Last Day of School

And just like that the school year is over, I cannot believe how fast the school year goes, they all had a great year but are definitely ready for summer. I wasn't able to get a picture of Ryker before he left the house but I made Avynlea and Rylee pose for pictures before it was time for them to catch their buses.

It was a beautiful day and they all got out early so we took advantage of the weather, the free time and the community pool and went swimming after they were done with school.

Ryker showed up with his friend Matthew and I was laughing while watching them playing games in the pool.

I got a copy of Ryker's report card in the mail and he had another year of all A's! I am positive that all the kids who have 4.0's or higher are ranked number 1 in their class on their report cards but it gives me some thrill when I see it on Ryker's.

Citrus Pear

Some friends in the ward were telling us about Citrus Pear which is a freezer meal class they had signed up for and were wanting more of us to go. I have heard about the class and was wanting to try it out so I signed up to go. It was held at the Market Street Albertsons and you pay a fee and then go and prepare 20 freezer meals. I was impressed with how quick it went, how fun it was and that I went home with 20 meals to feed my family. I loved it so much that I signed up to do the July class as well. It is so awesome to have so many meals in my freezer that will be so easy to pop in the crock pot whenever I want for dinner.

They had all of our stations set up and once we got our bag with the meat in it we put the other ingredients in it and then sealed them up and put them in our coolers to take home.

I am in the front with Jessica Lewis to the left of me, Emily Walker behind me and Kim Hansen to the right of her.

After we were done we walked around the Albertsons to check it out and we found they had a sale on their pasta. Kim and I each bought 21 boxes of pasta for .40 each, regular $1.99, we were pretty excited about that deal!

Memorial Day in Nyssa

Saturday we went out to Nyssa to go to Baileys graduation party. While we were there Avynlea and Rylee asked if they could stay a couple of nights. We thought that would be ok and I made plans to come back for them on Memorial Day. I mentioned how we spent a couple of memorial days out at the scout camp playing on the waterslide and roasting hotdogs and marshmallows and said we should do that again. Alison and Whitney thought that was a great idea so we made plans and told all the others about it so they could come if they could.

It ended up being Alison, Me, Avy and Rylee, Whitney and her family, Kylie and Amelia, Brit and her family and Ally. As soon as we got there the kids headed straight to the waterslide. They had so much fun going down and I had a lot of fun watching them.

We took a break from the water fun so that we could eat and the kids got their food and then plopped down to eat with their cousins.

Kinsey, Avynlea, Hazel, Qiana, Asher and Xander

top picture: Whitney, Brit, Kylie, Amelia, Elizabeth, Hazel and Tayvia with Madi on the end in the bottom picture

At one point Amelia snagged Hazel,s chair when she got off of it so I pulled her onto my lap so she could eat her s'more. I love my little nieces and nephews. They are all so cute!

Kinsey was on Avynlea's lap and was trying really hard to not smile for the camera but Avynlea was able to make her crack.

After we all ate our fill it was time for more water sliding, swings and cousin fun!

Somebody spotted a snake slithering around and pretty soon a crowd was gathered to try to lure the snake out of his hiding spot. Luckily he stayed put and far away from the rest of us.

Rylee makes me laugh a lot and I loved watching her antics going down the slide.

Alison brought water balloons and we all thought it would be funny to throw them at Rylee, Qiana and Brielle as they came down the slide. It was fun until Qiana got hit int he face by one of them. That hurt her but she managed to recover pretty quick and then everyone got in on the water balloon throwing.

I had a lot of fun visiting with my sisters-in-law and always enjoy any excuse to be together.

Whitney, Elizabeth and Brit

After we left the camp we drove back to Alison for a little bit so Avynle and Rylee could cuddle the new kittens.

Kenedy in Moab

Over the weekend Kenedy went to Moab, Utah with some of her roommates and college friends. She had a lot of fun and sent me some pictures of her good times.

