May

Well, May was quite busy, so I don't think I'm going to get it all in one post, but we'll see.  Bella's party was on the 9th, but I was going to jump back one day and start on the 8th. 

May 8th

The kids elementary school was having a Mother's Day Luncheon this day.  They've never had it before and so I thought I'd go since all the kids were excited for it.  The kindergartners and 3rd graders have lunch starting at 10:25 AM.  So, I went and ate lunch with Bella and Paige then.  Lunch for the moms was provided, or you could bring yours from home.  I had school lunch since I wanted to see how good the food was.  It was Thursday and they were having cheese sticks with marinara sauce.  They are Paige's favorite!  Bella decided to buy her lunch for the first time today so she tried it too.  They were ok.

Lydia's lunch didn't start until 11:45, so I read my book and waited for her to come down.  I didn't eat a 2nd lunch, just sat there while she ate hers. My friend Beth had picked up the boys from preschool and brought them to the elementary school.

Soon after, I had to leave because Maggie was having her piano festival in Beaverton.  I just took Bella out of school, since she gets out at 1 and that's when the festival was. 

Maggie's piano festival. 

She really hates going to these things and I don't blame her.  She asked Kate, her piano teacher, if she could get her music early (like in December or January) so that she'd have plenty of time to practice her two pieces and get them memorized.  Even with all her preparation, she was incredibly nervous.  Because it was scheduled in the afternoon, I told her that she could stay home from school until then, but she wanted to go so she would be distracted from worrying.

I had Garrett pick her up from school since I was a little late leaving the school. When she got to the place, she was pretty upset.  Last year's experience wasn't the best.  Of course, she was set to go last--random drawing-I guess.  But when she played, she played them both beautifully and got a score of 'Excellent'.  She was relieved and so was I. 

 This is the photo I snuck of her while she was playing.  We're not supposed to take pictures. 

 I forgot to take a picture of her after her performance with her award, so we took one at home after school.  I sure am proud of her for facing her fears and doing hard things.  I wish I were as courageous as her when I was younger.  I used to take lessons, but I hated performing at the recitals, so I quit.  I'd be able to play the piano really well by now, but I let my fears get the better of me.

May 10th

We spent the morning rearranging our master bedroom because at the same time that we ordered our new table downstairs, we ordered a 'chair and a half' for our bedroom.  We've wanted it for awhile and have never found one we really liked.  But we finally did, but to get it in the fabric we wanted, it was going to take about 6 weeks to arrive.  We finally got it, but needed to change things in our room around so it would fit.  It's a big room, but we've got a lot of big furniture in it and my treadmill, so we were trying various options.  Later in the afternoon, Garrett and the kids (minus Maggie) went to grandma and grandpa's house to help spread some bark dust and do some other yard work. 

 Lydia loved driving the tractor

Actually, I had Jim and Georgia think of a reason to invite Garrett and kids over to their house because I wanted them out of my house because...I was planning a surprise 40th birthday party for Garrett for that night.  Yes, it was after his birthday, but it was the earliest time that I could do it. So, they were out of the house and I had my handy helper Maggie to help me get ready.  We had to clean the downstairs, decorate, come up with a game and make a cake.  Maggie made the cake while I cleaned.  I had Maggie then start looking through Garrett's pictures for a decoration that I was going to make.   Soon after starting that project, she started getting a migraine.  We tried her medicines right off and tricks that we had seen on pinterest and even an essential oil that we thought would work.  But...nothing.  It came and lasted till about 10 or 11 that night.  I felt really bad that I couldn't help her, and even worse that I had to leave her to go and get pizzas and balloons, and then host a party.  So while she was suffering upstairs, people started coming.

Before Garrett had left, I told him to be home at 7:30 (because I told people to be here at 7).  My excuse was that the kids needed to get to bed.  He was so mad that I was telling him what time to be home--like he was a little kid.  Then he told me that he had to go to the store on the way home to get stuff for my Mother's day dinner the next day.  I was freaking out because I had people coming over.  I didn't know what to say to make him come home without giving anything away.  So, I told him to drop the kids off first and then told Lydia (in secret) to think of something to get him to come into the house before going to the store.  So, I hoped that would work. 

