Teaching Classes

Friday has arrived. Abby is so excited about her play date with Rebekah this afternoon. She has been preparing stuff all week for it --a book she wrote that they can read, a "present" or box filled with things they they can unwrap. The kids are doing a slip'n slide at VBS today and tonight Ross and I are going out on a date, once he decides what he wants to do.

The kids did great with chores yesterday. I taught some cleaning classes on how to sweep, wipe bathroom sinks/mirror/counter and mop. I would explain what we were going to do, demonstrate and let the kids try it while I watched, in hopes that they will be able to help with this tasks on their own in the future.

Allen read a non-book yesterday during quiet time called Deadly!, containing interesting animal facts, and said he was going to teach a "class" about it in the living room after dinner. He made lots of posters (and once Abby saw one, she wanted to help make more) and hung them around the house that say: "Coming Soon! Allen (and Abby's) class about dangerous animals. You learn it in the living room. A.C.D.A." The last four letters at the bottom of his poster stand for Allen's Class Dangerous Animals. When Ross got home we sat on the couch as a family and listened to Allen's class where he told tons of interesting facts he had memorized from reading. He must have enjoyed "teaching" because before Allen went to bed last night he added an extra part to his poster. It reads: "Also, Allen's class for Nerf gun shooting." 

Skittle Lady

It was a good day yesterday, especially exercise-wise. After I got all the girls into the stroller for VBS drop-off we walked loops around the parking lot for about 10 minutes, until my heart rate took off and I started sweating. Later in the day we did an aerobic routine (yes, I still use my old copy of "Hooked On Aerobics") and then in the evening I did a walk/jog for about 20 minutes before picking up some groceries at Kroger. It's good to squeeze in a little exercise here and there, especially because now I'm the "Skittle Lady". I carry a bag of Skittles in my pocket and hand them out as small rewards throughout the day. I find it easier to hand someone a Skittle after they make a good choice than to repeat myself over and over, saying things like, "Go get dress. Put your seat belt on. Sit down. " It makes for happier kids and a happier Mommy. Sugar does wonders.

Yesterday while picking up the kids from VBS another mom asked if I was a foster parent. She was a foster mom herself and wondered if I was too when she saw me with so many kids, so close in age. She told me that she and her husband liked our stroller and watched me use our stroller and collapse it into our van with ease, she said. (Again, another example of me not being "invisible" to others. You never know when people are watching!) I said I had a lot of practice the last two weeks. And I told her I thought it was great she did foster care. I might have thought more about that route if I wasn't able to have so many of my own kids.

I took some pictures of the kids while they were watching a Dora movie they earned. And I finished up the ironing.

Ross came home and pointed out that Jill's outfits colors matched the bouncer. I hadn't thought about it.
Emma came over to give Jill a kiss.

Allen loves his new Nerf gun.

Abby is showing me a silver streamer from VBS.

Jane is waving a Pinkalicious book.

Jill smiled and waved her arm.

She liked sitting in the Bumbo on the kitchen table while I got the hamburgers ready for dinner.

After the family ate dinner Jill earned a bath. She was looking at herself in the mirror and "talking". Then when I pulled out the camera she was looking at me. I absolutely love that my babies look and track for Mommy. They like me! We share a special bond. And this picture kind of looks like Jill has a twin. Reminds me when I had two babies to give baths too. 

Little Lady Bug

 

Jill wore a new outfit yesterday from my Aunt Nancy. It's a perfect outfit for the Texas heat and comes with a little ladybug friend. Thanks Nancy!

The kids enjoyed another day of bible camp and got matching t-shirts. I asked what they learned about and Allen said, "corruption in Genesis 6." I noticed their rainbow crafts and asked if they talked about Noah. Yes. They did.

I cooked 5 lbs of ground beef yesterday and divided it up into 4 up-coming meals. The kids really liked spaghetti and meatballs last night for dinner. I even heard one of them sing "On top of spaghetti all covered with cheese, I lost my poor meatball, when somebody sneezed," which is the tune of one of Allen's new piano songs.