Ty, Cassie, Ashley, Kenedy, Adelaide, Jack and Zach

Avynlea's Turning Point Ceremony

Avynlea had her 8th Grade Turning Point Ceremony about a week before school got out. I thought it was a little strange for them to have what is essentially a graduation ceremony when they still had finals to take but I don't make the calendar. I was helping Cyndi that morning put stuff away from our dance recital the week before and so by the time I got to the school for the ceremony there was a line out the front door. Alison arrived before I did and she had a place in line saved right by the doors. When it was time to go in the line was almost to the parking lot, it was pretty crazy but I was so happy we were in line closer to the front. There were only two of us so when we finally got inside I managed to find seats in the second row on the side. I was pretty excited with how close we were to the front. There was an extra seat next to us which I saved for Sadie Niblett's Mom. She didn't know I was saving her a seat so I searched the audience until I found her.

Avynlea's jazz choir performed a couple of songs and it was fun for her to have one last middle School performance. 

After way too many speakers and musical numbers it was time for the turning point. They announce each kids name and then they go over to the light board, turn on a light and then make their way past all of the 8th grade teachers and go back to their seats. 

After Avynlea had her name read she went to turn on a light and had a bit of a struggle finding a bulb that would turn on. The poor thing, she kept trying and trying until she finally got one lit. Once she was done she headed past the teachers. This is my favorite part of the entire ceremony. I love watching the teachers congratulate and hug their students. It is always such a good feeling to see how much these teachers love your child. 

After the ceremony was over I took pictures of Avynlea with her bestie Sadie and then some pictures of her on her own and then with me and Alison.

Avynlea asked if she could have a new dress for her turning point and so I took her to Kohls where she tried on a bunch of dresses that were too short or too low cut. While she was in the changing room I went looking for some more outfits and found a really cute pencil skirt and top for her to try on. She loved them and they looked so cute on her and she was pretty excited with the new outfit.

All About Rylee

For some reason it was dress up week at Rylee's school and the only day she wanted to dress up for was Hawaiian Day. We found a cute flower shirt in her closet and paired it with jeans and a pair of my sandals. She really wanted a Lei so we went to the Dollar Store where we found one plus a matching flower for her hair. She definitely had a cute Hawaiian look.

Rylee went to Tayci Olsen's 12th birthday party and her Mom sent me the pictures she took of the two of them. What cuties!

Rylee was in Student Council this year and really enjoyed it. But when she got a letter inviting her to apply for the National Junior Honor Society she decided she wanted to try for that and said if she got accepted she would do that instead of Student Council in 7th grade. She filled out her application and submitted it and I told her not to worry if she wasn't one of the kids chosen. I said she was a great student but a lot of kids were trying for NJHS and I didn't think they would accept everyone. The day she got her letter she came home and said when opened it and first started reading it that she initially thought she got rejected and she was pretty bummed about it. She was walking with her friends and told them she didn't get in. They were sad for her but then she continued reading her paper and read that she was accepted! She is so funny! She told her friends that she really was and they were happy for her. She was super excited to tell me her good news when she came home from school that day.

One of her duties for Student Council was to take a group of 5th graders and show them around the school. Her group was the Wagon Wheels and she seemed to really enjoy her sign.

Monday night Alison and I went to Star Middle School for Rylee's induction ceremony into the NJHS. Avynlea, Kefford and Ryker went to Ryker's Golf Banquet, it was a divide and conquer kind of night.

Once Rylee got her certificate we had to leave to go to Eagle Middle School for her end of year Orchestra Concert. This was such a busy night and I am glad we were able to fit it all in.

Rylee did really well in her concert and even had a duet with another student. I thought it sounded pretty good but she said she messed up a little in the duet. I am pretty proud of her for all of her hard work in learning a new instrument this year. I am excited to see her progress in her Violin skills as she continues in orchestra next year.

I was on the phone with Heather when Kefford and Rylee left to go to the Goodwill. Heather wanted me to take a picture of the items RYlee brings home with her because she says Rylee always get interesting things. 

This time Rylee got a book and a pencil holder. I took a picture of Kefford's Corn mug that he bought from Goodwill a while ago because he thought it was funny and sent it to her as well.