Happy Birthday, Kaitlin

This last week we celebrated Kaitlin's 15th birthday. She wanted to make a pirate cake, so after looking at a few online we ventured with our own unique idea. You can see how we put it together, cooking it in two loaf pans and then freezing, slicing and sticking it together with dowels and frosting. Kaitlin did all the piping. We had the best time finding little figures online and then cutting them out and sticking them to toothpicks. At first we just wanted pirates but then decided to add a Peter Pan, and then a Hook, and then the alligator, then we found a guy from
Aladdin, and a Prince Eric, and we needed an Ariel for the front, of course, and then we needed a Dumbo, and a Flin (he's our favorite)... anyway. We had fun choosing the characters for the ship. In the end it turned out awesome. Kaitlin was sure she had the best birthday cake ever. The next day Kaitlin had some friends over and they recorded a bunch of footage for a new music video.


State Parade

Ruth and Jared are wrapping up school. They will be off for three weeks and then go back at the end of July. This week Ruth had her State Parade and patriotic program. She made a float for the state of Minnesota. She painted large loons for the sides and the center had a Mall of America. It also had a ground squirrel, walleye and blueberry muffin represented. She pulled her "float" around the school with the other students in her grade while all the other grades served as the spectators. Afterward her grade put on a program where they sang songs including one that named all the states and capitals and one that named all the US presidents in order. I was impressed by how much they kids were able to memorize.


Special Olympics

Kaitlin spent a few days at a Youth Conference with our church. While there she was able to volunteer at the Special Olympics. She was a "cheerer", ran a carnival game and did face painting. Our family went for an hour to watch the festivities. Jared got to play the carnival games and we got some free cotton candy. Kaitlin had a great time at the conference and made many new friends.

Zumba

Since being out of school Kaitlin has come with me to the gym a couple times a week. We work out on the bikes and the elliptical machines and every Thursday we go to Zumba. Now, Zumba isn't my favorite work out, but I admit that it has grown on me. It's easier than step, and I figure I'm getting a dance lesson thrown in for free. I've never taken a dance class in my life and generally figure I have two left feet. I've never put my girls in dance either. Kaitlin and Ruth both are a little resentful about it, but every time I see a dance troupe of little girls in skimpy outfits and thick makeup, grinding their hips to some loud rap song, I feel vindicated. Anyway. So this is the condition of things when Kaitlin and I go to Zumba class. We hang out at the back and the teacher yells, "Salsa" or some other thing, which I'm sure means something to most of the people in the class but it means nothing to me. Then the teacher will start counting "1,2,3,4,5,6" as if this would be helpful. I try to watch the teacher's feet but when they are a blur I'll seek out other people in the class that seem to be confident, but who's feet I can actually figure out. The teacher says not to worry if we are new and to just keep moving. I guess I'll keep considering myself in the "new"category as long as I attend the classes. I admit that after about six classes I'm getting a hang of most of the basics and Kaitlin is really catching on after only a couple. If nothing else, we are having a good time.


Eeny Meeny Miny Mo

We've put in a lot of hours looking for flooring again this week. When you can see a brown walking paths in your carpet, it's time for a flooring update. We had really set our hearts on bamboo but after extensive research have decided against it. Nasty stuff about Formaldehyde in the low end bamboos (bambies?) and an unwillingness to pay for the good stuff. So we decided on an oak, but when we brought a box home and put it together we realized it was too dark. So back we, and it, went. I probably have 20 samples sitting here on my floor that I've gouged and scraped and pounded. I thought I was settled on a maple, but then today Chuck brought home some more samples and I'm waffling again. I can't believe people actually like doing this sort of thing. Torture I say!


Happy Father's Day

Happy father's day to my dad. When I was playing church basketball as a teenager, even though I drove with friends to the games, sometime during the first quarter I would often see my dad's face at the sidelines cheering for me and then after the game he would disappear. He was like that, always a quiet supporter of anything I tried or did. Happy Father's day also to my husband, who has spent many hours this spring teaching Jared how to play baseball, who spent a whole day detailing our new little car so it wouldn't stink, who just today was hosing mouse droppings off our wagon so Ruth could use it for a school project, and the thousand other wonderful things he does for our family.

