That's A Wrap

 This week was the last week of the 23-24 school year. I feel like it has been quite a year for our family. We have had a lot of really good things, some really hard things, growth, and fun this year. My kids all had teachers that were perfect for them. 

Kylee had the best math teacher for her. Mrs. Frade always took time to answer Kylee's questions and explain things to her and she always believed Kylee could do it which was awesome. Becuase of Mrs. Frade, Kylee currently wants to become a middle school math teacher. Kylee tried so many things this year. She tried: volleyball, basketball, band, strategy game club, student council, attending young women's, and going to school with her cousin. One other person that made a huge difference in Kylee's year is Parker Merritt. He was in her homeroom class and her Sunday school class at church and they had a great time together. I love that he was around for Kylee to have some one to have a good time with during class when all of the other people she knew were somewhere else. I love watching who Kylee is becoming. She is quite the gal and its been fun to watch her lead and learn this year.

Tia also had the perfect teacher for her. Ms. Topouzoglou helped Tia enjoy school. She let Tia answer questions and didn't ever make her feel like she was dumb when she got them wrong. She looked out for Tia but didn't solve her problems for her. Ms. T and Ms. Blase (Tia's special ed teacher) worked really well together and made sure Tia had work that challenged and taught her. Tia worked really hard on reading at home this year and she is currently reading Fablehaven with me and is so excited. I am impressed she sticks with it because it is really hard for her, but in true Tia fashion she just keeps trying and going. We have had quite a time trying to get her ADHD meds right for her this year and I hope we have found something, but we will just have to see how it progresses. Tia was excited for summer but bummed to have to be home with me all day because she loved spending time at school with her teacher.

Kade had Mrs. Evans again and he has done so well this year. I worry a little about him making friends and being social, but otherwise he is doing great. He went to school a few times without Abby this year. He answered questions in class and usually had a story to tell too. He was very aware of what was going on and how school should run. He did have fun playing with the boys in his class and he just enjoyed so much more this year than last. It was such a great year for him.

Abby was a little social butterfly this year. She was always playing with friends at school and at home. Her best friend at school was Cora. They loved playing with each other there and have even had a couple play dates outside of school. Abby also loves playing with our neighbor Ella Davis. Summer is going to be hard for this girl who has really loved having friends. She has also grown academically. She loves writing and coloring. She so want to figure out how these letters make reading happen. She is very aware of whats going on around her. She has become quite competitive so we have to work on trying not to compare ourselves to others. Anyway, she has loved school and is so excited for Kindergarten.

Hope hasn't gone to school, but this little girl is the best supporter of her siblings. She has watched more ball games, field days, school parties, and concerts in her short lifetime that possibly all of her other siblings combine. She has loved the pool whenever we have taken her swimming. She kicks an floats and turns all over with her puddle jumper on. She loves the slides. She also loves all other water: baths, puddles, buckets, sprinklers, water features, all of it. This kid really likes the water. This last week I took her to the pool and totally forgot her puddle jumper and she waltzed into the pool like always and I was trying to help Kylee and Tia and I glance over real quick and I knew the next step she would be under. Sure enough, so I charged through the water and grabbed her. It was a kind scary moment for me, but one I am grateful for because it reminded me I have to be aware. No one knows my kid like me. The lifegaurd just thought she was going to bob back up (he came and apologized to me) and the parents right there probably thought the same thing, but I knew because she is my kid. Its my job to keep her safe and so I have to be to super vigilant about where she is. It was good to have a strong reminder about how aware I need to be around water.

It was the last week of school, but it was also the first couple days of summer. The first day we met up with the cousins and played at the park for a couple hours and had a picnic lunch. Then the next day Allen and Roxy came to play while their parents went to the temple and then we had the first of the summer wiener roasts. Summer is off to a good start and I am hoping it will continue to be good.

These two humored me and dressed a like one day this week.

Hope

Hope and I had to get the tires rotated so we killed sometime window shopping

Tia at field day

Tia and Ms. T

The first cookout

Almost There

 We are almost to summer and I am so excited. This week we had a couple of end of year things. Kylee had her last band concert. It really was the best one of the year. She has decided to do band again next year, so it will be good to watch her grow even more next year. Kade and Abby had their preschool celebration on Thursday. They still go to school this week which I think is a little weird, but it was fun. I can't believe how much they have grown over the last year. They are both beyond excited to go to Kindergarten next year. Abby is going to miss the social scene of school, but Kade is so ready to be home everyday. 

Kylee with her flute

Getting ready to sing for us

Kade adn Mrs. Evans.

Abby and Mrs. Evans

Another big thing this week is Hope is potty training. Yes, its early but she is interested and seemed ready so I decided to try. We had a lot of things the first couple days and so it was kind of wishy washy training and I was thinking about just waiting. I even tried saying it out loud, but it didn't sit right with me. So, I decided if I am going to potty train a 'too young' baby then I need to own that decision and go with it ALL of it. So, the next day we did. Luckily for me Hope can hold it for a very long time, and she has done really well. She isn't potty trained at night and is working on how to poop, but she does know when to pee and seems to get there pretty well. Its a little crazy I admit, but also kind of amazing. We will see how the next week goes. 

Also, this week our kids decided it was time to build a tree house. It started with cardboard and rope, and then moved to cardboard, a piece of wood, and a rope ladder. On Thursday, it became a serious thing as they brought it to their Dad. So, Saturday we worked on what a plan was verse a design and then Jason and the kids started working on the base. Its a little tricky because we don't want to actually screw or nail into the tree, but I think it will be a fun project. Tia is loving the use of tools, ladders, wood, rope, and a project. Kylee likes that she is getting a tree house, but is a lot more leery of the fact that she has to build it. She would rather have her dad just do it.

