AP Computer Science

I proctored the AP Calculus test today. It went a little long. Preston took the AP computer science test today. His test was in the same room as the calculus test. Preston's class was supposed to be there by 11:45. I stuck my head out and saw his teacher waiting. I told him that the calculus test wouldn't finish until 1:15. That was not what he wanted to hear, but it worked out well. His classroom is right next door to where the test was taking place. He brought all of the kids into his classroom. At least they didn't have to wait in the hall. Preston said the test went well. Yay! One down, one to go for him.

Stockton was supposed to start his summer physics class today. He logged on ready to go only to find out that his physics class is a 7 week class and it is the 2nd 7 weeks. He can't start until the end of June. Not what we wanted to hear. Stockton has a lot of time now and had planned to spend it working on that class. Now he will have to do physics while he is doing FSY and getting married. Not ideal.

When I came back from school I noticed this note on the dryer. Stockton had left it there on Mother's Day for me to find. Haha. Stockton started laughing when I showed it to him. He is so sweet. I loved the note. What a great kid.

On the Boot

Today is Mother's Day! That is always a fun day for me. Haha. Actually for years and years it was really hard, but this year I wasn't sad. That's good. Jorja is in Italy today. She left me the sweetest note. I loved seeing her face on the boot. This is from the 'Find My Friends' app. She sure sounds like she has been having a lot of fun with Kinley and Maya. The pictures look that way too. I'm glad she gets this experience. How amazing!

Kinley, Jorja, Maya

Maya & Jorja

The Relief Society had a full on lunch for Mother's Day. I wish I had taken a picture of the amazing crepe cake Chantale made. It was so good and looked awesome! I was also able to get a printout of Jorja's baptism certificate and got that sent to her. I found a primary graduation certificate too. Hopefully that is all she will need for her visa.

Today was a lot of fun. We had sandwiches with homemade bread for dinner. So good! The kids gave me a game on the Oculus. Acron: Attack of the Squirrels. It is so funny! One person plays as a tree and the rest of us play as squirrels on our phones. The squirrels try to steal all of the acorns. The tree throws things at the squirrels and tries to catch them and throw them. It was such a good time. We also watched Free Guy and played Catan. While we were playing Stockton said, "Mom, if you give me all your cards I will never leave the church." I immediately handed him all of my cards. It was funny. Stockton said he didn't think that would work. Haha. Nice I don't have to worry about Stockton anymore! Hahaha

I missed Jorja today but loved having the rest of my kids home with me. Today was such a fun day. I love my family.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! Today was a pretty great day. Jorja stayed home from church because it was Drew's farewell. She has been friends with him since middle school. Annabelle's farewell was at our church. Jorja had both zooms going and luckily she was able to see both talks. We played a lot of Dominion today, that was fun. My family gave me some Jazz signs. They are five signs put together that say Jazz. I pulled out my signed Stockton jersey that baby Stockton used to wear. (He only wore it before it was signed. He was way too big for it by the time I got the signature.) We are going to set up a Jazz wall somewhere. Not sure where it will be though. We roasted hot dogs and watched Soul. Pretty great day. The only thing that didn't work out was bloggers pictures being put in backwards. It seems like they change the site too often. Also, I wish I had gotten a picture of me with all four of my kids. I haven't had Mother's Day with all four of them for awhile. Mom fail.

Bear

Bear & Preston

Hot Dog Arm

Today was Mother's Day! Stockton called which was so much fun. We were in the middle of church, so everyone was here and was able to talk to him. He is doing so good! A lady they started teaching in January just said she wanted to get baptized. He was excited about that. Stockton had a mission wide zoom conference. President Browning called out Stockton as a missionary who had been working hard and seen missionary miracles. He asked Stockton to tell everyone about Shiela. He turned off mute and told the story. He used a southern accent while telling the story. Stockton said it was so funny because he couldn't hear anyone but he was able to see everyone's heads roll back as they laughed. President Browning told him he nailed it. Love him!

