We finally had a family vacation over UEA to Disneyland. It was really busy but overall it was very fun. We were pleased to take Grandma and Grandpa with us, and Matthew claimed Grandpa was his bestest friend.
Brandon is still busy working at Authorize.Net. They are trying some new ventures which are expanding his skills. Also, he is now working on rechartering all the scout organizations in the stake as part of his High Council duties. And he is working with the landscaper to finish the yard. We now have a retaining wall, curbing, sprinklers, half of a trampoline pit, a dismantled trampoline pit ring, and half of a yard of grass. Hopefully it will all be in except for the trampoline by Alyssa's birthday.
I have finished a marathon few weeks. With work, vacation, and children's activities I am never home. I am now planning a teacher's appreciation luncheon at school as Education Commissioner.
Alyssa is very busy with school and dance. She is very excited to become a teenager this month and is planning a big shindig (a Jay Woodard expression) for a few close friends. She is working hard since it is quarter-end next week and her first report card. She had her first girls' ensemble concert last week and did very well.
Kyle is keeping busy learning about Egypt this month. He has been spending a lot of time researching canopic jars and we now get to make some using Mom's play dough recipe and some paint. It will be nice to have it done. He is also looking forward to BYU's Merit Badge Powwow on Alyssa's birthday. We signed him up for the space rocket one and citizenship in the world. He is enjoying band (yeah) and the clarinet. His piano teacher thinks we should nudge him toward a jazz band since he is good at pounding on keys. She agreed that a saxophone would be good for him (we hope to do that next year). Megan is still doing a little bit of everything. She is in ballroom dance,
violin, early morning choir, piano, and activity days. (I refused to let her sign up for French because she was too busy and she told me she thought she had a few more hours.) She has turned this year into a year of friends. We were so worried because her best friend was put into a different class and Megan was so sad. But after a few weeks she was bringing home notes from so many girls I had never heard of that we have decided that she is where she should be. Plus this teacher had Alyssa and knows these girls really excel when challenged, and so has pushed Megan to greater heights.
Matthew loves kindergarten. Since I am a room helper, I get to go and help teach in the classroom. He is doing so well. I thought he would be too shy, but he has "come out of his shell" as his teacher said when she told me to talk to him about not being too talkative in class. They are learning letters, simple math, seasons, writing, memorizing poems, etc. There are so many interesting things that kindergarteners learn, I have fun being there.
Rachel is so much fun. She is at that age where each day there is something new that they learn and do that it would be impossible to write about it. She loves when the kids come home from school and she can play with them. She is so cute with her dad. She loves when he is home (which isn't very often) and will follow him around calling him "Mom" until he picks her up. Then she will give him a big Howard grin, lay her head on his shoulder, and pat his back. She knows I am Mom, but she calls everyone Mom, too, even Grandpa, it is really funny.
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