Abby is really excited for a play date with Rebekah, a classmate, on Friday. She is making her a book and has a "curtain" up on her bed so they have "play in privacy", she says.

Emma still has a runny nose (and has since Wed of last week) and Jane was really hoarse yesterday, but has no fever. Not sure if Jaxson is going to come over this morning, I'll have to call Emily and let her decide.

Last night Ross taught a Family Home Evening lesson on change and with the kids help we thought of all the things that would be new to us after moving: new house, new state, new friends, new school... and showed pictures of pioneers and explained that they also had lots of changes to face as they moved from one place to another after facing persecution. Luckily that is not the reason we are moving, but like the pioneers, we are uprooting again and starting over soon in a place we know little about. Ross explained to the older two they we needed their help because when we moved to Texas we only had two kids and now we had five. Our family has experienced lots of change these last three years in Texas and it's not over yet.

After kids were ready for bed Catherine and I went on our usual one hour walk. When we got back Ross left for a run. It's nice for both of us to get our exercise in. After he got back I was in bed finishing Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin, written by a friend from our Chicago ward, and when he climbed in bed we watched several hilarious episodes of Studio C, a comedy group from BYU, on the new Kindle before we said prayers.

Last Week of June

• This is the last week of June and the kids have one Vacation Bible School, Soul Train is the theme, to attend. 
• Allen is loving his new toys (Nerf gun, wizard glow wand, voice changer) he got from the mall on Saturday and it's funny when Ross grabs the gun for me and lets me take aim at the toys that are set up for targets. 
• Abby loves her giant My Little Pony animal she made at Build-A-Bear and she named it Abby Jr.
• Jane and Emma love to play in Allen and Abby's room, climb all over their bunk bed and get in, to their special boxes of things. It's hard to keep them out of there, especially because the door no longer closes all the way due to when they tried to fix the house foundation and were drilling the concrete outside the front door a few months ago.
• I heard Jill sucking on her hand, but now she is still sleeping. She is a little congested which ties back to Emma's runny nose from last week. 

Last Day of Camps

Allen has had a lot of fun at cub scout day camp this week. With five hours a day (in the heat) and five days a week, they have learned much and had a lot of fun. Allen has a hard time winding down at night to go to sleep. He is so excited about things they did, it's too hard to come home and go right to sleep, even though all his sisters have been sleeping about an hour already. Yesterday they made dumplings, grape juice and dipped candles. He told me all about 3rd degree burns and how he got a mustache totem from the scout leader who directs the traffic everyday. Today they are doing an egg drop at the beginning and families are joining their scout for dinner. Ross is able to go volunteer today.

It's also the last day of Vacation Bible School. They have had a lot of fun with that too. Abby comes home singing the songs they learned and they talk about the different leaders that were silly that day and what their group did at each station. Today at the end of camp they are putting on a short program for the parents.

Abby's art camp ended yesterday and they did oil painting. She brought home two still-drying 8x10 canvases on a cookie sheet. I'll have to sign her up for more art classes. Both her grandmas painted, and with her being a leftie, I think she has some talent there too.

Jane and Emma and Jill are good sports about all the driving and loading and unloading we do. (I'm getting really good with our stroller now and changing and feeding girls on-the-go.) They have fallen asleep in the car every afternoon since Tuesday after we drop Allen off at day camp at 3pm. Since all the girls are sleeping I'll pull into shade close to home, let the AC stay on low and just read, enjoying my quiet. One of the days they slept so long that it was time to go pick up Abby from art camp, which meant one unbuckle/buckle  seat belts I didn't have to do by going home in between. Yesterday once the car was parked they only slept about 10 minutes and both woke up super grumpy. I drove home and put on Cinderella for them to watch. Jane loves Cinderella. She has her slippers and her "Rella" dress that she wants to wear daily and a "Rella" Barbie that she carries around. They have never seen the movie and both girls were glued. It's one of my favorite Disney movies too.

Last night I sent Ross over to a sports bar so he could watch the last NBA finals game. He ordered a soda and watched the last half. (Then he saw another guy in our ward there too who ordered a milkshake. And a bunch of people, one was Abby's softball coach.) That purchase is definitely a lot cheaper than paying for cable. I'll have to remember to have him do that again next year.

