Katrina:
On Thursday she attended a conference at UVU for FBLA. Here I go with my lettering again: Tha'ts Utah Valley University for Future Business Leader's of America. The tests were already assigned to them as to which they would take. Out of the three she took, she placed in all three! This came as a suprise to her since she said some were rather difficult. After Katrina accepted her first certificate she was almost back to her seat when they called her name again in the next cateory, so back up she went. She was almost to her seat for the second time, when yet again they called her name. Good on ya, Kat. Really, she has a very smart brain. She said for the 17th year in a row WHS won Region.
At her school appointment with her councelor just the day before he broke down the percentages of her tests, which put her in the top (single digit) percent of the country for her learning ability. That said, he got on her a little bit for a couple B's she got last term (which is very unlike her). You would be right in asking the question about now, "But Abby who are
you to think a B isn't great?" And you would be fair in asking. But her councelor simply and clearly explained that if you are in the top percent in your learning ability then your grades should be higher than the the top 20%. She agreed that at least in one of the classes she could have done a little better. It's hard though since she's in AP and Honors classes. But like her councelor said, "No excuses." The councelor commended Matt and I for both being there at the appointment. We also had Graham and Callie with us who were feeling rather lively at the time crumbling granola bars all over the floor. When we had all walked in the school Katrina moaned, "Why such a large group?" Her councelor continued to say that he would have welcomed the whole family. I don't think he had enough granola bars in his desk for all of us though.
She spoke in Sacrament Meeting last month and really wrote a beautiful talk from her heart. Several people have told me to pass along to her that they really enjoyed it. Katrina also presents herself well. And the Bishop asked for a copy.
She has joined the Builder's Club at school. At the last meeting they decided to do a service project by having a bake sale during school lunch. The proceeds would go to Super Dale. A local wrestler who was paralyzed recently during a warm-up at the High School. The doctors don't know if this is a permanent state but meanwhile the medical bills are mounting. The community has really stepped up in helping to raise money any way they can. I was glad to be able to help in someway as well. I had meant to take the family to the dinner fundraise the previous Monday but we were asked to do FHE at the Care Center last minute. Both worthy causes.
So on Wednesday I spent the day while the kids were in school making a tripple batch of sugar cookies and icing and decorating them. That night Mallerie had YW and was fretting how she would fit in time to make the cookies. I said, "Do you WANT to make them?" She said she didn't really feel like it but it needed to be done for the next day. She was releived when I told her I had gone ahead and made them all while she was at school. Matt helped me carry them into the office the next morning and she was able to sell all of them at lunch.
We failed however to attend Mallerie's Parent Teacher Conferences. It was openhouse style rather than by appointment and she insisted it would be like the last time where there really wasn't anything to talk about. And since I always prefer to stay home it was easy for her to talk me out of going. Her grades couldn't be any highter, and really, it's Mallerie, what are they gonna say?
I know they would probaly say she's spunky. She was rewarded for something at school, and got to do the dance game on the Wii during lunch. She was up there with a friend getting her groove on with the school gathered around chanting, "Go Mallerie, go Mallerie!"
One thing I don't have to say, "Go Mallerie" on is her Personal Progress for YW. She is very self motivated in this and will come up and have me sign off something she has been quietly working on for weeks.
Her 3rd grade teacher sure went on and on about her at the SEP (Student Educator Parent) Conference. She is smart and happy and helpful and a good friend. What more can I ask for?
The big 3rd Grade Disney Program is coming up next month and Ava will be in several numbers as all the kids will be. I was put in charge of making 2 Frog Costumes for this. I had put a check in the box indicating I can sew but figured this would mean mending previous costumes or following simple directions. Instead I had to come up with an idea on my own and put the costumes together. This has been on the back on my mind. So last week I dragged out my craft box and by using a pattern from another mom at the school (life saver!) I put something together. Still though, when I look at them I can't tell if they are fine or wacky. Least I can honestly say it's my best effort. Ava is appreciative and likes them so in my mind,
mission accomplished.
She seems an old soul for 9. We have no problem leaving her with the kids for short amounts of time if the older girls are gone and she can do a job well. Still, Katrina said we baby her too much. Like that she only has one dish night a week. I reminded Katrina, "When you were 9 you didn't have a dish night at all."
Ava also is on the rotation for Family Night lessons. She was always with someone last year but this year we moved her into her own spot. She suprised us by giving a very well thought out lesson with visuals and activites. Both Matt and I agreed that neither one of us could have pulled off such an evening at age 9.
