Kindergarten Spring Sing

This will be the last Kindergarten Spring performance for our little family. Cameron sang great, despite his disgust with the outfit I MADE him wear. As the Kindergarteners filed in, he spent what felt like five minutes trying to locate us in the audience. When his eyes finally caught hold of ours, he shot up his hand and waved big. The finale/goodbye song was extra special because Cameron helped close out the evening with "Thank you for coming to our performance".

Also, happy pi day! Chicken pot pie and a delicious pie from the Thurmans. She knows I don't bake pies..unless I use one of Marie's. (Cute table note created and designed by Mary, all by herself.)

Boys at work

I've heard some amazing stories about how my father-in-law taught his seven boys to work. Saturday mornings, in particular, were get the work done days. Steve would knock on the boys' doors (teenage to toddler) and they were expected to get ready and work until the jobs were considered done. Even when there was nothing pressing, he would have them just move piles of dirt around...because all kids love to get dirty and see something transformed.

I love that Aaron does this same thing every Saturday morning and throughout the week with our children (although they wake up before us usually). Today after school and piano lessons these boys came home and started digging this hole (partly for their chairs to rest in and also to help get the pool ready). When they put the chairs in they said they will be able to watch the sun go away.

I told Cameron that they should keep going and we could just dig the pool hole ourselves. He said that's not a good idea because it's way too small and that it would be a waste of money and time.

These kids seriously amaze me.

Everything tastes better when...

you don't have to make it. Not that this food wasn't amazing, because it was phenomenal! But it was even more amazing because Aaron and Mary made the entire thing...meatloaf, potatoes, and carrots. And I didn't lift a finger. What a treat!

You may think he was wearing sunglasses because it was 72 degrees today, but he actually used them to keep from crying while he chopped the onions. So cute!

Good-bye mature landscaping!

Yes, we are pulling out all our big bushes and trees that have grown so beautifully these last few years to make way for the pool. Yes, a pool! Woo woo! We finally decided to make it happen and use some of our hard earned dough on hours and hours of summer entertainment. I can't wait.

Unfortunately, we could only place it in one of two places in our yard due to septic set backs. So, it's going right smack dab in the middle of our lush plants. Aaron spent the day moving them to other parts of the yard, hoping that we can transplant them again when all is complete.

Super Grandma

I don't know if it's the few days of teaching seminary again or the allergy medicine I'm starting to take, but I am so exhausted today! It made date night extra wonderful and so very appreciated.

My mom watched our kids for us this evening (as she does most Fridays)  along with a few cousins. When I'm really tired I'll tell the kids to play their music for grandma, so I can have a break from helping them practice.

This is actually a win/win because Grandma is THE BEST audience member. They all shout "Grandma, Grandma watch me do this"...play piano, violin, flip, dance. And Grandma shouts "Bravo! Bravo!" after each performance. She has a way of making you feel so awesome about yourself. It's one of her super talents.

I sure love and appreciate this SUPER Grandma!

Chasing Girls and Grace's Birthday

I didn't see the kids until I picked them up from school today. I have been subbing in seminary for the last couple days...both classes, so I leave before they get up and get back when they are already in school. This explains why Cameron is dressed in shorts and a t-shirt on a 55 degree day. I asked him some questions after school that I thought were so funny...

Me: Cameron, who did you play with at recess today?
Cameron: I played with Andrew and Easton, actually not Easton, cuz he chases girls.
Me: Why don't you want to chase the girls?
Cameron: Cuz they all like me.
Me: Oh, who likes you?
Cameron: All of them, mostly Adelyn and Addison, and Melanie, and Aurora. And they are fast. I get tired and a "stomach-egg" from running so fast.
Me: What do the boys do with the girls when they catch them?
Cameron: They just grab them and put them in their lair. They throw them down into their lair and trap them.

We also got to give Grace her present after school and get some ice cream to celebrate her birthday.

Grace loves her Uncle Aaron. It's really sweet.

And the winner is...

Mary's team, by THREE points!

It was a nail biter! Noah's team managed to beat Mary's the first game, but they had to play twice, since Mary's team hasn't lost a game before. Mary's team pulled ahead with a partial question steal. If Noah's team had said steel instead of iron, they would have won it. So, Mary's going to regionals and Noah's team took second. I'm so happy for them both!

Noah's team trying to challenge an answer at the end of the last round.

2017 OBOB MRE champions!