Dialogue in the Car

Allen: "When I get married... I am going to be king of the house. And my wife will be the queen. And then I can tell people what to do... because I don't like when people tell me what to do."

Abby: "When I'm a mom there will be no chores. We will just play, play play."

Allen: "What if your house gets really messy Abby?"

Abby: "It won't. We'll just play, play, play."

Other Tidbits:

• Vacation Bible School's theme this week is a castle. The kids have snack at the King's Kitchen and crafts in the Queen's Court. They have tournament games during the physical fitness portion. They brought home large shields they made yesterday. Last week's VBS theme was Fun Fair and the kids learned about different countries around the world. Next week's VBS theme (a different church) is Soul Train.
• Jill turned 3 months old at the beginning of this week. I'm taking her to Target on Saturday morning to get her picture taken.
• Today is Abby's last day of art camp. She has really enjoyed it, bringing home little masterpieces they have made. Yesterday they did oil pastels. Today they are doing oil painting and I'm supposed to bring a cookie sheet to bring home her artwork because it will still be wet.
• Jaxson is going to come over today for about 2 hours while Allen and Abby are at VBS. On Tuesday when he came we stopped at the bank and got lollipops. Luckily I have two more checks to deposit so we'll stop at the bank again today.
• Allen loves cub scout day camp. It ends at 8pm and I was there to pick him up (just me this time -- Ross at the church for interviews, but Catherine came and sat on the couch while the girls slept) and he talked about it all the way home. He told me they made biscuits and butter, they shot BB guns, they did archery, the had an opening and closing flag ceremony, they made belts and, using safety pins from all his totems, he made a safety pin chain collection. Once we got home Allen had a hard time going to bed. He was just too excited about all the fun he had had. He is excited that Ross is volunteering at camp on Friday.

Smarties Saved Me

• The concert was awesome on Monday night. Very fun! And very long. We left our house at 6:30pm and got home about 12:30am. There were three bands and plus an extra opening act. It was a long night of music, but a memorable event with Ross. We came home with four glow sticks that the kids found in the morning. At the concert Ross noted how the audience was made up of people older than he expected. And he also mentioned that as it ended and people headed out to their cars the parking lot was really quiet. All those "old people" from the concert were tired and were ready to go to bed.  This was the third time to see Ben Folds -- we saw him perform at the University of Chicago and with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center in D.C.. The BNL band said it was the 25th year. This morning Ross started singing "Baseball Playing Spider", a song from the first opening act, and now I have it in my head.
• The kids are really enjoying Vacation Bible School this week. Yesterday their "water day" was cancelled because of rain. Today they are doing some rock wall climbing. On Monday the first check-in was very tricky with the pouring rain outside. I brought all five kids with me, asked Allen to hold Emma's hand and Abby to hold Jane's hand as we walked in. Then as I checked Abby in with her group, I put the twins and Jill in car seat with Allen on a bench and told them to stay put. Then when I went to check in Allen I gave the twins Smarties and told them to stay with Jill as we walked across the auditorium. Was it safe to leave three kids under three alone in a very crowded place? I don't know, but that's all I could do because I couldn't get the stroller out in the pouring rain. Smarties saved me. The girls didn't move. And every pick up and drop off since I've used my stroller and it's been less nerve-racking for me.
• Abby is loving her art camp. She did watercolor painting on Monday and oil and acrylic painting yesterday. 
• Allen loves cub scout day camp. He tells me different things he is doing like archery, carving soap, stamping, BB gun, and flag ceremony. Ross is volunteering to help on Friday.
• The three little girls sure get carted around a lot. I had to stop and count how many times they are buckled and seated in and out of the car. Yesterday it was 12 times (and I didn't even do the day camp pick-up because I was at a Relief Society activity learning about simple summer meals.) Okay so 12 times for one kid, multiply that by 3 and you can imagine how busy my fingers, hands and arms were with dealing with three kids getting carted about for the many ins and outs for these summer activities.
• The kids crack me up. Jane tonight wanted you to ask her about her day. And when you said, "Jane, tell me about your day." She would respond, "I got to wear my costume" in her cute little voice and explain more about it. She would do it again and again if I asked her. I love when you ask her her name and she says, "Jane Louisa". Then she can name Emma's full name and Abby's full name and Allen's full name. I asked about Daddy's name. She said, "Daddy is Ross". When you ask Emma her name she says, "My name EMMA!" She does the same each time you ask. It is adorable. Her voice isn't so high like Abby and Jane's. And her growling is hilarious. And hearing some of the dialogue between Allen and Abby at night when they are supposed to be sleeping or when they are riding in the car is really funny. Sometimes I strain to hear it all and never comment because I don't want to interrupt their ideas. 
• Ross did a lunch presentation with one other clerk. Have you heard of the show "Pardon the Interruption" on the ESPN channel? It has two guys on it that yell at each other about sports news. Well, the two of them did their own take on that as they reviewed cases. Ross says it went well and they got some laughs. It made for a much more entertaining presentation than others when they simply lecture. I wish I could have heard it.

