Winter 2018

I just really hate when I have such great intentions to post at least twice a month so that I can keep up and write a decent blog and then all of a sudden it's mid January of the following year and I realize that not only did I not post twice a month, but I didn't post at all. So here we go with another really fast year at a glance which I will just break up into seasons. And I can't make any promises that 2019 will be much better. I'm hoping I can keep up but things are really crazy right now with online classes at BYU-Idaho combined with going back to full time babysitting combined with being Young Women president in the branch. But I'm getting ahead of myself because none of those things were happening last year at this time.

January:

Last year at this time, I was taking classes but it was still the PathwayConnect program through BYU-I and I thought things were stressful then! Actually at that point I was taking a Book of Mormon class and a math class so I actually was kind of stressed--particularly over the math class. But I don't know if it was the fact that I could rewind the instructional videos as often as I needed to or if it was that it went way back to multiplication before building up rapidly to Algebra and Geometry stuff, but it made so much more sense to me and wound up being a really good class. In the end I got my first A in a math class since probably 7th grade!

Also, in January, Kaya was honored as one of four essay winners at Harrington Elementary for her essay on Martin Luther King, Jr. She was given a certificate at an assembly in school where she also had to read her essay in front of everyone. Then she was invited to a special dinner with a program afterward where the essay winners read their essays in front of the community. Then she was honored at the city council meeting. And then she had to read the essay at the school board meeting. And then she was invited to an NAACP meeting to present her essay one final time! By the end, she had the thing memorized and was happy to not have to read it ever again.

Lynnsey turned 15 on the 10th. Kendall made her a delicious cake and we had a nice little family party at home.

February:

Things started getting even busier in February. Kendall and Lynnsey had the opportunity to go with the marching band to New York City. I was just a little bit envious. They had a great time visiting different sites around the city like Ellis Island, Radio City Music Hall, Time's Square, and two Broadway plays (Phantom of the Opera and Spongebob Squarepants--both of which they loved including surprisingly the latter). 

Kendall and Lynnsey also both did solo and ensemble with band this month. It was Lynnsey's first time and they got a judge who was incredibly difficult and actually rather harsh with them. They did a great job from what I witnessed but the judge apparently didn't agree and ripped them to shreds very unconstructively. They felt lucky to get out of the experience with a 2. We checked the overall score sheet and the other flute judge was giving out tons of 1's but Lynnsey's had given out only two or three, with the majority scoring 2's or not even getting a score at all.

 Kendall and his group had a much more fair judge. They did a great job and scored a 1 which qualified them for state.

Lynnsey had her New Beginning's program with their tiny little young women group. I'm really wishing I had paid more attention to how the night went because now that I'm in charge this year, I'm feeling like I really don't know what the heck I'm doing. We sure loved Sister Betzold and all she did for the girls.

March:

Kendall and Lynnsey had such a great experience being involved in the Marshall High school production of The Little Mermaid. Kendall got the role he was hoping for, playing Grimmsby. Lynnsey got an ensemble role as one of the sea creatures. The auditorium was packed full for all three performances and it was probably the most successful play the school has ever done.

After one of the rehearsals, the seniors in the play were recognized and celebrated. It was quite a group and the theatre department is really suffering their absence this year!

 Also in March, the kids all had their band festival. Kendall in symphonic band, Lynnsey in concert band and Spencer in middle school band. All three bands did a phenomenal job and scored 1's.

 Kaya had a great time with her twice-weekly Girls on the Run meetings.

 I don't even know what this picture is from--maybe recess or something at Harrington, but I just love how happy everyone looks.

 Kendall had his choir festival as well with the Marshall Singers and they too did a great job, scoring straight 1's.

 Easter was in March. The Activity Day kids put on another Easter egg hunt and party and the kids had fun getting their faces painted like bunnies. We also had our annual egg hunt at home. I know the kids are getting too old for it, but they're always willing to go along since it means a bunch of candy!