Welcome to our World

Final week of the school year = last Activity Days for the school year (walking around the new botanical garden and playing at the newly renovated park near the church) + fort days in 2nd grade + all school field day at the elementary school (with no parents allowed but Michelle's class got to help Natalie's class) + baseball + softball practice/games.  I'm so grateful the weather cooperated and for all the smiles I got to see that last week of school.   The last day of school the middle schoolers left and came back like normal but the elementary schoolers had lots of things going on. Thanks to perfect weather, the 5th grade continuation ceremony was held outdoors and parents got to come. Tears and cheers and all those feelings got to be shared together as a community. The traditional high fives around the building were moved to outdoors and I was happy to watch Natalie giving Michelle a high five. They are also the only ones who still have a teacher to take pictures with...

Kate came home from school so excited to get a covid vaccine. She doesn’t want to spend the entire summer wearing a mask. Ok! Luckily the very next day she and her best friend were able to get their first doses together and have their second doses scheduled. What a great memory to have your best friend’s dad, a pharmacist, give you a historical shot the first week it became available to your age group.  With much more free time now that the volleyball season is over and most parents around here being vaccinated, Kate has been able to hang out with friends and have sleepovers A LOT. It’s fun to have plenty of children in the house again! We (us 4 girls) even got to attend our first party like old times at P’s house while our boys were at a baseball tournament. The weather didn’t cooperate with their barbecue plans and it felt so strange to be socializing indoors with a crew of mostly people I have never met!  Strange but good. I do admit I have a raging headache and I swear it’...

There was more than once I was invited to do something on a Tuesday or Thursday recently that I had to decline due to all the sports we had going on! There were a couple times I would drop Danny off a few minutes early at baseball practice so that Natalie would only be a few minutes late to softball practice while my mom drove Michelle and our neighbor to dance class and A's parents took Kate along to volleyball practice.  It is a relief that softball and volleyball didn't overlap for very long but I am so happy they all had something they liked doing and that others were around to help me make it work.  President Nelson said in the last General Conference to be sure to not get too busy again and I can see why.  Thank goodness the children have three day weekends every week or else this would be stressful instead of fun.  We are already wondering how to proceed next year when the schools are planning on being open five days a week again. For most of the season, due t...

  Another milestone met for the last time. Our youngest child chose to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Natalie wanted to be baptized as soon as she could after turning 8 years old but had to work around dance competitions, volleyball tournaments and baseball games. Luckily, with the children not being in school on Fridays, we were able to find a day on the calendar that was completely empty. The two grandmothers said the prayers. My dad gave the talk on baptism. Hubby baptized Natalie. With the rather recent rule change, Danny and Michelle were able to be official witnesses for their little sister. So special!     My favorite part was watching from the side with a towel at the ready and getting to give my girl a hug and ask her how she felt. Natalie felt “good.”     She’s not someone to overstate things. Her smile was huge, though! I gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and Hubby’s dad confirmed her.  Brother C. saved the...

I am so grateful for this wonderful girl and happy we got to celebrate her turning 8 years old.  The one and only thing she asked for (other than a party with her friends) was PEZ refills.  Luckily we were able to find some more things that made her smile but it definitely was her favorite gift.  Natalie didn't want to wait until summer to have her birthday party this year so we planned an entirely outdoor softball themed party and hoped the weather would be nice enough to enjoy.  Luckily these Colorado kids don't mind 50*s and breezy at all.  Natalie had a great time with her delightful friends and I'm so glad she didn't have to wait.  I have loved being Natalie's mom and look forward to seeing what the next year brings for her. As luck would have it, Michelle's dance performance time in Denver ended up being at the same time as Natalie's birthday party.  Luckily Hubby could come home early from work and take her to her competition in Denver.  Hi...