May

Ivy had a field trip to the ice skating rink on the first Friday of May.  I was at a soccer tournament during her last field trip so I made sure I could make it to this one.  We watched a show by the Park City Skating Club and then the kids were able to go out and skate for a little bit.  Ivy has improved so much since the last time we went-she didn't even fall, I don't think! I was impressed and she had a lot of fun.  We got back to the school right before their lunchtime so I checked her out for the rest of the day and we started our weekend a few hours early.

Ivy and Hannah Reynolds

Lydia Evans, Ivy, Emery Pearson, ?

Justin got tickets through work for the Utah Royals game that night.  Molly was all for doing that.  We thought she'd invite some friends to go but she told me and Justin that she really just wanted to go with the two of us.  Man, I love that girl.  Our time with her still at home is limited (a thought that has been on my mind a lot lately and makes me slightly panicky and more sad) so it was a no-brainer.  We also made Ivy go with us even though it's not really her thing.  Our seats were in the AFCU suite so we got burgers and hot dogs and cookies and settled in for the game.  Molly knew so many players, from both teams, you can see her pointing them out to Justin.  The Royals lost but we had a really great time and hope to be able to go to more games.

(Justin thinks a clean, green baseball field is one of the most beautiful things...I feel the same way about soccer fields.)

Molly's soccer team has showed up amazingly this season.  After a really bad start in St. George, they gained some momentum in Vegas and peaked about two games into their season.  They lost their first game but went on to win all the rest.  They were top of their division going into their second-to-last game and a win that night would clinch first place, regardless of how their last game went.  They wanted that win and worked hard to secure a 5-1 win and the title.  So proud of how far they came this season!

Molly is second in from right

Ivy wanted to try curlers in her hair one night.  This just looks so uncomfortable to me (although I slept in curlers all the time as a kid) but worth it because her curls were very pretty the next morning!

Ivy had her Presto piano recital with Miss Kim.  She did great.  This has been a great program for her this year.  She will have a break this summer (although I will make her pick some songs out of my many books) and begin again in August for year 2.  I am happy she is enjoying it so much!

*Not pictured this same night: baseball banquet for Stockton and CAPS showcase at UVU in Heber for Molly.  The term "Maycember" is real.  Banquet is self-explanatory but CAPS is a class Molly has been taking this last semester through UVU where she has been partnered with a business in the community and had to complete a project for them.  Her business was PEAK and she did a lot of their photography/videography for some of their events.

Mother's Day-

Mother's Day went about the same as it usually does: French Toast breakfast (an impressive feat when we have church at 9!-everyone helped), church with my favs (we even got to drive there and back with Justin!), Mother's Day chocolates, an amazing Relief Society lesson and I got to sit with Molly for that.  We went to Gene and April's for dinner and had delicious smoked pork + fixings and dessert was lemon almond poppyseed cake and our new favorite chocolate chip cookies (I was in charge of dessert). A beautiful day all around and so glad to spend it with those I love the most.  When we got home, Justin pulled over at the top of our road and Stockton drove home.

Molly's final game was a battle.  They played this team their very first game of the season and it's the only game they had lost.  So this was the only team they needed to beat in their league.  They got up on us 1-0 early on and then we came back and scored on them early in the second half.  It got super physical and everyone was fighting so hard.  We were losing light as well but finally, finally we got a goal with just a few minutes left.  There were real tears of joy...and then real tears of sadness as everyone came to the realization that this was the last game for this very special team.  After last years drama and trauma when their soccer club Celtic fired Derek at the end of their season and they didn't get a chance to move up divisions; to moving with Derek to Avalanche; to St. George and then Vegas; and ending with winning their division-it's been a ride.  These girls have gotten really close and the majority are seniors-only 6 juniors for next year and only 3 of those confirmed and committed to another season.  It was a very tender and bittersweet moment.  If you look closely at these pictures, you can see tears on all those faces.  I admit, my momma heart was moved to tears a couple times as well.  But so grateful for the opportunity and experiences Molly has had on this team.  And she gets another year to play with Derek, so yay!

