8th Grade Disneyland Trip

For their 8th grade graduation, Stephen and Nick got to go Disneyland with their school. I got to be the chaperone. Long story with Nick cut short, he didn't want to go, changed his mind on the day of and I, as the wonderful mom that I am, made it so he could go. We left at midnight on Tuesday, drove all night on buses and got to Disneyland right around 9 am. Five other adults and myself were in charge of 12 boys. As soon as the doors opened, they all took off running. We tried to catch them, but got chastised by the workers for running in the park. We were all separated within a half hour. We gathered and then separated for the most part of the day, trying to at least have some adult with each group. The problem was that the kids didn't care at all and just took off all the time. Around noon, some of the adults decided to go ride some rides by ourselves since we had lost most of the kids. Turns out one of the other chaperones was a kid I went to high school with. We rode some roller coasters and a thing called the Tower of Terror. I actually really liked it. Takes you up and then drops you. I don't normally like those, but because we were enclosed, it was OK. After a few rounds on those things, I started to not feel so well.

We found our group and went to have lunch. Eating at Disneyland is ridiculous! Anyway, spent the rest of the day doing more rides and chasing kids. By that time, another group had caught up with us, so we had quite a few leaders and very few kids. We eventually just parted ways and went as adults to different things for the rest of the day. Luckily most had cell phones so we kept in touch with them.

By dinner, we were like zombies. We slept very little on the bus ride since a few of the boys did not SHUT UP the whole way there. Even my boys were wondering if we had to stay there for 3 more hours. We had dinner and then went and did a few repeat rides and more chill things. That was the only part of the day I spent with the boys. By ten, we were wiped and so ready to go home. We got back on the buses and headed for home. It was much quieter on the trip back!

Fun note: while there, I met Koli 's (Biggest Loser) brothers. I saw the gray shirts with their names on them and got so excited. I ran right over and asked if they were here. No, they were at Six Flags. I talked to them for just a minute and told them how much I loved both Sam and Koli. Very exciting for me. Should have taken a picture!

This is a building at California Adventure, pretty cool..huh?

This is California Screamin'. I did A LOT of that.

This is the tower of terror. It really was more fun than I could have imagined.

Lastly, Space Mountain. Everyone in our group was prepared for the camera and did silly poses except for me. Still holdin on and screamin!

Graduation Announcement

This is Chelsey's official announcement for her graduation. She didn't want me to make any at all, but it's tradition. I only sent them to her church leaders and family, but thought it would be nice to post it. My baby's all growed up!

My Graduates

We have had many graduations in the last week! Chelsey will graduate next week officially, but this was her Seminary Graduation. She even got to be part of the program. She and Alex sang a duet of "How Great Thou Art". Beautiful! So proud of all she has accomplished. She didn't want me to take my camera, but I did anyway!


Melissa, Chelsey, Teya

Chelsey, Dallon, Melissa, and Teya

Dad, Chelsey, Mom

Whitney, Chelsey

Miranda, Chelsey, McKenzie and Maddie

Stephen and Nick have managed to make it through all of elementary and JH. Their 8th grade graduation was a little long, but lots of fun. I know they are both looking forward to the new adventure of High School. Great job boys!

Stephen

Nick

First thing when they came out, "Are the Suns winning??" Obviously they are happy with the answer.

Glade, Stephen and Nick



Bo also got to graduate from Preschool! He is such a smart kid. I just love him to death. He has had a blast at Ms. Whitney's preschool. He never complained about going and is already reading. He is WAY excited about kindergarten and asks all the time, "is it time?"

Boldon

Bo and Brayden

His teacher gave them all a diploma, and graduate pin and a class ring (ring pop).

I'm off to kindergarten!

Flying High

Life is like a roller coaster. 'Nough said! Well, actually I'll be on one in about 36 hours at Disneyland! This is the week I have had some anxiety/anticipation for. After a flurry of a weekend, it's finally here. I started by running outside (probably the last time for now) for four miles again today. I only had three short breaks of walking and my average time was still 10:30 min/miles. For me, and for how long I haven't been training, that's really good. The funny thing about running is that sometimes it's pure torture and sometimes its like nothing could feel better or more rewarding. Today was one of those good days. My hip still hurts a little, but not like it was. So grateful for that.

