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Last Sunday was seminary graduation which we did not attend because Erik had not completed his reading of the Book of Mormon which is a requirement for graduation (and to turn mission papers in).
And then this showed up at our house today.
I'm not sure what to make of it.
Wednesday was my last day at work and I got my own yearbook of sorts.
At our end of school luncheon the principal presented me with a book signed by a lot of the people who work at my building, many of whom I didn't even know. And then I was asked to give a few remarks. That was a little weird.
But oh how I am going to miss these ladies I work with (Mag, Danielle, and Shar) and our "bathroom therapy sessions." I truly grew to love them and their friendship. The trick is going to be how to maintain those friendships when we no longer work together. I am also going to miss the kids I worked with and grew to love immensely -- Marie and her happy nature, Tren and his infectious smile, Harry and his giggles, Jason and his thumbs up, Taylor and her love for music, Adam and his fist pumps on Fridays. Special needs kids will always have a special place in my heart.
I also got to meet my little tribe of second graders and team members for next year. I am excited . . . and scared . . . and anxious . . . and nervous. I have so many things tumbling around in my brain about what I need to do to get ready for school. I even got a sneak peak at my classroom.
Ash and I went DI shopping and had a grand time filling a cart full of books for my library.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love books? I do. I really do. I once had Ash start to take inventory of our own library at home. She got to over a 1000 books and quit. At the DI we ended up with 70 for $40. I call that a steal.
I'm not sure who decided he could go and grow up and everything. This is Erik just being himself.
I thought I might never survive and had pretty much decided we would never be friends . . . ever. But you know something, they grow and mature and move on to bigger messes.
But through it all he's become a delightful young man. He has a passion for tennis and graphic design and is every little kid's favorite. I've been so lucky to be able to carpool to school with him every other day. There have been many silent mornings but our afternoon drive home is filled with chatter as he fills me in on his day . . . just like friends. I never dreamed we would have those moments when he was two.
Happiest of birthdays and welcome to adulthood.
This weekend I've been suffering with a nasty head cold . . . sore throat, body aches, massive headaches. I think life caught up with me and is forcing me to slow down for a minute. My crazy intense reading class ended on Friday. Hallelujah! That means one more class down just in time to start another one tomorrow. Most days I have to keep telling myself I can do this.
BUT, the great news is I accepted a job to teach next year at Willow Elementary. I've been interviewing for upper elementary jobs so when the principal called to say they'd like me to teach 2nd grade, I sat there stunned for a moment and then said yes.
What. Was. I. Thinking?
I've got to start somewhere. After mulling it over in my head for an hour or so I got excited. It means a big mind shift from thinking I would be teaching 5th grade to teaching 2nd grade. They aren't even from the same planet. However, during this whole process I've prayed to God that he would put me where I needed to be. I've felt at peace with this decision. I know one of the other 2nd grade teachers and love her. Who you work with makes a huge difference.
Now I've got a summer of preparation ahead of me. I won't lie. I'm feeling very overwhelmed. That's why I'm a list maker. To help me manage my priorities.
Tennis also came to end last Thursday. Part of me was sad and part of me was relieved to recapture some of my badly needed time. Erik's first match was an intense 2.5 hours. He lost the first set. The second set went to a tie breaker which he won forcing the match to a third set. The third set was a killer. He had his opponent 6 games to 5 and was up 40 point to 15. All he needed was one more point to win. Unfortunately, his opponent got that point which deflated Erik. He was also hurting from leg cramps. That set also went to a tie breaker which his opponent won. And afterwards, instead of walking, he sat causing both legs to cramp intensely. He was in such pain that the trainer came by to help. We fed him pickles and mustard which supposedly helps with cramps. I had no idea that was the remedy for cramps.
Had he won his first match, he would have forfeited the second because he was in no condition to play another hard match. He gave it his all and slept a lot the next day to recover.
And then we came home to find his picture in the paper as the athlete of the week
and a mention of him in the Deseret News as a "monster" tennis player. He's a tough player and Nate's not far behind. Nate lost rather quickly, but it was a good experience for him to play at the state level to see what real competition can be like.
Kiersten and Jason found an apartment to rent, and Kiersten was able to sell her summer contract. She will move in sometime in June. Things are falling into place for those two.
We took a year off from planting last year due to limited funds. This year we're back at it again, replacing dead things and adding some new stuff. Tyler has been wanting a Katsura tree for quite awhile and the local nursery was able to order one for him. He was a kid in the candy shop picking that tree up.
Nate has had an exciting couple of weeks. I had him miss a tennis tournament to take the ACT test about a month ago (we had already scheduled the test before the tournament was announced) and it paid off. He got his scores back and he scored higher on this first test with a 33 than Kiersten or Erik did on their first attempt. Kiersten got a 31; Erik got a 32; Nate got a 33; Ashlyn a 34?? No pressure for her at all. Or Alex who would potentially need at 35 :)
I'm happy to have that done. So far he's in the running for a scholarship from Utah State if he keeps the grades up. Then he played some hard tennis matches and won. The first was Tooele which went three sets, and then a kid from Davis County. This match also went three sets and into a tie breaker which means they both won 6 games. After that it's the first person to score 7 points. I believe they tied again at 6 points and Nate finally put him away 8 to 6 (because you have to win by 2). Oh my heart. It was intense.
