School's Out!

I can't believe it's June and that school is already done.  I am SO glad school is out!  It's great not having a strict schedule. Or making sure the kids make their lunches.  Or do their homework.  We do need to set up some sort of summer schedule, but things will be helter skelter for a little bit, so we're just enjoying each day at a time.

A couple days before school ended the fifth graders had a separate celebration ceremony.  Like some people, I think it's weird when kids graduate from school grades lower than high school, college, etc. I was glad this wasn't called a 5th grade graduation. Not that it really matters, but anyway. 


Note to self: have kids keep their cars in the car.




There was a great turnout. This community is so giving and I LOVE the elementary school.


Lee took a picture of someone's eye.  Guess who?!




Clark received a few awards and some recognition.  I can't remember all of them. 






This head-turn picture is one of my favorites of the evening. 


He received the award for reading the most books out of his fifth grade class (he loved using his $15 Barnes and Noble gift card!).  He also was a "library helper" and received a Character Counts award--the award I am most proud of. There were a couple others too.  I think he had a fun night.                                 


Leaving the "ceremony".  See the girl in the cream sweater and purple-ish red dress?  A few of the girls wore cute dresses with boots.  I am not a "country" girl (I'm not a city girl either), but I found myself really liking the fun combination of a cute dress and boots. Are you shocked Lee? After the fifth graders had a party.  Clark told Lee that he rocked the dance floor, ha ha.








For some reason Clark's class is a smaller class than the rest.  The others grades in the school have three teachers per class, but Clark's had two.  I didn't realize how much Clark's teachers liked him till just a few days ago! Clark was really sad that fifth grade ended.  Change isn't his thing and he really loved fifth grade. Clark and Ms. Mueller on the last day of school.


Last day of school with our group!  Before the buses leave, all of the teachers line up on the sidewalk and wave goodbye to the students. It's really fun to see.  Someone in the office then played the Happy song by Pharrell Williams (had to google it ha ha).  


Our friends invited us to go camping with them on our first weekend of summer vacation.  I thought it would be a fun way to start summer.  It's a primitive camping spot. And with no amenities, it's free! We had a great spot with a little stream right there for the kids to play in.  We had a fun time.  It cooled down a lot more at night than I thought it would. My feet were cold! And we survived just fine camping with eight kids!








After camping Shanna, Haley and I did some errands.  I found Clark some summer clothes at Once Upon a Child.  They have a great clearance section right now.  I bought Clark four summer outfits for about $17! I saw a pair of matching skirts that would be cute for the girls but didn't get them.  I'll have to check sometime soon to see if they are still there. Happy summer break everyone!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a nice Memorial Day weekend and a sick one.  Saturday afternoon we went to a baptism.  I went outside with my kids right after the baptism was performed and sat in my van reading.  While I was reading I started feeling a bit nauseous.  Shanna and Haley had been sick a couple days before but I didn't think much of it.  When we got home we were planning on going to the parade in Shenandoah, but I opted to stay home as I did not feel good.  Lee took the rest of the kids.  They got a TON of candy.










The rest of the house that afternoon the rest of us got sick one by one, except Elden.  I was sick, then a little later Cal, then Clark, then Lee.  We all stayed home from church that Sunday.

Monday we were feeling better, some of us weren't 100% though.  We opted to skip a bbq that our friends invited us too.  We headed up to the Shenandoah National Park that afternoon.  We figured it would be hard to spread germs up there.  (Maybe not?)

The kids enjoyed swinging on this vine.








The falls that we hiked to.  We could only see them from a distance though.  Maybe if we had kept on hiking we would have gotten closer?  Not sure.








After the hike we enjoyed tinfoil dinners, roasted marshmallows and played frisbee.  Too bad that we were sick, but really, being sick on the weekend is more convenient than during the week!

Father's & Son's and Mother's

This year for the Father's and Son's, it was held at the boy scout camp about an hour from our house.  Usually in our church a campout with fathers and sons is held to commemorate the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood to Joseph Smith on May 15th 1829. It's this same priesthood that Aaron held in the bible--Moses' brother.  The boys look forward to camping with just the guys.  Elden was especially excited to go this year, it was so cute.  He's gone before, but still was very excited about it.








So pretty there!  I've never been, but I love the yellow flowers!













The next day was Mother's Day.  I received this fun "bouquet" of  chocolate flowers, complete with compliments and sweet notes and pictures from my kids.




And for some other happenings in these parts: Clark had his spring piano recital and did a great job.  He had both of his pieces memorized too. He has been progressing well in piano, which is exciting.  Clark will take a break from lessons this summer and a little from practicing too (not too much though, ha ha) and Cal starts lessons on Thursday!


I was in charge of the game for our weekly family home evening a few weeks ago.  I picked "chubby bunny".  Have you played it?  You put a marshmallow in your mouth and say "chubby bunny".  After each marshmallow you have to say it again, "chubby bunny".  The winner is the one who has the most marshmallows in their mouth AND can say "chubby bunny". I should have played.  I might have won!

Monitcello

Cal went on a field trip to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.  It's only about an hour from our house. We all need to go sometime!  It looks like a great place to visit.  Lee took the day off and really enjoyed going.  Enjoy the pictures!














Gorgeous!














Like I've said before, it's so neat having so many historical things nearby!