Grandpa Camp

For the Fourth of July this year, we went to my parent's home outside of Idaho Falls.  Trips to my parents house mean essentially one thing for my kids: playing outside, outside, outside.  In fact, I am not sure if my kids spend anytime indoors while we are there.  They go from the hot tub (which my parents keep pretty cool for the kids) to the pool to the fire pit to the campsite to the hot tub to the pool. . . .you see the pattern.

Garry spent a ton of time helping my parents trim back the trees and cutting out dead underbrush.  Growing up, our back yard was just a big, beautiful park-like area.  We had over 500 trees.  My parents have cut out a lot of them but the ones that remain are HUGE and fighting for daylight.

We have picnics, talk around the fire pit, nap on reclining chairs -- everything a vacation should be.

End of School!

Since we are a year-round school, we start a lot earlier than everyone else and get out a little later than everyone else.  Emma and Macey were still going to school in June, and Emma had to go a few more additional days than Macey.

Emma did really well in school this year.  Her reading improved.  Her report cards were perfect all year.  Her Chinese is going really well.  She received many awards for her good behavior during the year, and parents love her.  One neighbor always calls the school during the summer break to make sure her daughter is in the same class as Emma.  Another parent called me this week because she wanted to include Emma in a girl scout group she was forming.  She told me that whenever her daughter was having problems with friends at school, she always knew she could play with Emma because Emma is kind to everyone.  I also loved the fact that Emma was invited to a party as well as a playdate over at her teacher's home to play with the teacher's son.  She loves Emma, even on her days off.

We love our fabulous Emma!

Field Day!

This year Garry & I both volunteered at the girls' field day at the end of the year.  Garry was in charge of Emma's class -- walking them from event to event and making sure that no one got lost.  Or hurt.  Or cried too much.

I was in charge of one of the events -- the Bouncy House!  It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  Best because Molly was able to bounce her heart out because she stayed with me.  Though sometimes there were some big kids in there, she was never afraid, and just bounced and bounced.  A little piece of heaven.  She's in her favorite blue dress behind me in the top picture.

It was the worst of times because I had to control how many kids were in at a time, kick them out when they had been in there too long, and control the crowds that desperately wanted a turn.  Egads.  It could get a little stressful and a few times I had to use my mean Mom voice (which has had much practice over the years.) But, Molly had a great time!

Great Grandma's Birthday!

Last month the kids had the opportunity to go and celebrate another birthday with great-grandma!  They love birthdays, and they love her, so it's a great mixture of their favorite things.  Their great-grandma has not been doing well this year.  She suffers from dementia, and she also fractured her hip a few months ago.  She spent awhile in the hospital and in a rehabilitation center, but she eventually was able to come back to her assisted-living facility.

When I was pregnant with Molly, we threw her a big surprise birthday party while we were all together at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  It was a great celebration and she went around the room hugging everyone and expressing her love.  I am sad the kids will not remember that grandma.  Good thing we took pictures ;)

End Of Year Program

What a wonderful Kindergarten year Macey had!  I keep hearing about parents who want to skip Kindergarten and put their kid straight into First Grade, and I cannot figure that out.  It does not get any better than Kindergarten!  Cute friends, kind teachers, no stress.  

This year they did a little program at the end of the year.  They sung a few songs and a talked a little bit about families.  I experienced a little bit of a whiplash moment -- didn't I just attend Macey's end of year program for preschool?  

Not quite sure where this year went, but I know that we will miss Mrs. Mueller.  She was very kind and supportive and saw her role as a team player with parents.  Macey will miss her, but perhaps not as much as I will.  Macey just assumes all teachers are great because hers always have been.  I know a little better ;)

Got Your Back

I have a few core friends who consistently 'have my back' as the saying goes.  It's to an extreme level.  If I robbed a bank and told them about it they would probably say (1) they never liked that bank anyway and (2) could they help me hide the money?

My feelings were hurt yesterday and after church I spoke with someone I considered to be a friend and who had witnessed what happened.  I asked for her opinion, and, boy, did she ever give it to me.  This is not the first time she has done this, either.  A few months ago she asked how I was doing through the busy holiday season and when I told her about a situation that had me concerned, she was brutally (and kind of unfairly) honest that time as well.

So who is the better friend?  The one that has your back despite the situation or the one who says it like it is and might, in turn, help you improve?  I am trying to recognize the very real benefits of having such a friend.  But, I have to admit, sometimes I prefer the ones that have my back, no matter what.

Best. . .Game. . .Ever

When Garry's Mom was here in May, she took the girls to Costco and bought Molly a new dress. It's blue and sparkly and ruffly.  She LOVES it and wants to wear it everytime she finds it in her closet.  Truly, I need to be slower about doing the laundry, because she finds it often and frequently and therefore wears it often and frequently.

After she wore the dress yet again, I told her that if she did not start wearing other clothes in her closet, I was going to take the blue dress and hide it.

Wrong choice of words.  Molly loves Hide & Seek and her eyes just lit up.

"Okay, Momma!" she said.  "You hide it, and I find it!"

Woops!