This is the [Crowded] Place

On Friday I pulled the kids out of school early to go to the free day at This is the Place State Park. The park was packed, but luckily our kids are older which means we are more mobile and more patient. We enjoyed the pioneer things, but after about an hour the kids were ready to go home. Sure glad it was free!


Artwork on Parade

This week was our city days. On Friday we went to "Touch a Truck", a local event where kids are invited to climb all over firetrucks, UPS trucks, garbage trucks, etc. There was also a car show with some great old cars. On Saturday we enjoyed a parade, a fair and some fireworks. Kaitlin had designed a logo for the children's production this fall and we were able to see it for the first time as it rolled by us in the parade. I think Kaitlin is excited but also very self critical about her work. I just think it's cool.


Welcome to Adulthood

We hit a few rough patches this week in Chaz's transition to adulthood. Chaz took the ACT for the first time on Saturday; he's glad that's over. He is still looking for work in hopes of getting his college dreams off the ground. Hopefully he will find something soon, I think it will make all of us much happier if he does.


New Used Car

In the hopes that eventually one of our children will get a driver's license we purchased a 3rd car. We were looking for an oldie-but-goodie that would get good gas mileage. We bought this silver KIA. Kaitlin goes in for her driver's permit next week and she's very excited to take it for a spin.

We had a lot of things going on this week, so let's get started!:

All Hail the Conquering Hero

It was touch and go, but yes, Chaz did graduate this week from High School. We had a celebratory dinner with Grandma and Granpa and Aunt Kathy and Uncle Mark, but with NO Chaz. We forgot the tickets and ended up being 45 mins late for dinner, Chaz had to be at the ceremony early, so he missed his own celebration dinner.
At the graduation Chaz helped read off the names of the graduates because he had been a class officer this year. He was the best reader of them all, and he credits that to his acting experience. After graduation Chaz went to his Senior Class party and didn't come home until the morning. He said he had a great time.

For now Chaz's plans are to find a job, and hopefully earn enough money to go to Jr. College in the Winter.



Hermione, Step Aside

This was also Kaitlin's last week of school. At her class awards assembly she was awarded the Presidential Academic Scholar pin, which was given to all students who had a 3.8 or higher average while in the 3 years at Middle School. She also spent a day at Lagoon (our local amusement park) with her class.


Faith in God Award

Today, Ruth was given her Faith in God Award at church. Kids begin working on this when they turn 8 and are supposed to finish by age 12. Ruth finished 4 months early and got her award today. To get this award Ruth had to accomplish goals in the areas of Service, Developing Talents, Learning and Living the Gospel and Preparation. She also had to memorize 13 Articles of Faith explaining our beliefs, and be interviewed by the Bishop.


Last Day of Soccer

Yesterday we sat in our camping chairs and wondered, Is this the last soccer game we will ever attend as parents? Yes, Jared finished the soccer season this weekend. He is thinking now about what else he would like to do.

Happy Anniversary

Today is Chuck and My 13th Anniversary. On Thursday we went out on a date to celebrate. In so many ways 13 years does not seem to represent what this anniversary feels like to me. Those of you that know me very well, know that I am very forward thinking. I guess it's a coping mechanism for me, and Chuck is the same way. We both had so many bad things happen to us, that we don't like to think about, before we found each other. So for me it feels as if my life didn't exist before I met and married this wonderful man. I was either super lucky or very blessed.

15 Reasons Not to Be in a Play

Kaitlin's play was this week. It was very cute and just right for the age group. Kaitlin did a great job, but felt a little frustrated that the performance for parents did not go as well as the ones for their peers during school. Kaitlin thinks it's because the kids were nervous to perform in front of their families. Kaitlin did a great old lady voice in one part of the play. Many of her friends have been asking her to speak in that voice for them since. I'm including a clip that you have to hurry up and watch before Kaitlin discovers that it is here and forces me to take it down.





Culture Fair

Kaitlin also had a culture fair this week. Her country was Mexico and she worked really hard on her display and project. She is so glad to be finishing up geography this year. Her teacher has had them hand draw large maps of every continent of the world (except for Australia and Antartica, which they didn't get to). Kaitlin's artwork on these maps is beautiful, and she has spent hours and hours doing them.



