The Beginning of High School

Maysen started high school today.  That just blows my mind.  Wasn't she just talking to my feet yesterday?  When she was little she would have entire conversations with my feet.  My feet would nod or shake to indicate yes or no.  I remember her giving one of my feet an invisible snack.  Then she asked the other foot if it wanted a snack.  The foot did. She reached into her pocket and in the sweetest voice said, "Oh no!  I'm all out of snacks!  I'm so sorry!"  Then she gave my foot a hug. Maysen's awesome.  Now she is starting high school.  I hope she enjoys it.  I hope she likes it better than middle school.  I hope she finds friends. Good friends that will help her become even more awesome than she is. If she finds idiot friends I would rather her not find them.

Anyway, Mike and I met the first day of high school.  Wow.  I told that to Maysen.  Mike turns to her and says, "No pressure."  Haha!  I did make Maysen pose for pictures before she left.  She is a good sport, even when she thinks her own mom is a dork!  Luckily she never tells me that, but I know.  You can see it in her eyes.  Especially when I'm making her hold up ten fingers.  That's okay.  I got my pictures.  I'm happy.

Maysen starting high school

 Maysen - full view

 Tenth grade!

I even followed her to the bus stop.  My camera was a little slow, so this is the best I got.  I waved at her as she went down the street.  I'm sure she didn't find that annoying at all!

Stockton also started high school today.  Just his math class.  They just had fifteen minute classes, so I dropped him off just for a bit.  As we were walking out the door I realized I should take his picture.  He didn't get the full treatment because we would be late.  That's okay, he'll get it on Monday.

Stockton - first day of high school math

Jorja has been crazy with her balloon making.  I can't believe how much she loves it.  She made three new creations today.  One was an awesome wreath.  Right as I was about to take her picture with it, it popped.  Whoops.  She made a new one, but it wasn't as cool as the first.  She said she was tired of balloons and her fingers were hurting.

Jorja with her love birds

 Jorja and her parrot

 Jorja and her second wreath

I wasn't able to be home when Maysen got home from school.  I felt so guilty about that!  She came home right at the time that was scheduled for Jorja and Preston to meet their teachers.  What could I do?  We went to Jorja's class first.  I'm hoping I like her English teacher.  Back when Stockton was in sixth grade she yelled at his class for cheering for Stockton when he won the spelling bee.  Then she turned to Stockton and said, "You could have handled it better."  She also gave a prize to someone who didn't cheer for Stockton, right in front of him.  I am still so angry about that.  I hope that doesn't taint my experience with her. Hopefully she is wonderful for Jorja.  I'm a little worried about that.

On the bright side, Jorja is in the same class as Jazzie and Olivia!  Yay! Yay!  Yay!  Both of those girls are planning on going to a different middle school than Jorja.  I'm still hoping they keep the Chinese kids together.  It would make more sense then staffing every middle school with Chinese teachers.  I'm also worried because they have been such good friends to Jorja.  I don't want her to lose them, especially since I have watched how hard it has been for Maysen to find friends once middle school hits.  Anyway, we don't have to worry about it now.  Jorja gets them for one more year!  Plus, they are all sitting together.  Along with Ashley, who Jorja loves and hasn't been in her class since second grade!  Poor Bode, the only boy at the table.

Preston was pretty bored by the time we left Jorja's classes.  When we got to his class, I pointed to his teacher.  She was talking to another parent.  That didn't bother Preston, he walked right up to her and gave her a big hug.  Love that boy!  The parent exclaimed, "That is so cute! He just walked right up to you!"  It was adorable.  Preston is excited that Blake is in his class.  I'm excited that Burke is in his class and Jorja is excited that Lucy (Olivia's little sister) is in his class.  Pretty happy day.

Mrs. Peterson and Preston

Preston's teacher was speaking to him completely in Chinese.  He would just giggle and look at her like she was crazy.  I asked Jorja how to say some things in Chinese.  Soon Mrs. Bringhurst and Jorja were having a huge conversation . . . in Chinese!  It was incredible!  I am so excited for Preston.  I have heard that Mrs. Bringhurst is absolutely amazing.  Bringhurst is her American married name.  The kids will call her something different.  I'd need Jorja here to get it right.  I think Jorja's teachers last name is Chen and Preston's will be Chin.....something super close.  I'll need to ask her.

Preston and Mrs. Bringhurst

After taking pictures with Preston's teachers, I realized I didn't get any with Jorja's.  So, I made her go back to get some pictures.

Jorja and Mrs. VanWagoner

 Mr. Chen (I think) and Jorja

I planned on driving to Idaho tonight to go to my cousins wedding tomorrow.  I was going to leave after meeting the teachers and talking to Maysen about her day.  I called my dad and found out he could go if we left Saturday morning.  (He had dinner club tonight.)  The wedding isn't until 3:30, so that is what we decided to do.  I would have missed the dinner tonight anyway.

