Ellis Island Reinactment

A couple of weeks ago Rylee brought home a permission slip for an Ellis Island reenactment. I thought it sounded like a fun thing to participate in so when she asked if I would come and be a volunteer I signed up. 

The kids were ushered into one room at the beginning of the day with their passports and backpacks filled with their possessions. We had an outline of a boat on the floor and they had to crowd into the boat and sit on the floor with their backpacks on their laps. A story was read to them about what the journey was like and after about five minutes I carried a poster of the Statue of Liberty around the outside of the ship to represent them arriving in New York. After they disembarked they had to follow their schedules and go to different rooms which represented different stations the immigrants had to pass through on Ellis Island. One kid from each class got a golden ticket which meant they were first class, they got nice comfy chairs to sit in on the boat and got to go to the front of the line in every room. The rest of the kids were steerage and had to wait in long lines in the "medical" room, "baggage" room and others that I don't remember. I followed Rylee for a little bit but then had to go back to the great room to be with the first class kids who got done fast. Slowly the other kids were making their way back to the room we were in after they passed through all of the other rooms. I knew some kids were being "deported" and as more and more kids came with no sign of Rylee I wondered if she was one of the ones being deported. Finally in came Rylee, she was the last one to arrive, and I was happy to see her. 

I enjoyed being their watching and observing and thought the reenactment was such a great idea. The kids learned a lot about what emigration was like for these foreigners and I thought it was an awesome way to learn history.

On the ship sailing to New York

I planned on being at the school helping out until 12 and so I packed a lunch with the intentions that I would stay and have lunch with my girls. The reenactment finished a little early and I debated whether I wanted to hang out for half an hour or just go home and not have the lunch date. I never come and eat lunch with the girls and I knew they would like it so I decided I would just stay until lunchtime. A friend of mine was sticking around as well so I visited with her until I saw Avynlea coming through to go to lunch. Avynlea and I sat down with her class but I felt really crowded and I worried about where Rylee would sit so I suggested we move to one of the middle tables where guests can sit with their kids. Avynlea's two friends came along as well and when Rylee's class came to the cafeteria she came and sat with us. Rylee's best friend had gone home sick right after the reenactment and I asked her who she was going to hang out with after lunch. She shrugged her shoulders and said nobody. I told her she could go and play with any of the girls from her class but she didn't seem inclined to. I had to leave after we ate because I had a meeting to get to and Avy goes back to class after she eats since Fifth graders have play time before they eat rather then after. I worried about Rylee and her being all alone as I left and after school I asked her what she did and she said she walked around by herself. I questioned why she did not play with anyone else and she said she didn't want to and she enjoyed being alone, to her it was not a big deal. I guess it didn't really surprise me because she has always been more independent, but it sure did give me a little bit of anxiety because me in her shoes would have really struggled with being all alone watching everyone else play. 

I sure love these girls of mine who are growing up way to fast!

This and That

One morning before school I was trying to get Rylee to wear a coat to school. She stopped wearing one because she said her sweatshirt keeps her warm enough and she does not need a coat. She then showed me what she does if she does get a little chilly. I thought it was pretty cute. I still think she should talk a coat with her, just in case she does get cold but mostly so I don't look like a bad Mom sending my kid to school without a coat. She has always been extremely hot blooded so I believe her when she says she does not need one but boy is she crazy! Avynlea always leaves the house looking like an eskimo all bundled up. 

Avynlea looking cute reading on her tablet while waiting for her ride. She usually waits till right before her ride comes to get bundled up. 

One Saturday my kids friends Mom texted me saying she was taking her kids ice skating at the village if I wanted to come along with my kids. All of the kids had plans that day except for Rylee and I thought she would enjoy it so I agreed to go only after I made sure Devri was not planning on skating because I was not in the mood to skate, she assured me she had no intentions of skating either so we were good to go. When we got there Devri had already got her kids paid for and they were on the ice. Rylee and I got in line and right when it was her turn to get paid for they said the rink was too full and we had to wait 15 to 20 minutes. Bummer. By the time Rylee got on the ice she only had about 5 minutes to skate with her friend Sydney. Rylee is pretty independent and has never minded doing her own thing and so she was totally fine skating by herself for the 15 minutes after Sydney had to get off. Rylee wanted to take her sweatshirt off while she was skating because she said she was getting hot. I told her to keep it on every time she asked me and finally towards the end she gave up on asking and just took it off when I was not looking. Little stink.

