Last Day of School

The end of school is always marked by the Harvest Elementary dance festival. Camille was my partner. I dread the day when I go alone. 

Bryce danced with the 2nd grade. I thought I was recording but all I did was take a picture. Grrr.

Dance Fest Video

We gave our teachers these farewell gifts. 

Have a "KOOL" summer!

Clever idea, if I do say so myself.

Then we went to Hogle Zoo. It was a lot of fun!

We watched other people pay to feed the giraffe lettuce leaves.

A lot of animals were very active. I could have watched the orangutan for a long time!

And we DID watch the polar bear for a very long time.

Traditional Hogle Zoo picture!

May Stuff

One night we had an artichoke for dinner. We kept peeling and peeling until we opened the flower. I had no idea they were so beautiful!!!

Our poor kitty, Congo, went missing. Sydney and Parker had been in Arizona for Peter's mission farewell. Syd brought home a ceramic kitty named, Congo Kitty Pot. We didn't realize that in one day's time it would become a memorial to Congo.

Sydney had her last volleyball tourney. This team were good friends and they had a lot of fun together, probably for the last time. I'm so glad she had such a great coach in Becky and friends to last beyond volleyball.

Parker also had a great time playing tennis. His coach was awesome and very inclusive of all the boys who wanted to play. We're so glad Parker has found a sport he really enjoys!

The girls have had a lot of fun coloring these mandalas. In this book, you scratch off the black to reveal color underneath.

We had the sister missionaries over for dinner and I thought it was funny how the meal is different for sisters vs. elders. If we had the elders over, both pans would have been empty. 

The girls had a lot of fun making up a new song about the joys of dirt vs. the joy of technology. They have so much fun together!

And just look at my grocery cart. Little pies, sno-cone syrup, corndogs, marshmallows and a diabetes cookbook. HAHA.  Which one doesn't belong?

End of school projects

We had lots of end of year projects for school.

Rachel did her county report on Beaver county. She made a diorama and a postcard.

Bryce had his egg drop. Together used some sponges to cushion the egg. Then we built a soft landing platform with straws. A grocery bag parachute topped it off. And his egg survived! It worked like a charm!

Egg Drop Video

To bid our teachers good-bye for the summer, we gave them a container of kool-aid with a nice little message. 

"Have a 'KOOL' summer!"

At the middle school, the last week is kind of a wash. They watch lots of movies and sign yearbooks. Camille didn't get a yearbook this year so...I took her hiking with me. We met a nice man who said he likes to give a gift to people who inspire him. He told us that seeing a mother and daughter hiking together was inspiring and he gave us matching bracelets that he and his wife made themselves.

Bryce's 8th bday

Bryce turned 8!!!

That's a big deal around here!

The girls got up early and decorated his door so that when he woke up, all the balloons would fall into his room.

This year was one of the few years he will get a friend party.

 (5, 8, 12, 16, 18)

Bryce planned his own party.

He wanted an obstacle course.

The boys went head to head in competition.

8 jumps through a hoola hoop.

Monkey Bars

Balance Beam

Army Crawl

Race to fill a bowl with water using a plastic cup full of holes.

Spin around 8 times with a baseball bat.

Kick a soccer goal.

Next on the agenda- a treasure hunt. 

And the first clue was buried in this cake!

Part way through the hunt, it started to rain but it didn't slow the boys down at all. 

Corndogs for dinner because that is Bryce's FAVORITE food!

Presents- a couple of big balls and remote control cars, legos.

Bryce has a good group of friends and it was fun, as his mom, to spend an afternoon with all of them. Though it was a little challenging to get them to sit still for a picture. haha

Treasure Hunt
1. You'll find your next clue in the place where snakes live, hidden among 3 rocks. (backyard field)
2. When bunnies die, they rest under the dirt, near a cross. (front flower bed by the cross)
3. These are perfect for pies and smoothies and just a treat, hidden among the leaves. (peach tree)
4. Our oldest neighbors have a hidden secret on their porch. (clue inside balloon on Herrera's porch)
5. Don't go! This sign says "______"! (stop sign at bottom of street)
6. Your next clue is at the Orchard Park. (park inside the tunnel)
7. Tall and old, green and brown, leaves and twigs on the hill. (tree at the park)
8. Your last clue is stuck somewhere between Carson and Monson's houses. (on the fence btwn houses)
9. Congratulations! You followed 8 clues for the 8 year old. Now go home for your prize! (It was hidden in the chicken coop. Gift bags for each guest)