I was trying to remember what we've been up to in the last three weeks (whoops, I really lapsed this time). So I looked at our calendar and looked through the pictures on the camera to help me remember. Like my sister-in-law just said, "the days kind of blend together, don't they?" The things that didn't show up on the calendar were important, too, SO this is going to be a long post. Sorry, but this is kind of my journal, too. Here's a short list: Caleb's class end of the year stuff (Zoo trip, kindergarten store, walk to the park, and graduation), also Caleb's birthday party, lots of Caleb things this month. We went to the Train museum and Desi's birthday dinner. Seth learning new words (no, it isn't swear words!) Joseph being Joseph as only he can, and Felicity really enjoying school spirit week. Now for more details. Unless you don't want to hear them, then just go merrily on your way and I'll do a shorter post next time!
The flu or something like it made it's very slow way through our family, Seth was the only one who didn't get it. It wasn't fun, but it's done now, hurrah, and it could have been much worse. We're ready for warm weather and less sickness now, please.
Caleb's last couple weeks of school were very busy, he got to eat school lunch for the first time, very exciting for those kindergartners. The next big thing was the Zoo Trip. Oh, those kids were so excited. For weeks. Bouncing, jumping, hollering excited. His teacher, looking at the chaos in her room a couple days before Z-time, said that she was going to start telling the kids about it only the day before they went. I got to go this year, and it was fun, but...a little exhausting, crazy, lots of laughs and a few heart races. The moms (and a couple dads) carpooled together so we didn't have to, errrr, get to listen to them singing the zoo song fifty times. We had a nice relaxing drive before being thrown to the lions. Just kidding, the first animal we saw was the tiger. Me and another mom were in charge of ten kids. Yup, no typo. Two of the kids were the naturally hyper ones, two were the naturally wandering/not really paying attention kind, and the other six were somewhere in the middle. We were so worried about one of the hyper ones (he was the one I saw standing on his head in the classroom earlier in the year) that we were always checking on him. Unfortunately, that left less time for one of the Wandering Ones, and we lost her. Twice. But we found her both times. Her mom was watching Seth and Joseph back home so I had to bring her back. Overall, I love the zoo. But I saw a lot less of the animals than usual. And I counted to ten a lot (not to control my temper, just numbering the kids) more than usual.
The day after the zoo trip we got our back lawn hydroseeded, I'm so very excited, glad, relieved. The boys thought the truck was really cool, and were impressed that Grandpa Newey does the same thing. It's been going good, we're starting to see tiny little blades poking up now. But we've been having these beautiful (small sparrow like, but with blue heads. Anybody know what they are?) horrible little birds eating the seeds! I remembered how the garden store I worked at sold fake owls to scare birds away from gardens and fruit trees, so we decided to give it a shot. Farris rigged one up to hang right over the yard from a string between the porch and the fence (sorry, Grunanders, if the fence falls over. It's kind of old and falling apart anyway). We'll be able to move it every few days to keep the birds confused. It has worked so far, I'm hoping they hadn't eaten most of it before Mr. Owl came.
Later that day we went to the train museum in Ogden with my sister Nicki. It was actually pretty cool and there was a lot for the kids to do. Lots of trains to climb all over. The kids liked exploring and we got lots of fun pictures. Then we went to Desi's birthday party for yummy food and watching Joseph find out that there was still water in the garden hose! He got more than a couple people wet that night.
On the 18th, Caleb had his Kindergarten store. All the Kindergartners make 10 simple crafts and bring fifty pennies. Then they buy/sell everything for five cents each, so they come home with fifty new pennies and ten different crafts from the other kids. It's lots of fun. Caleb decided to make super hero masks. We bought different colored felt and cut out the shapes then hot glued a little elastic around the back. He came home excited with magnets, book marks, fuzzy pets and painted rocks, very proud of his new toys. A couple days later it was time for the annual Kindergarten Walk to the Park. Me and another mom decided to walk with them, I laughed half the time, five and six year olds are hilarious. At the park we played, eat ice cream, played, ate granola bars and played some more. When we got back to the school and the kids saw their parents waiting for them, one gasped and said "It's time to go home? But we didn't get to go to recess!" Which is, of course, the most important part of the day.
The next day was graduation. They put on a cute little program with singing and book reading and a slide show and each kid gets an award. Caleb was the Sweetest Smile, of course! It's beginning to be a family tradition, Felicity got that one, too. I wonder if Joseph will get it, too, or if he'll get something else...
Later that day was Farris' cousins wedding reception. This had to be the most different (in a good way) and funnest reception I've ever been to. They had a ice cream bar instead of the traditional mints and nuts (blah) and when it was time for the dancing at the end (they did have a really sweet first dance first) they brought out the Wii on a huge screen and we had a dance contest. Seriously funny.
Yesterday was Caleb's birthday party. He finally settled on a Super Why birthday party (it's a show on PBS, Super Why is a super hero who saves the day by reading and changing the stories), and as much as I tried to get him to change it, that's what he wanted. So we had to think up letter games and we made Why Writers (it's sort of like a super hero wand that he uses to change the words). Caleb had so much fun and there was lots of giggling going on.
That's the big things that happened the last little while, if you combine this with all our every day things like: Seth saying so many more words and learning so many new things. Oh, like where the hot chocolate mix is stored and how to wait until mom has left the room before scooping copious amounts into his mouth and everywhere else. He also is learning how to tease, which isn't that great. Felicity got to dress up for school spirit week, there was hippy day (we don't have anything in the house that is tie dyed...hmmm), clash day, crazy hair day (we pointed her hair straight up on her head with a pencil) and Disney day. It makes me laugh to see all the things kids come up with. Farris' ankle is healing but he sometimes pushes a little too hard and then it gets sore again. But he hasn't attempted basketball or running yet, much to the dismay of the guys he plays ball with. I'm getting ready for girls camp, for which I am grateful that I'm not in charge! We've also been walking as much as we can for a challenge through BYU, we have to walk at least 8000 steps a day, but we're trying to get more than anyone else on our team (hence the pushing Farris does). Add in all the normal things (cooking, cleaning, kissing owies, settling tantrums and fights, etc) and it's been a little busy around here. But we're grateful for busy full lives, we have many blessings keeping us busy!
2018 Lego Story Art
7 years ago