Tonight Maysen drove Mike, Preston and me to a game store that is about thirty minutes away.  We got the new Dominion game (Guilds), a small world expansion, and a game called Alibi.  We played Alibi tonight.  It is like clue, but different.  There are so many things to discover, and you can only ask questions that will give you and answer that is a number.  For example, how many people do you have.  The hard thing is, you have to pass cards when the round is over.  Anyway, it was pretty fun and Preston and I won.  Today was a long day, but a success!

Reassured

Preston helped get dinner ready today.  He thought he was pretty hot stuff.  He loves strawberries and was so proud to be cutting them with the sharp knife.

Preston

I felt sick to my stomach most of the day.  I was so worried.  I wondered if I did the right thing for Stockton.  Did I end up messing up his opportunities when I was trying to help him.  I wondered if I should try to get him in a different math class and get him back into French. What a mess that would cause!  Two schools and Josh.  I didn't know what to do.  When I said my prayers tonight I felt such a peace about the entire situation.  I knew I had done the right thing for Stockton.  I was so thankful for that reassurance, because I desperately needed it.  I have no idea why this is the right thing for Stockton. Maybe it will be easy for him.  Maybe it will be hard and he will learn how to study.  Maybe more classes will open in the future that will be available to him, ones that aren't there now.  Maybe he just needs to know that his mom will fight for him.  Anyway, I feel much better now.  I am so thankful.

Extra One

This morning Maysen had an appointment with Holly.  I had Maysen drive.  We got there a few minutes before 11:00.  When Holly came out she saw us and said, "Oh no!  I double booked you!"  She ran back to her office to check her schedule.  I looked at my text messages and saw my last message to Holly.  It said, "1:00 would be perfect!"  Oh boy!  I told Holly our appointment was at 1.  Hey, I only added one extra one.  I was close!  Maysen looked at me and laughed and said, "Mom, maybe you need therapy!"  Holly told us we could come back at 7 so we wouldn't have to wait forever, or come back as soon as we got home.  That worked out well.

My dad took Jorja and Preston bowling.  He has Max today.  While they were gone I took Maysen and Stockton to the highschool to find their classes.  Stockton's is pretty close and easy to find.  That's good. As we were walking down the hall we saw his teacher.  I introduced Stockton to him.  He said, "You must be in 9th grade."  I told him he was actually in 8th grade.  That kind of got the teacher, Mr. Miller, flustered for a minute.  He was telling me that they don't allow 8th graders in this class.  He went back and looked at the roll and sure enough Stockton was on there.  He was surprised and said they must have added him this morning.  He also checked Stockton's grades. They were all As, so that is no big deal.  He wanted to see Stockton's test results, but he couldn't find them.  Mr. Miller asked me what our plan was for Stockton when he is a senior.  I have no idea.  I guess the problem is that Stockton will probably finish all of highschool math super early and then there is nothing for him to do.  When he gets to college, if he has had a break for more then two years they will make him take more math classes.  Although, I don't know how that works with missions.  I would think a lot of people would miss the two year mark.  His teacher is worried about putting him ahead might actually be putting him behind.  Seriously.  Schools are ridiculous.  This new common core program does not help kids like Stockton.  At all.

Anyway, we met Maysen's French teacher.  I loved her!  She was so energetic and outgoing.  She will be great for Maysen!  Next semester Maysen will have her two periods in a row.  She will also be Maysen's creative writing teacher.  I love that!  Ms. Defriez said, "Next year you can take French 4, and then AP French.  Everyone passes the AP test in my class!  It gives you ten college credits!"  Wow.  I wonder what the passing rate is for that test.  I have heard the language AP tests are really hard.  Then I started feeling guilty.  Stockton won't be able to take AP French because of his math.  He can't start French until next year.  I hope I am doing what is best for him.  How am I supposed to figure that out?

Maysen is not excited about her World Civ teacher.  She peaked in the room, but would not go in.  As we were walking away she said, "That is my Drivers Ed teacher."  Oh boy.  She has hated, hated, hated Drivers Ed.  The teacher has belittled and embarrassed her.  Hopefully it won't be the same in World Civ.  This is exactly what Maysen doesn't need right now.  At least it is only every other day and only the first semester.

Maysen does have a pretty good spot for her locker.  It took us forever to find it, but it is right by the cafeteria.  It also took us forever to figure out how to open it.  Luckily another parent showed us how when she saw us struggling.

When we got home from school, my dad was there making milkshakes for the kids.  My phone had run out of batteries, so I was a little worried. I asked how they had gotten in.  (I had to disable the garage door before I left.....it wouldn't close....)  I guess the door to my bedroom was left unlocked.  I'm glad it was!