He texted me that he would be home at 7:45, so we waited...and sure enough we saw him pull up.  The kids started coming in the house and I asked if dad was coming in and they said yes.  So, I started filming, but I didn't get a picture.  And, we actually SURPRISED him!  He knew nothing about it!  I kind of felt bad because he worked really hard at his parent's house and he was all sweaty and tired.  So, after we yelled 'Surprise', he went up and cleaned up a bit. 

 This was the picture decoration that I had Maggie working on.  Current and old pictures of Garrett made into the number 40.

I think Lydia snapped this picture.  It's the only picture I got that night.  I totally forgot to snap any pictures.  We had 4 couples show up plus Garrett and I.  We had a fun time just eating and talking.  The one 'game' I came up with--although it was not really a game--was that I had come up with 40 facts/interesting stories about Garrett (with Georgia's help).  I cut them out and put them in a bowl and passed them around and had everyone grab a couple.  Then we went around and read them.  There were some good laughs and stories told off of his stories.  I think we all had a good time. I've wanted to throw a surprise party for him for a couple of years, so I'm glad I did it and that I actually surprised him. 

May 11

Mother's Day

Needless to say, Garrett didn't get to the store the previous night, so he kind of improvised for the dinner.  We had Jim and Georgia over after church for dinner and gifts.  Garrett made us chicken and steak kabobs with rice and vegetables.  It was yummy. 

 Bella, Garrett, me and a very excited Maggie with my new laptop that I got for Mother's day.  Don't you just love Maggie's face.

Jim brought me these beautiful flowers for Mother's day.

May 13 and 14

 Just a beautiful day...kids enjoying the warm, sunny day, jumping on the trampoline with sprinklers.

 Then moving to the front yard to ride bikes.  I love the swim suits and snow boots.

 The next day...

 I love these next pictures because Paige is getting a little payback.  She likes to be in charge of the hose and squirt people.  Sarya got a hold of the hose and was getting Paige back.  I thought it was hilarious!  I took the picture through the blinds. 

 Then she got the hose back again.

 May 15th
Noah's preschool had a field trip to a place called 'Smith Berry Farm' where they got to see/feed chickens and goats, and then learn about planting seeds and flowers and gardens.  At the end, they each got to plant their own sunflower seed to take home.  Unfortunately, I killed it before it got very big. 

 Trevor, Cooper, Ethan and Noah

 Teaching the kids about soil and how to plant seeds.

 Getting ready to plant their seeds

 playing in the dirt

 feeding the chickens

 feeding the goats

 Bella brought her 'Farm book' home from kindergarten.  They worked on it for awhile at school and she was very proud of it.

 They were out playing in the yard again and I caught Noah sitting here watching them.  I think he looks like an old man.  Cute little thing. 
Well, that was only a week's worth, but I think I'll end here for now and try to finish the rest of the month soon.

First half of May

For one of the Activity Day Girls activities, they had a mother/daughter night where we played "Minute to Win it" Games.  It was silly and a lot of fun.  There were 4 games actually.  The first one involved ping pong balls in a tissue box tied around your waist.  You had to jump, wiggle, shake your hips, booty, whole body to get all the balls out of the tissue box.  It was funny.  Luckily, I got out of that one.  I only took videos of my kids doing it, not pictures, so this is another group doing it.  

The next game was stacking 5 wooden blocks on a paper plate on top of your head.  Then you had to balance the blocks on your head for 5 or 10 seconds.  (Can't remember which.) It was tricky and required some concentration.    

This next game was so ridiculously silly that we were all laughing as we did it and as we watched others do it.  You put a pair of nylons on your head with a tennis ball in one of the "feet".  Then you had to swing it to knock over 6 water bottles.  The first couple were fairly easy to knock down, but if you were left with one standing, then it became really hard.  My friend Suki took a video of me doing it, but I couldn't get it to load. Paige, Lydia and I did it at the same time, so I don't have pictures of us.  

The girls went and invited the Bishopric to do it also.  That was pretty funny.  

The last activity, was a compliment station.  The girls lined up on one side and the moms/leaders lined up across from the girls.  Each girl would give a compliment to the mom and then the mom would give a compliment to the girl.  Then the moms would move down to the next girl in the line until everyone complimented everyone.  It was a cute thing to do.  They ended the night with ice cream sundaes.  It was a fun night and I know my girls had a lot of fun.  Thanks activity girl leaders!

Noah just discovered our bouncy horse and loves to ride on it.  

