Lots of May celebrations!

We were coming home from Orem one day and a rainbow was perfectly positioned over the Y on the mountain.  It's not a great picture, but for me leaning past the Farris who was driving and shooting through the window as we were on the freeway, I think it's a pretty good shot. 

Joseph's class program.  First graders make me laugh.  What a funny age!  He did a great job and sang his songs with gusto.  That's a Joseph thing.

Joseph had team teachers this year and I think they understood him pretty well.  at least by the end of the year they appreciated him better  The first parent teacher conference they looked a little nervous when we came in.  They asked us if we knew that he liked to talk a lot?  Uhhh, yeah.  They said they would move him around, but no matter who they put him by he would still strike up a conversation.  And he got his work done, but nobody around him did.  They kept saying that he was a great kid and really smart, just a little too social.  He was doing better by the end of the year, but we still need to work on his concentration.  That boy gets distracted like NO OTHER.  We even made a poem up for him when he does his homework (it was my attempt to stop getting frustrated and yelling at him):  "Hocus-pocus, Joseph FOCUS!"  It didn't always work, but it usually at least got a smile and worked enough that I appreciated it. 

 

Joseph and his best friend Hyrum.  Which I still think is ironic.

 

And another cause of celebrations that day:  we'd only been home a little while when Joseph lost his very first tooth.  He was delighted!

Felicity had her program last of all the kids.  The fifth graders are getting a little more mature but still fun and they had a slide show with each of their baby pictures, very cute!

Lissy with best friend Bailey.  We'll miss haveing her around as much!

 

Felicity had an outstanding teacher this year.  She was understanding and patient and lots of fun.  She helped Felicity work through her math difficulties without getting her more discouraged.  She was very supportive, even coming to two of Felicity's soccer games, there was two or three on the same team from her class.  Unfortunately for us, Miss Wood is going to another school next year so we won't get her for Caleb in two years.  But we wish her the best of luck!

 

And a big celebration on our family was for my nephew Blake.  He graduated from High School this year and is getting ready to leave on his mission to Norway in August.  He leaves on August 21 and Tanner is coming home on August 17 from his mission in Ohio.  Only a small window for brotherly time.  We're excited for both of them. 

The last day of school celebration!  Exciting, exciting. 

All three of them like school, but can anything compare to the feeling of being free for the summer?  At least until they realize that mom has a whole list of chores...

 

Right after the kids came home we threw bags in the van and drove to Idaho.  Farris' sister Charitie graduated from high school (another big celebration!) and the whole family was going to be up.  It was also Memorial Day weekend.

We went to make Savannah's gravesite a little more Savannah-ish with lots of color.  We planted a groundcover rose bush, lots of moss roses and put some whirly flowers and a beautiful butterfly plant stand.  They are hoping to find a nice bench to put up there, too.  Judy made rainbow tassels for each of the grandkids that they could wear around their wrists or tie to the flower or butterfly in remembrance of Savannah, and Geri gave each of the families a crystal to hang to make rainbows in our houses.  It's a wonderful spot with amazing views of the mountains and a huge feeling of peace surrounds it.  I hope the color shows the love all of us have for her and our knowledge that we know where she is and that she is happy and still loves us.  I hope it will bring some comfort to the family.

 

Our kids love being at Grandma's house, her yard is an amazing playground!  The kids were excited to spend time with cousins that we don't see enough.  We can never have enough cousin time!

Geri and Cody have an amazing yard, too, with a sandbox surrounding a play area.  You can't tell very well in this picture, but I made a mermaid tail in the sand for Felicity.  The kids love coming to Idaho.  And I always breathe a little deeper in all that country air!

 

And one final picture.  This is how our fashionista dresses herself. Yes that's a pair of shorts and a shirt around her ankles and a tank top she couldn't quite figure out how to put on.  My little girl thinks she's a big girl already.