Memorial Day and Ford's Birthday

It was a different Memorial Day this year than it usually is. Usually we visit the cemeteries in Monticello, Blanding and Bluff, taking most of the morning. However, Mom had already taken care of the graves in Bluff and Blanding before she and Hugh left on their trip on May 22, so we only had to do Monticello.

We actually waited until afternoon, when Stacy and Stewart were coming through on their way home from Blanding. We all met at the cemetery, put fresh flowers in the vase on Dad's headstone, put silk on everyone else and took a few snapshots, and that was it. Short and sweet. And a bit sad. I like spending the day taking care of the graves. Otherwise, it's just another day.

Cambria had a selfie-stick so we were able to get a good group photo of all of us to send to Mom...

I like that my family is comfortable at the cemetery…siting or standing around and visiting is common...

After finishing up at the cemetery we had Ford's family and Karla's family over for dinner to celebrate Ford's birthday. This year was exactly like the year he was born, because he was born on Memorial Day and my OB was out of town, of course. Hard to believe that was 22 years ago. Where does the time go? Curtis smoked a roast and we had yummy potatoes and some dutch oven potatoes as well. I don't know why we don't do this more often, it's always good to have family over for a meal.

Just had to throw a couple of these crazy pictures in….  I think she was having entirely too much fun taking selfies!! Looks like Allie wanted in on the fun too!

MES Spring Dance Festival

Time for the Spring Festival again. The format for it changes every year depending on what the Arts teacher and other teachers decide I guess. This year each class did a dance and Oh, BOY! were my boys not excited about it. In fact Charlie started refusing to go to school on the days he knew there would be dance practice. I had to write a note to his teacher explaining what was going on and try to encourage Charles to just participate. He eventually did do it and I was pretty proud of him, and Soren, for doing something they just really would have rather 'stuck a fork in their eye' than done! (family joke) 

So here's Soren doing the Turkey in the Straw Dance. He was pretty business-like.

Then, here's cute little "Chicken" Charlie! The first grade did the Chicken Dance that most first grades around the country do. I loved their little masks and tail feathers. They did a good job.

Each class had also made a class banner. Here are the boys in front of their class banners.

Soren's teacher is retiring after this year. So they made their banner in honor of Mr. Boyle.

Next year I'll get to see all three of the younger boys participate. James will join his two brothers at MES.

MES End of Year Awards Assembly

Every year the parents of the students of Monticello Elementary School have to sit through a lengthy assembly while all the athletic, scholastic and social awards are given out. It is NOT one of my favorite ways to spend an hour or two.  It seems as if every year, the same names get called over and over and over again and all the other kids sit there dejected because their name is never called. I especially hate the Field Day awards which seem endless. I wish they'd just give those out on Field Day. 

 I asked the boys if they would be sad if I didn't go this year. Charlie and Soren both asked why I wouldn't go. Charles told me he thought he had gotten a ribbon in Long Jump, so I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to GET to go. I did leave James home with Nina so I didn't have to wrangle him for the 1-2 hours.

This a panoramic shot of the student body of MES on the west bleachers. 

Unfortunately, enrollment keeps dipping and every year it seems smaller.

In fact, my boys did get their names called a number of times. Soren's awards were mostly scholastic. Charlie did in fact win 1st place in the Long Jump for 1st grade boys and got a blue ribbon. He also got a white ribbon for taking 3rd place in the obstacle course. He also earned scholastic certificates.

Charlie waiting for his award

Soren's turns

Towards the end of the assembly they announced the citizenship awards for each class. To my surprise and delight both of my boys were chosen for that award in each of their classes. It nearly brought me to tears. I told them as we headed home, that to me that was the best thing they could have won. Out of all the other awards scholastic and athletic, I was so happy with them for just being good boys, and being kind, friendly and helpful. It was a sweet Mom moment. 

Charlie with his citizenship award

With his Field Day ribbons

Soren with his Citizenship award

I ended up being really glad I went to the dreaded awards assembly. I rounded up my boys with all their stuff and we had a happy ride home on the last day of school. :)

Spring Band/Choir Concert

One of the regular events that takes place during May is the Spring Band/Choir Concert at the High School. We enjoy going to hear our kids perform and to see how much improvement they have made over the year. I'm sure thankful for their patient music teacher. She has done a good job with what she has to work with. 

Hannah, center in middle row, sings Alto

Sadie, in the center with long blonde hair, sings Soprano

This is the double trio that Hannah was a part of getting their certificates for their 

performance at State Solo and Ensemble. 

Sadie also plays the oboe in the High School Band. You can just see her right in the center of the photo, tooting away. 

Cinco de Mayo 2016

Cinco de Mayo just isn't what it used to be in Monticello...sadly, our beloved Taco Time was closed down when the Shell station changed owners and nothing has replaced it.

