Summer's Here at Last!

School's finally out for summer.  And it finally feels like summer here too.  We went from cool and rainy last week to hot and sunny this week.  

James had a fun last day of school, and is now looking forward to 5th grade.  Plus he got to meet up with his good friends at the park after school for a fun afternoon together! 

We had a pizza party and movie night for the last day of school and watched "Spies in Disguise," then ate pineapple upside down cake.   

Dan put a small fridge out on the curb for give away and put a sign on it letting people know that it works.  David found something to put out on the curb also and found some paper and copied Dan's sign to make one of his own.  But the paddles didn't stay out long.  

Wednesday early afternoon, we had a start of summer Activity Days party.  We had a bunch of water stuff including a water slide and water balloons and water guns.  The kids got soaked and ate pizza and had a blast.  It was a perfect hot day for it too!  

Thursday night, Anna skipped water polo to do a movie night with a bunch of her friends.  She decided that they HAD to watch Mean Girls, so she planned a night and got some snacks and they had a blast hanging out and watching the movie.  

Friday was a bit crazy.  The kids had a fun over night Stake Youth Conference.  So I dropped them off for that after lunch and then I went to meet Dan at work to go look at a car.  We drove over there - and traffic made it take much longer than anticipated, but we both really liked the car and the nice couple selling the car, so we hit the bank and then drove the car home.  To no one's surprise, David loves it, but Eileen really seems to like it too!  We picked her up from the youth conference to spend the night at home, then took her back in the morning.  

Water polo for me was cancelled on Tuesday, so after we got the cars home, I headed out to play with a different group - it was at a great outdoor pool and it was a fun, big group.  I had a great time and just wished Anna could have been there too.  

Eileen got her ACT scores back - she had seemed pretty comfortable with the test when she took it, so we were hopeful that she had done well.  She had an overall score of 30 with a 35 in Reading and a 34 in science, balanced out by 25s in Math and Writing.  She was very happy with her scores and so are we - they are more than high enough for the college she's most interested in.  Plus she was a little giddy after seeing her scores!  

Saturday morning, I took Evelyn and David to the mall to get Evelyn's glasses adjusted so that they would fit her better, and David wanted to play on the little merry-go-round.  He and Evelyn had fun goofing off for a bit, then headed home.  Then I went to water polo.  

Sunday was David's 5th birthday! When their birthday is on Sunday, we let the kids pick 2 birthday dinners, a regular one for Saturday and a breakfast one for Sunday.  David wanted Sushi on Saturday and sugar cereals on Sunday.  He and Dan picked a few different cereals out on Saturday - he mixed them all together in his bowl.   

We got him a little Lego set and a 3 wheeled scooter with a helmet.  He was so excited!  It was adorable to see him.  Also you will notice that he had no shirt on.... He has decided that is his new favorite way to dress.... He even insisted on going to bed with just pj pants on and no shirt.  

Still going strong

We are finally getting towards the end of the school year here, which means some fun stuff going on.  Monday, for Family Home Evening, we went to our friends house to help them out with yard work.  We had a fun time working and chatting together!  

Weather has still been pretty rainy and cool, but the boys and I have still been able to go to the park after school most days.  

On Wednesday, David and I went to help with the Middle School band activity.  They were walking down to a nearby elementary school and then playing some music for the kids.  I went to help with whatever needed helping with, which it turned out was carrying music stands - If you ever wondered how many music stands can fit in a 12 passenger van... well it's about 30.  With all the seats still in and David's car seat - and David of course.  David had a blast hanging out with Evelyn and Aaron and their friends at the school.  While the kids played, David stood next to Evelyn and held her piccolo for her.  It was so cute!  

Water Polo this week was awesome, but somewhat sparsely attended.  I still had a great time, I'm always happy to be in the water and playing - even if it's just swimming around and shooting.  On Saturday, there was a big game in Portland that they do a couple times a year.  We got to play in a nice facility downtown and there were a ton of people and we played for a couple hours.  I brought Anna too and we had a great time.  

The kids are getting a bit stir crazy and ready for the end of school.  So are their teachers.  Anna had half days on Thursday and Friday because of finals, so it was nice having her home early.  

Friday was me and Dan's temple night.  We went and had a wonderful time, then went to Outback for dinner with some friends.  

Saturday, Dan and I took Eileen to see Jurassic World.  She was in 7th heaven.  I was a little lost having not seen any of the other Jurassic movies except the first one.  But we had a great time and enjoyed a bit of time with Eileen.  

Sunday was Father's Day.  We had biscuits for breakfast and the primary kids sang at church.  I emailed my dad - but he's in Scotland with Taz, so there wasn't much more I could do.  Our family sure is blessed to include and amazing Dad and amazing Grandpas and amazing Uncles.  

These crazy boys wrapped themselves up in blankets and stuffed animals and called it armor and went around the house like this on Sunday for an hour and wanted pictures of it....  silly boys!  

Is School out yet???? ...no...

We'll we've had no new major health issues this week and we are starting to hope that we might finally be in the clear.  David is still coughing some, but that seems to have been on and off for the last 3 months and he's never had any other symptoms than that cough and he's tested negative for Covid every time, so we are just going back to life. 