Let the madness start on Monday...

This morning Allen and Abby have a new vacation bible school from 9-12pm. This one is not within walking distance so it will be a lot of loading in and out of the car with all the kids and stroller for drop-off and pick-up. Then at 2pm Abby is starting a 4-day art camp at the city rec center. (This girl loves art and I've wanted to encourage this talent for a long time and register her for a class). Allen has a week-long scout day camp starting today from 3-8pm. I need to help him pack his pickle bucket this morning. Then this evening Ross and I are going to that concert for one of his father's day gifts and Catherine is helping out.

Tomorrow the above process repeats again but on Tuesday and Thursday while the older two are at vacation bible school I am picking up and watching a little boy in the ward. It's going to be a busy week of us constantly going somewhere and needing to be prepared for the next activity again and again.

New Kindle Fire

Friday Tidbits:

• We got a Kindle Fire yesterday in the mail. We didn't pay anything for it. We used points from a credit card we opened just for our trip back from Utah last August, so we could get free baggage, and after using our points our card is cancelled. This Kindle is a new toy for Mom and Dad. We were playing with it last night, learning how it worked, watching a video and using some of the Apps. Not sure if we'll tell the kids about it for a while.
• Yesterday Allen and Abby had a dentist appointment. Jane and Emma went over to play with Audrey while Jill and I went to the appointment. Both have good looking teeth and Abby had sealants put on her four back molars. The dentist showed Allen many of his tools and how they work. As we left Allen said he wants to be a dentist someday. 
• We had a great Vacation Bible School week. I made the walk there and back (a mile and a half) three times yesterday  -- pick up, drop off, Fiesta. At the Mexican Fiesta the kids sang a few of the songs they learned during the program and then we had dinner. Each kid made a maraca to bring home and had candy from the pinata. The kids start another bible camp next Monday as well as Scout Day Camp and art camp in the afternoons.
• Going to the Ark this morning when they open. Staying about an hour, until the place gets real crowded.
• All five kids have earned a prize from the library's reading summer program. We'll stop by today to claim our prize and check out some new books because Allen told me he already read all the ones he had checked out.
• In the late afternoon we might either go to the SeaLife Aqarium or meet Ross downtown after work and go to the Perot Museum. We are members of both. We'll see what we feel like doing as the day moves along.
• Kids wanted bread and grapes for breakfast. Sometimes their simplicity is refreshing.

Cockroaches, Lizards, Pantry Moths...

These are things I will NOT miss about Texas. Just to be funny the last few days when Ross is calling people to the table, people over for prayer, or saying goodbye in the morning before he leaves for work, he will call all the names in the house and then start listing the pests in the house. It always makes everyone laugh. As if the pests are part of the Tucker family too since they are living in the house. We seem to have a large amount of rollie pollies in the house too. This morning Allen and Abby were knocking on our door screaming there was a cockroach in their room, first climbing up their curtain and fallen into the laundry basket. Yuck. And over a year ago I stepped on a snake in the house barefoot. Yes, these are things I will NOT miss about Texas.

