Festival of trees part 3

The girls danced at the festival of trees this morning.  It is not the ideal place to dance but it was ok. They did so good. I love watching them do their thing. Hallie had one class she helps teach so she got to sit up front prompting them what to do.   I will figure out how to post videos, so maybe check back.

Festival of trees part 1

The first round at the festival of trees was Friday morning with the 2 d and 3rd graders.  They have been preparing for a while.  They did well. There was a time where the kids got ahead of the music but we lined back up.  It was cute seeing all the kids dressed up and telling me they were nervous.  I wished I could have gotten video but I forgot to have Brad do that.  I was busy up directing the kids.  The kids loved singing.

Road trip fun

We made it to Spokane about 9:30 our time, 8:30 here.  The drive went very smooth.  So glad we decided to rent a car.  It was awesome e gas mileage and was perfect size for just the four of us.  It is crazy to me that some families only have 2 kids.  After traveling with 5 kids it seems like a tiny little car load:).  Savanna's team played Prairie first at 10.  Prairie was actually last year's State champs.  They were really awesomely good.  We put up a good fight but did lose.  We played Compass Charter at 1:00.  We beat them in 3 sets.  It was close but we played well.
In between games we grabbed Savanna some lunch and then we went on a small drive to see the lake.  Timberlake High is right by Spirit Lake here in Northern Idaho.  It is such pretty country up here. The colors in the trees turning yellow, red and orange.  We are just at the hotel taking a break from sitting and then we will hit it again.

Road trip

We are on the road.  We are headed to Coeur De Lane for a couple days.  State volleyball is way up north this year.  They play their first game at 10 tomorrow but it is a 10 hour drive.  Savanna and the team left yesterday and stopped in Missoula Montana.  They found a gym and we're able to get a practice in.  They will drive the rest of the way today.  I wasn't able to go send her off because I had to teach but it was great. Firetrucks were spouting an arch for them, lots of signs on the bus, some painted straw bails on the side of the road.  Fun.  And there are awesome mom's that made up some baskets of entertainment and food.  Savanna even got a card from Tallon mom with $25 in it.  We have such a thoughtful community.  Aleena and Hallie opted to stay home with Grampa.  Today is Aleena's birthday and she wanted to spend it at school with her friends and she wanted to see her friends at the trunk or treat on halloween.  Hallie can get her where she needs to be. We will miss having them with us.  Jase is tucked away and you can't see him in the picture. 

Headed to State

Tonight Savanna had her last District game.  They played for 2nd against Hagerman and won.  They won the first 2 sets. Hagerman won the 3rd and we won the 4th.  We were literally 1 or 2 points apart the whole time.  Very intense games.  The girls played really well. I am excited for Sav's last year to end so well, but am not sure about the 10 hour drive we get to make next weekend.  Hopefully it doesn't put us too far behind financially.  I think Brad and I are going to rent a car for the drive just because ours is not super reliable especially for that long of a drive. 

These two are complete opposites but LOVE this picture of them.  One cheered while the other played.  Love their guts.

Savanna really loves her Coaches.  These Senior girls are gonna be missed.

Sports Rant

Savanna had a big game for Volleyball Districts.  it was against Valley.  It was for 1st place.  We have won once and lost once against them so the game could go either way.  These girls are doing their best out there.  Just because they make mistakes doesn't mean they aren't trying.  It really gets under my skin when the parents/supporters are yelling things like "hit the dam ball" "come on girls, play with pride".  There was a guy sitting behind me that I really wanted to turn around and tell him to shut up. Negativity comments do not help pep up any team.  We do not know what the coach has told the girls to do for plays and so sometimes the dinks are planned by the coach.  These girls work hard and things like "keep fighting" "You can do it" are way more positive than the other garbage.  I left more annoyed at the dude than our loss... Rant over.
We will play again on Thursday.

