Firsts and lasts

The middle girl went to her last day of high school today. She’s been all joy (and some sass) from her first day of kindergarten…

To her last day of high school. I am not feeling super emotional, but I did get a little teary looking at these. Life is wild!

I got some graduation decor that I can use on our house for now and then for her party later this month. 

And I had a few things that made the trek from 2014 and 2016 - like the banner on our sliding glass door that says 2016 grad on it. 🤷‍♀️

She’ll come home to the celebration. 🎉 

In other news - when mom cleans out the fridge and freezer you get random meals. Who says sushi, pizza, Parmesan squash (except it’s mozzarella because we’re out of parm), kiwi, and cucumbers don’t go together?

My phone storage is full so we’re downloading pictures and I went through all my videos yesterday and remembered this funny one from Pula where we were trying to take a video to get a good family picture but poor Frankie was completely missing. 🤣

Oakville Primary School shared a welcome to kindergarten video on Facebook and I screenshotted this one of 4 of my fav guys!

The Pools moved into their new house last week and the Trujillos move into their house today! So many good things!

Callings

Frankie has been working on a banner for the young women led Linger Longer this Sunday. She’s the 2nd counselor (Adi’s the first and they’ve been doing well ((I think)) serving together) in the oldest class presidency, aka Gatherers of Light, so she volunteered to make this and I think it will be super cute and add to the Linger Longer ambiance. Also, hello ward Linger Longers - it’s been awhile! I’m excited to participate again. ❤️

It’s turning out really cutely!

Today was the last day of seminary! So we’re 3/3 kids graduating seminary so far. And Frankie’s 1/2 way there. Fittingly, it looks like #5 might be the most difficult. 😩

I went to the lady doctor this morning and then Ginny came over to train me up on Communications for the Church. I have been spending a few minutes every day on the Global Communications Network reading trainings and watching videos. I have spoken to my counterpart in DC South and she sounds like a whip-smart boss lady, so kinda opposite of me. 🤣 I also got my church network email - so official, and set up my first media interview for July. Watch out, world, this chic might be on a local Montgomery County news show! Or we might have someone else do it. 🤣 I equal parts want to do it and don’t, so I’m good either way. Like, it will be really challenging so that makes me want and not want it. I know when I’m on the Lords errand and I’m prepared that I won’t fail, at least not in ways that truly matter. 

Memory lane

I was looking through my blog for proof that Christian took piano lessons from Johnna and found this cute picture of Mike and Frankie from forever ago. I sent it to Juana and she sent it to Mike and then sent me some pictures of him today. It was a fun exchange. 

I’ve been doing all the back home things. I used a washcloth before I left on Saturday and it was still on the table Monday evening, soooo. 🤣 Also, soooo sleepy.

Adi has 2 more days of high school, she and Frankie have 1 more day of seminary, and Delaney has her 8th grade dance on Friday. May is May’ing.
 

Graduation season

Sunday was graduation day! Penn State was really over the river and through the woods, way out there, but the drive, again, was beautiful! We dropped E off and went to their creamery for some delicious ice cream.

I really liked the commencement speaker. He talked about being intentional, but also flexible, and making the most of every opportunity, even or maybe especially when they seem like they might not be the best. 

Ehlyvia wanted to leave a few minutes before everything ended and it was not my graduation and she’s not my child, so we met her before the crowds descended and grabbed some pictures. 

Those are $60 roses there, because when you graduate on Mother’s Day, they hike the prices. 

Amy had just bought the light Jean jacket im wearing, and she let me wear it so we didn’t twin, because the Jean jacket I brought was exactly the same color as the one she is wearing here. 🤣

We made friends with another graduate family and took pictures for each other. 

I’m so glad we were able to make this work to be there for E. It was a good weekend getting to know each other and I love spending time with Amy. 

We went back to Ehlyvia’s hotel and went for a 10pm swim and it was lovely. 

We slept in till 10 on Sunday (I couldn’t believe it!) so on Monday we set an alarm for 8 and walked downtown again. I really wanted a Raystown Lake shirt, but didn’t find one. Had to settle for this cute picture. 🤣

We picked Ehlyvia up at 10 and headed to check out the cute little downtown shops. But first she treated us to drinks at this cute little drink hut. 

We found an amazing thrift store and bakery but most of the other shops were closed on Mondays. We both had about a 5 hour drive, so we headed out at 12;30. 

