Z bball

Dora tournament:  third place

 

Jill's party

Once again, Anna joined Jill's Halloween party.

They both had a great time.

Halloween

It was a crazy one.  A tiny bit of tricks and treats and a ballgame.  But, we did get some jellybeans, a garbage droid, Brave, and a peacock to show up.  I always think next year we will have it more together, but I guess this is just how Halloween goes at our house.

Lewis or Clark

Not sure which one Zach is aspiring to be.  But, we had a great time exploring the Provo River.

the beginning of the endless (almost) summer trip

Anna and I snuck off to Utah a day early and went to the park with Miranda.  

Sadly, no pictures of M, but we had a great time being free from hours in the car.

sleeping sisters

they really are the best of friends

First day of school 2013

Wow!  Here is to our fifth school year in the Ozarks.  

And, in so many words, here is how the first day was . . .

Anna

"it was good.  we didn't play games though. (insert pitiful noises)

on mom and anna day"

 Casey

 made it half day and then the arm couldn't take it anymore

best of 3rd grade:  "seeing friends"

worst:  "lunch because I hit my arm"

 Jill

best part of kindergarten:  "3 recesses"

worst part:  "this girl, she made lily and i, to go looking for her boyfriend, 

and they broke up, and it was so weird"

 Maggie

best of fifth grade:  "softball practice"

worst:  "i was bored about rules and stuff so i snuck out paper to draw"

 Sam

 "early morning seminary was . . . awesome"

best of 10th grade:  "seeing all of the blank faced freshmen"

worst:  "schedule still messed up.   argh."

 Zach

 best of 7th grade:  "if i do choir, i don't have to go to library"
worst: "if i don't do choir, i have to go to library :("

missing sam because of seminary

oh, no

Casey broke his arm.  So sad.  

Round off, back handspring and pop.  

Both bones in his forearm broken and lots of tears.  

But, no screaming. 

A trip to the ER.

A good doctor.

And, it was set in place.

What a brave kid.

toothless

Fruit Loops + One Very Loose Tooth = Hope of the Tooth Fairy

camping

4 boys camping

16 jugs bobbing overnight

1 fish hooked

Zoo

The sister missionaries needed a ride to Springfield, so we decided to take advantage of the trip and stop in at the zoo.  Our favorites were the extremely loud peacocks, 

the giraffe with a four foot long tongue, and wild monkeys, both wild and domestic.

awards

It is always nice to feel special.  And, after school awards were given out, the kids came home feeling very special.  There was recognition for the 100 mile club, math contests, spelling bees, honor roll, reading circle, art projects, band, choir, conference championship medals, basketball, baseball, and the citizenship award.  It was a difficult year for many reasons, but amazing all the same. Congrats to Zach, Mag, and Casey for doing their best and being awarded for all of their hard work.

katie's quiz

katie's 2013 end of the school year quiz

Favorite color:  turquoise
Favorite food:  all things that can't be found for miles
Favorite number: 7
Favorite Candy:  conversation hearts
Favorite movie: Mary Poppins
Favorite TV show:  not so sure
Favorite thing to do with dad:  go out to eat, sit on the couch and visit
Favorite thing to do with sam:  watch sports, sing the seminary song to him
Favorite thing to do with zach:  go swimming because i still can school him
Favorite thing to do with Maggie:  cook and craft and run errands
Favorite thing to do with Casey:  listen to his enormously long stories
Favorite thing to do with Jill:  watch her draw and figure out how to spell words
Favorite thing to do with Anna:  pinch her chubs and watch her do cartwheels
Favorite sport to watch: college football
Favorite sport to play: running but not right now, ouch
Favorite song:   girl on fire. ask the kids
Favorite Primary song:  I know Heavenly Father Loves Me
Animal:  none right now.  too much work
Favorite ice cream flavor:  Baskin Robbins mint chocolate chip
Favorite Restaurant:  see favorite foods above
Favorite Scripture Story:  the whole book of mormon
What are you good at doing?  being impatient and whining
What do you like about yoursef? that i can fall asleep as soon as my head touches the pillow
What makes you happy? my family
What are you afraid of? having to make hard decisions
What new thing would you like to learn this year?  there is too much to learn 
What would you do with $100? buy bakery treats and deliver them to my favorite people
What do you like to do for other people?  make them treats
If you could go anywhere where would you go?  London or Paris
What do you like about being a mom?  that I get to see tiny increments of growth in each of the kids and that I get to share love with the people I care about most and they keep me busy
What do you wish was different at home?  that there were no eruptions
What is your favorite thing to do in Arizona?  see favorite foods above
What is your favorite thing to do in Missouri?  mow the lawn.
What do you want to do in ten years?  be less impatient
What do you want to be when you grow up? a mom and a missionary

