Bdays, Graduations, Summer Oh My!

Let us begin with Anna's 7th birthday. She went to school wearing the tshirt that gma had made for gpa's 60th bday-so it was a black tshirt that said HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY! too funny. She wanted to make sure everyone knew it was her birthday i guess! She came home after school and we opened up her gifts which was a gift card to Target, and a gift card to Toys R us. We all as a family went to Chili's for dinner-so grub! I dropped everyone back off at home, then Anna, Becca & myself took off for Toys R Us. They walked together thru all the aisles trying to decide what to get. Anna decided on a Baby Doll that does all sorts of things, a highchair to put her in and a stuffed spotted dog. We then went to Target where she picked ANOTHER baby doll that does all sorts of things. Took the loot home and began the FOREVER untying, undoing of all those lame plastic wires that keep the toy to the stupid cardboard. Patience! The next morning she was able to take homemade cupcakes to her class--too fun. Anna is such a lovely little girl. She is very sensitive to the Spirit. She once cried when she was 4 in Sunbeams because she said "I am just thinking about Jesus and it makes me happy!" So they were happy tears. How touching! When we have FHE and discuss spiritually sensitive things, she is always teary. She is very loving, kind & gentle. She is my ONE and only child that looks most like ME! Big brown eyes and somewhat dark hair. I love having Anna in our family.

Friday morning was Rachel 6th grade promotion. It was interesting to see the different degree's of excitement from the parents. You had the ones like us who came to show our love and support. You had those that came with gmas, gpas, cousins, neighbors! You had those that had outrageously huge balloons, those that even came with the boat blow horn. It just made me chuckle.
She was in the 1st seat on the front row-talk about GREAT position for her to be in so we could see her! She has been an excellent student & received the Mega Skills Award (which they said is given to someone who really every month could get a student of the month award because they are so good in every subject). She was also given the Prestiges Presidential Award! She was one of the 1st original students to JFK when it first opened 7 years ago in 2002. Kind of special for this 6th grade class. They were also the 1st 6th grade class since it opened to get to go to Science Camp. The ceremony was simple & quick! I then went to her classroom and checked her out for the day. She wanted ice cream so I took her to get ice cream. She had a graduation party at a friends house from 1230-6pm then another end of the school year party with the Mutual kids at 6pm, it was round the clock party time for her!

Summer has official begun! Last night I told the girls, when you wake up please try to be quiet and get your Saturday morning chores done. This AM they did just that. I did have to "rehelp" them but they never complained (SHOCKING) and just got their work done. Once we were done I took the girls on a hike & they LOVED IT! Becca at the beginning was quite nervous, holding my hand the whole time. After a while she "got brave" and was able to let go and be on her own, a BIG kid. I loved that we were able to do that together. We were all bummed that Jon could not join us as the hike was not workable with a wheelchair-but fun nonetheless. I took pictures the whole time and kept posting them on facebook via my cell phone so he could feel like he was on the hike with us-he loved it!

We have no real plans this summer, other then LOTS of beach time, LOTS of swim meet practice & races, movies etc. I will need to get a calendar out and get some things organized. One thing I do plan on doing is renting a big dumpster for like a month and going thru EACH room, EACH drawer, and EACH cupboard. Im SO ready to dejunk again! I love that feeling!! I have also ordered books from Barnes & Noble that the girls will work on each morning. They will have to do their morning chores, a workbook page & the older 2 girls have to teach piano to the younger 2 girls then we can play the rest of the day away. Hopefully this helps to KEEP ME SANE!!!