Memorial Day 2016

We went on an adventure after church today.  We visited several graves:

 Grandpa Larsen

 Becky Clayton

 Grandpa and Grandma Anthony

 And of course, Baby Gabe

 We had a picnic and the kids enjoyed blowing bubbles

Buddy went on our adventure but he had to wait in the car so when we were done we took him to a dog park to get some energy out. 

 This is what a happy dog looks like.

1st grade 1st grade

I can't believe we said good bye to kindergarten for the last time.  I will not miss that short day of school but Im really going to miss my little girl when she is gone all day.  

Ila had an amazing kindergarten teacher, Kacie Barker.

 Their graduation program was so cute.  Each week during school they learned a new nursery rhyme. For graduation the recited a dozen different nursery rhymes.  The had cute songs about the presidents of mount Rushmore, the 7 continents, 5 oceans, and counting by 2,3,5 and 10s.

What did we do?

What did Avram do this week?

Avram participated in an emergency training program.  He had a blast moaning and groaning until the trainees were able to help him.  

What did Brigham do this week?

Briggs had a big research paper due this week about a famous person, he chose Blackbeard the Pirate.  Part of the report included making a bottle head character.  He was required to use a soda bottle and a styrofoam ball for the head.  I have to admit that I wasn't excited about doing this project with Briggs.

After we got going we had a lot of fun.  

 Not only did we have fun but Briggs had the best bottle head in the whole grade.  He was so excited to take his bottle head to school and show it off.  

 Briggs also participated in a short play to finish up their learning section on Native Americans.  

What did Ila do this week?

 I have this funny app on my phone and Ila has a blast playing with it when she is stuck in the car with me.  She has made so many videos and pictures that crack me up.  

 We have had a lot of rain this Spring.  Between the rain we went to the park one morning.  It was so nice to enjoy the outdoors for a little bit.  Im going a little crazy because we have to get some concrete poured before we can start our landscaping.  My yard is a disaster, I don't have my garden in, and we have a lot of mud getting tracked in the house.

What did Lisa do this week?

Besides the adventures of being mom I spent a few hours in the family history center having a lady teach me about research and family history.  She has a very organized process for research and she teaches classes in Ogden.  Im feeling a little overwhelmed because of all the work involved but I just need to do a little bit each day.

Our stake 11year old scout troop started their yearly fundraiser this week.  It was fun having Briggs with me as I went out fundraising through the stake.  We sell tickets to a pancake breakfast which we (the scouts) make in June.  

This year I should be seeing nearly all the ward primary presidencies in the stake being changed.  We had a primary training for a new presidency this week.  

I know Im getting old because I keep hearing myself say, "They are so young."  

What did Adam do this week?

He is really busy with work, which is great.

I don't know if I mentioned that he sprained his ankle a month ago.  This was much more then a sprain.  Im sure he did some permanent ligament damage.  He has struggled with his ankle all month and he still takes medicine at night when he gets home from work because his ankle is throbbing.  

Adam has been serving in the Elders Quorum presidencies but this week he was released and called to serve as the 2nd counselor in the Young Mens Presidency.  Im really excited he will be working with the deacons which means he will be with Avram and in a year Briggs will be there also.  

In between all the things I have covered we also did a couple of soccer practices, Gymnastics, Karate,  ward party, baseball games, work on the house, etc.

Is This Blog Worthy

I remember during the week thinking I have so much to Blog about this week.  Now that I sit down and start thinking about what to type I am blank.
The count down is on for summer break.  Since all my kids attend different schools it is hard to keep up with everyones schedule.  Briggs and Ila will be done with school this coming Friday.  Avram has about two week left of school.
This week was the tryouts for the school play for next year.  I posted a few pictures of the play this past year.  The director (Jules) is an amazing lady.  She brings out the best in each child that she works with.  She puts a lot of time and effort into the play.  This past year they performed sussical the musical.  This coming year they will perform sleeping beauty.
The thing I loved most about the play last year is that I think it is the most time and effort Briggs has ever put into anything and completed it.  The last couple of weeks of the play got really rough and Briggs wanted to quit but he held out and ended up having an amazing experience.  Briggs went back and forth about trying out again this coming year.  He was really disappointed when he found out the play was Sleeping Beauty but when he found out there were some goblins and goons in the play he decided he would try out.
Tryouts are not easy.  Parents are not allowed in the tryouts.  There is 6 people watching and making notes.  Each child has to prepare to sing a song from Broadway.  They also ask the kids to perform a couple of parts on the spot.  Briggs was really worried about the tryouts.
I was praying that Briggs would make a part in the play, any part.  I just wanted him to be involved in the play, work with this director again, and invest himself into something.
We waited impatiently to get the results.  Tryouts were Tuesday but the list wasn't posted until Saturday.  She took half as many kids this year for the play then she had last year which was another stress.
Saturday we finally got the results.  Briggs made the play!!! He will be the Pest.   One of Maleficent's goons.  I am so thankful!  Briggs is excited too.

Spring Fling

Two weeks left of school!  I can't keep up with how fast time is going.  Im going to quickly run through the last month because if I don't do it now I may never get this recorded.  

Briggs had his Pinewood Derby race last month.  His first pack meeting was the pinewood derby where he took last place.  His last pack meeting was the pinewood derby and he took first.  

 Im going a little crazy trying to finish up everything for our addition.  We have been stuck in the same place for several weeks because we need to get some concrete poured and overtime we are scheduled to have the concrete done it rains.

 Briggs had his 11th birthday.  He got a new helmet for his birthday, a scout shirt and a hiking backpack.

 Adam and Briggs have decided they are going to master the rubix cube.  I think they have got it.

 Briggs had a performance at school with his English class.  He was the narrator

 Gymnastics is going well.  Avram and Ila are getting really close to having their back handsprings.

 We are taking advantage of the days with sun shine.

 Sherwin Williams sent all of their customers "contractors" to the Aquarium this week.  This was our first time to the aquarium.  I think Avram could have stayed all night.

 We had dental cleaning this past week.  No cavities!  So I took the kids to Pizza Pie Cafe to celebrate.

 Ila had a performance this week.  She is so social.

 It was fathers and sons this weekend so Ila and I had a girls night.  She loves girl nights.  We ate lots of yummy fruit and painted each others nails.

That sums up the last month.  I need to update more often so that I can fill in some of the details.