Some things I will miss include Catherine. Our ward. The kids' school. Catherine. Our city and its programs. The no-state income tax, when California's is 9%.. Did I mention Catherine? I wish I could pack her up and take her with us.

I was up until 1am last night finishing the novel, Drops of Gold. I enjoyed it. I got it through the interlibrary loan program and this copy came from the BYU-Hawaii campus. Pretty cool it came across the ocean to me.

Today is the last day of Vacation Bible School and then tonight is a Mexican Fiesta involving a program and a family dinner. Ross is going to meet us there on his way home from work.

Mid-week Tidbits

• It's laundry day. The first time since school got out that we'll be working on clothes with 5 helpers this time instead of just 3.
• Another mom with a double stroller said she saw me out walking in the heat and was impressed. Yep, planning on doing two round-trips today on foot. The little girls love how we stop at the park after dropping older two off.
• While the kids were at bible camp I vacuumed the house and worked on food prep. I browned the hamburger for "Crazy Nachos", fixed the chicken and marinate for "Cashew Chicken" and cut up chicken for "Basil Chicken Pasta". Our meals are covered for the rest of the week and the meat part is all ready-to-go.
• The kids have been doing great with their checklist -- chores, reading, piano, writing... They liked the Curious George paper doll set I had and want to cut out more outfits today. Cutting is a perfect table activity the afternoon.
• A new watch came yesterday in a package for me. Ross picked it out on Amazon. Hopefully it lasts longer than my black leather one did.  
• Jill is such a sweetheart, just as her name means. She slept from 7pm until 7am this morning and never cried to eat after waking up. I pulled her out of bed only after Emma got in it with her. Jill was also making smacking, kissey noises yesterday using her tongue on her lips. She self- soothes using her fist or finger to suck on.
• Ross played basketball at the church last night. His co-clerk Brennan played too.
• I had all the kids fed, bathed and in bed before 7pm. Jane and Emma were asleep at almost 6:15am. The older two read books in their room and then listened to a book on CD. I replied to emails, sorted two folders, skyped my mom, sewed and read. I went to bed close to 11pm.

The Value of Walking

Yesterday I got a lot of walking in. About 2 hours worth. I walked to a local church and back twice yesterday for bible camp and then Catherine and I did our one-hour loop walk. It feels good to get exercise and to be able to talk while you do it.

On our way home from VBS (Vacation Bible School) Allen and I walked side-by-side and he told me about the bible story they learned. It was the story of Abraham and Sarah and how they had Isaac at an old age. He was concerned that it was a little different than what he had heard before. We had the best conversation. We talked about how our church differs from other churches, and that's okay. People are good everywhere and truth is everywhere. We are lucky that we are part of a church that contains all of the truth that was lost after Christ took his church and authority away from the Earth. People did and do the best they can with the knowledge they have. We talked about that's why Joseph Smith was so confused at which church to go to because two separate churches were claiming to be true, but how can that be? His quest started out from a simple prayer and he become to the tool to restore Christ's true church. We discussed about the Holy Ghost and how we can feel if something is right and how Allen now has that gift from baptism. As we walked, we talked and talked, as I pushed the stroller and watched Abby walk a few houses ahead of us. It was hot outside -- 90 degrees and full humidity. It would have been nice to drive, but if I would have driven I would have buckled the girls again and again. Plus, I wouldn't have had the nice conversation with Allen, who generally is either reading or teasing someone once he gets in the back of the van. Walking forces talking and I plan to keep doing it this week, both for drop-off and pick-up.

First Week, First Day

Today marks the first full week of summer vacation. And it marks the first day of Vacation Bible School (VBS) at a local Methodist church. This church is close enough that we could walk, but humid enough that we might be discouraged to. It all depends on the kids and the time we have. Either way it's going to be a challenge to do pick up/drop off both times to sign Allen and Abby in and out and have the triple stroller with the other girls and either load up in the van or just sweat it out and walk home. This bible camp meets M-Th for a few hours each morning.

