Snow...or lack thereof

Between the price of gas this year and the fact that our kids get car sick every where we go, we were going to cancel this year's trip to the snow. But the kids really wanted to go and we promised to do something for them since they did so good at school.

We tried a few weeks ago, hoping that the kids could actually see it snow, but all we got wind and sleet and it seemed like a bad time to go. We got more rain last Sunday so we thought there might be enough snow in the mountains still so we decided to make a go of it. There was not enough snow. I guess it was just as well that we actually forgot to pack the sled in the car.

We had stopped by the Temple on the way up to let the kids out to take a few pictures, but they could only do it from outside of the gate because it was General Conference weekend.

The kids found the closest patch of snow where we parked and plopped themselves down in it for a picnic.

What snow we could find was a rough corn. It didn't really stick together good enough to make even a small snowman. And the ground was a bit too packed to make a proper snow angel. But the kids loved it all the same. They found a bigger patch after lunch and had fun jumping and throwing themselves down into it.

And of course, there was enough for some snowball fights.

Not much snow (although, you wouldn't realize how very little there was from the pictures). But no one got car sick and no one had a tantrum. The girls had fun so it was a pretty successful trip. We got down from the mountain and grabbed dinner at A&W before going home. The kids took a hot bath and we had just enough time to catch the morning session of conference before bedtime!

Open House

It was open house at the girls' school just before the spring break.

Caitlyn was one of three kids in her first grade class that got to do a little research project. They finished just before open house. I wish I got a picture of all three. They were pretty spectacular. Of course, it's obvious that they got help but they were really neat. Even Caitlyn's report (which she actually typed up), was impressive for a first grader. I don't know how much help she got on it.

Emily has worked on a whole series of reports as a part of her Gate projects. She didn't have any of her really neat projects up for the open house, but we got to finally see some of the work she does everyday (since her teacher hardly ever sends home her work).

Mystery Solved

We have this light switch next to the entry way that we have never been able to figure out what it goes to or if it even works. It's been three years. Christian has even gone up into the crawl space of our roof to see if he can see where the wires are going, but you can't see anything.

It seemed to have electricity going to it but it just didn't seem to go to anything. The most likely would be the entryway light. The second would be the outlet along the same wall in the living room. But it does not seem to affect any of those things.

Half the outlets did not work when we moved into the house. We managed to figure out the problem with those but this light switch problem seemed unconnected.

The other day, we finally figured out what it goes to. We have had intermittent problems with the flow of electricity in the house. The lights would flicker a bit now and then especially during peak hours of the summer when supply is low. So we have had intermittent and brief disruption to the flow of electricity to an outlet in the master bedroom on the far side of the house. We could not quite account for it.

It turns out that the light switch at the other end of the house that seemed to go to nothing, actually goes to the outlet in my bedroom!!! So, if we are messing with it, trying to see what it goes to or if the kids play with it, my alarm clock starts blinking like it lost electricity!!! It only happens every once in a great while so we didn't realize it at first.

Add the fact that the switch is installed backwards (where down is on and up is off), the only time the electricity gets turned off at that outlet is actually when the switch is turned on! So we normally leave the switch on the "off" position since we don't know what it might be to and have had no problems with the outlet in the bedroom getting electricity.

I don't know what on God's green earth people are thinking sometimes when they put these things in. It isn't like some after thought to have it re-wired in this crazy way, otherwise you would be able to see where the wires are going under the roof. I can not think of one reason why someone would want a switch near the entry way of a house to go to an outlet clear in the bedroom that is clear on the other side of the house. It truly boggles the mind!

Honor Roll

Well, we just finished the second trimester of school. I went yesterday to Caitlyn's award ceremony. She got honor roll and perfect attendance again.

Mostly, she just needs to work on her communication skills. It has always been a problem...sometimes even at home. 

Today was Emily's award ceremony. She got high honors, perfect attendance and citizenship this time. We are so proud of her. Honestly, we were a little worried that she might not do as well this trimester, but it's hard to tell how she is doing when her teacher doesn't hardly send anything home.