I spent the rest of the day doing laundry. I completely neglected that this weekend and my kids all said they had plenty of clothes for the week. That was tempting to just let it all go, but I was diligent and got it almost all done, including putting it away! We have absolutely NO plans for tonight. It's the first time in about two months that we have had Monday night free. I totally should have planned FHE, but I didn't. We are just going to chill and hang out together, starting with my famous homemade pizza. The kids are thrilled!

Tomorrow Bo has preschool, then we are going to the pool for lunch. I have scouts, then the boy's 8th grade graduation, the Biggest Loser finale is that night and then we leave for Disneyland around midnight. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Sleeping on a bus two nights in a row isn't exactly great for a girl who needs her beauty sleep! Anyway, we will arrive home Thursday morning around 5 am. Bo has preschool grad at 8:30 am, kids have a half day of school (their last) and then I have Bunko that night. I may be a walking zombie, but dadgummit, I'll be there!

Gila Valley Temple Dedication

Today was the dedication of the Gila Valley Temple. We took four of our kids with us while three stayed behind to watch Bo and Katy since they were too little to come. The other three went to the next session. We got there an hour early and got a bench front and center, nice. While waiting for it to start, soft music was played and they showed pictures of rooms inside the temple and those of other temples. Even just seeing the rooms brings back the peaceful feelings of being inside the temple. I'm sure you've noticed that my emotions have been a little on the surface lately and today was no different. I looked around at the people sitting around me, some I knew, some I didn't. But what I did know, was that I loved them all. Some that you might even consider a little kooky or "off", I just love them. Then, shortly before it started, our Stake Presidency walked in and started toward the front. They stopped briefly to confer about something and at that moment, I was so in awe of these three men. How I loved them! These are men of God and it's evident when looking at them that that is true. How blessed am I to be under their guidance and care.

The dedication started and I was excited to see that President Monson, our prophet was there. One of the first things they did was to go seal up a "time capsule" of sorts in the side of the temple. They had many people come and apply a little mortar around the edges of the tile. President Monson was very funny and light hearted. It surprised me at first, and then I remembered some of the things I had read about Joseph Smith. Some didn't approve of the fact that he was fun and light hearted. He liked to play in the yard with kids and would joke around with them. I'm sure he and Pres. Monson would have gotten along famously. Once they were done, before they headed back inside, the choir started to sing "We Thank Thee, Oh God, For a Prophet". To my complete and utter surprise, tears immediately started rolling down my cheeks. I hadn't planned for this and had to use my clean white hankie to dab my face. What a wonderful start!

I truly thank thee, Oh God, for this prophet, Thomas S. Monson. How I love him!

The rest of the dedication was nice. I was saddened a little by the way Pres. Monson repeated himself so many times. A normal sign of aging, but also an indicator that he may not be with us as long as I would like. In reading the Work and the Glory (just finished book 7), I have come to feel like I have some weird bond with the pioneers. I have read in detail some accounts of early temples being dedicated and what an amazing work this is and how far it has come. How many evil influences have tried to deter the work, and yet how it still goes forth with such power. I was grateful to have been able to participate in the activities today and to feel the unspeakable joy of knowing what I know.

Parent Mode

Thursday we had two different choir concerts to attend. Stephen's and the Girls'. I tried to make it to Stephen's and then be a little late to the other, but it was going on forever. I left right before they started so I wouldn't miss Chelsey. This is her senior year and they do an emotional senior farewell number that I really felt I should be there for. Sorry Stephen! The concert was nice, too artsy for me - can we sing something in English?? We got home just before 10 to Chelsey and Sarah trying to figure out how to make their physics project work. They were up till almost 3 am working on it. They had to paint it when it was done and I had warned Chelsey not to paint on anything that it would stick to. As I was getting ready to get out of bed the next morning, I had a thought. I jumped up and went to check and sure enough, she painted in the grass. Good girl. Only she left it there and our sprinklers go off first thing in the morning. The zone right before that one was already going. I pulled it onto the porch just in time. That would have been awful.