E and I had a really great 3 hour talk. Kinda hard, very vulnerable, hopefully impactful. In buying their new house and Christian buying their new house, Lexi has talked about how nanny’s got their backs and has been helping, and I really felt prompted to say certain things, which, by the spirit or from my parents, I don’t think just came from my little brain. I debriefed with Amy on the hour and a half drive home after dropping E off and it’s always sweet to come home. 

And now, back to catching up on May.

Historic Huntingdon

We had some sour milk, so I made waffles for brekkie. I’ve been using a new recipe and I added a little turbinado sugar on top for a little crispiness and they were so good. I left at 11:00 to gas up and pick up Ehlyvia and start our weekend adventure. 

She’s graduating with her Masters on Mother’s Day (why?!) and Amy decided to come and invited me, so here we are. It was the most beautiful drive! Hardly any freeway, mostly through cute little towns and over the rolling hills. We fan girdled the scenery the whole way!

We arrived at 4 and got her checked in to her hotel. Since she works nights and hadn’t slept, I let her sleep and went for a walk while I waited for Amy. 

I went full on papa mode because this place is adorable. 

I fan girled over it on my walk and then when Amy arrived and we went for another walk (my heel was hurting!) she fan girled over it all too. 

We know how I feel about railroad tracks. 

Lake Rays?! ❤️

Courthouse love. 

They have several of these mini replicas around town and they are so adorable!

The cemetery is up the hill so there’s a pretty view and hill walking is hard. 

Amy finally arrived and we got checked in and went for another walk. Then off to buy her a bathing suit so we can swim at our hotel and to grab dinner. 

We came back to our room to eat, lay on my acupressure mat, and talk the night away. 

I’m so glad we can be here to support Ehlyvia and henna time is the best bonus. 

 

Hope

On this last day of teacher appreciation week I helped Ms. Marschall with her s’mores bar and helped organize all the lunch leftovers again. She had another helper there, so I left after a few hours. And that wraps up my pta career. Although Anna said they did have staff appreciation at the high school and that’s been nagging at me. 

In rental car fraud news, we found another charge from those Croatian crooks and we’re still working to hold them responsible. It’s truly astonishing. 

During scripture study we talked about hope and trying to help people have hope in their lives. We talked about people who’s family situations are not good, and about grandma rays mom, who’s parents were wealthy, but when they passed away their relatives took their money and left their 5 little girls in an orphanage. I love talking about our ancestors and keeping them alive in our minds. I want my family to be surrounded by all of our angels and for them to have charge over us. 

Dirty drinks

I’ve wanted to open a dirty soda (think Swig)/coffee shop (gotta work with where we live) in one of the old, empty banks in town. We’d call it The Drink Bank and it would have been perfect - it’s already got a drive through and everything. Anyway, I’ve always got ideas but I don’t always have follow through. 

But I did make a dirty drink bar for the teachers, so take that follow through.

I made goulash for dinner and dropped off the dance carpool and picked up Frankie and it rained off and on all day. 

Mary helped me with teachers appreciation yesterday and today and when we were texting last night she offered to pick up Delaney’s 8th grade yard sign. She was like “it’s kind of blurry…” and I said yup, that’s the one she picked and she said it’s a vibe. 

So vibe check. 

Phew

 Today was the big lunch day at school and it’s done.  🎉  I took one amazing picture. 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️ I’ll have to try to get some tomorrow.

I got to school at 8:30 and left at 2 and walked a million steps. Mary hung out all day and Juana helped and it was a great and full day. 

I try to do a lil family history every day and look at this! Who needs to go to Hungary when you can just visit Lu in Sumter?

Trail mix bar

Juana’s been helping me at school, she’s Mike and David (bubbas childhood friends) grandma and a neighbor so we’ve known her for 17 years. She helped me open all my little serving boxes and set everything up. She also told me in no uncertain terms not to come back to clean up because she would do it. She’s raised like 18 kids, from her own, to her grandkids, to several foster kids. She’s just a true gem.

It’s still fun to be in their with all the camp stuff.

I went to inklings, shopped, baked (teacher appreciation is my life now), we had family night where we’re still catching up on general conference, and Adi and I watched Walking Dead. I’m surprised how much I’m remembering! It’s such a good story but we could do without the gore. 

Tomorrow is the busiest teacher day since it’s the luncheon. Halfway there!