Strawberry Days

Pleasant Grove, at one time, was the ultimate strawberry growing community. Apparently, strawberrys were shipped all over the states from our little pg growing fields. In celebration, we have "strawberry days" each year. You know, a carnival, parade, concerts in the park, strawberries & cream, a rodeo, baby contest, etc. Like every other town, except for the strawberries & cream. The first night of the carnival is family night where every ride is one ticket. The following nights the rides cost 2-5 tickets each. With tickets being $1 (except this year - 50th anniversary was 50cents/ticket) we go on family night or we don't go. This year it rained. We still went. Glad we brought jackets. It was fun to see the kids loving going on rides in the pouring rain, parents encouraging (bribbing) their kids to be done, or I saw a mom tell her kid (who was in tears wanting to go back to the car) that he had to go on another ride & he'd have fun. Our kids had fun in the rain and I have pictures to prove it!

Treyson's Artwork

This year in the preschool Treyson went to, they made artwork blankets. He has ABC squares, and he painted or drew something on each square that had to do with that letter. The first square has a birthday cake with his birthday listed and the second his name. It is my favorite thing. It is backed in his current favorite color, green. I tied it and they sewed the edges. I love that he has this to remember his year at school. He loves his blanket!

Kylie's 1st Sacrament Talk

Kylie was outside playing with a new cousin (new, to her -it's her grandma's cousin's granddaughter) and the Bishop pulled over to talk to her. When the conversation was over, Kylie had the assignment of bearing her testimony in sacrament meeting about her experience on the Trek (see previous blog entry). This caused much strife and discord in the home, accompanied at times by tears (we do tears a lot here: one is a tween and one is about to be a tween and 2 are parents of aforementioned girls). Kylie practiced alone, Kylie practiced with Mom and Kylie practiced with Dad. Kylie was honest - with everything.

When Kylie gave her talk, she talked about not wanting to go on the Trek, not wanting to awaken at 5 am, and not wanting to be there. Then Kylie talked about gaining a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith as she watched the mob take him away. She gained a testimony of the trials of her pioneer ancestors as she walked, had little to eat and was happy to go home to a nice warm bed, instead of having to walk again the next day. Kylie also said she gained confidence in herself as she made it up a hill with the boys & men looking on during the "Women's Walk". She was impressed that all the boys at testimony meeting said how hard it was to watch the girls struggle and not be able to help. In the end, Kylie said, it was a good experience.

There are times when I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my Kylie. Fortunately, most of the time she is a fun, responsible, kind girl to be around. Sometimes, like today, she is outstanding and I am greatful for the opportunity I have to get to know her. I am a very lucky lady to be able to be Kylie's mom!

Thanks, Ky!! I love you!

BEACON TREK

In case you aren't in the know, Beacon is for Beehive/Deacon. Kylie is a Beehive this year and our stake decided to have a Beacon Trek the week before the regular trek (14 and older 3 days, 2 nights). Tuesday Kylie arose at 5 AM! (We are totally against AM at our house). She dressed in borrowed and sewed pioneer clothing. She gathered sunglasses, lip balm, sunscreen and a tin cup, gulped a few yucky eggs (Dad makes good eggs, Mom not so much) and we headed off to the church to drop her off with the other 199 Beacons in our Stake (yes, we have over 200 12 & 13 year olds in our stake. 200 went on the trek). They were assigned families with a Ma and a Pa and they drove up to This Is The Place State Park. They saw Joseph and Hyrum taken away by a mob, they ate meager pioneer rations, they pushed handcarts up hills (at one point, the boys & men stood to the side and watched the girls and women push by themselves. This is the most difficult part of the day, even for 12 year old boys), they read letters from family back at home delivered by the Pony Express, and they had a testimony meeting. It's amazing. I thank our ward and stake leaders for providing this awesome opportunity for our little Beacon. :)

T-BALL

Treyson signed up for t-ball this year (mom was on the ball & remembered). :) He loves it! He had a practice last week & came home and told the neighbors (and tells pretty much everyone he sees) that he is "good at t-ball". :) He loves it & gets so excited to go. Last night was his first game and he did great. It is so much fun to watch. Everyone bats then the teams switch. They line up when they're in the field and everyone gets a turn to catch the ball & throw it to 1st base. No outs, everyone scores. In one hour they had time for 2 up to bats, so with 10 on each team, the final was 20-20. :) Love it! Treyson is having the best time. He was suprised last night when he found out everyone was coming to his game. I guess going to watch the girls & dad play racquetball is just something he's always done (and Lyssa dance). He doesn't realize that in our family everyone supports everyone else. Love it! I love t-ball. Most of all, I love my baby boy who is getting so big!

The Last Day of School

May is so busy & crazy! I think I'll grab a picture, then tell about it. It'll most likely be completely random in order. Kind of matches my brain this month!

This is Alyssa being the narrator in her class' play of "Jason and the Golden Fleece". The third grade studies Rome and Alyssa performed infront of parents and the other 2 3rd grade classes in the play. She was great! She's a great actress and has great stage presence!

The last day of school is free dress day - and the girls LOVE it! It's fun for them to not have to wear a uniform. I let Kylie take the camera and she took about 100 pictures of her friends and teachers. Now she is a 6th grade graduate - she's in Junior High! oh, no! :) She's a fun girl & here she is with her friend, Kim.

Treyson's last day of pre-school was Tuesday, so he got to come to school with me for the rest of the week. He loves coming to our school (and is very excited that he is in kindergarten now and his school is the "same as the girls". :)). Treyson has basically grown up at Odyssey (he was 1 when I began volunteering there. He really knows his way around. He also loves to pose in the pictures! (wonder where he learned that from - sisters).

This is my classroom and some of my sweet 3rd graders! I had the best year this year & they are such great kids. I will miss them (not enough to wish I were still in school). They were great!

As if the last day weren't busy enough, I told the girls they could both have friends over to celebrate school being out (since Lyssa is already missing her friends and going to school). Alyssa had 4 friends come over for sprinklers, popsickles, nail painting & pizza. They had a great time - and so did Treyson (he loved the "wet party")!

Kylie had 2 friends come over & they went to the bowling alley (by themselves, since they are 7th graders now). Then they went to Big Lots (just because it was near the bowling alley). Then one friend went home and Bronwyn (in picture) stayed the night for pizza & games. Kylie & Bronwyn ended up going to the park and meeting up with a lot of other kids from their school (apparently the kids had put up posters at school to meet at Discovery Park). They played games until dark, then came home. It was a very fun, grown up party. (yes, TJay & I are terrified!).

It was a crazy day, but very fun. Also, I got to go out to lunch with the teachers/staff at our "annual last day of school lunch at Chili's - no class for 3 months party". It was a fun bash also! :)

Kylie's New Bike

Kylie has outgrown her 90 (cc motorcycle) and it is time to move up. So, Dad went shopping online in the classifieds and found some 125's. They are bigger bikes and you have to shift in order to change gears. But, Kylie was ready and last night we found "the one". Tonight Dad took Kylie to buy said masterpiece and teach her how to ride it. While the little kids got to play with some friends (thanks, Jo!), Kylie, TJay, Marcus & Mitchell went to the hills by Saratoga and Kylie learned to ride her new (to her) bike! She loves it! She has the biggest grin when she rides and said, "it goes fast, dad!" It is faster than a 90. What a big girl she's becoming! Love her so much!

Anyone want to buy a 90? ;)