All year long Nate has been coming home with Key to Success cards to redeem for gift cards. It's an organization that rewards students for hard work. At the end of the year all the cards are put into a drawing and they narrow down the contestants. Nate was selected to be one of 20 or 25. They then put them into groups of 5 and pick one student from each group to try their key at the main prize -- an Apple gift card worth $400. Nate was chosen to be 1 of 5 finalists and was the last one to pick a key to try. His key fit! And he came home with a $400 gift card.
It was region tennis this last week where Erik went undefeated, capturing the first ever conference region title for first singles for Stansbury.
He is a number one seed, playing a tough competitor from Snow Canyon this coming Thursday. Nate won two and lost two which still allowed him to go to state as a number four seed. Ah, the excitement. Can't wait for Thursday.
Ahhh. The tennis season is coming to an end. I will miss it. It's been a good season, although I won't mind retrieving a few extra hours on my Saturdays that have been given to tennis tournaments.
The last home match was against Tooele. Erik was a little nervous because they had a foreign exchange student playing first singles who was a lefty. Turns out he had nothing to worry about. Nate's match went rather long but he pulled it off, winning in three sets.
Yesterday's tournament was another tough one for Nate, having to play in very windy conditions. He played against a 5A senior from Davis County for his final match. Nate won the first set. The second set went into a tie-breaker game which means they tied at six games a piece. When that happens you go into a sudden death -- the first player to get seven points and you have to win by two. The Davis kid pulled it off at 7 to 4 which put us into a third set. Again, they tied at six games a piece, and again we were in a sudden death. They tied at six points; Nate won the next point and then pulled it off, winning 8 to 6.
There was such intensity. I was so pleased with how Nate kept his cool and pulled through despite the other player having somewhat of a temper and getting angry.
Region play is this week and state is next. It's been a fun year to be able to watch both boys play at the same time. Sometimes they are on the same court and sometimes they play back to back. I've found myself hopping from one court to another or standing in between.
Erik got to design and print the tennis banner that hangs on the Stansbury High School tennis courts. He also has managed to keep his emotions in check after his first match of the year.
This week has been just what I needed. A break from normalcy.
Several years ago for spring break, Tyler was unable to come with us when we hiked Calf Creek Falls. So we decided to go back and take him.
I've got to say this trip was much easier. There was no hauling a child on my back while hiking through an ocean of sand. Alex made the entire 6 mile trip by himself. And while it was snowing at home, we were enjoying beautiful, sunny weather.
There is something about Grandma and Grandpa's house that is magical. I suggested doing several things for the break, but when I mentioned Ferron, the discussion ended.
Erik repaid their hospitality by cleaning the windows. Yea. He wasn't too thrilled with me snapping photos.
I hired him to clean my own when we got home, and Ash also got in on the action. I sure do love me some spring-clean windows.
I got to work in my yard: mowing and weeding and planting peas and lettuce. Ash and I painted my end tables and beans poles. When I put my bean poles up I realized that the yellow in conjunction with the turquoise pea sign were the exact colors of Kiersten's wedding. It was a sign! We are hosting an open house.
I took Erik to a foot doctor to ensure his self-diagnosed bunion have an actual doctor-certified diagnosis. And yep. Sure thing. That's what he's got. Not on one foot but on two. The doctor was slightly mystified that no one in our family has one. They hardly ever see teenagers and even rarely see male teenagers. He won't need surgery thank goodness, but they did send him home with some orthotics they custom made to his feet that he is required to wear regularly. Bunions aren't hereditary but his pronation is which is what has caused the bunions.
And then Good Friday really was a good Friday. Tyler had an initial interview with CUNA Mutual Group for a position we've been waiting to open up for 18 months. He's also interviewed for a different position with Wells Fargo. In my prayers I just tell the Lord that we are in need of better employment to afford the many good things happening in our lives right now. He knows what lies ahead and which position will be best for us. I'm just hoping that either of these will work out. While he was interviewing, I took my growing family to the Jordan River open house.
It was fun to see the sealing room where Tyler and I were sealed many years ago, and for Kiersten and Jason to envision themselves kneeling across that altar in a few short months.
Kiersten told me that Jason's parents were also married in the Jordan River Temple and that this temple was hers and Jason's first choice. However, when they called to reserve a day and time, the temple told them they weren't sure they would be open and operating by the end of June. So they went with option B: Payson. I even managed to get a picture of them in front of that particular temple. Ha, ha. Actually a picture of the Payson temple.
Later it was a Jazz game for me and Tyler.
Only 38 days, 7.5 weeks, left of school. For me the countdown has begun with so many things happening in this short period of time.
