First Day of School

It's official. The school year has started. Savannah is a junior and a freshman mentor. She is excited about that. School is a half day today, but the freshman orientation is after school so she is staying with no complaints. It did at least make her first day wardrobe pick easy. She has to wear her bright pink freshman mentor shirt, so that the freshman can spot her.

Zachary is in 8th grade. He is already ready to be out of middle school. He goes for a half day and gets out of school at 11am. I'm ready to hear all about his first half day. Last year wasn't so great. I'm hoping today goes better for him.

Last Week Of Summer

This is what our house has looked like this past week.



Savannah had to finish her summer reading for AP English. She waited until 2 weeks before school starts to kick it in gear and get it done.

Zachary had optional reading and an essay to write. I was the mean mom that made him do the optional assignment. I also made him get going on his Duty to God which is what he is working on in this picture.

Hannah was having fun. Savannah's car smells like melted crayons. It really stinks and we can't seem to get rid of the smell. At first we thought it was just her car until she found out that her friends VW Beetle smells the same way. Hannah googled it and found that there is nothing we can do. Apparently the smell comes from the rust proof spray that is applied to the medal inside the car. Hannah was getting a kick out of all the info out there as well as all of the complaints. We have tried almost everything to get rid of the smell. It wouldn't be so bad other than the smell lingers on all those that ride in the vehicle. Not so nice!!!

At least I have now found that using 3 Fabreze car deodorizers helps tremendously.

That has been our last week of summer in a nut shell. School starts tomorrow.
BOO!!! I'm not ready yet!

Chick Fil A Day!

We supported Chick Fil A today.  I am not a big fast food eater, but sometimes you just have to stand up for what is right.  At least that is what I am always telling my kids and how can I ask them to stand for something if I am not willing to do the same?

Kyle was out early this morning and stopped for breakfast.  His line wasn't so bad.  The girls were out baby siting, so Zachary and I decided to tackle Chick Fil A for lunch.  I would have loved to take the girls and wait until dinner, but with church tonight, I knew we would never make it.

Here is our adventure.
We were getting to Chick Fil A around 1:15pm.  I chose to avoid the Galleria Mall area and went to a smaller town hoping for less traffic.  No Such Luck!  Good for Chick Fil A though.

This is the line waiting to turn on the street where Chick Fil A is.

25 minutes later

At least we are on the street.  We saw lots of people walking back to their cars from Chick Fil A.  They parked on the street or at nearby businesses.

Zachary waiting patiently for lunch.

He was amazed at the crowd.

35 minute wait

At least we can see the Chick Fil A

 The line coming from the other direction.  

the white van ahead is parked on the street.

 I found a parking spot, so I parked the car thinking it may be faster than waiting in the drive through line.  

Maybe Not!

We finally got our food around 2:10.  It was so full, people were standing everywhere and they would take your order and then attach your order to your name.  They were constantly yelling out names.  We were lucky we found a seat.  Actually, we were standing right by this booth waiting for our food when a family got up, so we quickly took their seat when they left.

This is the line of people waiting to get in as we were leaving.  It was so full, people were even sitting at the outdoor tables even though it was 100 degrees before you count the humidity.

 Back at the car...take 1

 trying to get a good shot of us with our Chick Fil A cups.  That is always fun with Zachary.  He always squints and hates the pictures, but he forgot his sunglasses.

Take 2

 Oops!!!

No Zachary

Maybe Zachary isn't the only problem.  Maybe it is photographer error?

Take 3

I give up!

I guess this is as good as it gets!

We had fun together anyway!

Summer Is Here And The Best Calling Ever... And One That Won't Go Away

Summer is here!  I can't wait to relax with the kids and not have the school system dictate my calendar!  I see the beach in my future!  I can't wait!  

In November I got released from Young Women after 3 years.  I was ready!  I loved the girls but last year was exhausting and I was ready for a change to hopefully something easier.  I did not want Primary though.  Been there, done that!  Primary was not fun the last time I was there and I did not want to repeat that!

  I got a much needed break until February.  Then I was called to ... Primary. 

 I was devastated.  The last time I was in Primary,  I had kids running off and throwing scriptures at me.  I was not up for that again!  I was asked  to go do sharing time.  I loved it!  Especially the Junior Primary.  I have never been in Junior Primary.  Then I got to sub in Nursery.  That is where the fun is!  Snacks, singing, playing.  I loved it.  Put me in Primary with the little guys all of the time! 

