too many good things!

We had a day.  We had more great things to do and to choose from than we could do.  I hate when that happens.

Hannah and I both read "The Fault In Our Stars" by John Greene. We both liked it and Hannah LOVES it.  She has been counting down to the movie opening since literally November and was very sad that we couldn't go on opening night.  I told her I would take her to the first show possible so we went this morning to the 9:30 am show.  It was sold out.  I cried the whole time.  It was awful. I left with a headache and sore cheeks and stingy eyes.  I knew the story and totally didn't expect that reaction.  I was not alone tough.  We happened to run into a friend from another ward later in the day and she had seen it too and said it was like watching the last little bit of Old Yeller the whole 2 hours. From now on I am sticking to violent movies, they are easier to watch! We left the theater exhausted and silent and quickly drove to do some shopping (retail therapy) to cheer ourselves up :)  We bought John a birthday present and Hannah got two cute dresses.  Then we went out to lunch.

blue crabs

In the meantime Rob took Grace and Ethan fishing.  Ethan is working on his fishing merit badge and needs to catch, clean and cook a fish.  They had a successful morning and then after lunch they went to tour Camp Winonna where Grace will go to camp this summer.  R said it was so nice and organized and she is very excited  Grace and I actually went to encampment there last year so I knew it was going to be great.

Hannah and I drove to the camp too and got Bub and took him to John's birthday.  Then we went grocery shopping.

 As soon as everyone got home the two littles and R and I went to the Blue Crabs game for Girl Scout night.  Hannah went swimming with Chelsea.

We were able to fit everything into our day except the Raiders & Invaders even in Leonardtown that I really wanted to go to. You can't do everything though.

16 years

Today is our anniversary! Rob took the day off of work and after we got the children off to school, including the one who missed the bus, we went to the temple.  It is always very nice to go.  We did sealings  and it was nice to reflect back to our wedding and the blessing we have of being together forever.

After we went out for burgers, then hurried home to get the kidlets.  We're off to Josh's graduation party now and Hannah and Shannon are going to Alyssa's dance recital.

It's been a good 16 years, and I can honestly say I am happier with him now than I ever have been.  I'm a lucky duck :)

friends

Shannon and Hannah

The end of the year brings with it many field trips.  Today it was Grace's turn.  They had a unit on Japan in Social Studies and today we went to Asahi for lunch.  Almost every child had a parent there and it was very tasty and very fun.  

After school we went to the pool and then tonight was activities at church.  We're getting ready for everyone's camps and tonight was the parent meeting for the boys going to Goshen. Ethan is looking forward to it.  He'll work on several merit badges and spend a week in the woods with his friends.

Grace and Julia

a cautionary tale

When a little family stays up late on a school night, eating homemade ice cream and frolicking on the grass catching fireflies they pay the price the next day.

Particularly when one cute teenage daughter waits until after the fun to say she needs a poster board: tomorrow.  Then Dad and daughter take off trying to beat the stores that close earlier than she wants while mom tucks other children into bed and cleans the kitchen.  And when they get back she is super upset because she doesn't want to ride the bus to school the next day, particularly when she will be holding a poster board.  SO, she cries and complains until way past midnight in a very taxing manner.  

Finally everyone goes to sleep but soon mom wakes back up and frets for a couple of hours.  She doesn't want her daughter to be sad, and she always wants to be there for the children and to help them. But in this case she is going to a field trip early the next morning. Like we had to leave at 6:15.

Finally finally mom sleeps for a few hours until 5 when she has to walk the dogs, then shower, then wake the now grouchy 9 year old who was "forced to stay up late having fun".

And the poor teenaged one?  She rides the bus.

And the mom? She is very very tired and very hot at a long, all day, outside, field trip.  

The results are tired and cranky parents and children.

We went to BioBlast.  They did some great things.  They mucked the marsh and kayaked and observed nature and "engineered" sandcastles.  It was pretty fun (and hot and tiring)

beach geometry, volume and surface area, collecting things
lone boy sitting with  a gaggle of girls and right next to a little red haired girl (just saying)
paddleing

summer summer I love you!

MOSES AND LU

Everything is better in the summer.  Today was a good day.  Bub was home "sick".  We worked on some merit badges and went out to lunch.

Shannon came home with Hannah and the girls swam.  

Grace had a barn day.  She jumped for the first time! So exciting!!! I got a little video, it's a bit wobbly, as all brand new skills are, but oh how fun it is to learn!

When we got home we met the McCombs and had a fun swim.  The boys made ice cream and we enjoyed a great dinner.  Grace prepared FHE and after we ate the ice cream!  Then the kids ran outside and caught fireflies for half an hour.  They were all over the place and the woods and pond and trees looked like they belonged in a disney movie.  (after everyone left I was wishing for some Disney critters to sing a happy little working song in my kitchen but life can't be all Disney dreams)

making ice cream

i < 3 june!!

seriously the cuteness kills me!!

I'm thinking of buying a plane ticket and going to these girls this very afternoon!!...oh wait, I have responsibilities here :(

It's okay, we have a count down going and it's not that long.

I love June.  It is a lovely month full of the promise of summer fun and looser schedules and sunny days.  Yesterday church was very nice.  I loved our RS lesson, the spirit was strong and sweet.  It's always such a boost.

Today was the last day of seminary! Yay!! I love seminary, really really I do. But 6am is tough and by June it's really tough so everyone is happy to see the end of another successful year.

Tonight our great friends are coming over for swimming/ice cream making/ FHEing fun.

Today I have a girl scout meeting . We have lots of fun plans for next year.

I ordered clothing tags for Grace for camp.  Ethan said he doesn't need any.

Ethan is home "sick" today.  We have been working on scouting prereqs for camp.  After about an hour he said "you know when there is nothing else to do scouting isn't so bad...it's kind of fun actually". A lot of it is fun.  A lot of it is work.  That's the great thing about it.

Saturday

shark attack!

The sleeping part of our sleepover went surprisingly well.  I woke up a lot during the night and it wasn't super restful but my back didn't hurt in the morning and we did get some rest and the room was quite and Grace loved it.  So I think that's a two thumbs up.

In the morning we saw another dolphin "show" and had breakfast then the girls had a chance to ask questions.  When the sleep over was over they stamped our hands and we took our stuff to our cars then came back in for some gift shopping.

Right next to the aquarium is a Barnes and Noble. This is kind of like a trip to the promised land for us poor bookstore deprived southern marylanders.

this is true

We stopped by and spent a happy hour before our drive home.

summer reading

When we got home Gracie invited Fiona over for the afternoon.  The girls played with the gerbils.  We went to the pool for a couple of hours.  Hannah and Ethan came with us and although it wasn't hot, at all, they enjoyed playing in the water and with their friends.

In the evening R and I went on a  date.

cute Papa and Deo and Penny

 Recently the Brandts took a vacation.  I couldn't help myself when I saw these adorable pictures!  Here's Papa, the best dad and gramps EVER, with baby Deo and Penny both almost 2 years old.

the Brandts

I love Penny's toes popping out of the top of her salt waters!