Primary activity

The kids had a Primary activity on Tuesday. I'm not sure either of the kids had a great time. It was a water activity and Carter and another kid ran into each other when they were running through the sprinkler. He was pretty pouty after that. Kennedy and the other girls her age were pretty much regulated to helping out with the younger kids, so I'm not sure how much fun she actually had. But, most of the kids seemed to thing it was a lot of fun. Again, the pictures aren't too great. I'm a novice at using Chris' nice Canon camera, so I didn't have it on the right settings, the pictures all had a blue tint and looked washed out. I'll figure it out someday.

They had an obstacle course for the kids. They had to sing primary songs as they went along.

The best part, the popcicles at the end.

And I just had to include this cute picture of my friend Amanda's daughter Becca. Hope you don't care Amanda, if you do I can change it to the one I took of you :)

Kennedy's a performer

 Kennedy is just finishing up her last year of elementary school. She goes year round, so we are just getting to the end of the school year here. Her fifth grade teacher, Miss Nigh, has been pretty creative this year and the kids are always putting on a performance of some kind or another.

Miss Nigh and the kids put together a compilation of what they have done this year. All the academic projects and all the "specials". Specials are things like music, PE, library, health, that they go to other teachers for. It was really entertaining, although I couldn't get too many good pictures. The parents are always stuck behind about 500 kids (no, I'm not kidding, the school actually has about 650 to 700 I thing, but there is always one track off).

Megan, Kelsey and Kennedy did a dance about health and staying drug free to a Hannah Montana song. It was pretty cute.

And then the whole class did another dance to the High School Musical song about summer. They did the performance three times on Monday and again on Wednesday.

My little builder

My husband took pity on me because I've been home with the boys during the week while Kennedy is still in school. They have been driving me a little crazy. This is Ryan, everyday, "Mom, what are we doing today that's fun?" This is me, "Nothing, I'm not your entertainment, now go clean your room." And this is Carter, everyday, "I want to play the Wii," and this is me, "Get off the Wii right now and find something else to do." Yeah, I know, I'm not a fun mom. But, gas prices are high, I don't want to be driving a lot. Especially when I've got a couple of high mileage trips coming up soon. I need to be saving some money (and I've been doing a good job, I haven't filled up my Expedition in over 17 days).

So, Saturday Chris commandeered Carter for the morning while I took Ryan and Kennedy shopping (did I really get the best end of this stick??). And this is what they came home with ...

 

They went to Lowe's and did a kids build and grow workshop. Carter built this cool wooden tape measure. He also got the apron and glasses and a patch you can sew on. He was very excited. He then followed Chris around the rest of the day. They changed the oil on Chris' motorcycle, rototilled the garden and spent the day outside together. I think they had so much fun that they will be going back in a couple of weeks to build a wooden baseball game.

WAY TO GO CARTER!! And thanks hon, for giving me a little break.

Young women's (Bishop, are you sure that you got the right person??)

That's right. I received a new calling two Sunday's ago. I knew that I was riding on borrowed time with no calling, since I was released from being Relief Society secretary at the end of April. But, I was really enjoying the no stress of just going to church and enjoying the lessons (and yes mom, I actually do go to Sunday School sometimes).

And then, I just had to go the my friend Tresa's house to check out her new patio and pergola (that's a cool patio covering with slats and openings, I know, not described well, but really, that's not what the post is about). Guess who her husband is?? The Bishop, who I still call Bill outside of church, because it's just weird calling him the Bishop in his house when I'm just hanging out. And bang, new calling. Laurel advisor in Young Women's. I'm actually quite excited, I've been in pretty much every organization except YW. So, it's going to be a new experience, I'm sure a growing one. I'm sure I'll learn a lot, and hopefully impart some life knowledge to some of the girls I'll be with. And as a plus, Kennedy will be turning 12 next year, so maybe I'll get to be with her for a little bit.

We've only got a few Laurels right now, so we are meeting with the Mia Maids through the summer, which means, since we are going to be gone most of July, I don't even have to teach until August . And another plus, our Young Women's president is Amanda of the blogging world whose link is on the side of my blog. She's awesome. One of my really good friends, and one of the best visiting teachers that I've ever had (she actually gave us pedicures one day!!).

We (that would be Elli, the YW secretary and me) are driving up to girls camp on Thursday night for dinner. I'm excited, I only went to a couple years of girls camp when I was growing up, definitely wish I had gone to more, so this will be a fun trip. The girls are really excited, the first year girls are nervous, but I think it will be fun. It's the Bishop's night and testimony meeting, I think. It will be a good way to get to know the girls better.

Who goes on business trips like this?!?!

Apparently my husband does. But really, when does a business trip include a day here??

This would be Disney World in Orlando, Florida. And a night here??

Yes, that's Sea World in Orlando. And another night here??

Yep, another fun night. This one at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando.

I'm trying to decide if Chris was really actually on a business trip. Or, maybe he just conned his bosses into paying for a vacation. All kidding aside, I know it was a business trip, but really, me home, alone with three kids?? Definitely not a fair trade off. Maybe I should start taking "business trips" to fun places and leave him home with the kids :) Anyway, this was me at the end of his week in Orlando...

 But I got payback. Chris had to connect to a flight through Chicago. If you know anything about his travels, you know that he never has anything but bad luck flying through Chicago :) As the phone rang and I checked the caller ID, saw it was him, when he should have been on a plane, I knew he would be spending the night in Chicago again. He's spent a few nights on a cot in the airport before. But, just my luck, he's decided that's not OK anymore, and he booked a room here ...

 

 DANG HIM

 

And then he had to fly home Saturday morning and go straight to Gowen Field for his Drill Weekend. At that point I kind of felt sorry for him because he had to get up early Sunday morning to have his parents at the airport by about 4:30 am and then go to drill again.

His business trips aren't usually this fun, although they do try to find some good restaurants to eat at and will sometimes get to go to a baseball game or something, it just depends on the cities they are in. And it's always nice when he gets home, cause we all miss him when he's gone.

Last day of school

For Ryan at least. Poor Kennedy is going through the end of June. Ryan finished 7th grade this year. They got out early today, do you think he and his friends could come up with something fun to do outside?? No, he comes home and all he wants to do is this ...

Play the WII. They got it for Christmas, but after about three months they were fighting so bad over it, that the Wii Remotes got taken away until last week. We'll see how long the peace lasts. He's really into his Call of Duty 3 game right now. I'm thinking that I should get the new Wii Fit game that just came out.

Anyway, Ryan has a pretty busy summer planned. He's got a journalism camp in two weeks since he's going to be on the yearbook staff next year. He's really excited about that. Also he has scout camp the last week of June. That's always a fun time. Then we are off on our travels for the summer. A couple weeks in Teton Valley and then off to California on our Fabulous Family Summer Vacation (with a wedding thrown in).

I still can't believe that I am the mother of an 8th grader. And, I just found out that my high school reunion is going to be over Labor Day weekend. FIFTEEN YEARS, crazy, crazy, crazy!!