Crazy Weather and Scouts

The weather has been crazy lately.  A few days ago we were enjoying spring like temperatures -- going for walks and playing outside.  Then Saturday we woke up to freezing rain -- bluck! Rick and I went to pick up our Bountiful Baskets (which were an hour late because the delivery truck got into a minor accident). I came back an hour later with Janika. Rick had left with Janelle to take her out to lunch as a reward for earning a GOLD ticket. They were still putting together the baskets and I ended up standing in a long line of people in the freezing rain with the basket over my head for at least a half hour.

Then Sunday we woke up to SNOW!!  It didn't stick or anything but still caused a frenzy of excitement around the house.  I wasn't too thrilled with it.  I am ready for Spring!

Monday (President's Day) was still cold but at least it wasn't raining for Jared's hike. His Webelos group went hiking and then Tuesday after school they all went fishing at a nearby pond.  Jared was excited to actually catch a fish. This has been a busy month for Scouts and Jase is almost finished with his communication merit badge.  Jared had his blue and gold banquet last week and three activities this week -- the hike, fishing, and then making a marble game board.  I think Jared's scout leader is really pushing things along so that Jared can get his Arrow of Light before he moves on to Boy Scouts next month.  She is SO awesome!

SUPAF

I finished my interpreting appointment just in time to zip out to watch Jase's choir sing at SUPAF (Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival).  They sang three songs.  There was only one solo part and that was Jase.  He sang a solo in their last number (Oh Suzannah).  The choir sounded fabulous and and Jase did very well on his solo.  He told me later that they got a "Superior" which is the highest rating you can get.  Great job!

Fun With Friends

Janika was excited that one of her EFY friends was going to be in town for the weekend.  They got together and went to Pirate Island Pizza and then to the Stake Dance.

Jani, Madi, Jade

Blue and Gold Banquet

We have great Scout leaders!  Loved the costumes and decorations (and the food)!   They do such a wonderful job with our boys.  I can't believe that next month Jared will be moving on from cub scouts to boy scouts!   

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Rick got up early and cooked his big traditional Valentine's Day breakfast this morning.  He writes a love letter to each person in the family and leaves it on their plate along with some of their favorite candy.  The kids were more interested in the candy than in their breakfast. The kids had their Valentine's Day parties at school and were excited to show me all of their cards and candies when they got home.

Janika definitely had a good Valentine's day -- A dozen long-stemmed red roses from the boy she likes?  Wow!  I can imagine all of the attention she got carrying those around all day long!  Too bad she didn't have them in water until she got home.  (And no, she isn't dating yet -- she doesn't turn 16 until next December)!

Elder Lee was really sweet. He came over for dinner and FHE tonight and brought balloons and cookies for all of the kids and chocolates for us!  Thanks Elder Lee!  We also received a package in the mail today from Michelle with two big bags of M&M's and two great CD's!  Thanks, Michelle!

Race for Jace

Today there was a fund raiser at our local park for a little boy named Jace Carlson who goes to my kid's elementary school.  He accidentally burned himself quite severely over Christmas Break and had to have several skin grafts.  They had a 5K race and a one mile family fun run/walk, along with a carnival at the park including bounce houses, face-painting, baked goods, lunch, train rides, and live music.  It brought tears to my eyes to see how much support the community gave at this event to help this family in their time of need.

Jared wanted to run the 5K and so I brought all of the kids and we cheered him on.  He did a great job!   They didn't keep track of the places or anything but I watched him come in and was pretty sure that he was in the top ten.  His time was around 24:47, which was even faster than he did at Swiss Days.  Jase came and joined us after his scout pow wow.  I gave each of the kids some money to spend on food and tickets for the events.  Later on after we got home the kids spent another couple of hours outside playing in the sand box.  Jenna even got a little sunburn -- with little rosy cheeks and nose. 

It was a busy day for Rick.  He was gone grocery shopping while we were at the park and then he went to visit a deaf person in Mesquite and ended up going straight to the World Wide Training Meeting tonight at the Stake Center.  I cleaned and did laundry and bathed kids.  We were both exhausted by the time we went to bed!  

Fun With Friends

Janika and her friends thought they were so clever in coining the term "Singles Awareness Day" (S.A.D.) last year until Janika happened to stumble upon Wikipedia where the term was already in use (same idea -- sort of a rebellion against Valentines).  Oh well.  They still got together and made shirts for it.  A few of her friends came over to have a "hair-curling party" before their school dance.  Here they are showing off their "curls" and their shirts. 

