Survival

Yes! We survived the last week of school. Why is this significant? Because everything must be scheduled in this time. Every night must have two to three events or it would not be the last week of school. But, we made it and tomorrow will surely be a day of much needed REST! Monday: Camri and Dallin performed in their school's talent show at 7p.m. Kylie had volleyball and basketball practice till seven and needed a ride. Luckily, Jory picked her up on his way and they arrived at 7:20 just as Camri took the stage. Camri tap danced and did an awesome job! Dallin played his piano piece again. He said he was nervous performing in front of so many people. He did great! (I only took video of him, sorry) After Dallin finished, I ditched and went to my softball game that started at 7:45. I was late, but it was still fun!

Tuesday: Kylie had practice for basketball that ended at 7p.m.. Dallin had scouts that was from 6:30 to 7:30. I cancelled scouts because I couldn't pick him up and my dad came to town. Dad had to watch the playoffs so I didn't ask him to pick up either:) Instead the boys stayed home and watched basketball while I had a Relief Society Activity at 7:30 p.m. that I was in charge of. I grabbed Kylie at 7 and threw her out at our corner to walk the rest of the way home. You may think that's mean, but I wasn't late:)

Wednesday: Jory T. was supposed to help with cub scouts at 3:30, but didn't show up after school and I couldn't find him, so I went to help with scouts. Got home at 4:40and made late son fix dinner while I fixed Camri's hair for dance rehearsals. Took Camri to rehearsals, left her with her class, called Jory to tell him to find his own ride to his school's awards ceremony (was not happy with that child), picked up Kylie from practice early, took her to Camri's rehearsal to keep eye on Camri, ran back to watch Jory T. receive an award for Academic Excellence (still trying to figure out why his grades don't reflect this award), took him home, went to a meeting for my upcoming adventure to boy's camp as a cook, and finally made it home. Jory managed to swing by and pick up Kylie and Camri.

Thursday: Felt like things were fine till Dallin informed me at 5:20 that he was supposed to be at Steven's middle school at 5:15 for mad mallets! Drove like a maniac and threw him out the door in front of the school at 5:35This was actually a picture from last week. He had his Mad Mallets concert for parents. At the end, they taught the parents how to play a song. He was excited to show me. Back to my week...made it home in time to grab Jory T. and take him to his school for 8th grade graduation. Pushed him out of the car and then drove back for Dallin. Picked him up and turned around to go back to the graduation. Sure would have been a lot easier if Dallin could have preformed at Jory's school. Got there in time to find a spot on the floor and watch them walk in. Remembered I forgot to tell his father and made a quick call. Jory looked so grown up. It was a little sad thinking he would be in high school next year. His dad made it just in time to see him get his certificate. Good thing, because I left after and made it to the end of my girls' camp meeting. Luckily my dad had showed up again in time to pick up Kylie from basketball, or I might have forgotten her all together.

Friday: Borrowed my dad's car and took Kylie for her driving test at the DOL. Anyone wondering why? SHE PASSED AND NOW HAS A DRIVER'S LICENCE! Got Dallin from school and sent him with Grandpa back to Idaho for a week. Took Kylie to practice (I still need to get her insured:), fixed Camri's hair and took her to my good friend to do her makeup and give her a ride to dance recital, picked up Kylie, let her drive us home in the standard, picked up Jory T. and went grocery shopping for the father-son campout, unloaded groceries, kissed my boys goodbye and went to Camri's dance recital. It was AMAZING! Such talented groups. Afterwards, went for drinks with my friend and the girls (LEMONADE:). Came home to find boys! What? Jory didn't get home early enough to go.

Saturday: Jory, JT and Cody got up and went four-wheeling Kylie drove Camri to my friend's to get her makeup done. It was just in the neighborhood and saved me 15 minutes! Enough time to finish my makeup and hair. She even drove the standard. I picked up Camri and my friend's daughter and took them to the recital, dropped Kylie and her friend off at the mall, went to Costco because we are out of food, went home to unload groceries and then went back to watch Camri. She was adorable. After the show, Camri and I went to eat since I missed out on shrimp Friday with Debbie and the girls;) Then we went to pick Kylie up from the mall. While at the mall, Camri spent her bday money and got her ears pierced. Kylie, Alex and I laughed at her reaction. I thought I was recording it, but never pushed the record button:( All in all, my busy week had me in tears for both good and bad reasons. I never knew mother hood could be so hard and so rewarding at the same time. I wouldn't trade it for anything! I shall endure........
Jory performed at his graduation. I recorded it with my phone since I forgot the camera in such a hurry.
Dallin's mad mallets program.