field day

For the last day of school, the kids had a fun field day - water games, relays, crazy stomping in the gym, and snow cones.  The best part was it was also Anna's first day of preschool, hee hee.  Mrs. Cawvey invited Anna to join preschool for field day.  I left her at the door and returned later to shadow her.   She had a great time and was exhausted when the final bell rang.  I blame half of Anna's identity crisis on Mrs. Cawvey.  She truly thinks she is a preschooler.

preschool graduation

phew.  jill has officially graduated from preschool.  we were a little nervous she wouldn't make it.  there were so many demands on these young preschool kids but, she toughed out the rough schedule and academic challenges.  congratulations on a job well done, jill.  we love you.

truthfully, it was a nice day, and we will forever be grateful for mrs. cawvey.

she nurtured, taught, encouraged, sheltered, praised, and helped jill love school.

in my mind, there is no better gift a teacher can give. 

so, thank you to mrs. cawvey.

we will miss our daily visits and reading the big giant cat book over and over.

Ron's quiz

Ron's 2013 end of the school year quiz

Favorite color:  blue
Favorite food:  pei wei
Favorite movie:  Star Trek
Favorite TV show:  O'Reilly Factor
Favorite thing at work:   customers
Favorite thing to do with mom:  go out to eat
Favorite thing to do with zach:  camp
Favorite thing to do with Sam:  play basketball
Favorite thing to do with Maggie:  put up shelves   
Favorite thing to do with Casey: watch him play with his star wars guys
Favorite thing to do with Jill:  read books
Favorite thing to do with Anna:  sing
Favorite sport to watch: college football
Favorite sport to play:  running 
Favorite song:  Home by phil phillips
Favorite hymn:  we thank thee o god for a prophet
Favorite Animal:  three-toed sloth, of course
Favorite ice cream flavor:  banana chocolate swirl gelato
Favorite Restaurant:  Pei Wei
Favorite Scripture Story:  captain moroni
What are you good at doing?  counting to 30 by 5
What do you like about yoursef?  by hairline has not receded much over the last 10 years
What makes you happy?  children that are kind to eachother
What are you afraid of? sam getting his driver's license in six months
What new thing would you like to learn this year?  what it's like to break 2 hours in a half-marathon
What would you do with $100? take katie to dinner and a movie
What do you like to do for other people? cook
If you could go anywhere where would you go?  Italy
What do you wish was different at work? the hours
What is your favorite thing to do in Arizona?  go to rosa's
What is your favorite thing to do in Missouri? drive
What do you want to do in ten years?  open a bakery
What do you want to be when you grow up? a retired pharmacist-baker