Johnny Cash

Saturday, while at the pumpkin patch, we were listening to a gentleman singing his songs while playing the guitar.  He was there as some live entertainment.  He started singing this one song and every sentence was rhyming.  Livee just lit up more and more and she was listening.  Each time it rhymed it just made her smile and giggle.  It was the cutest thing.  As it started to repeat the chorus she could sing it with him.  When he was done, she kept begging me to tell him to play it again that she loved that aong.  we never got a chance to hear it again, but I found it on Youtube it is by Johnny Cash, The Ballad of a Beauty Queen, she referred to it as "the candy store song".  I played it for her thus morning while trying to wake her up.  It just brought a cute little smile to her face and moans from Aleena on the other side of the bed.

listen to the song here.
https://youtu.be/JS0RPnypWT4

Sunday Family Fun Day

It felt so good to sleep in today.  I needed that.  Livee helped me make pancakes before church.  We ended up only getting to Sacrament today.  Kaydee was headed over because she had no water at her house and Kell came because it is our Sunday tradition.  The kids played and we just kind of hung out.  Kaydee wasn't feeling super great but we still had a great time.  I pulled out some chili and pumpkin roll and we got everyone fed. 

We all kind of hung around the kitchen so they could watch the movie playing in my computer.  I need a better setup over there for these

times..

Crazy Saturday

Yesterday was a full day.  I was up bright and early making yummies for the pumpkin patch.  Early morning baking always brings back memories of when I worked in Albertson's Bakery when I was going to BSU. I had to be there at 4 am.  I didn't mind the job, but I did not like 4 am because I never went to bed at a decent hour.
I sent kids over to set up at the pumpkin patch while I finished up and cleaned up, the worst part, and got dressed for the day.  I finally got over there around noon. 

I then drove over to Murtaugh, about 30 minutes away, to Savanna's volleyball game.  It was the first of their district tournament.  They played Shoshone.  I took Livee and Jase.  Aleena opted to stay and help at the Pumpkin Patch.  She can be such a great helper when she chooses to be.  Hallie headed over with the cheerleaders. They won the game in 3 sets.  Savanna played well and smart. They even had Warren, he has been doing their summer camps for the last couple years and really coaching their coach Sherri on how to improve, came to the game.  He met each girl as they left the locker room and just told them good job and some words of wisdom.  I think that was special for the girls.  I have a hard time getting great footage of the game or Hallie cheering because I am the book keeper and have to pay attention or I get all messed up, but Hallie did do an awesome job cheering too. Kell and her kids drove over and watched Savanna play.  That gave Jase and Livee someone to hang with during the game. It was fun to have her there.

After the game, I hurried back to the pumpkin Patch to relieve Aleena.  It had rained on them but she had taken care of everything.  Robin, (owns the patch) said she was a very hard worker.  Robin was her back up and helped her out.  I gave them the left over cinnamon rolls and some caramels as a thank you for helping her.  Aleena went home to warm up and Livee and I cleaned things up for the night.  It was getting dark and there were some more rain clouds a brewing.

My kids are sick of cinnamon rolls, chili and pumpkin roll so I decided to actually cook them some tacos, or "tato's" as Hallie was referring to them
  She was in one of her silly goofy moods while we were fixing dinner.  She had Savanna and Livee just busting up.  I do love when I am in the kitchen and they are mingling, enjoying each other.  it sure makes cooking and dishes way more enjoyable.
I was sure glad to hit my pillow.  Brad is gone right now and has been all week and so Aleena and Livee usually find a spot on my bed on the weekends. A full day but yet another great one.

Hamster Emergency

We almost had a major catastrophe at our house tonight.  "My hamster is not in my cage and I don't know where he is" are sure words to get everyone excited.  I knew that I would not be able to sleep if he wasn't found because he would surely climb on my bed and snuggle by me which would give me a heart attack.  After much searching, we found him hiding under MY bed.  See his plan was to climb into my bed.  I knew it.  Luckily, Hallie was willing to pay out a $5 reward to the person who found him alive. If he was dead, she would let them keep his body.  Now isn't that generous of her.  Jase broke out his flashlight and started searching.

Be the Change

We had a great Achievement day activity last night.  Our little friend Whitney is the Miss Outstanding Teen and she came and talked to the girls about "Being the Change" in the world big and small.  They loved it.  we ended with a fun game of Snorta.  It is our last week with Gentry.  We will miss her. 