Friends!

We live a long way from family and miss out on a lot of fun family activities. However, we have been blessed with fabulous friends who we love to spend time with!One of our favorite activities is going out and roasting hotdogs. When you have fire, food, friends and a river to play or throw rocks in, you can't go wrong.
Cody got a little wet and cold so we made him some new pants. Jory T. sweat shirt was not only warm and cozy, but it came with a tail!
My friend was coming with me to a doctor app. so we decided to take our three-year-olds to the zoo after. Come to find out, I've never taken Camri to the zoo. I've taken the older kids to a number of them, but apparently not her. So she "was sick" and came with us. If there was anything to climb under or in, they did. We almost missed the penguins and they were a hoot to watch.
This penguin would follow Camri's hand around and around. The elephant would take a bite of food and then walk in a circle around the room before coming back for more. He came right up to the kids.
We got to see the polar bears jump in. The chimpanzee was hilarious. He turned his back to me when he saw the camera. I had to sneak a shot of him.
There's nothing better than trying to walk along the curbing. Best entertainment of the day.
This sea lion came right up to the glass and rubbed his belly against it. Cody stayed back. We also got to go to our friend's house for a memorial day picnic. It was really cold, but that didn't stop kids from swimming. Cody would only get his feet wet. Camri and Kylie swam the longest. Camri finally got a dive down and then got out. This looks like a bunch of trouble makers!
They were! They grabbed their old, or I should say previous, scout leader and Jory, after many attempts, finally dragged him in the pool. BOYS! At least they learned from last year to grab his phone and give it to someone before it went in the pool as well.

I love all our FRIENDS!

Birthdays, campouts, recitals, does it ever stop?

We celebrated Jory T. 14th birthday a day early because Jory T. had a scout camp out on his birthday. He wasn't thrilled about going, but had a good time. He still hasn't gotten a present yet. I couldn't pick anything, so I gave him some choices. He's still deciding. Also, my sister Shauna, her two sweet girls and my mom came for a few days. So it was fun to have them here to celebrate with us. Pepper and Cody got along great. Shauna's new baby is only three months. She is the best baby and pretty too. I didn't even hear her cry at night. Maybe that's because we never got to bed before three in the morning:) I'm glad they came. I love how it's so easy to talk to my sisters and mom. Dallin also had a camp out on Friday. His dad took him since he's the only 11 yr. old scout in the troop. Dallin was super excited to camp with just dad. He had to leave early to make it to his piano recital. Every year I wonder if Dallin will get his songs down. Every year he does great! I think it's because they have the best piano teacher ever. She's great! Camri also did a wonderful job. She should have for as much as she practices. She even got an award for best practicer. I have to tell her to stop sometimes. I'm so glad I don't have to hear the Mickey Mouse March anymore. Camri turned nine two days after Jory T. birthday. But Camri got to have a birthday party a day early with her friends from church. I took them to the Rollerena. The girls had a good time. So did the rest of us. Dallin didn't want to stop. I think he skated the most. Luckily Jory T. got home just in time and came as well. He was pretty tired though. Apparently, around midnight, he helped some boys take down their tent;) I asked if they were upset. He said they were just cold and all of them ran around and then piled into the big tent for the night. Cody even gave skating a try. He used Carmri's old Barbie skates. Good thing he's only three and didn't care. I made Camri open her presents on her actual birthday. All the kids loved the Just Dance video game. I had to take some video. It was so cute to see them all play. We had strawberry shortcake later. It was yummy and a nice change. Finally, we are done with birthdays and cake for a while. Ice cream.....well, can you ever be done with it?:)

Dallin and Kylie's bdays, Prom, Grease, and much, much more.