So we have to do something at home. This year, it fell on the day that Curtis and the girls left for the big track meet at BYU so it was just the boys and I at home. We didn't get fancy but nobody around here complains about nachos. Everyone can create their own plate of nachos how they like it. 

Soren isn't one for sauces or 'salsa' so his is just cheese, beans and sour cream

Charles is a little more adventurous in his eating. Looks like he added olives and sauce...

We may not know the exact reason that Cinco De Mayo is celebrated but we will never argue with an excuse to eat Mexican food! YUM!

James' Preschool and prep for K

 I didn't feel like James needed to go to preschool away from me, but felt like he needed something to do  to keep him occupied while everyone was at school and to help him learn a few things, so I enrolled him in the free online preschool program run by the state called Upstart. It uses the Waterford preschool program and is quite academic. I don't really care if he does great at it, I really just want him to do it to keep him busy.

When I enrolled him I told them that we had a computer he could use to do it on, but then the computer got damaged by the lightening and so when we went to the orientation, I told them about that and they supplied us with a computer for him to use. How nice! He's been very excited to have his 'own' computer. And thankfully the kids have been able to use it for their homework as well. 

The requirement of the program is to do the reading portion for 15 minutes a day. But they suggested we as parents require 20 min a day, which will move them more quickly through the material and have them better prepared for school when they go next year. So I do require James to do 20 min of reading and 15 min of math/science 5x a week. And he is very diligent. It's the first thing he does after eating in the morning. He has progressed nicely through the program and is now reading. He struggles more with the math, but I know that will come as he gets a bit older, so I'm not worried about it. Here are some pictures of James during the last few months, as we have done 'preschool' and helped him get ready to go to the grade school next year.

James had to go with me to the orientation in Blanding and had some evaluations done, 

so they'd know where to start him out.

Working away at his 'own' computer.

His first day using the program. He's feeling like a big boy!

Other parts of James' day and ways he's growing and getting ready to go to Kindergarten...

He likes to watch a little video after doing his computer work.

He often wants a 'picnic' 

He's hard to resist. This day it was a bit early for lunch so he had cookies and milk.

When the weather was nice, he practiced riding his bike, trying to get the pedaling part down.

After the weather got colder, we pulled out the Wii so he could do it for some exercise and call it PE.

running on WiiFit

bowling

Boxing

Way to hit him!

golfing

baseball

Way to go, HOME RUN!!

Sometimes we play games...

this is a consonant as the first sound matching game. He's got them down.

 We did go to a play group a couple of times during the winter so he could meet a few kids who will be in his same grade. He was shy the first week, but got braver the next time. I haven't done a good job providing him with social activities, but with a large family, you get lots of interaction at home.

Its somewhat hard to believe that he will be in school next year. He's really growing up and becoming a boy rather than a toddler. I am thankful for his chance to use this program, as I think it will help him feel 'smart' when he starts. I just hope he doesn't get too bored and shut down. He is now reading and working on a 1st grade level. So fun to watch reading click for my kids. I hope James learns to love learning and school and will be the best student he can be! Watch out MES and world, here he comes!

My cousin, my friend

Kitty is my dad's cousin but she is my age. Her dad is Francis, who is my Grandpa Clyde's little brother. We did not become close until our 9th grade year in high school. Due to the 'feud' between the Barton men, we did not really know each other. We had not spent any time together as children. As our friendship grew, we had to keep it confined to school. My mom knew we were friends because she was a teacher, and I think she was happy, because she had never wanted her children to continue the 'feud". So we had lots of good times together, cruising Main, doing plays and drama competitions together, FHA. But we never could go to each other's houses or even really speak of each other at home.

It was what it was, but looking back, I just think how sad it is, to deprive cousins of knowing each other. Over things that, in the end, don't matter. I'm so thankful that we became friends because she saved my high school years I think. Her and Krista, Antoinette and Andrea.

I had been an outsider of the popular girls' group for years, just a hanger-on. But by 8th grade they had moved on and no longer let me be part of them. I was so lonely. Then Antoinette moved to town. And Krista started coming to school here instead of in Colorado. Then in 9th grade, Kitty and I began our friendship during our Algebra class. And Life Was Good!

The four of us even did our own thing after graduation because we did NOT want to go to Lake Powell with the rest of the class. We drove to Durango instead and spent the night and had a tourist day there together. Kitty, Krista and I went on to BYU and Antoinette went to SUU. We drifted apart over the years but thankfully have reestablished contact through FB.

I'm thankful that not only was Kitty my friend, but she's my cousin. We still have that tie that binds us together even though we don't see each other for years. She actually came to my house one morning a year or two ago and knocked on the door. I was so surprised to see her and she was unsure of her welcome but did it anyway. We hugged and cried and talked and talked. It made my day! I hope we can stay in touch and see each other occasionally.