School's Out...celebrate!

AM Class

PM Class

Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I feel just like a kid at the end of the year!  Had another great year working with a super teacher.  We had a great class - challenges yes - but still great.  It's so grand seeing them progress so much.  At first you don't think they'll ever get it, and then it all starts clicking for most of them.  Some still have a little catch up, but most are on target.  I got the opportunity to work full-time for several weeks at the end of the year when the AM aide got sick and had to take some time off.  I had worked with many of the AM students the previous summer in the summer kindergarten preschool, so it was fun to be back with them.  I enjoyed it, but now I know that I am perfectly satisfied to work part time.  I'm just too spoiled to give up all of my day.  If I got another 4 hours added to my day to make up for it, I would be just fine with it. (Missing a few absent kids in both pictures.)

A few of the pm kids

Pine Valley, Webelos Day Hike & Eclipse

 For our date this week we decided we would go up to Pine Valley for a picnic (after putting ribbons on plants/trees that Webelos would need to identify on their day hike).  We didn't think the gates would be open yet and planned on taking a hike to get in to a picnic table, but we were pleasantly surprised otherwise.  It was 20 degrees cooler than St. George and almost no one was there.  The only regret was that we weren't camping out.  After dinner we took a little hike.  It was so great we hated to turn back when it started getting dark.

Saturday was more good times.  I had volunteered to be the hike leader again for the District Webelos Day Hike.  Last minute the person who was going to do the fire building class had to speak at a funeral and Paul said he would do it.  I didn't think it could be done any better than last year's guy, but he did a great job and the kids (and leaders) seemed to learn a lot and enjoy it.  He divided them up in groups of 4-5 boys and each group got to build their little fire with no help from the leaders. Most were able to do it with only one match and were so excited about it.  Then they had to put it out and clean it up so they left no trace.    I was just there for back up and whatever needed doing.  On the hike back they tried crawdad fishing again, but again they had no luck.  There were 91 boys in attendance.

Today after Sunday dinner we had our own little eclipse party in the back yard.  According the the paper the last time a ring eclipse was visible from the continental US was in 1994 and the next to be visible from Utah will be in 2023.  It was so cool.  Didn't get any pictures except of the funny shadows different places around the yard.

Lillypad busy times...

Lots going on lately - here's the latest.  We had a small family "feast of the fast over" at Moss and Christie's this time.  It was them, us and Derek and kids.  We missed the rest, but we had good food,  got to give Kaebri her birthday present and see Tasia's first gap from a missing tooth...at last!  On the way home we stopped by for a quick visit with Weed and Trigg.

Next fun stuff was spending an evening with Juge and kids.  It included dinner, fun times at the Town Square and a stop at 25 Main for marked down after 7 pm cupcakes.  Sarai wasn't too sure about the water at the Town Square, but Eden and Noah were in and soaked pretty quick.  By the time we left they were shivering and a little blue around the lips, but still happy and able to enjoy those yummy cupcakes!  (We had hoped to ride the carousel, but it was already closed down for the evening...shucks.)

Notice Noah leaping from rock to rock - he's going to grow up to be a mountain goat just like his dad!

 The next event was a Saturday pre-mother's day brunch hosted by Moss and Christie and catered by the men of the family.  Some cooked and some babysat.  I seemed to mostly get pictures of people enjoying Brenden's collection of super hero masks.  Good food, visiting and presents made for a really good time!  We were glad that Lou and kids went to all the trouble to make it down...even after she ran and got 5th place in a 5K that very morning.  It was also great to have the Weavers and the Lillywhites make an even longer drive down to join the fun. Thanks to everyone for the great presents.  Love you all.  YOU are the best presents of all! 

Just of few of the very SUPER heroes in this family!

 After that those who wanted to went to participated in the festivities at the Town Square.  (Most of the men headed back to the house to do some computer stuff.) It was a pretty busy place, but a lot of fun. First we rode the carousel. Face painting (and hand) was a favorite activity.  There were also puppies to be held, "Mom you rock" rocks to be decorated, visors to be decorated, Angry Birds to catapult at, sand to be played in, cotton candy to be eaten and of course, water to be played in!

On Sunday Grandma came over for the more peaceful Mother's Day feast which was cooked by Paul and Jay.  Mmm good!  There were also presents to be opened and cats to be petted that day. 

That evening we went over for a little celebration with Zade.  He turned 4 that very day!  We hunted up several Z's and 4's around the house (at least 4 of each) and then had cupcakes and ice cream and opened up the presents.  I think the "tiny Nutella" of his very own was one of the favorites.  Derek posed for a picture of his so creative "MOM" facial hair creation.  Happy birthday Zade!  We love you!  I think the toilet Z wins the prize for the hardest to find.  There was a 4 on the kitchen ceiling that I didn't get a picture of.  The decorations were really fun and Zade was so excited to about them.  Such creative people.

Monday evening Paul and I went up to check out the Webelos Day Hike trail that we will be doing on Saturday.  We put up some orange tape on plants they will need to identify and thoroughly enjoyed the peaceful evening in a beautiful place.  Genghis was waiting to be petted when we got home.  

Lots happening...Stake Activity Day, Zion, new grandbaby & Ironman 2012

Where to start...I got behind last week and now its catch up time.  Last Saturday morning Paul and I helped with a Stake Activity Day hike up the Temple Quarry Trail.  Paul gave his rock splitting demo and some history and then showed the girls the marks of the pioneer work that are still visible along the trail.  We had about 19 girls and some leaders attend.  It was fun and they seemed to enjoy themselves.

Someone spotted this cute little critter on the way down.  It was trying very hard to hide.

That afternoon we drove up to Zion to look for the elusive China or Cooley Hat petroglyphs that we heard about...still didn't find them, but had a great time just checking out side canyons.  It's so fun when the park is so crowded to just go into the side canyons.  There's usually almost no one there.

Things to notice - somebody was leaving fun little cairns all along the wash we hiking through to access all the side canyons.  Look at how the roots of that tree have snaked across the rock to find what they need. 

 Thursday evening Lenae and Derek had a new baby boy, Trigg Kevin.  That makes #17 for us!  He's a real cutie and healthy and strong.  We are so happy for them...and us!

Friday evening Paul and I camped out at Sand Hollow reservoir to be on hand to help with the swim part of the 2012 Ironman.  Moss got us a job on the dock again this year helping people out of boats if they couldn't finish.  Last year there were almost none, but this time there were probably just over 100.  About 10 minutes after the race start a horrific windstorm came up.  We could hardly stand on the docks and got pretty wet from the waves breaking against them.  I don't know how anyone could swim in that mess, but lots of them did.  The lifeguards couldn't stay with the swimmers because their boards and kayaks just got pushed away by the wind.  It was actually pretty scary.  After that, we came home and took a long nap.  Everyone out there starts getting things ready at about 3 am, so we only got about 4 ours of sleep.  It was fun hanging out with everyone.  I'm so glad I'm not interested in doing an Ironman!

Hanging out on Friday evening.

The pros getting ready for their start.  Everyone else getting ready for the mass start.  The mass start!

Moss & Christie in the wind, the first place guy coming in with second place close behind.