Michaela Graduated!

Here is Michaela and some of her friends from school.

Michaela graduated from elementary school today. Next year she goes to middle school. She is excited! As I sat there today, it sunk in that Michaela's days as a "little kid" are officially gone. She isn't going to elementary school anymore; she is a "big kid", a "tween". It was sort of sad, but exciting as well. I love the person she is turning out to be. She is a good girl, and brings a lot of light to our family. I know she will do well in middle school.

Thats what you call straight A's, all year long. She also earned the President's Award for Academic Excellence, which means in addition to other things, she had good attendance, scored advanced on her ISATS, and has a 3.5 GPA or above. Hers is above, people.

Congratulations, Michaela, we love you!!!!!!!!!!

Play hard, crash hard.

Nostalgia

The other day, an ice cream truck came through our neighborhood. I was so excited! I hadn't seen one since I was a kid in Nebraska. It instantly brought back a surge of memories; I could see our street, me and my friends grasping fistfuls of coins while we hopped barefoot on the hot tar-patched roads and tried to make our decision.

Prices have gone up a little since I was a kid.

Seriously though, I almost cried at the site of my own kids in front of the ice cream truck. I was so thrilled to see them get to experience something that was a part of my childhood. To be able to pass along my memories along with my money to give them a nice summer memory-in-the-making of their own.

The Prophet said to plant a garden...

So thats what I did!

I planted today, from seed. Don't tell me if its too late; I will find that out on my own.
We tilled last week, but have been too busy to plant, today was the first chance we had. I would take a picture, but its really not pretty; my gardens wouldn't win any awards for neatness or organization. Buy hey, the food grows and we eat it, thats what counts, right? I can't wait for fresh carrots, onions, zucchini, beets, radishes, lettuce, and whatever else I just planted. I left no room for my tomatoes, so they will go into pots this year.
I would love to can some of my produce, but have never learned how. Maybe my mom can come over and show me! She's canned lots of stuff. I only tried once, and made homemade applesauce that smelled wonderful only to have it turn all black and gross on the top in the jars. Ew.

So anyway, I am tired and rambeling, I have been sick and don't think I am totally recovered. But I planted my garden!

Preschool Graduation

We have had such a fun preschool year. This is the whole group, all five moms and kids plus a few younger siblings. For our end of the year "field trip" and graduation, we went to the zoo and had a picnic lunch at the park. The kids really enjoyed themselves. I kept telling Jason what a nice day it had been.

At the zoo, the peacocks walk around freely, and make a lot of noise. Corrine seemed to like it; when one would make its peacock noise, she would make it right back. It sounded pretty realistic, too!

Here is the girls in the group. Such cuties. They have gotten to be good friends.

We were given a show!

The lunch was yummy; everyone brought something to share.


Ava graduated! Yeah!

Ava absolutely loved preschool; she asked me everyday if she had school that day. She learned so much about sharing and being respectful, and hopefully she learned some about not throwing fits! (Still working on that one.)

Here are some of Ava's favorite things she did at preschool :

Coloring.

Snack.

Reading books.

Writing her letters.

Cutting with scissors.

Making crafts.

Recess.

Thanks to all the moms-I am looking forward to next year!

Spirit Week at school

This past week was a fun week at school. Every day there was a different theme, and the kids were encouraged to dress up accordingly. Our girls love these things, and were enthusiastic about every day.

One day was crazy hair day, a favorite. Payden had a cup in her hair, complete with straws.

Michaela had a flower pot hair do.


Another day was hippie day, another one the girls love.

Yet another day was 80's day, my favorite. Payden left for school before we remembered, but I got to do Michaela! Oh, what I would have given to have had some of my old leg warmers. And the girls don't wear colored bobby socks that you layer, so that was out too. I gave her the biggest hoop earings I could find, and she wore a skirt, leggins and a belt around the shirt. She thought that was really weird. The most fun for me was her hair; I couldn't quite achieve with her bangs what I used to with mine, but it was still fun.

They also had a school color day, and a sport day for which they wore their softball uniforms.

My little princess

A beautitul day, a gorgeous tree, and a sweet girl make some nice pictures.

This pose is all her, attitude included.