Uber Mom

Some days I'm pretty sure all I do is drive kids around town from here to there, to soccer, or gymnastics, then to scouts or activity days. and back.  I'm glad to know that my passengers are enjoying themselves along the way.  Ellie had my phone to play music and took the initiative to record the fun her and her friends were having.  Or maybe they just wanted to add some pictures to my collection.  Speaking of music, when I am taxi mom and I want the crazy girls to quiet down I have found the solution is to turn on some of the current popular movie songs such as Moana and Trolls.  The songs come on and then I have an 8 year old choir in my car . . . . . . love it!!

Welcome Summer Break

Summer is the best part of my job.  I love that I get time off when my kids do. 

This summer Ellie is attending a little summer fun and fitness activity 2 days a week.  The first day she went Ethan suggested we play some tennis.  Neither of us know that much but we sure have fun trying.  It's amazing what you can learn from the Wii games.  

Out of the blue Ethan decided he wanted to buy a skateboard.  My first question was, "Have you ever ridden one?"  He hadn't at that moment, but a couple days later he had tried out his friend's so he used his own money and bought one.  We took it over to a park with lots of sidewalk for him to try it out.  It was such a beautiful morning.

Ellie came along and road her bike.

Activity Days activity --> Learning how to build a fire for camping.

Eagle Scout Project

Several months ago an opportunity for an Eagle Scout Project presented itself to Ethan.  The project consisted of organizing and setting up seven aid stations for a 10 mile urban trail race.  This included having to find volunteers to man all of these stations.  Our family was excited about this project and for the opportunity to pay it forward in the running community.

Ethan was able to gather several scouts as well as some of my running buddies to come out that morning for the race.  The scouts were at our house by 7:30 to indulge in some Johnny O's and chocolate milk before heading over to start setting up stations.

During the set up, the boys getting instruction on the walkie talkies they would need at their stations.  (they were quite excited about this responsibility).

Loading tables for each station

Some of the scouts earning some service hours

Station 1

This station was the busiest as it had runners come by out and on their way back as well as runners from the 5K.

Big flock of birds were interesting

Station 6 at the mouth of Logan Canyon manned by the Bowmans

Station 3 we had on the wrong side of the road.  All of the runners were staying on the left so luckily we drove by and noticed this and were able to move it.

Station 5 ready to go at the mouth of Green Canyon

Grandma and Grandpa came up for the event and with Ellie's help were in charge of station 4.  Ellie was very official and kept the walkie talkie on her the whole time.  As the 1st runner came through each station had to radio in the bib # of the first place runner.

Station 2 on USU campus

After setting up station 6 we realized we didn't have enough cups so we had to run around to all of the other stations to gather more for the last station.  We barely made it back to station 7 before the first runner got there.  By then we didn't have the Powerade set out and he asked for it specifically.  We felt horrible because we knew he didn't take anything at the last station.   

Station 7 - Ethan's station.  The scouts from station 2 ended up joining this group after the last runner went through their station.

This station was at a turn where the runners went up a hill to get on the canal trail.  One guy ran by and we had to run after him hollering to get his attention.

Friends who manned station 5 at the mouth of Green Canyon

After a morning of helping to fuel runners and cheer them on everyone was able to enjoy some hamburgers and chips at the finish area.

First Aid

Ellie has been dealing with seasonal allergies this year.  On one of the last days of school I was in the conference room near the front office at school when Ellie came in from her class.  I looked at her and saw one huge, swollen eye.  She said she got cotton (from a tree, it's been floating all over in the air) in her eye and her teacher sent her down because it got worse.  Miss Liz had Benadryl and Ellie got a bag of ice.  For about a week Ellie's eyes were super swollen and looked so sad until we got some allergy meds that finally began to work.

Ethan was at school playing some game and ran into a wall jamming his pinky.  A nurse friend of mine suggested we keep it wrapped to one of the other fingers for stabilization and to watch it and if it gets worse take him in.  It's been swollen for about 3 months now, but he's finally able to bend it all the way now.

About a week after school was out Ellie was at her friend's house jumping on the trampoline.  At one point she bounced really high and then came down landing wrong on her ankle.  One of our other nurse friends suggested we get a brace for her, rest it, ice it and elevate it.  Ellie could not put any weight on it without crying from pain, but when she had the brace on she could limp around.  Two weeks since and she is doing well.  She no longer needs the brace to walk, but is still wearing it for support and precaution.

Wrapping up another school year.

May is always full of activities and most of them revolve around the end of the school year.  After 3 snow days our district was able to get a waiver and did not have to make up any days and Ellie was out of school before Memorial day.  Ethan had school until the Friday after and my contract went through to that day as well.

Woodruff Reading Achievement Swim Party day.

Ellie accomplished her reading goal and was able to attend the swim party at the Aquatic Center.  Luckily the weather was great!!

Ellie with friends from her class (Justin and Vanessa)

Ellie received one of two class Hero Awards.  This award was given out by the each teacher to students whom they felt were everyday heroes in their class.

 

 

Ellie standing up being recognized for having 100% of her homework turned in for the entire school year.

Ethan took percussion in band this year because he wanted to learn how to play the drums.  He did awesome at his end of year performance.  It was fun to hear how much the 7th grade band improved since the beginning of the year.

Ethan received several awards at his end of year Awards Assembly as well.  He was recognized for being on the Stand for Courage Team, being on the Honor Roll and receiving a 4.0 GPA for the year.

We are so proud of this guy and all of his hard work.  We hardly ever have to get on him about completing his homework and getting projects for school completed.  Occasionally he will announce an assignment that we could have helped with sooner than later, but overall he is able to stay on top of all his assignments and other activities.

1st day of 2nd Grade and last day of 2nd grade

(toothless to toothful)

1st day of 7th grade and last day of 7th grade