our ward. The moms take turns hosting activities for them to do. For my turn, I made a mall scavenger hunt.

 Claire's had a pack of five BFF bracelets. They mailed one of them to Summer, who was away on vacation.

 Hamming it up for the camera.

 Their picture with the missing "Summer"

 Probably the funniest thing about the day was to listen to their conversations. They are in this in between stage of kid and teen, so the conversation bounces back and forth from the trying to be mature to "we must be five year olds." For some reason, George Clooney came into the conversation. I guess if he is still attractive even at his age to be commented on by 11 year old girls, he has something going for him. They also really hate overalls. Although I didn't know those were a thing again.

Skipping around chronologically, I had to include the picture of Emma and Kirby. They have been friends for years at MMCA. They both decided to go to Rocklin Academy this year for 6th grade. (Well, we as parents decided, but they wanted to)

Kirby didn't end up staying at Rocklin Academy since they moved too far away, but I hope these two can stay in touch. I really appreciate Kirby and her parents and all the times we have been able to rely on each other for help over the years. 

 This happened way too long ago, of course! In all my years of having kids go through the Red Room, I have never been on the Bernhard Museum field trip. Maybe because I had younger kids, maybe because I didn't have a THING to wear, or maybe because it totally did not sound appealing. This year, (Nathan's 2nd grade year) I went for it. I borrowed my friend's costume and baked biscuits in an outdoor kitchen. Boy am I glad that I do not have to do that every day. Grinding wheat, churning butter...not my thing. At all. I do always like to be with my kid's on field trips. They gush over the fact that I am there, and when most days you feel like a maid, cook and chauffeur, this is a pretty nice feeling.

 Nathan and Eliana- the infamous not my girlfriend. It's been this way for years.

Nathan and his class, posing as little pioneer children.

 For one of Bailey's scout projects, we put together a pool as a family.

 I wouldn't say that the entire family did a lot of work, but we did manage to complete the project. Anytime something includes a set of crazy 6 year old twins, it's always a gamble.

The kids love the pool, and so do lots of neighborhood kids. It's only slightly ghetto to have a dirt backyard with an above ground pool. 

 I was called as our ward's Laurel Adviser right when we moved into our new ward. The Young Women president and I became instant friends. It's like we were separated at birth:)

The annual Mother's Day Tea for the Red Room

Nathan made the place mat and my hat

 He was so proud of his creation. After our muffins and water, we all went onto the dance floor to line dance to Achy Breaky Heart. Yup! Billy Ray Cyrus has made his way into the hearts of the Red Room. I don't think I've danced to that since I was in high school. I don't really recommend doing it now.

 Our Saturday Mother's Day bike ride. We took the kids on an eight mile ride around the American River trail. 

 Later, we went to Studio Movie Grill to watch Home. This is our new favorite place.

Kate and Addison's creations for Mother's Day.They both think I am as funny as Ben and like me almost as much as their friends. My favorite might be the biker comment. I'm not sure what type of biker they mean, and if it is a motorcycle rider- why do they think this is so cool?!

So, Facebook quizes are probably the most random and strange things ever. But there are those of us that still do them when sitting in the pick up line at school for 20 minutes because traffic is so backed up and you really want to know which Star Wars character you would be, right? Well, I took the How Many Kids Should You Have quiz and this was Facebook's response:

I've done harder? I guess I have. I've done lots of hard things, but 12 kids?!!!! Although I have always said once you get past three, anything else isn't much different.