Memorial Day 2022

Happy Memorial Day (aka the un-official start of summer)! We made it! Summer is officially here. We kicked it off with a weekend of fun. Usually a weekend off wouldn't be so exciting, but between finishing all the school stuff and trying to finish the little house, there haven't been many "fun" weekends lately. Jeff is definitely feeling the stress of getting the house done so we can get Gma and Grumpy moved out of theirs so Laurin and Casey can get into that house. I think Jeff would have been just fine to work all of Saturday and Monday, but I finally put my foot down...and we're all glad he decided to join us. We started our festivities on Saturday. We tried to take the boat out to Yuba, but the boat had different plans. We sent the boat to get fixed a couple of months ago and let's just say after dead batteries and a propeller that wouldn't shut off, it seems to be worse off than when we went to have it fixed. We ended up having a picnic on the back of the boat in the parking lot. We were all disappointed and a little frustrated, but when we got back to the house, Amber and Jacob suggested that we go to the Provo Rec Center. We shifted gears and all headed out. It was a slightly rainy and cold day so there weren't a lot of people there, which meant shorter lines and more fun! We did the water slides, wave pool, ninja course, and more. Jeff even raced Dallin and Jacob in the lap pool...and won! It might not have been what we had planned for that day, but we all had fun together!

On Monday (May 30th), we started our Memorial Day with a ward breakfast. This is an annual tradition that we enjoy. In addition to yummy food and good company, we get to start our day with a flag ceremony and words from active and retired service members. This is what this weekend is really all about! After the breakfast, Jonas and I decided to get some flowers to place on military service members' graves at the Payson City Cemetery. We happened to stumble upon a Memorial Day program at the veterans memorial there at the cemetery. We couldn't here much but were able to witness a release of doves as the program ended. After placing all the flowers, we wandered through the little memorial before heading home.

Once we finished at the cemetery, all the kids (minus Laurin and Casey) went back to the Provo Rec Center for basketball and racquetball. Finally, we all met back together to watch the highly anticipated sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. It did not disappoint! We ended the day with a family BBQ. Katie and Greg joined us too. It was a fun weekend and the perfect way to kick off summer!

Finishing First Grade

I'm pretty sure it was about 2 months ago when Jonas started to experience "first-grade-itis". I didn't think that ailment afflicted kids so young, but he is anxiously awaiting summer. He was ready for school to be done! Overall, he has really enjoyed his 1st grade year. The other day, he told me that his teacher was the kindest out of all the 1st grade teachers. He enjoys being in the same class with his buddies Madden Wall, Lane Richmond, and Emmaline Bronson. He has done well academically and mastered (or exceeded) all the skills needed to move on to the 2nd grade. But he's just ready to play. He's ready to ditch all the daily expectations and structures (although there will still be some of that over the summer) and just enjoy being a kid. Thankfully, this last month was full of fun things to get him through those final weeks. First, he finally had a field trip during the first week of May (Friday, May 6th)! In January, he went on a school wide field trip for all the kids who didn't have disciplinary actions against them to the movie theater to see Sing 2. He loved that experience, but this is the first (and only) 1st grade field trip he has taken. They got to go to Adventure Heights park in Spanish Fork and just play! They packed picnic lunches and spent nearly 3 hours running, jumping, swinging, sliding, and doing whatever else they desired. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I have to be a stay-at-home mom and attend things like this. I managed a group of 5 boys (and by "managed" I mean let run wild while I occasionally counted them to make sure I hadn't lost any). Jonas had a blast hanging out with all his friends.

On top from R to L: Madden, Lane, Jonas, Emmaline, Ryker. Hanging from the bottom: Zach

The next week (Thursday, May 12th), Jonas had his 1st grade program. I am so glad that COVID restrictions have been lifted to allow events like this to happen. Jonas was assigned a speaking part about a month ago and has diligently practiced his part. He was so excited (and a little nervous) to finally show us what he and his classmates had been working on. The program was about hats. That may sound weird, but it was all about what hats we choose to wear. They talked about all sorts of professions, but that ultimately what matters most is what is under that hat: your head and your heart. Yes, I got a little choked up as I contemplated what hat (or hats) Jonas will wear in the future then realizing that whatever he decides to wear doesn't matter as much as his own heart and head. He is a smart boy with a big heart; he will do wonders!

Jonas, Madden, Emmaline, Lane

The last Wednesday of school (May 25th) was the 1st-3rd grade field day at the school. Jonas was super excited! He was a little bummed when he discovered it wasn't a whole "day" of activities but rather only about an hour and a half at the end of the day. Still he had a blast rotating through various stations like tug-of-war, balloon toss, basketball shootout, 4-square, and more. The event culminated with Payson Fire Department bringing a fire truck to the school to douse the kids with water from the ladder hose! The water was freezing, but Jonas didn't care. He followed the water around as the fireman moved the ladder across the field. Thankfully, Jonas was wearing a bright enough swim shirt so I could find him in the crowd. 

School ended on Friday, May 27th! But we started the parties earlier. Jonas invited his buddies, Madden and Lane (and Madden's brother, Ledger) over for water games, popsicles, and pizza. They had a blast! 

Finally, the last day came! Both boys couldn't wait for that last bell to ring. Fortunately, it was only a half day so they didn't have to wait long. I picked up Jonas after school to go out to lunch and grab a treat. I can't believe he's done with his first full year of school. I know he still has many more to go, but it seems to go by so quickly! Can I just pause time? I just want him to stay little...but I guess I'll just have to hold on to these moments as they come.