Math Bowl 2014

Xander has talked nonstop about being in the math bowl this year. Last year he didn't make it but he was determined to this year.  And he did.  Eliza and I made it to the bowl to watch.  It was INTENSE! I would have never made it.  The moderator would give a math problem to 6 kids and they would hit the buzzer if they knew the answer.  If a student got 3 right first, they would sit down until 3 kids fell into that category.  Xander was really disappointed that he didn't win the entire bowl, his spirits lifted a little when a judge saw him so disappointed and showed him how many points he had and that had he been with another group, he would have done extremely well. So proud of my boy!

Eliza's Dance Recital

Eliza's final performance finally arrived!  Her class danced to "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid and "Down by the Bayou" from the Princess and the Frog.  She and her class did a fabulous job!

Eliza with her flowers from the men in her life!

And a special shout out to friends! Eliza's recital got moved up a week which was both good and bad!  It ended up landing on the very first day of swim team (EEK!) but that meant that it would no longer fall on the same night as Open House! May is always such a busy month!  YIKES!  But thanks to my friend Alison and her daughter Sylvie, they whisked Eliza from swim practice to their home where they did her hair and make-up and fed her dinner so that I just had to show up at the dance hall.  SO grateful for friends, especially during swim season!

Sylvie & Eliza

Ft. Bragg- SATURDAY

Saturday was a super busy day.  We finally let the kids pick a toy at the toy store.  The only rule was it had to be a toy we couldn't get at WalMart.  :)

 

 Then we went for another bike ride--this one was just our family and was MUCH shorter.  On the way back we noticed a congregation of people and the beach roped off.  We found out that that beach is where seals come to bear their children every year and  so we sat and helped the 'officials' count babies.  It was really fun to see the teeny tiny seals. 

 Then we went home and had an Easter egg hunt!

 I haven't posted many pictures of all the cousin time (mainly because there are too many and I don't want to sort forever) but we had LOTS of it and it makes me so happy!  i love that my kids LOVE their cousins bother near and far!

 I didn't get to snap a picture of Xander hunting because he did so way too fast!  But here is the annual cousins Easter picture.  I think this is the 3rd or 4th year running!  We are getting huge!  :)  Family is so awesome!

And then to top it all off, we finished the night at the beach

Ft. Bragg-FRIDAY

I wasn't so excited to take the bikes (only because of all the stuff we had to add to our already full car) but I am SO glad we did.  I think the bike rides were the highlight of my week.  Partially because it was beautiful but also because I really got to see how far I have come in my ability to ride a bike!  Ben & I and our 4 kids were joined by Papa, Aaron, Leona and Lydia, Seth, Megan & Madylin and we rode our bikes into town.  The ride was amazing.  We stopped in town for an ice cream cone at a little parlor that makes their own ice cream. I sampled the mushroom ice cream and while I liked it, I opted for a different one.  (Although, i can't remember which one, it was amazing!)

Ft. Bragg-Thursday

I'm not sure where all my tide pool pictures went.  But we went to the tidepools and had a blast!  Even Abby got brave and started searching for fish and starfish.  It was lots of fun!  And then later after we had dinner we had s'mores and I finally got to roast a peep!  It was good--be careful though, they are HOT!  So much fun to be had!

Ft. Bragg-WEDNESDAY

Ben was finally feeling well, so we took the kids to have some quiet family time since he's been traveling and sick.  We went to Pudding Creek.  It was windy but fun!

 Papa had bought us all kites for Christmas, so we took advantage of the open, windy beach space to fly our kite.  It was awesome and Xander was great at catching the kite when it would try to come crashing down. It was fun to watch!

Later that night, we celebrated Grandma Brenda's birthday-I'm sure she was there listening to her sweet grandchildren sing to her and argue over who got to blow out her candles:

We did not give Grandma any gifts, but one of her dear friends made teddy bears for our children out of Grandma's clothing

I tried not to persuade my children which ones to pick at all.  But when there was only one pink bear left, I begged the other people to let me have one.  Why?  Because I had gotten that shirt for my mother-in-law from one of my freecycle parties and she loved it, so I wanted a piece of it...silly I know but everyone seemed cool with it.  What an amazing gift this was for my kids (and all my nieces and nephews.)  They LOVE their bears and hug them when they get sad thinking about grandma.  I wish I knew how to sew!

