A Speciality

On the way home from school last week Joel said, "Mom, I think teaching is your specialty." He then proceeded to tell me that everybody has a specialty - Michael's is making chips (for cell phones), Emma's is being a good big sister, and his was losing at math games. That came as a surprise becuase he is actually very good at math, but apparantely not very fast when they're playing games in class.

Every now and then he comes home with a really big word that he actually understands. A few months ago the word was "deviate." He was so excited to tell us about how his teacher was going to school to become one thing, but then she decided to deviate and choose something different.

He may be our baby, but he sure likes the big words.

Finally Summer!

We have only been on summer break for about five days, but we are trying to make the most of it. We were so happy to be able to celebrate Kyle's half-birthday with him. We miss living so close and love any chance we have to get together with old friends.

Besides packing and getting ready for our tip we have been spending the rest of our time relaxing and hanging out at the pool as much as possible. Today I learned a painful lesson about needing sunscreen in Arizona, even though I never did in California. Oh well, the burn should fade soon.

Battle of the Books

This was the moment they realized they had won!


Emma was on a team called "The Divas and Those Guys." Don't they look the part?



The principal and the team holding the plague that will be displayed in the office.


Every year our school has a Battle of the Books competition. Students from 5th through 7th grades are asked to read from a list of between 11 and 14 books. They are put on teams of five or six students. 5th and 6th graders are on teams together, and 7th and 8th graders are on teams together. They read for six weeks and then we have a big competition. It starts with all the 5th and 6th grade teams battling each other and the 7th and 8th grade teams battling each other. The final four teams from each grade level then battle against each other. It is a major competition with the loud speaker, costumes, a fog machine, and very intense participants. This was Emma's second year to compete and they won! Michael and I were so proud of her. But, better than that, she was so proud of herself. I don't think she stopped talking about it for two weeks and we really didn't get tired of hearing about how her hard work paid off.

My Grandmother

This is my parents and all my sisters. (L to R: Shanna, Stefani, Dad, Mom, me, & Janell)

People always want to know if Janell and I look alike. What do you think?

My grandmother always referred to her granddaughters as her rose garden.

My parents at the cemetery.

On Monday, March 16th my grandmother passed away in her home in California. We have known this was coming for a few months now, but it was still quite a blow. Don't we frequently just assume that everybody special in our lives will be there forever? This was my last living grandparent and now, somehow, it feels strange not to have any. I was lucky that I grew up just about two miles from my grandmother and I saw her frequently. I still have some of the crocheted blankets and dolls she made for me when I was a girl. Put away in a special place are the blankets she made for each of my children for the blessing. Some things will never taste the same, no matter who makes them - waffles with bacon, chicken and dumplings, stuffed rolls, and tamale pie. But, with the bitter, comes the sweet. This was the first occasion that all my sister and I were together in the same place in nearly seven years. It also allowed for all of the cousins to gather together. I can't remember the last time that happened. I will miss her and the visits we shared. I wish that my children would've had more time with her. She was a wonderful lady who was truly a blessing to everyone she knew.

Our Brave Little Guy

This is Jacob walking into the Surgery Center last Thursday. Just like he always is, he was happy and smiling.

Even moments before the surgery, Jacob appeared to be relaxed and was joking with the nurses and doctors.

However, after the surger he wasn't too happy that we kept trying to get him to wake up.

Overall, everything went really well. There was one additional break in his lower leg, but they were able to remove the extra piece of bone without putting in any screws or pins.

He will be off his leg for the next ten weeks or so. Hopefully he we will be able to return to the last couple of days of school before Spring Break.

Ouch!

So we have had our trampoline for almost two years with nothing but a few bumps and bruises. Well...all that ended on Sunday. Michael was playing with the kiddos on the tramp and Jacob collapsed in pain. Unfortunately, he has a badly broken ankle that will need to be repaired in surgery later this week.

BEFORE AFTER

Second Degree

Michael successfully tested last Friday for his 2nd Degree Black Belt. He had to make up his own form that was as many moves long as his dad is old. I tried to tell the instructors that his dad was 112, but nobody believed me. I think we are getting ready to take a break from taekwondo for a while, but he sure has enjoyed it these past three and a half years.