In their studies of Idaho History the fourth graders always put on a wax museum. They pick a person who has done something to enrich Idaho history, researched them, wrote a short speech about their lives, dress up like their person and then portray them in the wax museum. Rylee was really excited about this event and knew exactly who she wanted to portray, Statira E Gibbons, first teacher of Idaho. When the kids were supposed to write down their choices for whom they wanted to play Rylee only wanted Statira. She said she wrote her name down and then after looking around and seeing the other kids with their long lists of names felt compelled to add a second name to her list even though she only wanted Statira. It was a happy day when Rylee was told she got to be Statira and she spent time researching her and writing her speech.
A couple nights before the event we were sitting as a family after reading scriptures talking about our schedules. Kefford mentioned that his Mom was not going to be able to make it to the wax museum and he was not sure he would be able to because it was a Baker day. The other three kids had plans to help out at the Meridian Middle School Neighborhood event and it fell on the same night as the wax museum so they said they wouldn't be able to make it either. Rylee was so disappointed and sat next to me silently with tears dripping down her face. I felt so bad for her and tried to cheer her up but nothing I said was helping her feel better. Kefford promised to do everything he could to rush home in order to make it to the school to see her before the end of the event.
Friday night Rylee came home from school and was really excited to get ready for her museum. She dressed up in Kenedy's old pioneer trek clothes and I pinned her hair up in a bun. She was the cutest little school teacher I have ever seen.
On our way to the school we stopped off at our mailbox to collect the mail and Rylee found a postcard inside addressed to her. A couple of months ago she found a life hack on Pinterest saying that if a letter was written to a Disney Princess and sent to a certain address that they would get a reply. She wrote a note to her favorite Princess Jasmine, mailed it off and promptly forgot all about it. The postcard was her reply to that letter and it made her happy.
The first part of the Idaho History event was a musical performance by all the 4th graders singing songs about and from Idaho History. Rylee was in a shadow play done to the song "there's a hole in the bucket". It was so cute and I loved watching her. Kenedy sent me a text asking when the wax museum portion of the night started and that she was going to try and break away from the middle school to come and watch Rylee. After the songs the kids were sent off to get themselves set up before the parents were sent out. How the wax museum works is the kids hold a pose until money is dropped into the cup in front of them. When money is dropped inside the kids come "alive" and tell their speech, once they are done they freeze until someone else drops money in. The money collected is used to pay for the shirts the kids need for their rendezvous.
On our way to the school it was discovered that Rylee left her note cards at home. They are encouraged to memorize their speeches but are told they can use note cards if needed. Rylee wanted to have her cards with her in case she forgot and was a little panicked that she forgot them. I told her she had done enough practicing that she would be able to do her speech and had her recite it to me a couple of times. Of course she did it perfectly and I gave her a good pep talk about how she will do great.
As soon as we were let out of the cafeteria I went immediately to Rylees station and dropped some money into her cup. She gave her speech and hesitated a couple of times but she did it so great and I was so proud of her. Kenedy was able to come with her friend Isaac and Rylee had no idea she was going to be there. In her frozen state Rylee is looking down reading a book and so she did not see Kenedy until she looked up after she heard the money dropped into her cup. As soon as Rylee saw that it was her big sister who came to support her her face lit up. It was so sweet and it made Kenedy feel good for making the time to come and her being there meant so much to Rylee. I sure love my kids!
Kefford was also able to get there and watch Rylee before the event ended. She was really happy that he made it also and it was so sweet of him to rush home so he could support her.