Ft. Bragg--Tuesday

Fort Bragg would not be complete if we didn't climb the sand dunes from our house to the beach.  I have to be honest, I am not a fan of this 'tradition' the dunes are killer but the beach there is expansive and empty so we get the run of the beach.  I decided to return with my 2 girls a little sooner than everyone else because I was tired and Ben had been home with Abby so i thought we'd go join them.  I figured I knew my way.  Well, my worst fear happened and we took a wrong turn and arrived a cliff. My VERY tired daughters were so scared.  There isn't much cell phone reception out there and there is none at the cabins. So I called those at the beach (none who had their phones) and then I called my brother in law who was leaving that afternoon.  Thankfully he answered the phone call and helped me re-orientate myself and get us back on the right way (we were only about 100 yards off).  It was a good teaching moment--we talked about not panic-ing when we are lost but to stop and think and solve.  I told the girls to look around and look and notice what was around them.  I told them I knew we were close because I recognized a landmark but that I couldn't remember which side we needed to be on.  We made it back safely and I was very happy to sit down and breath that it wasn't worse...I guess worse case scenario, we could have gotten back to the beach and done it again with everyone (blah, I was too tired for that!) 

Ft. Bragg-MONDAY

I don't know how to break up amazing trips without giving them each their own day...consider yourself warned!  With that said, Monday was a super busy prep day. The kids didn't have school so they all jumped in the car with me and ran around doing final grocery and car errands.  We got on the rode and had a pretty decent drive.  We made it through the 25 miles of twisty turny road without any one puking...but as soon as we got out of that area, Eliza got car sick.  Luckily, she had communicated her discomfort to Xander and we had come super prepared.  She had a bucket and made it successfully into said bucket (I've heard from some other parents that this indeed is a milestone--when your child can recognize that they need to throw up and get to a receptacle in time--well, we are 2 for 2!  Almost there!!  ;)

Anyways, we got into town at 7 PM, very hungry because there was no way we were going to feed the kids before the twisty road.  So, the only family restaurant that was still open was Denny's.  We got there, got a table and were ready to eat for a LONG. TIME!  I don't think I have ever waited so long at a Denny's.  The older kids tried to teach the younger kids how to play telephone.  It lasted a good 20 minutes.  This is Abby's attempt at whispering in Xander's ear:

Sundays

 We had the privilege of having this handsome boy sit with us during Sacrament one Sunday.  Violet sure loves her friends (mostly boys: Drew, Ryken, Noah, Colin, Alex hehe!) and they were so reverent together it was kind of amazing.

Some fights aren't worth fighting, especially since I get the kids ready for church on my own.  Like cow shoes to church--well, if that's what makes you happy!  And look how tired she was! So sweet--but I can't believe how BIG she's looking either. CRAZY!

Accidents Happen

A couple of Saturdays ago, I was instructed to go dress shopping for an upcoming wedding (Ben's Dad Darrell is getting remarried).  I jumped at the chance.  I had been gone no longer than an hour when I get a frantic call from Ben that Violet had climbed on top of the bunk bed, while the fan was on.  I RAN out of the store so fast, jumped in my car.  I tried calling on my neighbors to go help with the other kids but I couldn't get a hold of anyone.  I have dealt with many heads wounds in my life between my brother and my kids and I know they bleed a lot.  But all I could only visualize the worst.  I only made it half way home when Ben said he'd gotten it under control and to go back and try to find something.  I went back and picked up something my sister in law had on hold at one of the stores and then went home. I had to see this for myself.  I was very proud of Ben for having it mostly cleaned up, Vi was showered and clean.  Apparently, she and her friend Charlotte had been playing and Violet climbed up to get something really quick but not quick enough and Charlotte had come downstairs to get Ben and inform her that Violet's head was bleeding really bad.  The actual cut was not even stitch worthy but the trauma has been real.  We used lots of cool essential oils and it has healed quickly and beautifully.  And hopefully, everyone understands why Mom & Dad kept putting the stairs to the bed away while the fan is on...

Kindergarten Spring Performance

Eliza's spring performance was adorably cute!  They sang lots of songs about flowers growing, love, and pizza (in Spanish)!  Eliza has been a star in her class this year and has had so much fun learning all the ins and outs of school.  She is frequently rewarded for keeping her class tidy, being a peacemaker and helping those around her. I am so thankful for the special girl in our life! PS. That's her wonderful teacher Mrs. Hardy.