The assembly today was for all the third and fourth graders. It started off pretty good but before they were done, those older kids were not as well behaved as the 1st and 2nd graders yesterday. The principal even said that the kindergarteners did better. I don't think he was too happy. I saw that even Emily's teacher had to speak to her once for talking (which makes me kind of think that he is a bit lenient on the whole citizenship thing!). But the biggest problem was really the fourth graders. It makes me afraid of what the fifth and sixth graders are like!

There were actually 5 girls in the third grade who got high honors this time...only 2 of them were in Emily's so called GATE class. Makes you kind of wonder what the point of the program is...again. The other kids' parents either opted out of it...or they are just normal high achieving kids. And the GATE kids just happen to do well in spatial reasoning and nothing else. Seriously, what's the point?

Caitlyn will be taking the GATE test this month or next. I'm considering opting out of it as well if she passes. I guess we'll see. There are some changes coming up for the school next year so I think I will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Stake Primary Activity

Daddy/Daughter 50's night.

Very cute. Emily was so excited. She got to dress up, spend time alone with dad, and friends...what more could she ask for?

Caitlyn and I stayed home to bake cupcakes and have a little fun of our own. We did some baking, had a story and played some video games!

Emily turns 9

Monday was Emily's actual birthday. She didn't want to ride the bus and ruin her day as she says the kids on the bus are mean. They are actually really lucky since they are only on the bus for about 10 minutes. They are the last to get on and the first to get off. Christian walked the girls to school in the morning. I picked them up in the afternoon. She was with her best friend Miley when I found her. Unfortunately, it is also Miley's last week of school here. She is moving. She also has a little sister in Caitlyn's grade and the girls got along pretty well. We would occasionally get together for play dates.

I ended up bring all the girls home for what was supposed to be a short play date.

As it turned out, it wasn't quite that short as their mother was late in picking them up and they kept running in and out. Four little girls screaming like they are at an exciting amusement park ride can be quite nerve racking. Of course the younger girl also ended up falling off Caitlyn's bike and scraping her knee pretty badly. Plus, Christian came home early to spend time with Emily so I was pretty relieved when their mom finally came and got the girls.

Of course there was now a mess to be cleaned up and homework to be done still. This is why we usually don't have play dates on a school night. But I allowed it this once given all the circumstances. I know Emily had a great time though.

We finally got everything in order and had a nice quiet family dinner with more presents and cupcakes.

Happy Birthday Emily! You drive us crazy, but we love ya!

Emily's 9th Birthday party

This past Saturday was Emily's birthday party. We usually just have her grandparents over and her Auntie Marian since we can't handle any more people than that here in our little house. We tried to get a big house with a formal dining area but it was not meant to be. So even with this little group, we have to move a few things around to accommodate the extra guests. But it doesn't matter, Emily is always so excited for her grandparents to come see her.

I can't believe Emily is turning 9. It seemed like only a couple of years ago that I quit my professional job  of 8 years to become a stay at home mom. I can tell you that this job is definitely harder in a lot of ways...and seemingly less gratifying. Yes, you read that right. I will not feel that all the sacrifices, stress, frustration and heart ache was worthwhile until my girls are truly grown up and are out in the world making good decisions for themselves. That will be the most gratifying day of all. But I doubt that it will ever be that clear. You don't just wake up one day and say, "we did good." But hope springs eternal...

Emily got a couple of funny "trick" presents from Auntie Marian. She knows what trouble Emily has had with sugar lately. So she emptied a oreo cookie container and put a bunch of toothpaste, floss and toothbrushes and stuff in it. But Emily still appreciates it and had a lot of fun with it.

While we were still eating, a package arrived in the mail from her grandma in Hawaii. It was such perfect timing! Her biggest present this year though, was a digital camera from my mom. My mom won a new digital camera from some raffle and decided to give Emily her old one. It is really nice too. I kind of think my mom should have given her the new one and kept the old one personally. The new one she got is one of those fancy touch screen camera's. I tried it out and cannot navigate it. It is a pain in the butt. I'll take the old buttons any day.