Dallin got to spend his birthday in Wyoming. Jory took all the kids to Wy. while Kylie and I were in Hawaii. They had a lot of fun and that's a whole other post. April 2, Dallin turned 11 years old. He got to drive around and see the Buffalo Bill Dam and then drive home to Pasco. When I got home Sunday, he opened one present and the other one hadn't arrived. We found out later it had, but the neighbors took it off the porch and forgot to get it to us until he'd been home a few days. We ate our favorite ice cream cake on Monday and finally sang Happy Birthday as a family. It was the first time I'd missed one of my children's birthday. And because of the time change I almost didn't call him on his birthday, but luckily it worked out. He was thrilled to spend his birthday and the week with cousins and grandparents.
Dallin loves the Mad Mallets and performed for the city's award night. Dallin's great scout leaders made him this arrow to hold all his awards. Dallin had to decorate it and take a picture he liked it so much. Here's a big "THANKS" to great scout leaders!
Kylie turned 16 this year and was asked out on her first date.
When she came home from play practice, I lectured her about leaving her stuff all over the house and told her to put it away. She said "OK" and continued to sit at the computer. I acted very upset and told her to do it now. She jumped up and started going. We tiptoed behind and started laughing when she saw the door.
She was shocked by all the balloons and acted like she had to swim to get threw.
It was funny watching all the kids pop the balloons. She didn't want to use a pin, but said they had to pop them the hard way. This is what she found. And before she knew it, time for prom. Thanks Erica for letting Kylie borrow the beautiful dress, earrings, necklace and fabulous shoes. Kylie asked me a few hours before if I would do her hair in an updo. Luckily, I had a barrette in the car for the last three years that helped because I'm not a hair stylist. I'm going to practice next time. She struggled pinning the boutonniere. I forgot she even needed to get one. Luckily her date asked her about it and she said, "What's that?" He explained what it was and she asked after school if I knew anything about it. I AM NOT A GOOD PROM MOM! We rushed to the store and got it ordered.
Jory was at work so the only pose we got was a nice couple pose. I wanted a dad and gun pose. Maybe the next date:)
I ran out after them like a nerd and had to get an "off they go" shot. She's still out and having a great time (yes, she's already called twice, once for directions and once for permission.)
Since I'm not going to bed anytime soon, I'll continue....Kylie's actual bday was kindof a flop. Kylie knew her bday was Hawaii and was prepared. Luckily, her good friend Summer took her to the gym and they climbed the rock wall, a very Kylie thing to do:) She loved it.
I did get her a good straightener and a cake.

Kylie tried out for "Grease", the high school version, and got the part of Patty, the air headed cheerleader. This was the opening number. I was nervous for her since I'd never seen her act. Then to have the curtains open and she's center stage, I about flipped. She was super cute and funny. In the high school version, Patty tries to hang out with the Pink Ladies and is always made fun of and pushed around. She's in a lot of scenes. This is "Summer Nights." The singing was outstanding. All the parts were cast perfectly. This is "We go together." Kylie is quite the dancer. She's really great to watch on stage (says her mother:). This is the dance scene where Patty keeps interupting Danny and Rizo until Danny finally dances with her.
This scene Kylie gets socked in the eye by Sandy after calling her a "floozy." Sometimes the timing was on, sometimes off. But it always got a laugh. During this song "You're the one that I want" Kylie mopes because she lost the boy yet continues to dance with the Pink Ladies. It's really funny. She gets shoved out of line, so she goes to the other side and dances pathetically. She was nervous about the scene because she said she felt stupid, but it was a hit on stage. The last night I took some pics of the kids. This is Patty, Sandy, and Jan. She was really funny.
This is two of the "T-Birds" Roger and Doody. They both sang a solo each and then a duet together. Amazing singers! Also, Kylie's friend Courtney was a dancer and did a great job as well.
I think I got most of the cast here. They did an outstanding job, and every night was better than before. I really enjoyed watching it. It's Kylie's first musical and she wasn't sure if she'd enjoy it. But after all the hard work, she had a blast. A few people said they could imagine me back in high school after watching the show. So for all of you I am posting my first musical debut in "Oliver", where I played the role of.... OLIVER, a boy. Kylie gets to play a cute and fun cheerleader and I get to play a boy. So for all you who think Kylie looks like me, maybe you should go back to the beginning of the blog because maybe it's Dallin who looks like me:) I can remember the first night coming on stage and a little boy in the audience said, "That's a girl, not a boy." I'm pretty sure that's my dad's old shirt I'm wearing. I had a blast doing the role. So much so that I tried out my junior year and played... Mr. Warbucks' Secretary in "Annie". Don't you just love the coat. I can remember my older sister wearing it to church in the 80's. And my senior year, I landed the role of... Dolly in "Hello Dolly". Speaking of prom, that's my sister Shauna's old prom dress. My mom made this dress for the show and then she cut it shorter and I also wore it to a school dance, I just can't remember which one. Guess I'll have to find some more pics:) I also played the secretary in "The Man who came to dinner." My only regret in all these productions was I never got to kiss the leading man, darn it! However, I can truly say that it's still more fun to see my daughter do these things than doing them myself. Plus, I'm pretty sure I couldn't get back into that dress:)