In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lion

I love blogging. I really, really do. So what the heck is wrong with me these days??? I just can't seem to make myself upload the photos and keep up to date on things like I wish I would. I need to do better because as long as I go between blogging episodes, it's been even longer since I wrote an actual entry in my journal. This blog is pretty much the only documentation of my existence at this point. I have to do better!

Well, as is the case often in Michigan, March came in like a lion and it looks like it's heading out that way too! Both in weather and in the craziness of life. Mom had surgery about 10 days after her accident and so it was kind of like starting all over again. But within a couple of weeks she was doing tons better and had rented a cute little scooter contraption that makes getting around on her own so much easier. So she decided she was ready to move back home. We decided it's too bad she couldn't have a happy medium. Our house is just so loud and chaotic most of the time but over there it's lonely and quiet with her all by herself. Kaya and I usually visit for a couple of hours everyday. Although now we have Susannah and Rebecca visiting so until next week at least, she won't be lonely.

In the meantime, our lives here sure haven't slowed down much. Kalen has been SO busy with work the past few weeks that we barely see him. And when we do, he has work that he's brought home with him or he's so exhausted that he falls asleep in the recliner as soon as he sits down. Thankfully, his summer vacation isn't too far away.

I am still babysitting for one boy everyday after school and another on Mondays plus trying to keep up with my church callings, the kid's schedules and the Etsy shop. Crocheting for that is my therapy though. The more I create, the more I love it. I've had to start writing down ideas in a notebook so that I can keep track of all the new ideas for projects that I want to do. Now if only I could actually sell something...

Taylor has had several major school projects that he's been working on lately, plus Scouts, plus his online Seminary class every day and playing in the band at all the home basketball games. On Saturday the band competed with other schools from all over the region and Albion High School did such a fantastic job. We have a little high school that has so many serious issues, but our band is something else! They have a great teacher who inspires the kids and challenges them to be the best. And they definitely were on Saturday. They played three performance pieces which were amazing--like beyond typical high school abilities. Then they had to play two pieces in the the sight reading room. They were given two unfamiliar songs and seven minutes to learn each song WITHOUT playing a single note on their instruments. It was fascinating to watch the teacher talk them through it with them tapping, singing, chanting along. Then they played each piece and a judge talked to them afterward with only great things to say. They earned straight ones for all their performances that day and qualified to go to the state competition. Unfortunately, though I had remembered the camera, I didn't get any photos. They didn't allow flash photography and the lighting was just too dim to get anything without it. Oh well. Even if I had been able to get a shot, it most likely would have been something like this: That kid hates to be in photos!!!

I mentioned last time that Kendall and Lynnsey were both participating in the Destination Imagination tournament this year. Their competitions went great. In the weeks leading up to the performance, Kendall's group had to research mythology and mythological creatures for many different countries. They didn't know which country they would be assigned until 5 minutes before they were to perform a skit about it. They ended up with Greece and their monster was a Hydra. They had a box with several props in it but they were only allowed to use a couple of them, one of which was a bungee cord. They also were given an envelope with an Unexpected Event in it that they would have to work into the skit right in the middle. (Their event was that someone gets his hands stuck. That would be Kendall). It is so much fun to see how they put it all together on the spot. They did a great job.

Kendall also recently won second place for his Black History Month Essay "I Have a Dream". He was given two gift cards to Subway and McDonald's.

We recently got to visit the Art Center of Battle Creek where a handmade decorative gift box that Kendall made had been selected to be on display with other area school students. Kendall was pretty excited to have something of his chosen, especially by his notoriously tough to please art teacher. Speaking of art, he absolutely LOVED his pottery class. And they loved him. They called us recently and invited him to come back for another session. Unfortunately this one we'd have to pay for, and it was a bit pricey so we told them we'd have to take a rain check. Hopefully we can get him into another session soon.

Lynnsey's little D.I. group did great too. It was the first year for a lot of them. Their group had to perform an original play called "Big Bug's Bad Day." The interesting thing about Destination Imagination is that even though they have a coach, the responsibility is all on the students. They had to write the skit all by themselves and make their own costumes. In fact, when Lynnsey's bumblebee wings tore right before the performance, the coach handed her some tape but no adults were allowed to help her fix it. I think it really gives these kids so much confidence in their own abilities and improves their problem solving skills enormously.

Lynnsey is still my little hat model. She just cracks me up the way she poses for me sometimes--like shes such a professional.

And here's another cute model. Spencer has been learning to read really well lately. He loves to try to figure out what a word is and practice spelling things. He's also very into arts and crafts and is constantly drawing or cutting up paper and giving us all sorts of pictures. Lately he can think of nothing else but the birthday party he his having when he turns six--in 4 months. It might be a long 4 months...

And then there is Kaya. She's still very much two:

I discovered her up on the bathroom counter the other day where she had used my lipstick to draw a masterpiece on the bathroom mirror before washing her hair in the sink and beautifying herself. And she's so cute about it that it's hard to get mad at her. As soon as I walked in she blurted out: "I'm really, really sorry Mommy!" Little stinker. She's such a handful sometimes but just so darn loveable. Every once in awhile she climbs up on mine or Kalen's lap and she'll say: "I yuv you. You my best fwend ever!" How can you resist that I ask you? We sure can't.