I took Jorja clothes shopping today.  I hate shopping, but it is nice going with someone who will put up with it.  We tried the new outlet mall at Traverse Mountain.  We did pretty well.  I liked how they had a ton of kids stores next to each other.

Maysen and I went back to our appointment with Holly this evening. Maysen wouldn't drive though.  I am really happy with Holly and so glad we decided to do this for Maysen.  I just should have done this much earlier.  Man, it's hard being a mom!

Band-aids

Abby loves band-aids.  She always has a hurt that she needs a band-aid for.  I laughed so hard when I saw her hand this morning!

Abby

We packed up and headed home today.  Bubs packed up and went back to Lagoon - lucky!  Mike had to work.  Now it is time to get ready for real life.  School starts for Maysen on Friday.  I'm not ready.  Can't it be summer for three more months?

Camping at Lagoon

We are very happy with the campsite we were assigned.  We had number 100 and Bubs 101.  It is the very first one in the campsite.  Right next to the bathrooms (and icecream shop).  It also is very far away from the petting zoo!  That was the most important perk!  Especially for Mike.

Stockton, Jorja, Abby

I should have gotten a better picture of the cushions Rachel made for us. She did awesome and we love them!  Thanks Rachel!

Anyway, onto Lagoon.  We were able to get there right when Lagoon opened, obviously.  After hitting Dinosaur Drop we headed to Pioneer Village.  Mike wanted to ride Rattlesnake Rapids before the lines got too long.  The boys were smart and wore their swimsuits.  I didn't realize we would be going to the water rides first thing, so the girls and I were just in our clothes.  At least we had ponchos, but swimsuits would have been better.  I rode the first time, and then waited with Ange.  The others went on the ride so many times!  Over and over again!

Millie

 Lincoln, Preston, Stockton

Mike, Bubs, Abby, Jorja, Ella

 Mike, Lincoln, Preston, Stockton

Bubs, Ella, Jorja, Abby

 Waterfall!

 I love this picture.  Stockton is adorable.

Ella is in the blue poncho, Jorja the white and Abby the grey.

 Hitting the waterfall - again

 Just the kids.  Jorja was tired of hiding, so she is without a poncho.

Lincoln, Preston

Stockton, Ella, Jorja

 Uh-oh Jorja!  Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.

 Jorja got hit dead center.

Jorja was so cold!  So, after going on Rattlesnake Rapids over and over again, she changed into her swimsuit.  At least her swimsuit had shorts, so it was no big deal.  Although her tennis shoes were a little soggy!

Amelia!

I talked Stockton into riding the Dishwasher (a.k.a. Cliffhanger - but the Dishwasher is a much better name!) with me.  He LOVED it!  I tried to get Maysen to go on it, but I couldn't talk her into it.  We went back to the camp for dinner.  I had to beg the kids to go back to Lagoon with me.  They said they were Lagooned out.  How is that possible?  Mike and I were joking as we were walking back.  "My mom and dad are so mean!  They make me go to Lagoon!"  We were able to hit several rides, but the Spider closed before we got there.  Jorja was hoping to ride that one over and over.  Too bad we didn't make it.

Stockton and Mike on the Dishwasher

Sowe Spik!!!!

Haha!  Preston taped this note to my computer this morning.  Both Preston and Jorja got Webkinz while I was gone.  The tooth fairy gave it to them.  Preston got an iguana and Jorja got a tiger.  Preston was so nice and traded with Jorja.  She REALLY wanted that iguana.  Preston was super nice because the tiger had a rip down the middle.  Preston had been asking me to fix Spike since I got home.  He wanted to take him camping with us.  I thought his note was so funny!

This morning I didn't need to worry about getting my lesson ready. Although I was a bit worried because Jacqui was teaching and I saw on Instagram that they were stuck in traffic on their way back from Colorado, so they were staying overnight.  I was hoping she would make it back!  I had texted her to make sure she was still planning on teaching a few days ago, but I never heard back.  I was so happy when I saw her in church.  Even more happy when she said she was planning on teaching!  What a relief!

I spent my time this morning making cupcakes.  I am getting a new beehive today.  Nicole left me this week as well.  Nicole is gluten free, and Chloe is gluten free.  I traded one for another!  Haha!  Nicole has Celiac Disease.  Chloe doesn't.  One of her brothers can't have gluten, so the entire family is gluten free.  I have been super careful with Nicole. I'll probably just keep the same habits with Chloe.  Chloe's cousin died when he was thirteen from eating something that had a trace of peanuts in it.  I can understand why her family is super careful.