Jenna loves nail polish!

It looks like Jenna got into her sister's nail polish again.  When I found her she said, "I paint my nails!  See my pitty nails!"  But to her credit (and much to my relief) she didn't get a drop on the carpet OR on the desk in Janika's room.  Pretty good for a two year old!

Dance

Moms and Muffins

Today was "Moms and Muffins."  8:15 a.m. and the elementary school lunch room is packed with all of us moms and our kids.  There sure are a lot of cute, stylish moms around here.  I love our school.  Wonderful teachers and fabulous parental support.  This week was also "Dining with Dads."  Rick went on his Seminary lunch break and picked up a couple of pizzas and ate lunch with Jared, Janelle, and Jaiden.  They loved it.  He brought the leftovers home for Josh and Jenna and so they loved it too.  There was even a piece leftover for Jase.  So everyone was happy!

Jared missed school yesterday since he came down with a cold.  I took the advantage of the opportunity by quizzing for the upcoming Geography Bee.  He came with us this morning and was planning on going to school but said he still didn't feel well and so I checked him out again.  After our "breakfast" we buzzed over  to the Intermediate school to check out Jase.  He called me from the school this morning to tell me that a wire from his braces had popped out and was poking him.  So we brought him in for his emergency visit and on the way home I saw Jaiden and her class who were outside a little local historical store for their field trip.  I had to pull over and run over and say "hi" to her and give her a hug.  We dropped Jase back off to school and then the kids went to play group and I went to some interpreting appointments.

I ran home in between that to see the kids and grab a quick bite to eat.  Janelle had piano lessons and Jase had a scout fieldtrip to the nature center to finish off his environmental merit badge.  Rick was already gone home teaching when I got home.  The kids had fixed their own dinner -- peanut butter and granola sandwiches. They said we were out of jelly.  No jelly -- why not substitute granola?  Sounds logical to me?  Jase told me he wants to take piano lessons from a "real" teacher since his dad is too inconsistent.  He starts tomorrow!  

Shopping for Valentines

After I got home from visiting teaching, I hurriedly threw together a spaghetti dinner since our branch missionary was coming over.  After dinner and a short lesson we went shopping for Valentines.  Boy prices have gone up since last year!  We just get the cheap ones at the dollar store.  But this year instead of having 24-30 in a box, they only had 12 in a box -- so we had to get two or three for each of our kids' school classes.  Then some of them didn't work out and so I got some more at a different store the next day and they were three and four times what these ones were.  Maybe we should just make our own next year!  By the time I left the store I had spent almost $30.00 -- just on cheap valentines and candy.  Sheeze! 

Terp Time

We sign language interpreters need to get around 20 hours a year of continuing education credits from interpreting workshops and the like  in order to maintain our certification.  To help with this we have set up a local monthly "Terp Time" where we all take turns teaching each other in various errors of interpreting.  Today was my turn to teach the three hour workshop and so I taught one on the "Ten Contextualizing Strategies" of ASL.  We ended up with around 15 people which is a good turn out.  Rick came with me since he needs to get interpreting hours too now that he is certified! We had several people come down from Las Vegas to attend and a few from Cedar City and the rest of us from St. George.  Rick and I had a fun busy afternoon and evening interpreting together as well.  It was one of those days that leaves me thinking in sign language instead of English! I was proud of our boys.  Janika was already babysitting somewhere else and so we left out boys in charge of tending tonight while we were out.  When we came home, the kids were in bed and the house was clean!  Way to go boys!!

Jani and her Amigos

It seems like every night is a party with these kids.  Tonight's get-together was at Pirate Island Pizza.

Painting Rocks

This was our activity for the day.  The kids loved it.  This morning we had the Purdy kids over and so they joined in.  When our elementary school kids got home from school they all did a bunch as well.  The Olson kids came over later in the afternoon and so their girls painted a bunch too.  It was pretty much a day-long activity.  I didn't get any pictures of the other groups.  It was fun but I am tired of washing rocks, paint brushes, counters, and floors.  I think I will hide the paints now -- for a long long time. 

Apple Crisp

Last Saturday we got a huge pox of delicious Fuji apples from Bountiful Baskets -- which means, it is time for Apple Crisp!  The kids loved watching the the Pampered Chef Apple corer/peeler thing peel the apples into the long strips you see below and slice the apples into thin circles at the same time.  The kids were grabbing them from the bowl and eating them as fast as Rick could make them.  Cute belly Jaiden, it looks like it is time to pass your shirt into Jenna's "grow into" box!