Oh Stress...you're a buzz kill...

This morning, with seconds to go before we were supposed to leave for school, Colter decided it was time to cut out a few of his star words.  Star words (or sight words) are words that don't follow the sounding out rules.  They are words you just have to know; said, was, like, have, this...  Every week in Kindergarten the kids get a word or two to bring home, cut out, and work on learning.  When Lorien and Wyatt were in Kindergarten they had to learn 26 sight words by the end of the year.  Clare and Adell had to learn more than the older kids.  Colter is expected to learn 44 and in Kindergarten next year, kids will learn 50! 

Do you know what I remember learning in Kindergarten?  How to tie my shoes.  That's it.  No numbers, no letters, nothing.  Maybe we learned colors and I know we learned how to sit still and listen while a story was being read or another kid was sharing.  I remember bringing in a doll for show and tell--really, I brought my baby blankets in.  All day at Kindergarten I missed my baby blankets.  I just wanted to snuggle them and smell them and be comforted by having them with me.  One day I got the brilliant idea: I could bring my blankets in if I wrapped a dolly in them.  It was babyish to have baby blankets but NOT to have a doll!  Perfect.  My plan worked amazingly.  I got to keep my doll and blankets in my cubbie.  I got to show "the doll" at show and tell AND I got to go back and touch my blankets every time we had to put stuff in our cubbies or if I passed anywhere close to the cubbies.  It was my favorite day in Kindergarten.  Anyway, kids these days have much higher expectations than what were on me.

So...right off the bat at Colter's first conference his teacher said he was a little behind.  Nothing crazy just that he was young, immature and an extra year of Kindergarten might be in his future.  I was upset.  I had wanted him to do TK but the class filled up and he didn't make the cut off.  I could have tried at another school but I was too lazy.  I wanted Adell and Colter at the same school this year.  And as the year has progressed, every conference has been the same: he is behind. 

Here we are at the end of the year (almost) and we get to choose what to do next.  The teacher says he isn't failing so he can move up but he is struggling.  So what do we do?  Destroy him socially to improve his academics or possibly destroy his confidence by always having him be behind his peers in his grade and risk repeating later? 

It is stressful and I don't know what to do.  I imagine all of the worst outcomes for each option.  We've been having reading lessons since his second conference.  He is doing OK but not advancing at school. 

Will is a June birthday (just one month younger than Colter) and his parents kept him home the first year.  We kept Lorien and Wyatt home their first year too.  But now Colter has had a Kindergarten year and will be sad to not be with his friends.  No one can give us good advice.  Honestly, when we think about it we know neither will be terrible and everything will be fine either way...but we sure do want to do what will be best in the long run.  Sigh. 

Sometimes it's fun to drive home...

Since living in California and having family in Utah/Idaho/Montana we have made the trip east over Nevada quite a lot.  We have our system and usually make the trip to Utah in 10-11 hours.  Most of the time it is long and boring but we are always glad we made the trip and always glad to be home.

On our most recent drive home, we did a couple of things that made the drive a little more fun.

First: we stopped at the salt flats for the first time that I can remember.  Seriously, we've made this drive a zillion times and never stopped before?  Sigh.  It was cold and windy but fun and interesting.

We took a few jumping photos before hurrying back to the warm van!

The second fun thing was stopping to check out the snow.  The pass over the Sierra Nevada Mountains usually has snow on the ground if we drive over in the winter.  I think it has only actually been snowing from the sky once or twice.  Which is fortunate for safer driving conditions but disappointing for kids who want to see snow!

This time we hit a mild storm as we crossed.  We drove safely and were even able to find a pull off spot so we could get out and check out the snow.

Real snowflake shapes!

I have mixed emotions about making these drives.  Most of the time they stink and I want them to be over as soon as possible.  Some of the time I enjoy the forced family time.  We listen to comedy albums and talk.  The kids get electronics time and Will and I get to talk a bit.  We always end up spending way too much at one rest stop for candy and snacks.  Will is always grumpy about that.  But it always ends up cheaper than flying!  I'm always grateful we can make the drive to see so much of our family a few states away.

Clare is 12 years old!

Oh Clare Bear, you are twelve years old!  I can hardly believe it!  You get to graduate from Primary and finally be in Young Womens!  You are one year away from being a TEENAGER!  You are in love with dance and move your body all the time.  You are making your way through middle school with ease, even if your crush doesn't know you exist.  You've made new friends and kept old friendships.  You are super into slime...well, making slime and watching slime videos.  You are good to your siblings, even if you and Adell fight (a lot).  You are a treasure and we are so thankful you are in our family.  Happy Birthday Clare!

