A Busy Weekend

Let me tell you about a busy weekend we had recently.

We're still trying to work on the UCB challenge so Lucky and I got out Saturday morning to Powell Slough Wildlife Management Area. Every time I go there I hear Virginia Rails. Jeremy saw one once while we were there but I missed it. Lucky and I did hear rails and one gave us a quick glimpse of it. Yippee! 

Can you see it just peeking out in the center of the picture?

 

What was also fun but I wasn't expecting is that there were also soras who were out a bit more than the rails so we got better looks at them. Fun fun fun. I like birds.

Later Lucky and Nichole had a couple appointments, several of us went for a drive around the lake, then we went home and ate biscuits and gravy.

The next morning, Jet decided to be up with me really early in the morning while I put some final touches on my Relief Society lesson I was teaching later. I got a new calling- Relief Society teacher. That day was also the Primary Program and the kids were so cute as usual.

Some of us went for another drive around the lake that afternoon/evening. It was a beautiful evening.

Monday was Veteran's Day.

Summertime Means...

Summertime means more Summer Reading, of course. One of the things we like to do is Provo Story Trails. Different Provo parks have signs set up that tell a story based on a fairy tale of folktale. It's fun to see the similarities between stories we're familiar with and how they are told in other countries and cultures.

Things have been busy so Lucky, Jet, and I went to one story trail and I went to two more on my own. Luckily there's a new one every week through the end of July so we'll have more opportunities. They are left up for two weeks before being taken down.

The Story of the Five Heads at Lions Park, Maui's Fish or The Creation of New Zealand at Riverside Park, Catherine and Her Destiny at Kiwanis Park.

 

It's harder getting the start and end pictures when I go by myself. Tee Hee.

Summertime also means fairs and that sometimes means dropping off and picking up Jeremy so he can do balloon animals. Jet and I are big helpers when it comes to supporting Jeremy in this way.

Summertime also means Summer parties. Lucky's school teacher invited all her former students for a little get together at the park next to the school. Lucky had fun connecting with friends, eating treats, and getting to see his teacher again since she won't be his teacher next school year.

When Jet and I went to pick him up, we stayed for a while ourselves and joined in the fun.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Jeremy was not available to go to Parent Teacher Conferences for Lucky with me. He had a big build at Thanksgiving Point. In fact, Jet and I delivered some balloons to him that day (we're big helpers).

 

Lucky's teacher said so many good things about him and how he's the type of kid that makes her love teaching. I don't say this to brag but to tell a funny story. During the conference with the teacher it was decided since Dad wasn't there, we would fool him into thinking Lucky wasn't doing so well. Lucky told me he could even make himself cry to go along with it. Man, that kid is good. Red eyes and everything.

While we were at the school we checked out Lucky's contribution to the Art Show. A pendant. Way to go, Lucky.

 

Jeremy was a little concerned when I hesitated while saying the teacher said Lucky had some things he could work on (she did, as in she wanted to push him even more so he could continue to grow). He wasn't that surprised when he found out we weren't serious. Tee Hee. Way to go, Lucky.

First Days of School

I had both Nemo and CoComelon going in my head for the first days of school. Jr. went a day before everyone else again.

I got a picture of Jr. as he was about to the leave the van before going to where the cheerleaders and student council were cheering the students on about being back at school.

I also got a picture of him after school.

Jr. Jr. and Lucky got to meet their teachers that evening (I got pictures).

 

The boys helped decide what we'd have for the last dinner before the first day of school (for everyone). Yumm.

 

The next day I got a picture of all my students at once before school. Yay, me.

After school I got a picture of Jet who wanted to be like his siblings. So cute.

Parent Teacher Conferences

I went to Parent Teacher Conferences or Student Led Conferences or whatever it is they're calling them these days. The high schooler and junior high schooler went with me to theirs and the elementary schoolers stayed at home when I went to talk to their teachers.

At Nichole's school I saw my sister's sister-in-law. I didn't realize she worked there but she does so I said Hi. Wow. Nichole has classes on the first floor, second floor, third floor, and across the parking lot (seminary). Whoo.

Nichole showed us weeks ago a sketch of a fairy she was sculpting out of clay in her sculpture class. At parent-teacher conferences I was able to see that fairy in progress. Later she brought the finished product home. Well done, Nichole.

Jr.'s classes are only on the first and second floors and across a small road for seminary. Jr.'s biology class had a picture in there of a pine grosbeak that he took. He made sure to get a picture with my phone. Notice the label. Heh Heh.

Both of Jr. Jr.'s and Lucky's teachers had good things to say about them and I was able to see some samples of their work that show their personalities.

Lucky's self-portrait and Jr. Jr.'s "The Best Part of Me."

"I think the best part of me is my head because it lets me read, write, and think.Reading is my favorite pastime. I spend most of my free time reading so my head helps me not get bored. I'm writing a book so if I didn't have a head I wouldn't have any plan for the future. I wouldn't get to share my stories.I like thinking and figuring things out. My head makes it so I am smart. That is why I think my head is my best part."

Jr. Jr.'s teacher did specifically mention how expressive he is even when wearing a mask. Heh Heh. I love my kids.

Last Days of School! Last Days of School!

It's hard to pinpoint an exact last day of school this year where the kids would normally wear their backpacks and go to school, say goodbye to their teachers, and come home ready for Summer vacation.
Working from home, they all finished their schoolwork at different times and went to pick up school items at different times. So even though I got decent first day of school pictures back in August for three different start dates this school year (for Jr., for Nichole and Jr. Jr., and for Lucky), I wasn't able to figure out when to do official last day of school pictures this year. I obviously didn't think to do it back in March before the schools closed because nobody knew it was going to be for the rest of the school year and they closed before we knew they were going to close.
So... anyway... let's get to the point. Here are some things that happened the last few days before everyone was expected to be done with school completely for the Summer.
Our elementary students went to say Goodbye to their teachers and get little goodie bags from them but no hugs even though they were terrific teachers. In fact, Lucky could be heard to say three times on the short drive home, "I love Mrs. A__."

The elementary school teachers had another parade as a final farewell. Students and their families were encouraged to make signs and decorations to show support. When they drove through our neighborhood this is what they saw.

Jeremy built the school mascot and an apple for the teachers out of balloons. So I guess here are the "last day of school" pictures for Jr. Jr. and Lucky.

Since the high school seniors didn't get a real graduation this year, the high schools in the area set off fireworks the same time on the same night for them. We could hear them coming from a couple of different high schools and we could see them from the closest one. We did have to walk down the sidewalk to see between the house next to us and the one next to that since there were trees in the way when we tried to watch from our backyard. Not complaining. One, I love trees. Two, we didn't miss much because where we did get a view was a very short walk away.

Thanks, Jr., for taking pictures of the fireworks so Lucky and I could watch them together.
So that is how school ended for us this year. Definitely unique.

Teacher Appreciation

Teacher Appreciation Week 2020. Because the elementary students couldn't give things to their teachers at school, the school set up a sign the kids could get a picture by to send to their teachers.

Jeremy and I joked about decorating our front door for teacher appreciation week like they often do for the teachers at the school, but we didn't. We could definitely be considered teacher's aides with the amount of work we do with this online schooling. Of course, Jr. could be considered one, too, with what he does to help his siblings. You know what? The whole family has done so much. We all deserve appreciation. Thanks, Telfords. You're terrific.
I do appreciate the work my children's teachers have put in the last couple months (and the whole school year). It has been crazy and different but they have been amazing. Thanks, teachers. You're terrific.