Maggie had her piano festival on May 4th (the same day as Bella's birthday party.)  She was really nervous to play in front of the judge and didn't want to be there at all!  She was scheduled to be the first person to play and unfortunately let her nerves get to her.  She choked a little on her first song and was pretty upset by it.  She did really well on her second song though, but was pretty embarrassed by her first performance and so she didn't really bow after she was done.  After all the performances were over, the judge talked to all the kids as a group and offered really good advice about being confident in your playing.  And even if you don't feel confident, at least pretend to and try to look it.  Most of this, it felt, was addressed to Maggie, and rightly so because all the other kids showed confidence in their playing and it seemed that they enjoyed playing.  I think Maggie enjoys playing, but hates to practice and is a little sick of piano.  I don't want her to quit because I know she has a great skill, she plays those 2 songs perfectly at home, she just got nervous there.  I totally remember how much I hated playing in front of people.  That was actually the reason I quit.  I really regret that now and know if I just practiced playing in front of people more, then I would have conquered that fear and gotten better.  Back to the Judge's comments though, I feel that after addressing  the confidence issue with Maggie, I think that she should have praised Maggie for her second song because she played it beautifully with more feeling and confidence, but she didn't say anything else to Maggie, just moved onto the other kids.  Maggie was pretty upset for most of the day and it was a hard lesson for her.  Hopefully she'll take the good advice and keep practicing and working on her confidence.   

I signed Bella up for swimming lessons for her first time and she is really loving it.  

Of course, Paige and Lydia wanted to sign up too, so I found times that were all right there together.  Unfortunately it's right during dinner time, so it's been a challenge to get dinner ready and eaten before we leave at 6.  We usually eat around 7.  Eating after lessons meant that we wouldn't eat until 8:00 and that was pretty late.  It still feels like we are at the pool for hours though.  Bella is first, then Paige follows her and then Lydia's starts 10 minutes after Paige's.  It's been so long since the older 2 have had lessons that I couldn't exactly remember what level they were on.  I was right on with Paige, but they bumped Lydia up one level, so I think she's level 4 now.  She's loving it though.  They all are!

Lydia learning to dive.  

On May 11th, we went and traded in our old camping trailer for a new one.  We've been trying to sell our old one for years, but haven't had any luck.  So, Garrett decided to try trading it in and felt pretty good about the deal they made.  Really, we're only paying about $20 more a month for a brand new trailer.  So, we're all happy.  

This is in the back bunk area for the kids, which has a slide, so makes it even bigger for the kids to play. Paige sleeps on the top bunk and the bottom couch folds out into a bed and that's where Noah and Bella sleep.  Then on the opposite side is another bunk where Lydia sleeps.   

 (I just went out and took these pictures.  They weren't taken the day we picked up the trailer.)

Lydia's bunk.  I love that there are drawers for their clothes now!  Before, the kids just kept their little suitcases at the foot of their beds.  

 This is a view from the back showing the 2 doors.  One goes straight into the bathroom which we love!  

 This is the master bedroom

 This is looking from the master through the kitchen and down towards the bunks.

 living area

looking toward the master bedroom from the bunks.

Picture of the new trailer taken on day we picked it up

Old trailer left in parking lot. 

It was such a good trailer.  It was sad to leave it behind--we've had it for 7 years and it was a great trailer.  But we are excited about the new one and the extra storage and fun things in it!

This was on Mother's day.  Jim and Georgia came over after church for a BBQ.  She and I opened our gifts and cards after dinner.  

I was treated like royalty all day long--it was really nice to be taken care of like that.  I had all my meals made for me, got to have a nap and was given lots of gifts and hugs.  The only thing that I didn't get was a picture of me and my kids.  I forgot about it until the next day.  Oh well.  

Paige made this sign for us.

Jim and Georgia gave me these beautiful flowers.  

These are all of my cards and gifts from this year.  I was really spoiled!  Thank you Garrett and kids!

Lydia has a big fear of riding bikes.  She told us that it's because she watched one of our neighbor friends fall off her bike years ago and bust open her chin.  I guess it was pretty traumatic for Lydia (she only told us this recently.)  But, Garrett and I really want her to get over that fear because we know that she will love to ride bikes.  Garrett and I really enjoy riding bikes, but we don't do it very often because not all of our kids can ride.  So, Garrett bought her this brand new bike in the hopes that she will learn to ride.  We haven't practiced much yet, but hopefully this summer we'll get her and Paige riding bikes.  Maybe even Bella will want to do it too!