He's gone and got himself awarded as one of the Students of the Month. His teacher told me at SEP's how much fun he is and how cooperative he is in class. Last Friday I was in there to teach Meet the Masters and I have to agree that he's great. She gave us a folder of "Fry Phrases" which are phrases she wants him to practice reading fast. She shouldn't have told me this was optional because since then the folder is still in the back of the van (2 1/2 weeks later).
He just finsished Junior Jazz. He was always so excited when he scored a basket and was a good sport. There wasn't any score keeping and I liked that. This boy is obsessed with anything
sports related!
He has a money jar where he says he is saving for his mission. He got telling Graham about it and Graham started asking all kinds of questions about missions. In the end Graham asked, "Mom can you come on my mission with me?" But I'm glad at least Grayson is talking to him about it and it's in the future plans.
Graham:
We eat pizza every Friday night. Either Papa Murphy's, homemade, or frozen. Once in a blue moom we've even been know to order out. Since he only likes cheese pizza Matt takes the pepperoni "off." It took us a while to realize what he was asking for when he'd say I want "off " pizza. "Oh, cheese?" we'd ask. "No, OFF pizza." So now when he askes what kind we are having I always just say, "off pizza." "Yeah! It's my favorite!"
He was assigned the scripture in Primary for the first time as a Sunbeam. On Saturday Matt kept going over it with him, "For Behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to passt the immortality and eternal life of man." Moses 1:39. Matt kept repeating it till Graham said, "That's enough of that." He just needed a little break because later he would say he was ready to work on his scripture again. At the mic in primary he got up so confidently when they called his name that Matt hesitated in the wings as to wether he should go help him. Graham got right up there, "This is my work and my glory." It was the CUTEST thing.
This boy is obsessed with anything train related! During Grayson's b-ball game he would walk along the side black lines with his fists balled and his bent arms going back and forth saying, "chug-a-chug-a choo choo!" He got an ear infection in January and the doctor was making small talk with him. When the doctor learned he likes trains he asked what kind Graham has, "Electric, magnetic, battery powered, wind up?" I told him, "All of the above." While we were in the waiting room Graham climbed into an empty toy box so all I could see were his smiling eyes out the handle holes. I got laughing so hard at this as I waved to him. Really, this child couldn't be an sweeter. And to top it off he LOVED taking the antibiotic. Easy breezy kid.
Callie:
She's great but she's also two. Something set her off during scripture reading the other night. This could have been as simple as someone adjusting her tutu. She stormed up the hall and slammmed the door. When it came time for her to read I said, "Callie, it's your turn." She didn't say anything but I could tell her face was right under the door, I began ,"And it came to pass," She repeated, "...came to pass." She continued to "repeat" the scripture from behind closed door before deciding to come out with a sheepish grin.
When I am leaving out the door she puts on one thing after another till she is decked from head to toe with a hat, necklace, tutu, and purse. We went into the hardware store and the employee said pointing to Callie, "I like this statement!"
She loves to be tucked in like Bob at night (all the four younger kids do). We laughed as a family when we watched What About Bob? The part I immitate is Richard Dryfus trying to wake up Bill Murray who plays Bob, "Bob!," he bounces him up and down on the bed, "Bob!" more bouncing, "Cockadoodledoo!" At night Callie runs to her bed, "Do bob-bob!"
She is the luckiest little girl to have both her mommy and daddy in nursery with her. She doesn't even know how lucky she is!
Matt:
So we wondered if we would ever know if Matt would have stayed on at Gatorade or if in fact he had made the right choice in going back to Frito Lay. Well, finally now that it is the middle of February, he got a call from his former colleague who told him, "You made the right choice." She explained that out of the 24 who were employed at he time, only 12 were left by the time they had to make cuts since so many like Matt had jumped ship. They widdled the 12 to FOUR. No RSL's (Retail Sales Leader's) were kept on. Phew. He made the right choice.
Matt and I were watching Grayson's Junior Jazz game and I noticed a lady towards the back who I don't know. She was still there as the game ended and was behind us as we were walking out of the building. She suprised us by saying, "I enjoyed watching you two, the way you talk to eachother and look at eachother, you can can tell you are really in love, it makes me think I should go home and do better." Huh? I was trying to think how we were possibly acting but just said, "Thanks for saying so!"
(PS: A couple of people have asked if Matt likes being in Nursery. He said only if I'm in there with him. Maybe this lady is on to someting...)
