Joe and Brandie's visit

We had a nice visit with my brother Joe and his wife Brandie and baby girl Delilah.  On Saturday, we met them at Arizona Mills Mall and went to the Sea Life Aquarium.  It was very cool!  The kids all loved it!

After the Aquarium, we walked around the mall for a while.

Then, on Sunday, we all went to Betsy's house for dinner.  The kids loved eating tacos and visiting with their cousins!

It was great to see everyone!

Daniel's 12th Birthday

Daniel had a great birthday!  His friends came over this morning, and we all went to see Aladdin.  It was really good!  After the movie, we walked over to In-N-Out Burger for lunch.  Then we went back to our house for cake and presents, and the boys all hung out until the party was over.  Nathaniel was able to have a video call with us and wish Daniel a "Happy Birthday."  In the evening, Daniel wanted breakfast for dinner, so we went to IHOP.

Happy Birthday, Daniel!!!

Last Day of School

It's hard to believe the school year is already over!  Daniel "graduated" from elementary school, and I was there to watch the "clap-out."  The whole school was on the playground and made a path for the 6th graders, and everyone cheered them on as they walked past.  Daniel is officially a middle-schooler now!

After school today, I took the kids to get ice cream at Cold Stone. 

Let the summer fun begin!

Jonathan's Student of the Month Award

Jonathan was named Student of the Month for May.  The character trait for May is "Trustworthiness," and his teacher had so many nice things to say about him.  She said, "When I think of the definition of trustworthiness, I think of Jonathan.  He is sincere and reliable.  Jonathan expresses his true feelings in an honest yet caring way.  His friends can always count on him and trust him to always do the right thing.  I can entrust Jonathan with any task and know that he will follow through to the best of his ability.  You rock, Jonathan!"

Here he is with a model of his invention project--an Egg Blaster.  First you take a hard-boiled egg and take off a little of the shell from the top and bottom of the egg.  Then you put it in the egg blaster, and when you pump the air into it, the eggs pops out and is peeled perfectly.  He got the idea when I asked him to help peel eggs for Easter.

We are so proud of you, Jonathan!!!

Carrie Underwood Concert

We finally got to use Emily's Christmas gift of tickets to the Carrie Underwood concert!!!  Emily and I left about 5:30pm and went to Osaka for dinner. We just sat at a regular table and it was delicious! Then we headed over to the Talking Stick Resort Arena. 

Waiting for Carrie Underwood to come on

The concert was amazing! Carrie Underwood didn’t come on until about 8:30pm or so. She was amazing and the set was amazing.  I loved the medley she did of famous female country singers’ songs with the ladies from her opening acts—Runaway Jane and Maddie and Tae.  

We left the arena at about 10:45pm and made it home by midnight. It was an amazing, exhausting day!

Jonathan's Field Trip

I finally won the chaperone "lottery," and I was able to go with Jonathan on his field trip to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson.  It was definitely a long day! A good one, though! Jonathan and I got to the school on time, but the buses were late so we didn’t leave until almost 6:30am. By the time we arrived, listened to the orientation, and got to the restrooms, it was already 9:30am. My group had Jonathan and three other boys. They were really good the whole day. We went to the aquarium, the reptile house, some caves, then ended up turning back to the entrance where we saw an owl and a snake that they could pet. 

One of the boys was especially excited about the parrot that we saw and learned about. 

Next, we headed over to the stingray petting exhibit, the aviary, and the hummingbird exhibit. 

By then it was 11:30am and we went to go eat lunch. We walked over to the Packrat Playhouse, and on the way there we stopped at the cat building (bobcat, etc.) but most of them were hiding. The boys had fun at the Packrat Playhouse, and then on the way back we were able to see a mountain lion. When the boys were doing their little stamp thing (they had to collect different stamps around the exhibits), we looked over and the mountain lion was looking at us through the glass. It was really creepy because it looked like he wanted us for lunch. After that we went to the bathrooms again and got on the bus. We left at 1pm and arrived at the school at 4pm.  We would’ve arrived at the school earlier except there was some traffic because of a car accident.  It was a great day, and I am so glad that I was able to go with Jonathan!!!

Band Concerts

Andrew and Daniel had their band concerts on the same night.  Thankfully, they at least had different start times.  Daniel's was at 6pm and Andrew's was at 7pm.  Unfortunately, Daniel's went long and so I missed Andrew's first song, but I was able to see and record his second one.  They both did great!

Daniel, Pirates of the Caribbean

Andrew, The Red Baron

Emily's Flute Recital

Emily did a beautiful job in her flute recital!  She had two flute pieces, a piano solo, and two piano accompaniments.  The second accompaniment is extra special, because Emily wrote the arrangement herself!

Cantina Band, flute trio

Just a Closer Walk With Thee, accompaniment

Alla Hornpipe, flute solo

I See the Light, piano solo
Pay no attention to the annoying guy who kept getting in my way!

Be Thou My Vision, accompaniment written and performed by Emily

Great job, Emily!