Jorja has been having fun with her sunburn. She turned her arm and legs into hotdogs. She is in a lot of pain though. Not super fun for her.

Jorja's hotdog arm

 Jorja's hotdog legs

Mike and the kids got me fun presents. They got me Harry Potter playing cards and a five pound bag of Pez! I also got headphones and a puzzle book. We played a lot today. I got the kids to play two games of Nertz with us and we finished our escape room game. We finished that game at one in the morning. Gotta make Mother's Day count! Haha

 Stephanie

 I already had Peter Pez. Now he has candy for himself!

 I sent my brothers a picture of Star Wars pez.

They have been ranking the Star Wars movies and shows for several days now.

 Sleepy kids! and a dog ~ Preston, Maysen, Jorja, Bear

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! The best part of Mother's Day? Getting to talk to STOCKTON!!! It's weird thinking that if the phone missionary policy hadn't changed, this would be the first time talking to Stockton! I'm so glad that changed! It was still great to talk to him. We tried to do a video chat, but couldn't figure it out.

Stephanie talking to Stockton, Marie's stocking and Preston's head are in the background

Stockton gets to call tomorrow because of P-day. He would also get to call because it's Mike's birthday and they are allowed to call on parents' birthdays now. I told him he could call Mike's phone and if he didn't get to talk to me that was okay because I got to talk to him today! Stockton's not sure what the plan will be tomorrow. He found out yesterday that he is being transferred to Tucson. His new companion will be Elder Alia. Everyone tells Stockton he is really funny and likes to play practical jokes. Stockton will be spending tomorrow packing up and saying goodbye to people. He is going to miss Elder White. I'm so thankful that he finished Stockton's training. That made all the difference in the world!

Mother's and Mike's Day

We have 9:00 church this year, so this morning was spent getting ready and then being at church. Mike taught my gospel essentials lesson for me, even though it is his birthday too. The only other people in the class were Maysen, Stockton and Jorja. We basically had a family home evening lesson without Preston. Mike taught about the organization of the Priesthood. We also were able to bring two more missionary plaques. Although both of the mom's were gone. I think getting calls from their missionary sons. Suzanne Heaton had all three of her missionaries call her at the same time. That was pretty cool. I texted Suzanne a picture of Dylan's plaque. Jorja with the photobomb.

 Preston brought me home a Mother's Day flower made up of two Hershey kisses

 Mike went crazy on the presents

 Each of the kids gave me socks. Maysen gave me the Kanagawa Wave

 Preston gave me The Scream

 Stockton gave me George Washington

 Jorja gave me Starry Night

 Mike gave me Minnie Mouse socks mocking me for being late.

That is funny because he knows I absolutely hate being late for anything!

Mike also gave me a "new" laptop. My old laptop crashed about a month ago. Mike was due to get a new laptop at work. He got a new one and bought his old one to give to me. He likes his old one better, so he was sad to see it go. It will be nice to have a computer again!

 Stephanie

 The weirdest gift Mike gave me was a mermaid tail. What? Why?

I told Stockton that for Mother's Day I wanted to get graduation pictures of him. We took pictures of him with his different ropes and tassels.

Stockton ~ SLCC

 I made Stockton take more pictures after I realized his tassel was on the wrong side because he has already graduated.

 He put a shirt on over his pjs.

 Stockton ~ SLCC graduate

We switched the SLCC tassel for an Alta tassel and got all of Stockton's ropes. The big yellow one is for the National Honors Society. Red = High Honor, Purple = English, Black & Silver = Math, Mint Green = Technology, Dark Green = science. Stockton was a bit annoyed that there wasn't a rope for sterling scholar and that there is one for Step to the U. Step to the U is the principal's pet project. The kids can get college credit by going two summers. Even if they drop out they still get their rope. There isn't a rope for Stockton getting his associates degree. He wants to wear his gold honor SLCC cord to signify that. I'm sure with all the other colors he is wearing no one will stop him. Poor Maysen only got one rope. A yellow & silver one. I'm not sure what it was for, either high honor or NHS. She went to JTC for the vet program the beginning of each day her senior year and missed all the announcements about honor cords. With her being the first child I had no idea. She would have had a lot too. NHS, High Honor, English, Social Studies, Jordan Technical Center . . . oh well. Live and learn.