For the Birds

I don't know if it's because of the cold, wet spring, but we have had many birds in our yard lately. In addition to our normal flocks of finches and sparrows, we have two pairs of nesting robins and a humming bird who has taken a permanent perch right outside my kitchen door. We have named the humming bird "Zippy". Zippy does not like any other humming bird to go anywhere near "his" feeder. He has spent many afternoons driving off other birds who dare to come into his territory. This week we've also had and oriel visiting us. Zippy doesn't bother him when he drinks from the feeder, but the nesting robin hates him and runs him off at every opportunity. The robins nesting in the back yard have built in the rain gutter, so after every rain we run out there to see if they have been washed away. Yes, it's a bit like One Birdie Life to Live, or As the Birdfeeder Turns in our backyard right now.


Just a Few Days Left

Chaz has only a few days left of school. They are filled with such intellectually harrowing tasks as "Year book Signing" and "Graduation Practice". He'll be graduating on Wednesday at 6pm and then afterwords has an all night lock-in at the local rec center.

In the Paper

I posted about attending Women's Conference at the end of April. Well, my friend Amy posted a picture from the newspaper. We are sitting at the table in the lower right hand corner. I am in blue facing the camera, my friend Lisa is to the left and then you can see the back of Amy's head. One of the nights of the conference is spent doing service. Thousands of women work on thousands of projects for different shelters, orphanages and agencies. This is one of my favorite parts of the conference.


Joseph Auditions

I sat in on auditions for our city's summer production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat. I've learned more from watching auditions than I ever had auditioning. Last year I wrote a note of advice that I would give anyone auditioning for a musical (if your not my facebook friend you can also read it here). I'd just like to say Amen to what I wrote and emphasize that song choice was the #1 problem we saw with auditioners. The only note I'd add is to be sure to dress nicely.


Graduation Coming

Both Kaitlin and Chaz are in the thick of end of the year projects and events. I finally got Chaz's announcements out, but if you haven't gotten yours yet, Chaz will be graduating on June 1st. I blog more about what the teens have been up to in my next entry.

Happy Birthday Me!

After a little math and calculating I figured out that I turned 38 today. Chaz told me: "Today I realized that you don't look as old as you are." I took it as a compliment. I've had a wonderful day full of decorations, gifts, well-wishes and family fun. My big gift was a new cell phone. My new phone isn't a fancy or anything, but it is fancy for me (it has a camera and can hold music). And for all you iPhone (etc...) users, I'm still paying around $5 a month. So there! Tonight we are having my favorite Papa Murphy's Vegetarian Pizza and the kids have made me some cherry cheesecake bars.


San Jose

Chuck spent this week in San Jose for work. While there, he was able to visit San Francisco and Santa Cruz beach and have some good food. Most nights we were able to chat with him on Skype, and he even joined us for Family Home Evening. Speaking of Chuck, he's been very much enjoying the warmer weather on his motorcycle and has even taken a few little road trips.


Soccer in Swing

Jared is in middle of his soccer season. He's announced that this will be his last season of soccer, and of any sport for that matter, because he'd like to devote his whole time to math, science and the piano. Last week after soccer we took Jared over to our city's Peddalpalloza, where Jared got a new bike helmet.


New Guitar

My old Yamaha needs some work so after some research I picked up a new guitar this week out of the want adds. The new guitar is a Seagull with solid cedar front and cherry sides. I've never owned a cedar guitar before; it has a warm, broad sound. The best part is that I got it for about 35% of what it would have cost new. I bought another guitar off eBay as well, a Washburn, it should be coming this week.


Wrapping up School

The kids are all counting down school, but no one more than Chaz who will graduate high school in two weeks! On Friday Chaz went to Lagoon for his Physics class, and had a good time other than an unfortunate incident on one of the roller coasters (you'll have to ask him). Kaitlin has been practicing her end of the year play, 15 Reasons Not to Be In a Play (she is reason #14). Chaz's graduation is on June 1st, Kaitlin's play will be May 26th.