Clare's birthday came right after her field trip to China Town with her sixth grade class and right before her Uncle Chris was rebaptized.  So, we let Clare go on the China Town field trip and flew her out to Utah to be with us for Uncle Chris's special day.  Uncle David took Clare to the airport and Clare got to fly alone while the rest of us made the 11 hour drive out to Utah.

Clare was so happy to spend a couple days with her cousin, Clara.

We had a big all-family-birthday-dinner for Clare at the Red Iguana with ice cream cake.  Clare was such a good sport.

We had to drive home on Clare's actual birthday.  We watched the clock and waited for 4:15 pm to know EXACTLY when Clare would turn twelve.  We also handed Clare a present to open every few hours (only three presents for the drive, the rest we saved for her home party).

When we got home we saw the Beehive class (her new church class) had decorated our front door with hearts for Clare.

A couple of days later (Wednesday) we had Clare's party with more cake and ice cream, her choice of dinner and presents.  It all worked out and Clare is so happy to be 12!

Lots and Lots of family...

My brother Christopher has always been a great older brother.  He takes care of all of us in anyway he can.  I don't have a lot of memories of him from when I was little but I do remember writing him letters on his mission.  I remember him getting me and Camie a Cabbage Patch Doll for Christmas when they were all the rage.  I remember him sending me a huge stuffed polar bear in a big box while he was on his mission.  He even wrote this funny story from the bear's perspective that entertained and delighted me to no end.  I remember starting a grease fire on the kitchen stove and having him calmly put a lid over the flames to extinguish the fire.  Those are the bulk of my childhood memories. 

As I've grown and had children my memories of Chris have grown into how he interacts with my kids.  They love him.  He has cool Jeeps and plays fun games.  He is a great Uncle. 

Anyway, this weekend Chris was rebaptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  His story back to the church is a good one and for me is a nice testimony of how God knows us and speaks to us individually.  Will and I agreed, we wanted our whole family to be able to go out for Chris's baptism.  So, Friday morning around 5:30 am we hit the road.  We left Clare home to attend her China Town Field trip then fly to meet us. 

Chris's baptismal service was lovely, maybe the best baptism I've ever attended.  It was short and sweet and full of the spirit.  That night we took the whole gigantic crew out for some Mexican food and to celebrate Clare's birthday.

The weekend was lightning quick but so much fun.  We laughed and ate and visited.  It was great.

To help with crowding we took our family to a hotel nearby and had Lorien and Wyatt recreate a jumping photo from their very young childhood. 

We did not get kicked out of the hotel.  We stayed for sacrament meeting Sunday morning and hit the road for California around 10:30 am.  It was another successful trip to Utah with many family members loved and visited with.

Junior Prom

My baby is all grown up and going to Prom?  It cannot be?  But so it is...

Lorien got asked by one of her very best friends, Cole.  He asked her with an AP Language writing prompt.  It was geeky and funny at the same time.  She had to check: Agree, Disagree or Qualify meaning yes, no or yes but...  She qualified her answer: "yes but I need to read the whole poster carefully."  It was a great way to be asked.  Cole showed up with is cameraman/wingman, Patrick and had the whole thing filmed.  The house was a wreck so I am super glad that was saved for posterity.

The weekend after Lorien was asked, Will and I snuck away for an overnight in Las Vegas.  We were going to meet Will's sister, Charity, and see a show.  But our flights got delayed and we ended up just going for dinner (at Will's favorite restaurant, Mesa Grill) and a night in the hotel.  While we were gone Lorien went with friends to a pop-up, recycled, prom dress boutique.  She picked out this dress for free!  Score!

Lorien was perfectly happy with the dress as it was. I thought it needed a little modest magic.  She was not interested.  A week before the dance she agreed that the top wasn't quite the right look for what she was going for.  She wanted a bohemian, flower child look and had already paid for a fresh flower crown.  So she agreed to let me make some alterations to the top.

I managed to make the top into a little more Grecian Goddess and a little less Sequined Siren. It was hard and stressfull...like every sewing project I do.  However, it turned out pretty well and Lorien was happy...win, win.

Cole was a perfect gentleman and picked Lorien up for the dance.  Will did not make Cole engage in a wrestling match before Cole could leave the house with Lorien.  I guess that has been an empty threat all along.   