Avynlea got a cute Rudolph ring pop and enjoyed showing me how it looked while she was sucking on it. Cute even with a Rudolph sticking out of her mouth.

Basketball

In January Ryker tried out for 7th grade boys basketball. During tryouts they were told they have an A team and a B team. A team being the better team. Most of the boys would be on B team and would be guaranteed playing time. A team would take 12 boys and their playing time was not guaranteed. Ryker had mixed feelings about which team he hoped to be on, A team was great but he would be able to play definitely if he made the B team. Ryker ended up making the A team and we all thought that was pretty great. I go to all of his games to watch and cheer them on. The coach does let all the boys play in every game but some way more then others, which I think is fair, the point is to win and you need your best players to win. 

Rylee has been wanting to play basketball for a long time and finally I signed her up for a Y-ball team. Rylee has never played ball before in her life and so at her first game she did not play very well but she has a fun attitude about it and I know she will get better as she puts forth more effort and learns the game. We found out her team colors are red and black so she had me get some red laces to put in her black basketball shoes and she wanted red socks to wear. Luckily it is Valentines season and I was able to find black socks that had red hearts on them. 

Kefford bought tickets for him and Ryker to go to a Boise State Mens Basketball game. Boise State won the game against Fresno which made it exciting and fun, they even got a picture with Buster Bronco.

Cousins, Cousins!

Me and my Rylee having some fun with the camera.

Kefford's cousin Taylor has a sign making business and I really love her stuff. So far I have signage from October through February and am hoping to get some for the rest of the months. I really liked how Januarys looked on my piano with my cute penguins on either side.

While we were in Nyssa Alison snapped this picture of Bailey and Ryker playing with their cousins. I love how much my kids love their cousins and they are so good to them. It is really cute to see these "tough" boys being so gentle and fun.

Ryker, Tayvia, Bailey and Asher

At the dance studio while we were waiting for class to start my girls got a little silly.

One night Whitney dropped her girls off for us to watch while she and Dustin went to the Temple and out to eat to celebrate their anniversary. I was so happy that for once Sadie let me hold her and cuddle. I finally figured out that in order for her to "like" me I had to get her away from her Grandma and Mama. We had a lot of fun with Sadie and Madison and hope they can come back and play more often.

A Night of Ten Minute Plays

January 7th Avynlea and I went to the High School to watch Kenedy perform in a Night of Ten Minute plays. Rylee had Basketball practice right up until it started and so after Kefford picked her up he brought her to the High School so that she could join us and watch her sister. Kefford does not like spending money and he does not like watching plays and so much to my disappointment he stayed home with Ryker. He does show a lot of support for our kids and goes to lots of things so I try to not make a big deal about him missing some things. 

Kenedy's play did not come on until close to the end. Hers had a small cast, just her and two guys, she was the star of the play. It was about a girl breaking up with her boyfriend on the red carpet of a movie premier because she had met someone else who treated her better or something like that.  Kenedy did a really great job but it was a little uncomfortable for me to watch her playing a girl so mature and with such mature topics. It just felt really surreal and different, I am not ready for her to grow up. I was not happy about the dress she had to wear but she decided to wear  her hair down to try to hide a lot of the skin that was showing and she said they pulled the dress up as high as they could with safety pins.  Despite the weirdness I had a good time watching her and always love supporting my kids in their activities. My parents were the best at supporting me and my siblings and I have learned from them.

Megan, Lauryn and Kenedy

Megan. Lauryn, Ashlyn, Gabi and Kenedy

Elizabeth, Avynlea, Kenedy and Rylee

When we got home I sat down close to Kefford on the couch and looked up to see his foot right in my face. I thought it was funny and took a couple of selfies with his foot. These pictures make me laugh so hard. I am too funny ;)