Drilling and building.

Its amazing to see our family's growth recently. We have cleaned the house, weeded, cooked, built, and played together. It is not always harmonious and perfect, it gets better all the time. The older kids are figuring out how to do things on their own. The littler guys are figuring out how do the jobs we want them too. Overall, there is less complaining and begging and we can accomplish quite a lot.

Hope thinks Abby is just so cool, and Abby loves having someone to adore her.

Girls' Weekend

 April has ended and May is off to a rapid start. It is so easy these run out of time. Like right now I have a boy watching the clock like a hawk for it to be 3:00, so that I can help him make his treat for Family Home Evening. But you know what girls weekend taught me about feeling like most my time and energy goes to my family--I wouldn't want it any other way!

I left at 5:45 on my birthday to Linsday's house and then on to Kitt's. From there, Matthew took us to the airport and we flew to Arizona for the weekend. It was such a low key relaxed weekend. My favorite part was not being interrupted. I just got to fully enjoy the moment with no kid bathroom, lunch, nap, or time-out breaks. It was so wonderful and freeing. Friday morning I got to soak up Stanton. We played outside in the backyard, went to that park, and got to share breakfast and lunch together. It was crazy to see Piper and no she wasn't my baby girl. Like it was super trippy. I am not 100% sure why but she was fun and cute and it was fun to see her. Kitt, Klaire, Lindsay and I left to go to Kara's house about 1:30. We arrived at Kara's before the boys naps had ended and before the big boys got home from school. Klaire and Lindsay had to go get Klaire hair fixed. While they did that we talked to Kara and her kiddos. I had little gifts for each boy and it was kind of fun to give them a little something something. When Klaire and Lindsay got back we offically started our 'party.' First we went to model homes, and then went and picked up Domino's pizza. Being the mom's we are we enjoyed that pizza at a fun park. After chatting and dinner we checked into our hotel. We could not have picked a hotel more reminiscent of our childhood hotel stays. A little older, slightly quirky, clean, and complete with pool and continental breakfast. We settled into our room and then went and enjoyed the pool. Well Kara and I enjoyed the pool. Kitt and Klaire enjoyed the hot tub, and Lindsay enjoyed the pool deck. It was amazing to swim in an outdoor pool. My sisters humored me in waiting until I was done and then we all headed upstairs to shower, chat, do silk hands, and go to bed.

Saturday was our day to do whatever we decided. We had breakfast, then painted nails, and checked out of the hotel. Then we went to DI. Everyone found a little something something. I got a fun new dress and shirt, plus a couple things for Kylee. After DI we met my mom and loaded her into the mom van and we went to Top Golf. It really is like bowling, but golfing instead. I did really bad at both games. However, it was really fun to play a sport that none of us do. So, no one knew what they were doing. Then we wanted to pass a little more time before dinner, so we went to the mall. It was so weird to be able to walk in and out of stores with no one asking for anything or little hands worrying you they would break or touch the wrong thing. At Dillard's Klaire and I got our eye make-up done. That was fun. Then we went to dinner at 7 Guys Burgers. It was super good. Then we went to Culver's for ice cream. We ate outside which I totally think may have triggered some allergies for some of my sisters. I always forget that can happen. However, it was so nice! It was warm, with a little breeze. We stayed there for almost two hours just chatting and enjoying being together. We eventually went home to shower and get ready for Sunday.

Sunday was church and family dinner. I took a nap after church. I watched my nephew's play, helped with dinner, and enjoyed chatting with everyone. It was just so relaxed. That night was probably our latest night but we still went to bed around 11:00. Monday we went to the park with Kara, Hank, Jett, and Levi. Then when Levi went to school we enjoyed just Hank and Jett for a bit. It was fun to play with those boys they are crazy and fun and happy. Then we had lunch and went to the airport. On the flight home I was seated next to this lady and we chatted with the man next to us the whole flight. It was very enjoyable. 

It was a great weekend. I thought it would be a little bit of a crazy weekend but it wasn't. At first I was kind of weirded out by that but you know what it was perfect. I didn't need crazy. My everyday is crazy. I needed uninterrupted time to just enjoy the people that get me. When I am with my sisters, I don't have to explain myself. They know about me now, they know my past, and then some stuff they just get because we grew up together. It was so refreshing. When I got home I was so much more ready to be a mom. I loved the weekend, but I really did miss my kids. I missed watching them play with cousins. I missed them needing me. I missed feeling safe with Jason and having his emotional support. I missed my family. That was such a great feeling because for me it means I really love what I do. Don't get me wrong, I needed my time away, but I was also glad that I missed my family. I have come from a great bunch of people and I have a great bunch of people. I got to be one of the luckiest people.

One random thing before I go. Today is Mother's Day and Kade gave me a card that he made yesterday when he was being babysat while I was at the temple. It had some writing in it so I asked him what it said, He replied he didn't know I needed to read it. So I read, "Dear mom, You are the best. I love you! Love, Kade." Then I asked "Is that what it says?" "Yep," he replied. Then he took the card. A little bit later he came back opened the card and said, "It also says, Buy Kade a dog." HAHAHA!! Oh this little boy and his want for a dog is real. Kylee was slightly horrified and question stated to Kade, "You asked mom to buy you a dog in her Mother's Day card!?" 

On that note off to help with track building and cake making!

Linsday Kitt, and I on the way to AZ

Pizza at the park

The MOM van

Me, Lindsay, Kara, Kitt, Klaire, Mom

Me and my burger at 7 Brothers

In the bay at Top Golf

Me at Top Golf

Dinner at 7 Brothers. Thanks Oma and Papa.