School Pics 2021

As usual, these school pics say so much about these kiddos.  We discovered a mousse (Bumble and Bumble) that made Libby fall in love with her curls.  She got this picture and said--I look like a goddess!  So much confidence and excitement about her newfound looks with styled hair and makeup.  I am happy that she is so confident.  I don't love it when she sees older pictures and says "that's when I was ugly." But I guess I know that I look at my 6th grade pic and see my "ugly" phase.  
I wish I could say that this girl is rocking school right now.  But she's struggling.  Her report card isn't going to look good.  Math and English have both been hard. We are all struggling to figure out how to navigate school at this point.  Thankfully--back to school in person next week.  I am hopeful that she'll do better when she can be in the room to listen to instructions and do the lessons. She is pushing back on every rule and standard of our family.  So it'll be nice for all of us to have a break while she's at school.   

Sarah hated her picture.  She immediately hid it and said she didn't want anyone to see it.  She combed out her hair and it got pretty poofy.  Well--it's a 6th grade pic, right?  She has done well this quarter.  Her report card should look really good.  I'm proud of her school work.  She's still spending lots of time in her room--but she seems to be coming out more often.  Libby makes it tough for her to play with the other kids, so another reason going back to school will be good.  Sarah will get to see and reconnect with friends.  Now that she has a phone maybe she can even invite a friend over?  Ben's picture hasn't come yet.  Our picture day at MP was much later. 

Happy Easter 2021

The Easter bunny didn't take pics of very many things yesterday, but she did capture a few highlights.  The bunny brought new "baskets" for the kids (which were their main gift).  Ben's was a switch case that looks like Mario's overalls.  The girls both got makeup cases.  They enjoyed the egg hunt--there were lego filled eggs again this year (an adorable Easter bunny).  While my hope that they would all work together to put it together wasn't fulfilled, Sarah did help Ben with it after Libby went back to bed.  We only had to go back on the hunt to find one more egg of Legos.  We found it--and not a piece was missing! (Maybe next time I need to label or count the lego eggs? Or maybe find a new idea--because Lego is onto this and the Lego bunny cost more than the rest of their stuff combined.)  

Ben actually went to Target with me and helped pick out some of the candy for their baskets.  

I didn't have the energy for the traditional conference cinnamon rolls.  So Ben said crepes were okay.  Which I was stoked for!  The new stove is perfect for crepes.  

The finished bunny 

During our conference crafting (we just set up a computer on the dining table and crafted for the whole Sunday morning session...it was awesome) I made these bunny napkin holders from BH&G magazine.  They were not adequate, of course, for the first spill of sparkling cider.  But they made the table look cute.  (I forgot to have Libby swap for a nice table cloth--but since she had the table all set--I wasn't about to have her do it over!)

For dinner it was the Nordie immunity community (no other Nortons could come for various reasons.) We had traditional ham & funeral potatoes, deviled eggs, egg nest cookies, rolls, and Hardie pound cake.  I was SO SO done by the end of the night I just crawled on to the bed and had Libby bring me an ice pack.  I really really hope that I didn't ruin the PRP injection.  I'm back to crutches this morning.  

Conference was so good.  I have so much to process and learn from.  I am so thankful that we have a true reason to celebrate Easter.  

Eggstravagnaza 2021

 We decided to pair up Easter egg dying, egg cookie frosting, and Maren's epic egg hunt ("Only 34 eggs each, kids!" :).  It was too much for my leg.  But the kids (and the adults) enjoyed the festivities. 

Sarah, who has claimed to hate crafts, actually had a lot of fun and decorated some great cookies & eggs. 

The crew post egg hunt.  We are so thankful for our little immunity community! 

It was pretty tricky to get a pic of the whole crew looking.  This was the best out of about 15 attempts. 

For once I remembered to take a before pic, but not an after pic...haha. 

I guess here is an after pic of the finished eggs.  Right before they became deviled! 

April Fools!

 We did a fair amount of brainstorming to try to beat last year.  We knew we couldn't.  Especially because I was on crutches after my 2nd Platelet Rich Plasma Injection (into the adductor and hip socket--ouch!) Emma came through with a great idea...decorate with mugs and let Grammy know it was a bit muggy outside!  

She was already at work by the time the show got on the road. But I think she enjoyed showing off the fun for a few co-workers.  (I'm guessing--since I was at work for the day.  I wasn't helpful since I couldn't really carry anything. 

Then I asked if I could drop off her pie plate in the evening.  I brought it full of delicious "pie" meatloaf with mashed potatoes.  I only had ritz crackers to use as the binder--but it was really SO GOOD!

I also loved the April Fool's quiz I gave my students.  (Especially because it was quick to write and score :). I was really wiped out this week.  Using crutches is no joke. 

Ben in person school...

 So Ben has done 2 weeks of school in person.  I have no photo evidence.  What the heck?  It's partly because he comes in the afternoon I guess.  But he stands right outside my classroom to line up. I could certainly have documented this.  He is really liking it-they are having fun at recess.  He has much more homework, since there is actually less time to get things done during the school day.  His morning teacher has him on zoom all morning.  He doesn't love wearing a mask, but he's okay with it.

I stayed remote, as the other HiCap teacher really wanted to be in person.  I'm not sad.  My new group (1/2 of her class and 1/2 of my first class that stayed remote) are great kids.  But of course the district promised another chance to change in April.  So I can't really get comfy with this group.  

The best news is that they are negotiating for kids to go back at all grades.  Please!  Please!  It is hard for Middle schoolers (Libby especially) to focus because the teachers don't require cameras on.  She just lounges in her room, dozing, listening to music, etc.  It's gotten much worse lately.  Let's go back to school!

Sunny Magazine

 Libby's latest project as she organizes the neighborhood kids, is Sunny Magazine.  (The street they all play on is Sunnyside Ave, so they've been the Sunnyside gang for all of COVID).

She's very into it.  She's had the kids apply for various jobs (including written application and interviews).  She's promised wages and is trying to sell subscriptions.  It's genius, actually.  It would be nice if school got this much attention, but I think this is good life training.

Ben's job application.  There is also a waiver that holds Libby blameless if you are injured or die at work.  (I am noticing that the name changed from Libby magazine to Sunny magazine at some point.  Good shift!) 

Hymn Scavenger Hunt

 Ben has been begging for a family study scavenger hunt.  So finally, for D&C 25, we did a scavenger hunt that was all hymn titles.  It was so fun to write--and the kids loved it. 

Libby outran everyone in her heels until she had read her 4 clues.  Then she just let the other two finish.  

Candy had to be to the prize--Sweet is the Work! (They found it in the pantry--where "In Fasting We Approach Thee"

She was busy taking selfies--so many every day.