At the end of May, I got pulled out of Sunday school by I am sure, a very nervous man (2nd councilor) given the task to ask me to teach Primary.  He knew previously that it was not where I wanted to be.  I was called to teach the Sunbeams!  BEST CALLING EVER!  Oh how I love it! They are a hoot!  I get to teach the simple things (I am thankful for my eyes, etc.) with small lessons about Jesus, as well as, "we need to share" and "boys and girls can be friends".  Of course we get to play games and color too.  I'll take this over Relief Society any day.  

I was also called AGAIN to the calling that I can't seem to escape.  Camp certification specialist.  I don't like camping ( even though our camp is pretty close to glamping  aka glamour camping) and my least favorite thing about camp is certification, unless you count the camping part... you know, humidity, bugs, bugs in the shower, humidity, hot weather, bugs, oh how i miss my bed and a good night sleep, raccoons getting into the food, ticks and more bugs, and oh how I would like to take a shower and feel clean instead of still sticky. Okay enough complaining.  

I have been to camp every year but one since Hannah was 11.  I think  I am kinda done.  I said I would do it this year, so I am trying to get excited or at least mentally prepared for it.  We as certification specialist do try to make it fun.  Last year we had a first aid war and we shot them with water guns and threw grenades (water balloons) at the girls while they were running a relay to certify.  Our theme this year is Our Zion or OZ with a Wizard of OZ twist.  We are are still planning for this year, but I think it will be fun for the girls.  It is just a lot planning and a lot of work.

Maybe it will be my last year.  Savannah is a YCL (youth camp leader) this year as well as next.  I pretty much said I would go this year, because she was excited for me to be there.  It will be weird after next year to not have one going to girls camp.  It has been our summer companion for a while now.  I will be sad that Savannah won't be going anymore because  a. she loves it and b. that means she is growing up and getting ready to leave home. :(  

But as far as I am concerned, I hope to bid it farewell after this summer.  Let me just stick to the Sunbeams!

Zachary is 13!

Zachary turned 13 in May.  I can't believe he is a teenager.  Wow!  I am getting old!  He wanted a Kindle and Amazon gift cards and money for his birthday this year.  He also wanted his dad to grill steak and he wanted mashed potatoes with the steak.  We had stake conference  that morning and we came home, Kyle grilled and I made the mashed potatoes.  After we ate, we had some of the family over for cheesecake and cookies and cream ice cream.

Getting his Kindle

He got a Kindle cover with a light attached so he can read in the car or at night without his lamp.

Amazon gift card!  He already has his list of books to buy.

Money!!!!  Need I say more?

We finished the day studying for final exams.  The kids only had three more day school!  Bring on Summer!!!!

Hannah's Home!

Hannah is done with another year at the Y.  One more year to go!  She turned 21.  I can't believe it!  We flew home on her birthday. (fun for her!)  She didn't want a party. I guess she is starting to become more like her father.  All she wanted was to go to our favorite restaurant for some chimichangas and cheese cake.   Rio Verde was changing names and locations, so it was closed for her big day.  It was supposed to be open, but much to our disappointment instead of being closed a week they were closed for a month.  We got by with cheese cake from publix.  The kids loved it so I guess it was good and that is all that counts.

When Rio Verde reopened as Campo Azul we had to go and get her some chimichangas!

All is right in the world!

  Of course Kyle had to go out of town for this great adventure, so we HAD to make a repeat visit when he was back in town a couple of days later.

Prom

Savannah went to the Mormon Prom tonight.  She looked beautiful!

We went to her dates house for some pictures.

 Putting on the boutonniere

 Putting on the corsage

 Charlie's Angels

 goofing off time

 Can't forget the shoes!

 I had to get the back of Savannah's dress.  Zachary was bored out of his mind, but was a good sport.

After the first round of pictures, we met up with the rest of the group for more pictures.

 All of the girls

 The whole gang

 The Sophomore girls that turned 16 in time for prom

They all loaded up in cars and headed to the Spaghetti Factory.  They would then take  a limo to the prom.

Savannah sent me this picture from her phone.  They are a The Spaghetti Factory.  Not sure why she has a balloon on her head.  I'll have to ask when she gets home.

Savannah will be taking more pictures of the night, so I sure I will have more to post later.