The Last Week of May, School, and What Remained of my Limited Sanity

I wasn't sure exactly how to punctuate the title to this post. I was trying to convey that this post covers:

• The last week of May
• The last week of school
• The last week of the sanity I derive from 3 of the 4 children being involved in school for at least part of the day

Now that we've cleared that up...........

In the last week of May....

it snowed like a blizzard. All over my newly planted flower beds and garden. The plants are still recovering.

In the last week of school there was much

dancing and singing. We almost had to change the name of the event from the "Dance Festival" to the "Snow Festival" but fortunately around here 24 hours makes a big (weather) difference.

Surprisingly, our 11 year has some amazing dance moves.

In the last week of school, I thought about how grateful I am for

good teachers and

good friends for our kids. Certain 11 year olds FORBID the taking of pictures with their teachers or school friends.

In the last week of school, certain children

play in the championship 5th grade kickball game and win.

In the final week of my limited sanity, I

laughed at how silly these two are,

laughed at how this one sat in the bathtub and played for a long time even after the water had drained,

rejoiced in the fact that we have wonderful neighbors whom we love to pieces,

took a picture of our cat sitting in tires in our backyard,

and smiled when these two came riding home on the last day of school, knowing that for the next 11 weeks they are mine, all mine.

Hooray for the start of summer!

It makes for a fun weekend when...

It makes for a fun weekend when......

you get to go on your very first 11-year old Scout camp-out with your Dad. It's especially fun when neither you nor your Dad gets any sleep because you are in a tent with 3 other 11-year old scouts and you stay awake all night, eating junk food and laughing until your sides hurt. And then the next morning you go on a 5-mile hike and come home dirty and tired but smiling.

It makes for a fun weekend when you star in the Lehi Children's Choir production of "When I Grow Up" and you do a fabulous job singing your solo and the audience applauds for what seems like an eternity and all of your family and friends are there to cheer you on. AND your mom lets you wear a little make up AND your dad brings you flowers on opening night.

And it's extra fun when you get to play a movie star and dress-up all sparkly and wear high-heels AND do all of this with a most beloved friend.

And sometimes it makes for a fun weekend when you are the first one ready for church, and you have a few minutes to look at your favorite search-and-find animal book before it's time to leave, and your mom thinks you are so cute she just has to take this picture. Now THAT makes for a fun weekend.

The Preschool Cohort visits Christofferson Farm

We love living so close to Farmer Gary and his farm. He is so nice to let Teacher Heidi and her preschool friends visit his animals.

What are they looking at, you ask?

At Fiddle, the horse.

This is Licorice and her new baby.

This is Zeus, the lone male and father to all the baby sheep.

Interestingly, the sheep like Wonder Bread. (Didn't their moms teach them that wheat bread is better for them?)

And then Farmer Gary let them ride the tractor.

Garrett's favorite friends--Kara, Parker, and Camrie.

Teacher Heidi and her friends.

Thanks Garrett (and Heidi) for a great preschool year! 

(It's a special bonus when your preschool teacher lives two houses away from you!)

I try to tell him they taste better in his mouth than on his face, but I don't think he's convinced yet.

Meet Freckles. Freckles hates nicknames but loves soccer. Especially tackle soccer, which is the name of the game when you are 5.

Going in for the trip of his opponent.....

Said opponent is down....

Freckles is off again. 

In other news........

We have dispensed with Samuel's baths, as the cat seems to be doing a fine job (at least on his head).

Maybe on his hands, too.... (That tongue is like a loofah!)

I've been doing a little cooking lately, as in 30 meals in 1 day.  I find myself struck by the sheer beauty of my well-stocked, well organized freezer. Come by and I'll show you. 

This is Sam's friend Seth. They share each other's sippy cups and steal each other's toys (spell check does not like the word "other's". Is that incorrect?) He lives next door and is 2 months older. B,C, and G want to know when Seth is coming over for a late-night. 

And finally.....

Happy Mother's Day 2010.

We celebrated with handmade coupon books, artwork, pot holders, flowers, recipe holders, earrings, and coconut cream pie from Costco. I'm the luckiest mom in the world to have these 4. A million thanks to B,C, and G for all my wonderful gifts, and a special thanks to R for making it an amazing Mom's Day.