I had my workout group this week on Monday and Wednesday (now that David is done with preschool I can do both days) and got nice and sore on Monday.  After the workout on Wednesday, we walked home with some friends who also walk and live near us, and it's great because David loves hanging out with his friend and I enjoy chatting with the mom!  On Wednesday, while we were walking home, David just smoothly reaches over and takes her hand.  It cracked me up, he's already a smooth operator and he's only 4.  But he's always been a touchy-feely sort of person who expresses friendship and love through touch.  It's been a blessing to have such a sweet snuggly kid for my last.  

James has had a great student teacher this year along with a great teacher and while he still has another week of school, this week was his last day with his student teacher.  He's had a great year! 

Dan's parents came to town for Shalie's graduation this weekend, and stopped in for a night on their way down.  Dan asked them what they wanted for dinner and they said a smoked brisket, so we had some amazing smoked meat and Eileen requested an apple pie, so we had an amazing apple pie for dessert.  

On Saturday, Eileen had her ACT test, she feels pretty confident, so hopefully her scores reflect that - she's generally been pretty good at standardized tests.  It's crazy to think that we are at the point of thinking about college applications with her.... 

Saturday afternoon, I took Anna with me to Water Polo, we had a great time playing with the group there!  It was nice because there was a person there who was close in size to Anna and while more experienced, just enough more to make Anna work hard, not enough to roll right over her, so they were well matched - plus they are a really nice person so Anna was happy to line up and play against them the whole time (at least until she asked to take the cage for a bit!)   On the way home, she mentioned wanting to make the "dirt" treats, so I told her she should use her "make a treat with mom" coupon.  So Saturday night, we had fun making this cute treat together, and then eating some of it!  

Saturday evening, Dan and I went to visit a new member of the ward and had such a lovely time!  She is just the sweetest lady and we had a wonderful time talking with her!  

Sunday morning came bright and early.  Dan and I both had meetings before church, plus I was playing organ, so I needed to be there for prelude.  David half woke up to our early alarms and sleepily walked over to the stairs outside our bedroom and then fell back asleep!  He was so funny!  

We had ward choir today in the afternoon and had a wonderful time singing and preparing the music!  It was so wonderful to have the chance to sing the beautiful music!  

After, Dan drove a young man from the ward down to the temple visitor center to meet up with the sister missionaries, and Anna and her friend Michael went also and they had a wonderful time there.  

Finally healthy?

We've had a fun and busy week - though with the school year winding down, and a lot of things ending, it's been a different busy.  Aaron had a soccer camp at the high school, he wants to play on the soccer team next school year, and that was every day after school.  

Tuesday afternoon, David and I went over to a friends house for lunch and crocheting together.  We had a wonderful time.  She has a lot of kids play stuff outside which David loved and the weather was sunny and warm so we sat outside and chatted and crotched together! 

Evelyn and Anna had their Jazz band concerts on Tuesday.  The High School and Middle school had a combined Jazz concert.  Evelyn was playing piano for her jazz band and she did an amazing job.  The middle school Jazz band was far above what I expected from a middle school group - they did an awesome job.  Anna was playing trumpet with her jazz band and also did an amazing job.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but she's the middle white blob on the back row....  It was a great concert and I enjoyed getting to hear them! 

Anna also had a band concert on Wednesday for the Wind Ensemble.  It occurred to me after that these had been her last two high school band concerts....  And since there weren't many last year because of COVID, I'm feeling kinda like her high school music time is over too soon.  :(  

Anna and I both had water polo this week.  It's been nice because playing is the one exercise I can really do with out worrying about my poor little toe.  :)  Anna of course only went on Monday and Thursday, but she's really improved this year and she's been having fun in the cage.  

David is his same silly self and I think he's been enjoying getting to be home with mommy all day instead of having preschool - which cracks me up because he loves preschool.  He was having fun during scriptures - he had shoved his squishamallow into the backside of his monkey pj's and was walking around telling everyone that he had a big butt and shaking his bum at everyone.  He thought he was so funny!  

Friday night, Dan and I went out.  We got dinner and then went to see Top Gun: Maverick.  It was great and we had a great time together!  

Saturday was a bit crazy.  Anna had an audition in the morning for a youth choir in the area.  We think the audition went well, and we both hope she gets in!  It's a great group! 

I went to play water polo with a different group - it was a lot of fun and definitely more low key than my usual group, and they said I could bring Anna next time if I want and that sounds like a lot of fun!  

Eileen had an appointment to get her hair cut - it's been getting really long and driving her nuts.

Evelyn had her mini Olympics at her gymnastics place.  She got to show off the routines she's been working hard on.  She did an amazing job on all of them, but especially on the bars.  She has loved gymnastics!  

Finally in the evening, there was a special fireside for the young women and their parents.  Dan couldn't go because of a work emergency that popped up, but I took the girls and we had a wonderful time.  It was such a great fireside!  The messages and thoughts shared were so wonderful and needed!  After, we went with some friends to Dairy Queen for some ice cream before heading home for the night.  

Today, we kept David home from church.  He was coughing a lot - he had a negative covid test and a no fever, but we worried, so we kept him home.  He and I watched on our computer and the testimony meeting was wonderful!  After, we listened to bible stories for Primary.  

In the evening, we had some friends over for dinner and games and had a fun time playing and chatting together.  It's been a great week and with my foot gradually feeling better, I've been walking James to school all week which has been really nice after having to drive him last week.  Plus the weather has been mostly nice this week, so we enjoyed the sun and the park and the warmth!