May Happenings

I must be getting really bad to taking pictures, because I know the month of May was way busier than it appears in this post. We started the month with piano recitals for Carmen and Aliza. I just love seeing them develop their talents in so many different ways. 

Obligatory Mother's Day picture. I sure love all my blessings. 

We had my parents over for dinner and I loved celebrating Mother's Day with my own mother. 

Carmen's ceremony to be inducted into NHS.  I'm so proud of her academic achievements. Her homework surpassed my level of knowledge long ago. She amazes me with how much she knows. I often find myself wondering if I ever knew the sorts of things she knows, and I've just forgotten them. 

Dallin went on a field trip to.... I wish I could remember the name of the place. My poor 4th child.... I didn't even go on this trip. These pictures were sent to me from his teacher! But it sure looks like he had a great time with his buddies. 

Fame had an end of the year banquet and celebrated everyone's achievement from the year. It was fun to get all dressed up and go dance and have a good time. They had to walk the red carpet to enter in and be presented. 

Carmen spent the day at District Band assessments.  I'm not sure what their final score was, but I was told they did very well. 

Dallin's sacrament meeting entertainment.

Sister's make the best kinds of friends. Although they fight incessantly, I know they love each other. My biggest is hope is that they all grow up to be best friends. 

 Dallin's class had a little concert and also showed off some creations they had make in class. 

Aliza's half year cheer season came to an end. While she did try out for and make the full year team, we made the awfully hard decision not to do it because practices are on the same night as church activities. She has decided to do tumbling to keep up already learned skills and to work at gaining new skills in preparation for the next half year season. She has been working so hard on her back flip, I just know she's going to get it any day now!

This day we had to stop on our way home from cheer and capture this gorgeous rainbow that seemed to be following us all the way home. 

The Month of April

Aliza had her final cheer competition in Richmond. They came in 2nd place this time. It has been so fun to watch this team progress of the past few months and see them improve each competition. It was super fun to be rooting for Aliza and all the Glitter Girls!

A few days after her last competition she got braces! We stopped at Grit next door to get a smoothie before heading back to school. 

Carmen was inducted into the National Honor Society. What a big honor!

Amongst all the hoopla, I had a birthday and turned 38.

Carmen at the Batesville parade with her band friends. Band friends are the best friends in my opinion. 

Somehow we inherited a dirt bike from some family friends. Dallin enjoyed riding around the yard with Carmen. 

I discovered some really great trails that run through Crozet. This day I went out on my own and brought Koda with me. It was so beautiful, but I didn't want to go far because I was by myself. A few days later, Carmen begged me to let her skip field day at school because it was going to be SO HOT. I told her she could skip, but we were going to take Koda on a short little hike.... 8 miles later we returned back to our car. We started just hiking the same trail I had done a few days before, but just kept going, all the way to Lickinghole Basin. It was gorgeous, and Koda LOVED the water. He was worn out when we got back. Overall, it was such a fun way to spend the day with Carmen and she got way more physical activity than she would have at field day.