Stockton ~ Alta High School

Mother's Day

Mike, Preston and I played a game of Contagion. It was fun. We are the disease and we are trying to infect to world. Preston won, of course. Mike was getting anxious because he wanted to make sugar cookies for his primary class. The men are teaching because it's Mother's Day. I made the cookies for him. He worked on making a turkey for dinner. Yum. Mike's class was about Bishop Partridge. He was tarred and feathered. Mike had the kids tar and feather a picture of Bishop Waddoups with molasses and feathers. He also had them tar and feather a sugar cookie with frosting and sprinkles. Jorja brought home a picture of her and Mike from the daddy-daughter dance.

Jorja & Mike

Mike, Preston and I played two more games of Contagion. Preston won them both. It's so frustrating that we can't beat a ten year old! We had a delicious turkey dinner followed by presents from Mike and the kids. Mike gave me a cooking thermometer. That will be great for making yogurt! I'll have to try fudge again too. Bubs says it is easier to cook the fudge using a cooking thermometer than using the soft ball method. Maysen gave me scissors that cut food. That's hard to explain, but it is pretty cool. Stockton gave me a heating pad for my back, which is ALWAYS sore! Jorja gave me a pouch like I used to have, except this one looks better and will fit my big phone. Preston gave me an angry mom to clean the microwave. We tried Preston's present out. It worked great, but smelled awful! I also got the kids to watch an episode of Dr. Who with me. It was the one with Agatha Christie and the giant wasp. Haha. That was weird. Although the next episode will introduce us to River Song. I love her! Not really in that episode, but she is one of my favorites. That's about it for Mother's Day. The only thing I didn't do that I really wanted to do was to put the pinwheels on my mom's grave. Oh well.

Family Mother's Day

Another Mother's Day is in the books.  Despite how much a dread this day it turned out pretty great.  Before church Mike and the kids gave me a few presents.  Preston made a few flowers and one of those what I like about Mom papers.  I love those.

Preston's flowers

This is what Preston's 'My Mom is Special' paper says:

My Mom's name is: Stephanie Smith

She is special because: she is very loving, nice and caring.

I like it when my Mom: makes after-school treats (we should do more of that), and when she does fun stuff with me.

My Mom can do many things!  I think she's best at....: Making me smile, loving me, and forgetting things.

My Mom has a pretty smile!  I like to make her smile by...: complementing her and thanking her.

My Mom is as pretty as a...:pile of roses after a rainy day.

My Mom is smart!  She even knows...: She knows how to make very detailed stockings.

I'd like to tell my Mom...: I love you and I want you to know that you are awesome.

Haha!  Preston cracks me up.  He even used his special stamp he is so proud of.  At the class store he bought a date stamp.  We finally found a stamp pad for him after a few weeks of begging.  He picked a box next to the date and wrote I Love You inside.  It cracked me up when Preston wrote 'making me smile, loving me, and forgetting things.'  I was reading it out loud and I laughed and looked at Preston.  He was laughing.  I always quote a tv show I saw a long time ago (Sports Night).  "Three things.  I'm forgetting things, I'm losing things and one more thing."  I knew Preston was referencing that.  Made me laugh.

Mike and the kids also got me a waffle maker, the new Dominion game and the promo cards that go along with it.  Although I opened the Dominion game straight from the mailing package.  They sent Intrigue instead of Adventures.  Intrigue was our first Dominion game.  Mike was pretty annoyed about that.  They also got me a selfie stick.  Here is Preston and I playing with it.