Her report of the night was all positive.  She had a great time with her friend group.  She declined attendance at any after parties because she knows her social limits and wanted quiet time.  Good girl.

March 17th MADNESS!

I sure know how to make Saturdays stressful!  I wonder if that is a talent I can exploit for financial gain?  Probably not.

This Saturday was one for the books!  To start, we had Adell's "friend" birthday party.  This year is a friend party year for some of the kids.  Poor Adell has a birthday that falls during a busy time of the year.  Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there wasn't enough time to put together a friend party for her.  So we put it off, and put it off, and put it off.  Finally last week (after nearly daily requests from Adell) I sent out a quick evite for this Saturday.  Neglecting to take into account that today was also Junior Prom...and my wedding anniversary...and Saint Patrick's day.  

Adell's party was a hit.  Most of her friends were able to come on short notice.  They decorated squishies, played with slime, drank unicorn frapachinos and watched a unicorn tv show.  Busy but easy.  Everyone was happy (especially Adell) so I was happy too. 

Of course, the week leading up to Saturday was crazy busy and I didn't have any extra time to work on Lorien's dress.  I had a frantic skype call with my sister, Jennifer, to try and get some long distance help.  But the work on Lorien's dress did not start in earnest until late Friday night.  You can see her dress in progress in the background of the first photo.  As soon as the birthday party girls were off I got back to work on Lorien's dress.  Will was a super dad/husband doing as much party stuff and clean up as possible so my head wouldn't explode. 

I was still sewing Lorien into her dress when her date showed up...nice!  We finished the dress and sent her out the door with a smile. 

Patrick, Lorien, and Cole.  Cole was Lorien's date but Patrick came along for the carpool.  They are all good friends so it was fun.  

Aaaaannnnndddd....Will and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary.  I guess we've probably known each other for 20 years now.  Well, almost 20...I think we met officially at the end of 1998...maybe 1999.  Anyway, we had gone to Las Vegas for a whirlwind trip at the beginning of March and counted that as our anniversary celebration.  So we just had a quiet dinner near home tonight.  It was lovely and we are still very much in love.  Happy 18 years my wonderful William James!

Now we wait at home for our prom princess to return home safely!

Oh!  The kids built leprechaun traps yesterday and our leprechaun showed up...didn't get trapped, turned our milk and toilet water green and left some gold coins.  That rascal...maybe we will catch him someday.

Swim Lessons

Adell has always loved the water.  When she was about a year an a half old she would twist and turn in the water trying to escape the safety of my grasp.  Soon she was jumping off the edge of the pool and sinking to the bottom with a gigantic grin on her face.  She learned how to swim confidently when she was two and a half.  However, she never learned formal strokes.  We decided to put Adell on swim team this year.  I am reasonably sure Adell will be in heaven on swim team.  

Colter has been afraid of the water since he knew about water.  He and Clare have shared a kinship fear of water.  We enrolled Clare in swim lesson the summer before she started kindergarten.  It helped her confidence and water skills.  Colter is well past the summer before kindergarten and is still very afraid of water.  

So to help Adell learn some strokes before swim lessons and hopefully get Colter some water confidence, we started the youngest kids in swim lessons at a local indoor pool.   When I told Colter about his swim lessons he told me there was no way he was ever going to learn how to swim.  Alas, he did get into the pool and tried to do everything the teachers told him to do in the pool.  He was terrified and as stiff as a board.  But he didn't cry or refuse to do anything.  He put his face in the water and jumped off the edge of the pool.  It was awesome.

Adell has been excited about swim lessons.  She got in the water happily and tried to do all of the things she needed to do.  It was a fine first lesson for both kids.  Adell earned a bunch of ribbons for passing off skills and Colter even earned a ribbon!   

Colter is the kid on his back in the water with the instructor.  He is freaking out but trying!

Three weeks of lessons later and both kids have improved so much!  Adell can almost swim a whole lap without taking a second breath (she gets about 2/3rds of the way).  Colter has improved the most!  He still says he doesn't want to go to swim lessons but he is so much braver and confident.  He can put his face in the water for a long time (without holding his nose).  He jumps off the edge and is far more relaxed on his back.  These lessons are not cheap but so far they have been worth every penny.

Colter with the instructor again.  He had pushed off the platform on the left and was swimming (with help) to the wall.

Adell with her instructor.  It is harder to get decent pictures of Adell but she is doing great!