It's been quite some time since the last post, and I have plenty of catching up to do.
It's been a little crazy around here.
Let's see...........
Aeva and another girl at church put on the Ward Talent Show for one of their Personal Progress projects.
Things were pretty crazy during the planning process, and it wasn't looking too good. I will admit I think I have a few gray hairs because of it. It ended up turning out super fantastic, and the girls did a great job putting it on. There was a bake off included in the talent show, which Rhaevyn entered. She made Creme Brulee. I had never tasted it before. It was soooo yummy. Wish you all could have tried some. She ended up winning first place in the bake off. We were all so excited for her!
Rhaevyn is going to be taking a summer class at the local vocational high school. It's a cooking and baking class, and the students will learn to run the restaurant there. She is really excited to start that.
Aeva had her piano recital. She actually chose a song from Lord of the Rings to play for one of her songs. The other was a piece by Beethoven. I loved listening to her play that one. Since she is just about done with her books and is moving into uncharted territory with her teacher (she's never had a student make it this far), we've come up with a compromise. Aeva gets to pick one piece of music that she really wants to learn, but she also has to learn a piece of music that I want her to learn. We actually came to an agreement on my first song for her. I love ragtime, and Aeva does not. However, she found one for me that I like and one that she doesn't mind so much. I believe it's called Dixie Dimples. And no piano lessons for the summer, which is a first for her.
Rhaevyn is saying goodbye to her violin teacher of three years and hello to a new one. We are hoping it proves to be a good move. She recently had a free hour and a half lesson with a true Suzuki violin teacher. Amazing!!!! I think we both came away learning a lot we didn't know. It was very clear that there has been a lot lacking in her lessons and practice. However, that said, we feel very fortunate that she's been able to take lessons at all, and that is in part to Heavenly Father and the wonderful teacher she has had for the past three years. If it weren't for her, Rhaevyn wouldn't have even been taking lessons. They are extremely pricey.
Anyway, a gentleman in our ward, the son of the true Suzuki teacher that we had a free lesson with, has agreed to teach Rhaevyn for the price we have been paying for the old teacher plus some babysitting on the side, which Rhaevyn will be taking care of. He actually taught for his mother and went to Juliard, so he knows what he's doing. Plus anytime his mom is in town she will teach Rhaevyn for cinamon rolls :)
He's basically going to start at the beginning with Rhaevyn, which she isn't thrilled about, but knows deep down that is what needs to happen. Her former teacher took it really well............better than I did. She truly is a wonderful lady and was so gracious about us moving on. she had prepared us a couple of months ago that the time was coming to decide what Rhaevyn really wanted to do and that we probably only had a year left with her. She is super excited for Rhaevyn and hopes that her new teacher will make her play in public since she didn't.
Moving on...................
The weather has been amazing! School is over until after the 4th of July. The kids have been out having a blast. Myles got a new slip and slide, as his had a big hole in it. It is getting used quite a bit.
Myles and Elsa super excited to go try the slip and slide.
And I just realized I don't have pictures of them using it yet. Oh well, next time.
They all like the new one, as three of them can slide at the same time and have a race.
We did some yard work. I moved our pile of flat stones and discovered lots of dead beetles, three black widows, several huge brown spiders, and lots of egg sacks. Yuck! But the front porch looks nice now. The kids helped me wash down the chairs and table, and the girls helped me move the flag. I think they really just wanted to use Christopher's drill.One of the sisters I visit teach donated two day lilies to our flower bed.
Today the little ones and I went and picked out a few plants. Elsa was all about the smells of the plants. Myles was all about how tall the plants would get, and I was thinking about color. It was a lot of fun picking out the plants together. Then we came home and the two of them helped me do the planting. Here are Myles and Elsa relaxing after their hard work.
Myles is pointing at a gang of ants.
We are going to take a stab at year round school. We start in July with 12 weeks of school and one week off. It all looks good on paper, and we are hoping it proves to be successful. Next week my goal is to get the rest of everyone's books.
Christopher's big bike ride is coming up the second weekend in July...............Seattle to Portland. There is a group of about 15 of them doing this together (all in one day). He says it's been fun, but he probably won't ever do it again. Lots and lots of riding on weekends and not time to do much else. In fact, a lot of the group is saying the same thing. I'm glad he will be able to say that at least he did it once in his lifetime.
A couple of other small items of interest.............
Rhaevyn did a cooking/science experiment making rock candy.
It's kind of blurry, but the color was pretty. The kids enjoyed watching the crystals grow.
We played musical beds two weeks ago.
Aeva hit her head on the ceiling, and she said she didn't want the top bunk anymore.
So, this is Elsa's new place to sleep. I was a bit worried about having her up there,
but she's done amazingly well. Every morning she comes in and says "Look mom, I didn't break my ankle getting down." All is well in the bed world for the girls.
I tried to get Myles in action, but failed.
I happened to look out the front window a few weeks back, and
I saw four little boys army crawling through our tall grass. Then they went tearing through the gate to
the back yard and the gun battle began. Love watching boys be boys!
Aren't these cupcakes so pretty? Another lady I visit teach brought these to me. Her daughter is getting married and they've been trying out bakeries. We all enjoyed them very much, but I had to get a picture before they were eaten. I just loved the pretty flowers on them.
And..............that's a wrap. I hope I didn't forget anything.
The next post should be short, sweet and well worth the wait :)
