May 2017

May is always a busy and beautiful month. In addition to all the end of the year school events, we try to squeeze in time to enjoy the nice weather before the squelching heat of summer sets in.

Claire and I continued to take advantage of Chick Fil A's toddler time events as often as possible. Nate was even able to join us for a Mother's Day canvas painting on a day he played hooky from school. 

Though Claire is quite a confident and sociable girl, she doesn't like the spotlight. In Primary she doesn't like to participate alone in front of the whole crowd. Whenever she is called upon to come forward to participate, her friend Brynn offers to go with her. Sometimes all you need is a friend to help you feel comfortable!

Claire loves playing in water, no matter the weather, but if it's nice enough to throw on a swim suit? Even better!

Yearly tradition- strawberry picking! It always sounds like so much fun, but all the squatting, the hot sun, the itchy leaves, and trying to chase down a kid with a bucket are kind of exhausting. Nevertheless, I endure and we come home with delicious fresh fruit. 

 

The boys played spring flag football. As soon as we learned who Nate's coach was, we were disappointed. He was notorious for being a hothead jerk, even having the cops called to a game because of his verbal assaults on kids and parents the previous season. The season started off rough, with him tearing the kids apart after their first loss. However, one of the parents, in a group email, set the coach in his place and praised the kids for their efforts. It did the trick. Amazingly, for that point on, he was encouraging and mellow. They only won a couple of games, but the season went very well.
Sam had a great season, too. But Claire whiled the time away on electronic devices and picking daisies. 

I loved having my little treasure home with me during the days. We enjoyed several picnic lunches in the front yard.

A Sunday afternoon fishing trip at the neighborhood pond resulted in Sam catching his first couple of fish. He wouldn't touch them of course. I don't blame him. I don't touch nasty things either.

Country kids feeding Mimi and Pop Pop's chickens.

Never to miss being the center of attention. Claire got fully involved in Nate and Sam's dentist appointments. She so dang cute that no one minded- not the boys and not the dentist or hygienist. 

After only 2 months of lessons, the boys had their first piano recital. They, obviously, played very simple songs, but they knocked them out of the park. I felt so proud. Their piano teacher is simply the best. What a blessing to have found her!

Paul was asked to help translate Stake Conference for the Spanish speakers. The kids found it to be very interesting. And entertaining. 

Nate had awards day at school and racked up- most notably, all A's for the year.

Claire and Tessa wrapped up a semester of gymnastics. There was no real progress made, but they still felt like champions!

I had Tessa, Brielle, and Brynn over for a spring play date. They had butterfly treats, painted tiny flowerpots and planted flower seeds, and made stained glass tissue paper butterflies.  

 

 

 
Sam had an after school pizza, basketball, and video games play date at his friend, Charlotte's house along with their friend Bryce.
He also had a mud run/obstacle course at school. Paul and I volunteered to man the push-ups challenge. Afterwards he went home to swim with his friends Grant, Aiden, and Bryce.

 

 

 
Paul put in some back-breaking labor to build a ring around our tree. It made it look SO much nicer. Unfortunately, I've got a black thumb and, despite my effort to make it look pretty with mulch and plants, I picked ones that weren't suited to the area and they didn't survive very long. Nothing I plant seems to survive...

 
Memorial Day weekend we went to Table Rock State Park to swim in the lake and do a tiny bit of hiking with the Rohms.

Everyone is always a sucker for Claire. Still unwilling to sleep alone, she always finds someone willing to let her in.

Sam wrapped up his fifth grade school year with Fifth Grade Day, complete with inflatables, a photo booth, and other fun activities.
Nate had his annual field day and Claire, as usual, made herself right at home. Nate and Claire are two peas in a pod and generally enough being with each other. When they aren't fighting.

 

 

 

 

Eternally the cat woman, Claire adores Mimi and Pop Pop's cat, Santa. And Santa loves to climb up in her lap to cuddle. It's the perfect relationship.