Tasks I would like to complete this week include cleaning the bathrooms (even though that isn't assigned until Thursday on my chore chart -- it needs a pre-cleaning before Thursday) and preparing dinner for the missionaries. I signed up to have the missionaries over for dinner on Tuesday night, forgetting that they like to eat dinner early because they have appointments in the evening with people after work. Ross isn't home that early so the best option is to just prepare the food and have Ross drop it off this evening so it's ready for them to nuke and eat on Tuesday.

Once again, Jill sleeps through the night. Since she is in our closet as we are getting ready in the morning and we are getting clothes out of our closet, it's easy to peek in on her. Today she was awake, but just staring. "Someone is staring at me," Ross jokes and she's completely content and not worrying about being changed or fed yet, even though it's been about 12 hours. She is such a good baby.

Last night after the twins were in bed Allen and Abby stayed up a little longer and we played some games. I played Memory with both of them while Ross helped the twins fall asleep, which didn't work. Then I switched him places and had them asleep in minutes while Ross played chess with Allen and I played two rounds of Uno with Abby. Surprisingly, she beat me both games. Afterward I went to clean up the kitchen while the boys were still finishing their game and Abby said she would rather help them to go bed yet. I was stunned. So she emptied the silverware tray so we could load the dishes again for another load. Then she wiped off the table and swept the floor. She did a good job and it was nice having a helper.

Ready For Lunch

Look who's ready for lunch?

I had all the plates dished on the counter (ham/cheese sandwiches, celery sticks, plums, yogurt) ready for distribution. (Notice I said "on the counter". Our table stays clear most of the time due to two climbing toddlers.) I went to go get Allen and Abby in their rooms, telling it was time to come eat and when I got back I saw Jane and Emma sitting up on the table. They really look like "twinners" today with their pink shirts, denim shorts, pink sandals and hair ponies on the side.

Other Tidbits:

• I just finished teaching a piano lesson. The babies are napping and Allen and Abby are finishing up a video from the library.
• Ross can make a pretty good prediction when it comes to legal stuff.
• I've been doing great at exercising this week, doing an hour a day while the older two are at VBS. First, the babies and I go out for a 30-minute walk, I've been reading the July Ensign on our loop (my neighbor say me and said, "getting your reading done?" Yep, best way to do it.), and sweating all the way, even though it's only 10am outside. Then once we get back I put in an aerobics video. I am mastering the skills of keeping an eye out for kiddos while I'm also watching the screen and following along. I would hate to step on anyone so I keep my eyes moving just as fast at the rest of my body. My favorite part of exercising with Jane and Emma is watching them try to imitate what they see, like bending over to stretch. It is precious. 
• The kids finished their VBS this morning. They wore swimsuits and enjoyed all the water activities. When I picked up Abby one of the youth helpers for her group told me that if I ever needed a babysitter to call her because "Abby is so much fun."
• Ross is in charge of date night tonight. He set it all up and told me that we were going rock climbing. I have to admit I'm a little nervous about it. I went rock climbing once in college. I wonder how I'll do this time around.  

Morning Talks

• Learning lots about government and politics as I talk to Ross. We always have great talks in the morning while we get ready for the day.
• Bought tickets out to Utah. I'm excited that Catherine Sawaya is going to fly with us (me and the kids) and help me get everyone to Utah safely. Ross will join us later.
• It's laundry day again. That will keep us busy. 
• Last night I went in to check on Emma because she was screaming. I noticed her leg was caught in the crib. After I finished helping her I noticed Jane climbing over the side of the Pack 'n Play. Ahh ohh! I put her back in, trying to distract what I thought were her first successful efforts, by handing her multiple washcloths, her blanket and her giraffe.
• I started planning primary music up to September's program and just kept going. Soon I was at the end of the year. Now I'll just have to focus a week at a time as I prepare visuals and attention grabbers. I also need to find a sub for two weeks.
• It's "purple day" at VBS and the kids are excited to go to the ice cream social tonight.