Molly's on the back row, third in from right

Piper, Molly, Natalia, Courtney, Andie, Brooklyn

two of the strongest defensive wings ever-Natalia and Molly

Molly and Courtney

I can easily say the Derek has been the best coach Molly has ever had.  He did so much for her love of the game and her personal confidence.  He made a huge impact in her life, as cheesy as that sounds, and I have a ton of gratitude for him.

And if this isn't dedication, I don't know what is: trying to finish up homework and study for a UVU Math final on the way home.  This picture might be a good summation of Molly's entire junior year as she learned to juggle so much.  She's amazing and I love supporting her.

While Molly was playing that night, Stockton and Ivy were home and Brynn was hiking with the Young Women.  It looks so green and pretty!

Hallie Whimpey, Brynn, Bree Lloyd, Rachel Rowe, Lauren Whimpey, Tricia Steiner, Carli Steiner, Olivia Munford, Carla Bedingfield, Jennifer Evans

I'm getting pretty good at doing hair and makeup for recitals and competitions but I am horrible at applying lipstick.  Brynn stepped in for me and did Ivy's lipstick for her clogging dress rehearsal and recital and I was so happy to let her take over.

They did clogging pictures as part of the dress rehearsal.

Ivy is front left

There was two sessions of recital the day following the dress rehearsal.  She was dancing to "Pink" from the Barbie movie and she practiced at home a lot in the week before the recital.  She did great and had so much fun.  Gene, April, and Brett drove up for the first recital and then she had a lot of supporters for the second recital.  (Stockton was guest-playing baseball for a different team so he was excused or he would have been there as well.)  Ivy wants to keep going with clogging and I'm happy about that.  It seems to be a good fit for her.

April, Ivy, Brett, Gene

Ali Robinson and Ivy-these two were in the same preschool class so many years ago and it has been fun for them to become re-acquainted this year in clogging since they do not attend the same school

Molly's friends...Amberly Howe, Molly, Regan Heywood

Oakley Keys and Brynn

Ivy and I finally found a day to plant the seeds we started over Spring Break.  You can see how they grew!  We planted the flowers by Justin's shop so we'll see how they do!

Stockton got to go go-kart racing with Timothy Evans for his 16th birthday party.  Tim is really quiet but Stockton has always been a good friend to him.  Stockton had a good time trying to figure out how to drive the go-karts.

second in from right in green hoodie

My parents got home from their mission to Fiji on the 18th.  We all went down to the airport to welcome them home.  The kids especially were so, so excited.  It was a great day, we are so proud of their service and happy for the experiences they had.  But they are so glad to be home and so are we!

Grandpa, Grandma, Brynn, Josie, Ivy, Lucy, Harper

Grandpa, Grant, Grandma, Gavin, Stockton, Spencer, Seth

Grace, Abby, Chloe, Grandpa, Grandma, Tessa, Molly

Josie, Lucy, Ivy

Erin M., Chloe, Megan, Justin, Abby, Stockton, Ali, Jeff, Tessa, Molly, Seth, Grandpa, Grandma, Grace, Grant, Bryce, Gavin, Spencer, Erin, Christopher, Brynn, Ivy, Josie, Lucy, Harper

I volunteered to help with Field Day at the elementary school.  They put me at the catapult station but it was hard work so I left after a little and just hung out with Ivy.  (They had a pair of dads working the catapult station so I left it in good hands.)

Hannah Reynolds and Ivy

Our last parent-teacher conference with Mrs. Letzelter.  It has been an awesome year for Ivy and Mrs. L has been fabulous (aside from the fact that it was really hard to say her name, haha!).  We couldn't have asked for a better environment for Ivy to learn and grow and thrive.  I know that Ivy truly loved the entire year and I'm so grateful.  Academically, Ivy is a rock star-her teacher had nothing but praise for Ivy.