sam's quiz

 Sam's 2013 end of the school year quiz

Favorite color:  blue
Favorite food:  steak and potatoes
Favorite number: 7
Favorite Candy:  Reese's
Favorite movie: Avenger's
Favorite TV show:  Sports center
Favorite thing to do with dad:  play basketball, watch sports
Favorite thing to do with mom:  cook
Favorite thing to do with zach:  pups because i am dr.evil eye
Favorite thing to do with Maggie:  basketball
Favorite thing to do with Casey: baby casey
Favorite thing to do with Jill:  airplane and rodeo
Favorite thing to do with Anna:  airplane and rodeo
Favorite sport to watch: college football
Favorite sport to play: basketball
Favorite song:   peponi by piano guys and alex boye
Favorite hymn:  251. behold a royal army
Favorite Animal:  cougar
Favorite book:  Way of Kings
Favorite ice cream flavor:  rocky road
Favorite Restaurant:  pei wei
Favorite Scripture Story:  ammon
What are you good at doing?  being awesome
What do you like about yoursef?  that i am awesome
What makes you happy? basketball
What are you afraid of? the things in the dark
What new thing would you like to learn this year?  waterfall by jon schmidt
What would you do with $100? tithing and probably save the rest.  what would you save it for?  a ukulele.
What do you like to do for other people?  help.  help what.  stuff.  what kind of stuff.  i don't know.  anything.
If you could go anywhere where would you go?  to sleep
What did you like about 9th grade?  better teachers
What are you excited for in 10th grade?  chemistry
What do you wish was different at school?  the dope-a-ropes
What is your favorite thing to do in Arizona? hang out with cousins
What is your favorite thing to do in Missouri? i don't know.  hang out with family.
What do you want to do in ten years?  be on my way to medical school.
What do you want to be when you grow up?  a lasik eye surgeon

duct tape

Sam went to the annual "duct tape prom"  hosted by the choir.  

Not much about prom, but a lot about duct tape.  

Entire duct tape wardrobes were donned and the kids went and boogied.  

I wish I had more pictures.  

Zach's quiz

Zach's 2013 end of the school year quiz

Favorite color:  purple
Favorite food:  popcorn chicken
Favorite movie:  Lord of the Rings:  Return of the King
Favorite TV show:  studio c
Favorite trick at gym:  round off back tuck
Favorite thing to do with dad:  everything.  except argue
Favorite thing to do with mom:  i like to spend your money, jk. no, no, no, erase that. . . play a game like trains
Favorite thing to do with Sam:  mini basketball
Favorite thing to do with Maggie:  play tiny wings, two player, on the ipad
Favorite thing to do with Casey: play lightsabers
Favorite thing to do with Jill:  play dad
Favorite thing to do with Anna:  play pups, of course
Favorite friend:  Clay
Favorite sport to watch: football
Favorite sport to play:  swimming and running
Favorite toy:  don't have one
Favorite book:  you can't make me answer that.  i don't have a favorite one.  but, if you had to pick one . . . can't.
Favorite Primary song:  Called to Serve 
Favorite song:   i don't know.
Favorite art project:  clay bird
Favorite Animal:  echidna
Favorite ice cream flavor:  chocolate fudge brownie
Favorite Restaurant:  mango's
Favorite Scripture Story:  Ammon
What are you good at doing?  math and running and swimming and football and science
What do you like about yoursef?  everything except sometimes i am too stubborn
What makes you happy?  when my family loves me
What are you afraid of? nothing that i know of
What new thing would you like to learn this year? if we can go back to arizona
What would you do with $100? ten percent for tithing, 20 percent for saving, and the rest for me or my family
What do you like to do for other people?  service projects like building a grocery store
What is your favorite thing to do at school? skip health and stay in ms. spivey's . . . with permission because i don't want to go outside because outside is hot
What do you wish was different at school?  people weren't dumbos and trying to impress girls so saying stuff they wouldn't say like cussing
What was your favorite thing about sixth grade?  i had good teachers
What are you excited for in seventh grade? elective every day
What is your favorite thing to do in Arizona?  swim and hang out with my friends
What is your favorite thing to do in Missouri? swim, run, and go somewhere fun with my family.  definitely not shopping
What do you want to do in ten years?  be married and in college on my way to being a dentist
What do you want to be when you grow up? dentist

