Volleyball and Christmas wreaths by a 9 year old

I play volleyball on a city league and I LOVE it.  We play every Wednesday.  It gives me a chance to go out and really have an hour to myself.  It is such a much needed time.  But I hate losing and I also get frustrated when we don't set the ball up and our team is known for just hitting it to get it over the net.  But still super fun. 

My 9 year old LOVES crafts.  She can't seem to get enough of them.  So we looked for some ideas on Pinterest and she did them all by herself.  I did help her with the book page one.....but only to glue gun the ornaments on.  She told me where she wanted them and I added the hot glue and she placed them.  I think she did a fantastic job.

Mayah went around to some of our neighbors to see if they wanted to buy anything for her school fundraiser.  She sold about 6 items.  They finally arrived on Monday.  We tried to deliver the items but only one person was home.  One of the neighbors purchased a pumpkin roll from her and so we had to put it in the freezer.  After a couple of days we went to get it so we could deliver it.  I about died when I noticed it had been opened and a slice had been sliced off.  OH GEEZ.  So after questioning the kids I finally decided to ask Don.  YEP.  He had no idea it was for someone else.  He had even said something to my mom about it and was wondering whose it was.  So funny.  We delivered it and thankfully know them well.  Mayah took it to the door with the $16 it cost to buy.  They wouldn't let us pay for it.  Darn them.  But they did take the pumpkin roll and he said he was going to eat it since his wife was out of town. :)  I love our neighbors/friends.

I can't figure out how to put my pictures on here.  I used to put all sorts of pics on but now everything looks different.  Why does everything have to change?  HUH?

A whole year?

WOW!!!! It can't be true that a whole year has gone by without me blogging.  Yesterday I read through some of my blog to the kids.  It was so fun.  They kept asking me to read more.  It is a amazing how you think you will never forget something. As we read through some of the posts it wasn't how I thought I remembered it.  SO glad I have all of this stuff written down.  We had quite a few laughs.

There is so much to say yet not sure how or where to start.  My kids asked me to start blogging again so that we can continue looking back and being reminded of the memories we share together.

I'm currently going to school full time and working full time as an ELL para at an elementary school.  I really really enjoy it and the kids are so amazing.  They work so hard and I have seen great great strides in them.

I got a new calling recently.  I was teaching the almost 10 year old primary kids.  Now I teach RS on the 4th Sunday.  I LOVE IT.  Had my first lesson last month.  It is great to be back in RS.

Just a quick snippet of the kids:

Caleb.....he is a senior.  Oh my how did that even happen?  He is still struggling in school.  We are looking to get him on a 504 plan.  I wish I would have done it long ago.  SO much to learn.  I am learning a lot about it in my education studies.  Caleb has some great friends that really help him. Tonight him and on of his good friends, Isaac, went shopping.  They had so much fun.  Thankful for good friends in this ward who encourage and strengthen Caleb.  He just finished building a ski bike in his welding class.  He brought home a free dog about a month ago.  I wasn't happy AT ALL.  But what do you do?  Caleb is doing great with his Priesthood duties.  He is always there to bless the Sacrament and he takes care of his duties at the Older Folks Home.

Zach....he has his permit.  AHHHH scary.  He just turned 15.  He is actually doing a great job.  He wasn't able to play football.....which really frustrated him.  He has inverted ankles.  We took him to a podiatrist and they made some special inserts.  They don't seem to work.  So we have to make him another appointment.  Not sure what the next step will be.  He loves hanging out with his friends.  Any chance he gets he will either have his friends over or he will be doing something with them.  He just bought his first truck.  It is an F150.  It is an 87. I think.  He is going to restore it.  Should be fun watching him do that.  Didn't do much hunting this season.  They went out a few times but didn't get anything.  Zach applied at Basin Feed but hasn't heard back. He has an amazing resume.

Rachel.....she is doing so good in school.  I am so proud of her.  She works hard.  She is really starting to act like a teenager though. She is getting an attitude now and doesn't like to help out with chores like she used to.  She got a flip phone for her 12th birthday.  Lost it. Then she bought her own flip phone to replace that.  Lost it. UGH.  She is sweet though.  She has been doing babysitting for some and even raking leaves for others.  She makes pretty good money.  Rachel is helping her teacher down at Safeway collect canned food for the canned food drive at their school.  Her teacher is trying to beat everyone else in the school.  They are having a competition.  Rachel plays the clarinet and is wishing she could do the violin.  She also sings for the school choir.  They had to try out. They sing the Star Spangled Banner for assemblies.

Ethan....he loves Minecraft.  This boy gets great grades.  He has started reading the Harry Potter books and loves them.  He is a Seahawk fan....so against his Dad. GEEZ.  The other day Ethan and Mayah took the snow boards across the street to snowboard down the canal road.  Ethan bit it and got hurt.  He was so upset. He really wanted to go to school because any student who has perfect attendance gets a free bike at the end of the year. Plus they get to go to a huge BBQ.  He tried to go to school but as soon as Don pulled up to drop him off he just couldn't do it. He hurt too much.  This little guy is sooooo picky when it comes to food.  He would rather starve than eat most things.

Mayah  She enjoys design dresses. She loves to write stories and do math.  I have been teaching her two and three digit multiplication.  She has her own notebook where she works out her math and draws dresses and writes her stories.  Finally she loves to read now.  PHEW..  Or maybe it is her excuse to stay up later.  Mayah tried for Treasurer at her school and won.  It was for K kids.  She gave a speech and won.  She was so excited. She played volleyball as well (I coached) and now she is doing basketball. SO fun. Last week she made three baskets.  Her last game in tomorrow.  Kind of sad.

It is such a blessing being a mom.  Nothing better.  It is the hardest job but also the greatest.  If it were up to me I would forget about this schooling and working stuff and just be a stay at home mom FOREVER.  But such circumstances don't allow.  DARN.

I better call it a night.  You know you are tired when your eyes close while you try and think of something important that has happened.  :)