Aleena the wild child

Ignore the mess behind her- I am trying to embrace the independence and stubborness that this girl came with.  This was after I refused to let her go in 2 different socks, she at least went and found matching socks.  I told her we better take a picture so she remember how cool she was in 5th grade.

Senior night

I have been toying with different blogging platforms.  Blogspot just isn't phone friendly and I like to blog while I am tucked in my bed as I am pondering about my day.  So I went to Weebly and posted a few times.  It is super phone friendly, but there are a few things I don't like about them.  *I am constantly getting emails to solicit their monthly plan *I can't really post videos on the free version  *I can't make my page as cute.  Even the header picture won't change to my family picture, so blogspot definitely offers more on web design.  I can't make a list of emails to shoot a copy of my posts as I publish them.  I don't really care to share my posts on facebook but that is the only way to let anyone know you posted, unless you buy a monthly subscription.  Plus, I was feeling sad, that my family story was being seperated into two different places.  I like that it is all in one place so I am going to copy and paste my Weebly posts back to here, so sorry for the repetition.

Tuesday night was Senior night for little beauties.  It was their last home game against Glenns Ferry.  I am sure going to miss watching Savanna and the rest of these girls play ball together.  Their moms are also pretty awesome.  Thanks moms for putting together such memorable gifts for these girls.  They all four are such drama free team players that it made it that much funner to watch them.  They ended up being 1st in their conference and have districts on Saturday.  Good Luck Ladies.

Savanna the Sea Witch

The Little Mermaid

Oakley Music Department

Savanna had so much fun being Queen Ursula in the school musical.  It was fun dressing her up.  And she got to be in it with some of her really good friends.  

4 week post surgery

On May 12, Hallie and I drove to Boise for her post-op appointment with Dr. Cherny.  She has been cleared to do most things but she may tire out easily until she builds her strength back up.  Her scar looks good and the only thing she still has from surgery is a numb, weird sensation patch on her skull up by where her ponytail goes.  He said it is probably from where they harvest the patch to sew back over her opening.  It will probably get smaller in size but there is a chance that could be permanent.  We will just have to wait and see what the nerves do.  She said it is about a circle the size of a girls softball.  

He wants us to start a little Occupational Therapy on her left hand, so we will find someone close so we don't have to travel for that.  

It was a great visit.  It was short and sweet.  We hit some lunch after, and the pet shop, where she is obsessed.  She will be the crazy animal lady someday.  And then we drove home.  I really enjoyed spending the day with her.  She is quite a comedian and knows how to make me laugh.   

This was the coolest art piece.  It is a glass mosaic.  Hallie loves art projects and thought for sure that would have been fun.  There are so many details in it.  

I had to sneak this picture because she hates the camera.

Spring Recital

I had another successful Recital.  It is always a fun night.  I ended up with 2 kids sick/injuries for the night, but overall was great.  I have started playing at the recitals to give myself some practice.  Every time recital comes around, I end up trying to find a good excuse to not play, but it really has been a good thing for me.  It challenges my brain and it really has improved my skills.  I need to start looking for what I will play next time.  It usually takes me the whole season to get it ready.  

Savanna Prom 2015

Tallon took Savanna to Prom.  They have been dating for a couple years but have decided to take other kids to dances, but decided since this was Tallon's last prom, they would go together.  He leaves on his mission in June to Jacksonville, Florida.  We got her dress in Boise at Da Duh.  It needed a fill in the front because the top was all sheer see through except for the 2 booby pads in the front.  Apparantly that is the new style.  So I just added fabric in the front like a sweetheart line.  Plus it needed some hemming.  She really did look beautiful.  I unfortunately was in the hospital with Hallie so I was unable to be here on the day.  I felt so terrible that I wasn't here.  Luckily she is talented at hair and makeup.  They hung out at his house and watched movies during the day and then went to dinner at the Dry Dock in Burley with a group of friends.  

Savanna sang the theme for the Prom which was "Old Hollywood".  She decided to sing What A Wonderful World.  It seemed fitting for the time period.  Of course she sang it beautiful.  

Here is the link to her singing.  Brad was able to get a video.  

https://youtu.be/i_0buQwQspo