The last week of school is so fun.  Molly and Stockton especially have some fun days...meaning they don't really even go to school.  Their teachers don't want them there, they have nothing to do, etc.  Stockton had a few things to finish up so he was there more than Molly but neither of them were there much of the week.  I called on the last day and excused them for anything they had missed.

Anyway, here are the high-schooler's first and last day pictures:

Stockton, 9th grade, freshman at Wasatch High School-

Stockton adjusted well to high school.  He is not a fan of school but he did decent.  He had a friend switch sometime in the fall/early winter but he did fine with that adjustment.  It's kind of to-be-expected when you start high school I think.  His easy classes were baseball weight-lifting and baseball class (like mental training kind of stuff).  He really enjoyed going to seminary.  We saw a lot of growth from Stockton-physically, for sure, he shot up this past year, but he also seems so much more mature this summer compared with last.  

 

Molly, 11th grade, Wasatch High School

It is with a big sigh of relief that junior year is over.  Molly had heard that it was intense and it lived up to that.  There were a lot of late nights and stressful deadlines.  She had college and AP classes.  She really did not love the school part of this year.  Socially, on the other hand, she had a great year.  She has figured out what works for her socially and what she really just doesn't love and it makes a big difference in how she feels about herself and life.  She made some new friends but really just stayed loyal to the old.  She had one rough go with one girl but learned what she needed to out of it and has moved on.  All in all, I really think it's been a great year and she is pumped for an easier senior year (after an awesome summer, let's not rush things).

Ivy participated in the chalk festival on the second-to-last day of school.

Brynn finally got back to some private stunting.  With a different guy this time but equally as talented.  They are both so strong!

Ivy had a rough afternoon the afternoon before the last day of school.  I wasn't home so she was calling me to check-in when she got home from school.  I was on Main Street in Heber and I needed her to find Brynn so she could ready for cheer.  She went out the back door to get Brynn for me...and then all I heard was screaming and crying.  Ivy wouldn't tell me what was going on and when Brynn made it to her, she wasn't telling me either.  They were both in panic mode and I just remember Brynn saying, "Mom, there's a lot of blood, I don't know what to do."  Talk about panic!  I finally got it out of them that the wind had slammed the back door on Ivy's finger.  So I told them to wrap it in a towel and I hurried home to get them.  They were waiting on the road.  Ivy was in pain and very distraught.  Brynn had her stunting lesson so I dropped her there real quick and then went straight to InstaCare with Ivy.  I didn't even look at her finger and figured I would just let the doctors check it out. Good thing I did, because she really did a number on that finger.  After a couple of hours at the InstaCare, this is what we found out: the door had split her right hand, middle finger right under her fingernail and around the back.  The first two doctors actually thought the top of her finger had come off but the third doctor was able to find the tip barely attached.  So that took 12 stitches (12!!) to attach it back on. They thought they could stitch right through the fingernail and attach it back on but the impact really just burst the nail right off.  The doctor was able to find the nail bed (what the nail grows out of apparently) and put it back but they didn't guarantee that a nail would ever regrow.  They also took an x-ray and found that the tip of the bone was shattered beyond repair.  They told me that the bone pieces would just disintegrate back into the blood and they put her on an antibiotic because an open bone wound could get infected.  Whew!  All that for one little finger.  Poor girl.  She was so brave and has taken it in stride.  She was super sad that it happened but happy not be be stuck with another cast.  It was a long night and she was exhausted when we finally made it home.  She thankfully slept soundly that night.

Ivy in the x-ray room is becoming too familiar of a sight

Here are the younger two's first and last days:

Brynn, 7th grade, Timpanogas Middle School-

Brynn really grew up this year.  Her interests are older...and just everything about her is older.  It makes me a little sad, I just really wanted her to stay young and sweet and innocent forever.  Hopefully she'll maintain her sweetness and innocence even as she grows older.  She was so concerned for Ivy when she smashed her finger and has been solicitous to her needs.  None of my older kids enjoy the drudgery of school and Brynn is no exception but she doesn't complain too much and is pretty no-fuss with all things.  She is supportive of others and cheers on their accomplishments and successes.  She is a good friend.

