Finishing out the School Year

As usual, all sorts of fun school traditions and parties helped us wrap up the school year.  The girls participated in a Star Wars reading challenge at Lindon Elementary where they had to read books in all different categories until they earned their pins and light sabers.   They were pretty motivated and kept good track of it all since I was busy painting and prepping the new house.

Star Wars Reading Challenge

They also had their mile fun run, a dance festival where each grade learned a song to perform for all the parents out on the field.  They worked hard and it was so fun to watch every kid in the grade performing the songs together.  They had a swim day at the city pool and class parties. Lillian earned a class "P" party where they got to wear pajamas, bring Popcorn to share, pillows, purple, etc. etc.  We even tried to braid her hair in a "p" to wear for the day.

Dance Festival

Lillian and cousin Tessa at the Dance Festival

Lillian on "P" day

Jocelyn, inspired by her cousin Michael, asked us if we would pay her if she went off of sugar for a month.  I told her we would pay her if she kept track of it all, we just wouldn't pay her as much as her cousin had earned!  She lasted a few days and then kept making exceptions.  The end result was that even though she did not earn the money, it got her thinking about the amount of sugar she would ask for and consume so now she is at least more aware of it.  Ironically, in school,  during that same time they were earning ice cream sundaes for each times table number they would pass off.  If you passed off your 1s, you would get one scoop of ice cream, 2s was chocolate sauce, 3s a cherry, etc.  She was diligently earning all those while claiming to be off sugar. She took the day "off".  She passed them all off which was exciting.

They also had their last class auction where they could use up their class currency. Jocelyn told me what went down is that she waited until the bitter end when everything was on major clearance then swooped in with all the money she had saved up and nobody else had money left.  As it turned out, most classmates already used their currency at the beginning of the auction, or even the previous auction so Jocelyn came home with tons of candy and other goodies.  She is apparently related to Jared and I and likes a good deal :)

Jocelyn at the Mile Fun Run

Lillian and Cousin Tessa at the Mile Run

Jonas finished up preschool with his graduation. Since half of the kids were related to us it was like a family gathering at the graduation. Haha!  We followed up the graduation and the last day of school with a trip to Swig-a soda and treat shop.  For the graduation Jonas memorized a whole paragraph about the water cycle and did a great job reciting it in front of the audience.

Jonas and Mom at Graduation

Our Preschool Graduate

I was thoroughly spoiled on Mother's Day with a breakfast by Jared, the kids gave me gifts they had made at school and church, and my SIL Kristina gave all us girls pedicures.  She has some mad skills and is generous to share them with all of us.  Then we gathered with all of Jared's siblings and parents so the boys could make tri-tip and salads. YUM!! This was the kids when I requested some Mother's Day pictures. LOL.  Don't you love the enthusiasm? This is pretty true to their personalities.

"Cooperative" Mother's day pictures

Mother's Day Pictures after church

Cait, Jocelyn Lillian and Emma with pedicures by Kristina

Jocelyn giving away her chicken

Another notable event during May was giving away our chickens.  After a particularly unpleasant experience cleaning their brooder, we figured it was an ideal time to ask the kids if they really wanted to keep their chickens or if they were done with the whole experience.  Jared and I had been contemplating moving into a new neighborhood with smelly chickens, buying or building a chicken coop and cleaning it out during the winter. None of it was sounding very appealing so we all agreed it was time to find them a new home!  Notice Jared is the one who had to handle the chickens.  I helped clean the brooder and could sometimes catch them, but the kids could not successfully catch them so they were done!