Preston & Stephanie

Scoop and Cori also sent me flowers.  That was really nice.

Mike, Preston and I played Dominion before church and a little after. Mike ended up winning the game.  It was pretty close though.  I had enough for a Providence, but Mike got it the turn ahead of me and ended up winning by five points.  Church was pretty good.  Isaac Bingham gave a talk.  He talked about five women in the scriptures. Rebekah, Elizabeth, Emma, Hannah and Abigail.  Those are the names of his wife and four daughters.  He did a great job.  My favorite was when he was telling the story of dating his wife.  He wanted to marry Becky, but she wasn't so sure.  She had planned to go on a mission, and planned to study abroad.  Isaac had both families rooting for him.  In April 2000 they were watching conference with their family.  This is what Mary Ellen Smoot said:

Second, don't be paralyzed from fear of making mistakes.  Thrust your hands into the clay of your lives and begin.  I love how Rebekah of old responded to Abraham's servant who came in search of a wife for Isaac.  Her answer was direct, "I will go," she said.

Rebekah could have refused.  she could have told the servant to wait until she had the proper send-off, a new wardrobe, until she lost a few pounds, or until the weather was more promising.  She could have said, "What's wrong with Isaac that he can't find a wife in all of Canaan?"  But she didn't.  she acted, and so should we.

The time from procrastination is over.  Begin!  Don't be afraid.  Do the best you can.  Of course you will make mistakes.  Everyone does. Learn from them and move forward.

Haha!  How crazy would that be.  Isaac said it was the most awkward conference message he has ever listened to.  Talk about timing on that one.

After church (and the end of our Dominion game) I started working on rolls.  Brett and Rachel came over.  Yay!  I was a little distracted with them so I kind of messed up, but it turned out fine.  Matt and Sam came next followed by Bubs and Ange.  I was so fun to have four of us together!  I wish we all lived next door to each other.  I would love that. We played a Dominion game.  We didn't have much time so I said we should have teams.  Spouse teams.  It ended up being Matt, Brett, Bubs and I.  Bubs ended up winning.  Again I took second.  My dad and Cathy came over with the roast right at the end.  After dinner he made tapioca for Brett.  Yummy!  Anne had her non-dairy ice-cream.  She loves that stuff.

Stephanie & Anne

This is what Marie looked like a lot.  That is Harry Potter book 7 she is reading.  Anne wanted to be just like her and had her mom go and get her books out of the car.

Marie & Anne

Mike, Matt, Sam, Brett and Rachel played a game of Pirates.  I ended up taking most of Rachel's turns as both of us were getting our kids down to bed.  It was easier for me to leave them than her since mine were older and sleeping in their same beds.  Marie and Mina are sleeping in the girls' room.  Grace and Eve are sleeping in the guest room with their parents.  Even though I had to keep leaving I did manage to make my mark on the game.  Mike was only $5,000 away from winning when I took him out of the game with a Navy.  The game was going to end with cards running out.  It was my turn with only one card left in the deck for Matt.  Brett said, "Matt is going to win as soon as he sells his cargo."  Brett and Matt were pretty close.  That is when I played Rats on Matt and destroyed his cargo.  Brett laughed so hard! Matt was less amused.  I then gave Matt a fighting chance.  I attacked a level three merchant ship that I didn't have much of a chance of catching.  It would have been great if I could have caught it, but I didn't.  It sailed to Matt.  They were the same speed.  If Matt caught it he could easily defeat it.  This would determine the game.  Matt rolled one dice and Brett the other.  Brett won and the shipped sailed away.  If Matt had an attack card or anything that would give him money he could have won.  Nope.  We all laughed when he played Stormy Seas on Brett.  Brett ended up winning.  Who knew Rats would be such a big player?

What a fun night to be with my family.  Sad that the reason we got to have this night was because Nigel died.  What a strange world.