 Brynn also won a long-board at the end-of-year assembly.  I had to go pick it up from the school so she didn't have to go carry it around all day - the box was just as big as her!

Ivy, 3rd grade, Daniels Canyon Elementary-

Ivy was the only one of my kids who was sad that school was out.  She really just enjoyed every day and each part of school (minus PE of which she is not a fan).  She has a cute group of friends and I already lavished praise about her teacher.  It was just a perfect combination to make a perfect year.  I'm pretty sure tears were shed in their class that day, haha.  Can't believe she is moving on the 4th grade next year but excited for all the things ahead for her.

Mrs. Letzelter and teary Ivy

London Mathis, Ivy, Hannah

 

**Did you notice Brynn and Ivy's cute, new haircuts?!?  They both knew exactly what they wanted and had been anxiously waiting for a time for me to take them.

 

The last day is always so fun and everyone is partying.  Molly had been MIA all week but that day was a little more tame for her.  She picked up a second job at the garden center in early April for the summer and was working there and then hung out with Jackie that night.  Stockton was actually playing in a baseball tournament that day and the entire weekend but he did go out with friends that night.  I can't even remember which group of friends he was with.  Brynn walked to Dairy Keen with a group of friends and then went to Shaylee Williams's house. She went to Mari Freemans' end-of-year party that night.  And Ivy walked to Hannah's house with a group of friends after school.  They had lunch and played there for a while and then I went and got them and brought them to our house for the rest of the night.  We made pizza in our outdoor pizza oven (a combined bday gift for me and Justin) and then they played until parents picked them up at 9.  They were so cute and fun and I was glad Ivy had a distraction that day so she didn't focus on her finger.  Yay for summer!

Raina Cottle, Sage, Ivy, London, Hannah

My parents reported their mission the Sunday over Memorial Day.  This is the picture Molly drew for them.

They had 9:00 church so it was an early morning for us but then we were able to spend the afternoon in Plain City.  The younger girls looked adorable in their authentic Fijian dresses, we visited with family, got Fiji souvenirs from Grandma and Grandpa, played blitz ball (the boys did this all day), rode four-wheelers, did gymnastic tricks, and probably more.  It was a good day.

Lucy, Ivy, Josie

me, Aunt Holly, Erin M.

Molly, Tessa, Abby, Grace

Gavin, Grant, Stockton

We always say that the first day of summer is the first day we are not in school when we would normally be in school.  So our first "official" day of summer was the Tuesday right after Memorial Day.  We got summer started right and made a trip to the temple.  Molly was at FSY and Ivy stayed with Stella Kelsey since I was taking two other Kelsey kids with me.  It's always great to visit a new temple...we had been to the Orem Temple open house but hadn't done any ordinances there (besides me who has done a couple endowment sessions). A great morning!

before: Brynn, Stockton, Grahm and Khloie Kelsey, Kelton Webb

after: Brynn, Grahm, Khloie, Stockton, Kelton

We got started on our bucket list.  It's mostly Ivy who is excited to pick things and check them off.  She wanted to do homemade popsicles and we stuck with our root beer float popsicles because we know we like them.  She was proud that she did the entire project herself, start to finish.  I even left the kitchen and let her do her thing.

Molly went to FSY the first week of summer.  She had such a wonderful experience two years ago and was excited to do it again.  I was hoping it would be just as good as last time but wasn't sure if she would like it as much, with her being one of the oldest there.  But FSY gives back what you put in, I suppose, and Molly had a good attitude about going.  So it ended up being great!  She loved her counselor and her and Jackie Bingham (her roommate from our stake) got to be really good friends with two other girls.  She had spiritual, faith-building experiences as well.  I was so happy when she came home on Saturday morning.

Molly and Jackie on the right

with counselor

full group-Molly third in from right on the bottom

Jackie and Molly