Day Two of Solo Mommy

Yesterday went fine. It was our first day of summer break at home, with all four kids by myself. I spent most of the day writing about our trip on the blog, helping the babies find their favorites toys, doing laundry (maybe 4 loads and Allen and Abby were such great laundry helpers), teaching piano lessons (Allen and Abby started piano lessons with me yesterday and we are going to be doing daily 10-15 minute lessons), reading (I added to four logs, one for each kid, on our library's website), writing cards and catching up on emails. Tonight I hope to tackle the pile of ironing, get to pile of dishes in the sink (unless Ross beats me to it), mop the kitchen floor and finish writing in all the journals.

Allen and Abby are at day two of vacation bible school.  It was blue day today so their wore their t-shirts. Later this afternoon is a magic show at the library. We'll also do another piano lesson (I'm working on updating their piano notebooks), chores, reading, toy room time and make something for dinner.

Now I'm off to go eat a Cheerios breakfast with the babies. Cheerio!

Multiple Stops

1. Picked up Catherine Sawaya at the DFW airport.
2. Stopped at Walmart to buy swim stuff and candy for next week's trip.
3. Home for snack, playing with toys and filling out paperwork.
4. Arrived at a church to register for week-long bible camp which starts in a few weeks.
5. Went to a second church to register for a different week-long bible camp.
6. Home again for lunch and naps.
7. Soon to visit the elementary school to check out Allen 20 minutes early.
8. Afternoon dentist appointments for Allen and Abby.
9. Home again for playing, reading, and dinner.
10. Plans tonight to work on primary song visuals for June and our summer plan.

grilled burgers are so good!

Today's Tidbits:

• I love being a leader of a group at Bible Camp! When I get the kids from one station to another, help with management, keep them busy while we wait in the hallway, motivate and encourage them, and explain directions better so they understand, it brings back memories when I had my own classroom. I miss teaching sometimes, but this has been a perfect way for me to feel some of that again. Today we learned about comets and the story of the blind man in Jericho who was healed by Jesus.
• Went to a doctor appointment in the Fair Oaks area.
• Ross's parents came to visit. They brought birthday and vacation presents for the kids.
• Made some Rice Krispie Treats and a fruit salad for a dinner party. We also took over some cookies (Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip). We got to visit with Scott (a colleague and friend we know from the University of Chicago) and Lance (who is Allen's age), had a yummy BBQ dinner (Thanks Scott -- the babies and I really enjoyed the food!), the kids played outside and then we walked over to our favorite park. It was fun!
• Enjoyed some perfect weather.
• Got new temple recommends!
• Sold a piece of furniture we weren't really using on Craiglist. Our favorite thing to do after a space opens up in a room where furniture used to be is to "dance" in it to enjoy the extra space that used to be cluttered.

stars

Today's Tidbits:

• We learned about stars today at Bible camp. In the different stations the kids played a constellation game, practiced their galactic songs (some of those catchy tunes are still stuck in my head), learned the science behind stars and why you see them at night and why you can't see them in the day, learned the story about Jesus and the Women at the Well, enjoyed a Lucky Charms snack, painted sun catchers and silver stars and added glitter.
• Found some carpenter ants outside near the deck. Yuck!
• We got out the ball pit and the kids have had fun in it.
• Abby is going to play at a friends house, while Allen rests (he hurt his ankle while jumping in the pit) and I pack. We're excited to visit family over the Fourth of July holiday.
• Later when we go pick up Abby, we'll head to the pool.
• Appreciating the cooler weather. 80 degrees feels wonderful!

records

Today's Tidbits:

• Another morning of bible camp. We learned about the moon today and the bible story of Elijah with different activities and classes. I've got all the names and personalities in my group down now. One boy in particular can't focus during the activities.
• Three big things on my week's "to do" list were completed today. I love when that happens at the beginning of the week!
• On a whim, we ate lunch at Panera Bread and enjoyed ice cream at Coldstone's afterward. (The kids had a coupon in their library booklet).
• Went to the doctor and am happy that my A1C is 5.9. (A1C is your average blood sugar and doctors always want their patients at a 6, which can be hard to do).
• Played at our favorite sand park.
• Enjoyed a few Scholastic videos from the library: Strega Nona, Swimmy, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, Fredrick, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.