Maggie's quiz

 Mags 2013 end of the school year quiz

Favorite color:  light blue, wait . . . light blue, light pink, and light turquoise
Favorite food:  chicken picatta
Favorite movie:  ice age: continental drift
Favorite TV show:  house hunters
Favorite trick at gym:  back walkover
Favorite thing to do with dad:  Play games with him, train game
Favorite thing to do with mom:  play games
Favorite thing to do with Sam:  basketball
Favorite thing to do with Zach: play games
Favorite thing to do with Casey: play spy
Favorite thing to do with Jill:  color
Favorite thing to do with Anna:  color
Favorite friend:  Maddy and Jessie and Eliza
Favorite toy:  i don't have a favorite toy, wait . . . dino
Favorite Primary song:  follow the prophet
Favorite song:  you're beautiful
Favorite craft you have made: my bedroom
Favorite book:  Wonder
Favorite Animal:  Cheetah
Favorite ice cream flavor:  Mint green with chocolate chips
Favorite Restaurant:  cafe rio
Favorite Scripture Story:  Esther
What are you good at doing?  lots of things . . . gym and swimming and basketball
What do you like about yoursef?  i am smart
What makes you happy?  happy things around me
What are you afraid of? spiders and snakes and bugs
What new thing would you like to learn this year?  percentage and stuff
What would you do with $100? Go to Disneyworld
What do you like to do for other people? ding dong ditch nice stuff
What is your favorite thing to do at school?  recess
What do you wish was different at school?  no work
What was your favorite thing in fourth grade?  i got candy
What are you excited for in fifth grade?  nothing.  i don't even know what fifth grade is about
What is your favorite thing to do in Arizona?  lots of things.  fun things.  going to cafe rio.  and friends. and swimming.
What is your favorite thing to do in Missouri?  sports
What do you want to do in ten years?  not have to pay for college
What do you want to be when you grow up? a pharmacist or stay at home mom

Casey's quiz

Casey's 2013 end of school year quiz

Favorite color:  mmm, jade
Favorite food:  mashed potatoes with regular gravy
Favorite movie:  Star Wars number 6
Favorite TV show: clone wars
Favorite trick at gym:  back handspring
Favorite thing to do with dad:  go to the movies with him
Favorite thing to do with mom:  play games
Favorite thing to do with Sam:  play star wars
Favorite thing to do with Zach:  fight with lightsabers
Favorite thing to do with Maggie:  jump on the tramp
Favorite thing to do with Jill:  draw
Favorite thing to do with Anna:  watch peppa pig
Favorite friend:  brooklyn
Favorite toy: obi-wan
Favorite Primary song:  I like to look for rainbows
Favorite song: we will rock you
Favorite book:  Warriors
Favorite Star Wars guy:  girl: adi gallia  boy:  Obi Wan
Favorite Animal: dog
Favorite ice cream flavor:  chocolate
Favorite Restaurant:  rosa's
Favorite Scripture Story:  abinadi
What are you good at doing?  gymnastics
What do you like about yoursef?  i use my imagination
What makes you happy?  mom
What are you afraid of?  vampires.  their teeth.
What new thing would you like to learn this year?  my back handspring
What would you do with $100?  buy a dog and star wars guys
What do you like to do for other people?  surprise them
What is your favorite thing to do at school?  play outside
What do you wish was different at school?  lunch.  the teachers at lunch.
What was your favorite thing in second grade?  my teacher
What are you excited for in third grade? more multiplication
What is your favorite thing to do in Arizona?  dinosaur museum
What is your favorite thing to do in Missouri?  play in the snow
What do you want to do in ten years?  when do i go on my mission?  in ten years.  oh, ok, then I want to go on my mission.
What do you want to be when you grow up? zoo keeper