After church and visiting with Chloe and her family, we headed up to our camping trip with Bubs and his family.  We decided to camp at Lagoon.  The kids were pretty excited, except Maysen.  She is tired of camping, but she was a really good sport.  While Mike and I were getting everything ready, the kids played croquet.  Maysen almost won, but Stockton had an amazing crazy comeback to take the prize.  And by prize I mean bragging rights....

Preston and Ella

 Preston

 Lincoln, Stockton and Ella

 Amelia helping setup the tent.  Abbs on a blanket.

 Millie pulling herself up for the first time!

Beehive

Look at the awesome hat Jorja made for Preston!  I can't believe how much she loves to make things out of balloons.  Such a random thing to want to do.  She loves it though.

Preston with a Yoshi hat

Mike got the camper in a 'good enough' state today.  He did find a giant beehive under one of the bed cushions.  Gross!  Luckily the bees are long gone, it still is creepy!

 Mike with his beehive

Schedule

Mike is off call!  Yay!  This was the easiest on-call for me.  It was one of the hardest for Mike, I think.

This morning, Stockton and I met with his school counselor to figure out his schedule.  He can't take French, that is disappointing.  Instead he is taking Creative Writing and Peer Tutoring.  I think (hope) he will like those classes.  This is going to be a crazy year getting Stockton to his math class.  I hope it was the right decision.  It seemed like there was no perfect option, maybe even no good option.  Oh well.  Anyway, every other day except Friday he will be late to his fifth period class. Usually that will be pe.  Sometimes it will be drawing.  Depending on the high school and middle school A days and B days matching up. Every other Friday he will completely miss his third period class, which is science.  I know!  This is not a perfect plan, but at least it is a plan.  I hope this was the right decision.  I will do anything for Stockton, but how do I figure out what the best thing for him is?

Done.

Maysen and I are back from Girls' Camp.  Man am I tired!  I feel like I can sleep for a week!  Although I know that is impossible.  I can rarely sleep until 6:00.

It is so good to be home.  Mike worked with my brothers while I was gone.  They were building a shed in the back to cover the pool equipment.  It looks like they dug lost of holes and have posts put up.  I would not like to dig holes.

Mike was working on our camper today.  He said he needed a break from the shed.  Plus, we are planning on going camping this weekend and he really wants to take the tent trailer.  Steve said we could borrow his camper.  Mike doesn't want to.  Steve's would be a ton nicer, but it wouldn't be as awesome as finishing a project.

Timpanogos

We hiked to Timpanogos Cave today.  I haven't done that since I was little!  It was a great hike.  Maysen was awesome!  She was always with the first group of hikers.  I was so proud of her.  It was a long hike up, but the entire way is paved, so that makes it a ton easier.

Stephanie and Maysen at the bottom - obviously

 Maysen

 Maysen and Stephanie

 Maysen, Carson, Nicole, Chloe, Lindsay, Paige,

Zoe, Regan, Rachael, Sarah, Whitney, Lauren

 Regan

The camp shirts for our ward were awesome.  It is just a simple shirt with a silhouette of a bear in a canoe.  That is a joke from last year, when I spent forever paddling in a bear costume.  Apparently it was the funniest thing people had ever seen.  When Maysen saw the shirts she said, "Are you proud Mom?"  I thought about it for a bit.  I guess I am. Rarely do I do anything funny.  Especially funny enough that people are still talking about it a year later and want to put it on shirts.  The girls loved the shirts.  They turned out so cute!  I wish I would have worn mine this day, but I decided to change into it after the hike.....

Chloe, Regan, Lindsay, Ashley, Nicole, Carson

 Maysen

 Maysen and Stephanie

Diana Heward got the bear duties this year.  She was waiting for the girls about halfway down the mountain after the cave tour.  I wish I would have recorded her scaring Camee.  She screamed so loud and jumped so high.  The best was she knew Diana was waiting to scare her!  She just thought it would be all the way at the bottom.

The Bear

 Zoe, Camee, Kelsee, Bear (Diana), Ashley, Athena

 Katie, Carson, Bear, Maysen, Nicole, Riley

Each ward was assigned a "Secret Sister" ward.  We filled our package with all things bear related.  Teddy grahams, gummy bears, chocolate covered cinnamon bears . . .  Analise dressed up as the bear this time and delivered the basket.

Gift bear

 Seriously my favorite camp picture.  Isn't Analise gorgeous?

We have had two girls move from our ward into the ward we delivered the basket to.  Eden and Katie. Eden just moved at the beginning of the year, so she was with us when the bear started hanging around. Analise and Eden were good friends, so she hunted around the camp until she found her.

The bear and Eden

 Katie left our ward a few years ago, but we still wanted to say hello.

 Bear Hug!  Analise Bear and Eden

 The Bear and Eden

Our Bishop being attacked by the bear.

 Bishop Lundgren and Analise Bear