Dalin barely had a fever Friday and he really wanted to go to school and had been acting just fine so I gave him medicine and took him part way through the morning. That's probably wrong, but I did it anyway. Glade was also home sick that day. He never stays home so that was amazing all in of itself. After school, since Glade still wasn't feeling well, I loaded the kids up and took them to the pool. I was able to get a family pass for the whole summer because we have a rental in that same city and they let me count that. Now we can go whenever we want and not feel like I need to stay to get my money's worth.

This morning I woke up early to go run. I haven't run since Tuesday and that was barely running. Since it was early, I wanted to run outside. I took Whitley to a service project and then went to a close by neighborhood to run. My iPod was dead so I had no music and worse, no NIKE+ to tell me how far or fast I was going. I went 4 miles and in a pretty decent time. (I had to guesstimate). I was able to run the first two solid, then walk/ran the last two, but mostly ran. My hip didn't really start to show itself till about mile 3. Getting better! It was good to run again.

I sped home to shower and change so I could go with my mom to get facials. She had gotten them free from somewhere. We got there and they messed up our times so we had an hour to kill. The facial was not what we expected and actually slightly strange. She never washed or wiped her hands between applying things to each of us. Sometimes went straight from one face to another with the same product on her fingers. Now, it's my mom so I didn't care about that, but socially and everything else...isn't that just wrong? We walked out with very soft skin. We went to lunch and then headed our separate ways. Thanks for taking me!

Tonight we have Brooklyn's closing ceremonies, which normally I would avoid and even bribe to not go to, but she has loved it so and been so dedicated, I feel we must go. It will be torture as they announce and present trophies to all 500+ girls. Woohoo! Glade is still feeling awful and should probably stay home, but he's not very good at that.

This coming week is the boy's graduation, Disneyland and Bo's graduation. Should be very fun!

Oh My Oh May

May is worse than December by a long shot! (as far as craziness goes) Unfortunately I have not done well with my camera. I love it, but it's big and clunky and not very easy to tote around. Here are some of the things we have been doing these past few weeks.

This is Bo playing t-ball. He was on the Lugnuts. He whined every time I made him go, but liked it once we got there. He was the youngest one on the team and it showed. I'm not sure if he will want to play next year, but he was sure fun to watch! These are from my phone. I actually remembered my good camera for his pizza party where they handed out trophies, but the battery was dead, go figure.

Chelsey went to MoPro (Modest Prom) with a good friend of hers, Sherod. It wasn't without drama, which seems to be the way with her and school dances, but she had a really good time. They didn't do a day date or dinner or anything, just the dance and dessert after. She was really happy about that and to be able to go with someone she is so comfortable with. I wasn't here to see her off or take pictures, so the other gals mom did it for me, thanks Denise!

She borrowed a dress from a friend a few days before the dance.

Sherod, Chelsey, Sarah and Riggin

Great friends!

Brooklyn had a great time playing ball this year. I've always wanted a girl who could love softball and now I have one. I can't say it's been all that I thought it would be. Her team started out really awful and by the end, were one of the better teams. Brooklyn has improved greatly and is very anxious to play again next year. I was very proud of how dedicated she was. Go Illini!!

At church, we had a mother/daughter fashion show. The goal was to either make or buy really cheaply your outfits. Then we modeled them. The Saturday before the activity, we hit a few Goodwills and were able to find something cute for everyone at practically no cost. I even talked my mom into doing it with us. I didn't love Whitley's dress, but she liked it and it was only $10. Can't beat that. We had a fun time at the fashion show and Katy even went by herself to "twirl". It was a fun night together.

Brooklyn - shirt and jeans =$5

Chelsey - borrowed dress = free

Whitley - dress = $10

Whitley, Tina, Brooklyn, Laurie, Chelsey and little Katy in front

Mom - jeans and shirt= $7

Laurie - jeans and shirt = $9 Katy - dress = $2

We still have a Disneyland trip and four graduations (Chelsey, Stephen and Nick (8th) and Bo (preschool) to finish out the month. I'm counting the days till summer!