Jill's Quiz

Jill's 2013 End of the School Year Quiz

Favorite color:  purple
Favorite food:  peaches
Favorite movie:  Oz
Favorite TV show:  sopia the first
Favorite trick at gym:  back straddle roll
Favorite thing to do with dad:  go out to lunch
Favorite thing to do with mom:  snuggle time
Favorite thing to do with Sam:  Shoulder ride
Favorite thing to do with Zach:  pups
Favorite thing to do with Maggie:  she sometimes plays with me on the tramp
Favorite thing to do with Casey:  play dad with him
Favorite thing to do with Anna:  jumping practice
Favorite friend:  Will
Favorite Toy:  dream light
Favorite Primary song:  I am a Child of God
Favorite song:  Gethsemane
Favorite book:  falling for rapunzel
Favorite Princess:  Brave
Why is Brave your favorite?  when she is little, she is cute
Favorite Animal:  elephant . . . baby elephant
Favorite thing to do at school:  number line
Favortite friend at school:  Ashby
Favorite ice cream flavor:  chocolate
Favorite restaurant:  rosa's
Favorite scripture story:  Brother of Jared
What are you good at doing?  cartwheels
What do you like about yourself?  i don't have my leg cut off
What makes you happy:  when people give me cards
What are you afraid of?  buffaloes
Favorite thing that mrs. cawvey does:  she likes my little heart that i did that says, "i love my teacher"
What new thing would you like to learn this year?  instead of quitting, doing my roundoffs
What would you do with $100?  spend them on a toy, lots of toys
What do you like to do for other people? make some cards
What are you excited to do in kindergarten?  school lunch
What is your favorite thing to do in Arizona?  spend time with nana
What is your favorite thing to do in Missouri?  throwing rocks with ashby in the lake
What do you want to do in 10 years? do what sam does
What do you want to be when you grow up?  eye doctor


 

Let's get ready to rumble

Mags at the talent show.

Anna's quiz

2013 end of the school year quizzes.  

Anna's quiz:

Favorite color: pink
Favorite food:  chocolate and chocolate chips
Favorite friend: Allie
Favorite thing to do with dad: stickers
Favorite thing to do with mom:  play games
Favorite thing to do with sam: we already talk about that . . . airplane and rodeo
Favorite thing to do with zach:  play pups and ella
Favorite thing to do with maggie:  color
Favorite thing to do with casey: play animals
Favorite thing to do with jill: play scooter
Favorite primary song: sundbeam
Favorite breakfast:  pancakes
Favorite tv show: max and ruby
What is your favorite thing to drink: pig juice
Favorite person at church:  brother roha and sister roha (nursery leaders)
Favorite restaurant: lego table with ashby
What do you like to do outside?  jump on the tramp
How old are you?  5, actually i am 4 (no, actually you are 3)
Do you go to preschool?  Yes.(  umm, no you don't)

bread skills

Maggie officially has bread skills. 

I wasn't even in the building. 

Sam

It has been a long time since I have posted about Sam.  Much too long.  School ends in less than two weeks and I can't believe the growth that has happened over his first year in high school.  I can hardly remember the nerves and anxiety of sending him off to a very unknown place.  There have definitely been ups and downs.  Choir has been a great addition to his schedule, earning advanced on his EOC's was a boost to academic confidence, and winning the 3 on 3 March Madness competition was great fun.  But, not making the basketball team back in October was a hurdle to overcome. Yet, in the end, I think it may have been the best thing for him.  He has been able to focus so much more on school and piano.  

Which brings me to this post.  

Last night was Sam's piano recital and boy was it a recital:  33 kids and 2-plus hours.  Needless to say, it was a tad bit painful.  Sam was sitting up front and I wondered if he was dying of boredom.  At one point, Ron leaned over and asked if I thought Sam was comparing himself to the other kids, wondering if he was the best one there.  I honestly said, no.  I think it probably never even occurred to Sam.  I watched as he sat and clapped and waited and waited.  There were lots of kids in front of him and I saw him cheer for others with very different skill levels.  As we sat there, I thought back at Sam's year and who he is. Sam has a quiet way about him and with humility, he is almost unable to see other's faults or weaknesses. 

 I love that about him.  

As I look back over the year, I see times when Sam has been wronged, or left behind.  It is sad to say, but I am usually the one who is more upset and ready to pounce.  I am grateful to have Sam to teach me that others make mistakes too, and kindness and giving others a second chance is always the right way.  

For the recital, Sam played a piece by Jon Schmidt that was a little stretch for him and also introduced the Baptist church chapel to "Called to Serve."  He did a fantastic job and I was really amazed at his ability to carry humility and kindness in his demeanor.  I couldn't help but think as he played, that all of the qualities he showed that night will be put to great use as a missionary and as he continues to grow and learn. 

 Congrats on a  job very well done, Sam.  I love the man you are becoming.