The Talent (???????) Show

Every year there has been an end-of-the-year talent show for the K-2 and 3-5 grades. This was the first year any of my kids wanted to participate so I "got" to go. Ella played a very pretty piano piece that she had been working on. It's had to hear since they had the piano facing entirely the wrong direction, and the air was on, but I am so proud of her for going up and performing in front of all her peers! Besides Ella's piano, their friend Leilani's near professional singing, and a few other great performances, most of them where a little...tedious.

Ethan's friend doing what we all wanted to at this point.

Ethan was in the audience silently and immobile-y cheering Ella on.

I Feel Like We Are Just Going Around In Circles, or Race Day

Every year the 3-5 grade students have to run in the end of year races against the other elementary schools. Last year was not the most fun time ever since Ethan was at the peak of his asthma problems. This year Ella got to run and Ethan was (is) doing much better. They both ended up getting ribbons and feeling very proud of their accomplishments. Ella got first and Ethan got second in their heats!

Ella on the field hearing the instructions.



Ella with her relay team; Austin, Maddi, Ella and Clara.

 

 

 

Ethan and Elijah waiting their turn.

Ethan at the starting line. 

What the HAL is going on? or Ella's Passion Project

Our piano teacher recently pointed out that when I say "Ella's at HAL" it sounds like she is in a much darker place.  In the spring the kids in HAL (High Achievement Learners) worked on a passion project, which they presented at the end of the year.  They could pick any thing they were interested in learning more about, and were supposed to spend a certain amount of hours researching and working on a presentation.

Ella could have picked anything.  I thought it would be dance, or music, or writing, or stars, but she surprised me with "baking."  She wanted to know more about how it works, and to do more of it herself.  We ordered books, she did research on the internet, and she baked 3 different yummies (mostly) by herself.  She made cookies and this power point as her presentation on what she learned.  I helped with the execution of one or two things, but it is 99% her hard work. 

Ella's Presentation Table.

Livi and Carter being "supportive."

Ella explaining her project to one of her advisors.

Sandwiched In Between, or Ella's Baptism

It isn't really fair for something as important as a baptism to get sandwiched in between two other things, but in order for family to get to come out and see the girls dance that is exactly what we did.  The girls performed Friday night, got back around 11:00pm and woke up bright and early (to me) for her baptism at 10:00.

It was a family affair since so many of our family were able to come out.  She was baptized by her daddy:

Her Grandpa Alan conducted, Grandma Joan led the music, Aunt Cheryl gave a talk on baptism, Ella and Uncle Jared sang "We'll Bring the World His Truth," Grandma Sharon gave a talk on the Holy Ghost, Grandpa Rulon confirmed her, Uncle Ryan gave a prayer, and I played the music.  Whew. 

After the baptism we went out to the restaurant of Ella's choosing to celebrate.  Ella picked Perkins, which is basically like a Coco's or Shari's and known as a hot spot for the over 83 crowd, but she loves getting breakfast whenever she can so off we went.  The girls and I had to leave a little early to get ready for the 2nd showing of the recital.

Other fun things:

Livi enjoyed having her soul mate, Cheryl, here to boss around.

All the kids loved having uncles around who don't have their own kids so they can be talked into doing things like push-ups with little girls on their backs. 

We are so proud of Ella and her decision to be baptized.

Flotsam and Jetsam

It has been a crazy month of random fun, and I'm too sick and severely dehydrated to write about it all. I'll highlight a few high (and low) points while I guzzle my Gatorade and try not to die.

I got to watch Carter and McKay for a few hours which gave me a taste of having triplets.  Three car seats, picking up siblings from school, and arranging snacks for 7 kids was fun for ONE day.

Ethan got sick and never got better.  After a few trips to the doctor he has been diagnosed with asthma and is now on 3 medications trying to get it under control.  I stupidly sat at the doctors shaking my head saying "No, no one we are related to has asthma.  This comes as a total shock."  Little did I know half of Eric's family has/had asthma and Joan even still has an inhaler and is on some of the same medication Ethan is.  Communication, it's a wonderful thing.  (On the bright side one of the conditions my kids have is NOT from my side of the family for a change! Woot woot genetics!)

Ella had her musical program for school and played Boom Whackers, which is a fancy name for a plastic tube cut to a specific size.  She did a great job with her Boom Whacker and her singing.  We have a true performer on our hands!

Livi had picture day at preschool.  When I curled her hair that morning I told her, her hair looked like Princess Aurora's hair, which Ella overheard.  We have been dealing with the jealousy issues ever since.

I bought a stash of Hostess products for my kids to try before they disappear.  I will probably lose about 10 pounds now that Hostess cupcakes and donettes no longer exist.  No joke!

Eric "caught" a deer.  A big buck that had to hang in my garage for a few days before it was butchered.

Which means I have a blood stain in my garage.  Hopefully we are never accused in any missing persons cases because the evidence will look pretty bad for a while.

It also means I got to see this macabre scene every time I went in the garage.  After the horrible odor of dead deer the fresh scent of bleach was a welcome change.... although, again, not good if we have crime scene units out to the house.

On the bright side we did get super yummy deer jerky that every one LOVES.  It is so good the kids ask for it in their school lunches.

On a super bright side I have the cutest dog on the planet.  What?  Your mind isn't blown with the cuteness of that picture?  Well, I give to you the cutest thing I have ever seen:

I know you want my dog now.  Too bad.  I might let you come visit and cuddle her...for a price...cookies, I want cookies.

Stott Girl's Day (Morning) or: I ran away in fear

Because my mother-in-law is pretty awesome, she invited me to go for pedicures with her and Cheryl.  Because I am so weird, I had to decline.  I really hate feet.  Not just a general dislike, I really HATE feet.  They are gross.  We walk around on dirt and filth, they sweat, smell, and have ugly toes sticking off them.  They kind of make me gag.  Part of the problem could be because I have horrible cracked heels, I have had nails ripped off painfully, and mine are just really ugly, but I hate feet.  What grosses me out more than feet: people touching my feet.  Yep.  I am that weird.  It also probably explains my love affair with shoes.  They take something gross and cover them with something beautiful.

Whoa.  Rambling. Sorry...so when Joan asked me if I wanted to go for pedicures I tried to not have a panic attack, and luckily Ella heard and piped up immediately with her wish to go.  Joan was very gracious and let Ella go with them, and it totally made Ella's day.  I don't think a little girl could have loved the experience more! She is still talking about it!

Ella and Grandma Joan picking out colors.  I've already heard about the other shades of pink Ella wants to try out.

The winning pink.

Ella and Grandma getting pampered.  Cheryl was nice enough to document all this for me!

Ella looks so tiny in the chair.  According to Joan's blog the massage chair kept trying to rub her head since it was at the level of most people's shoulders!

The finished product.  They still look this good 2 weeks later!  Next time maybe I'll go and get my finger nails done if they can get them to last this long!

Crazy Cows Cause Cheerful Calamity - Updated with better quality video (hopefully)

Heard at dinner tonight:
Eric: What do you get when Casey goes swimming?  Hairy Water
Ethan immediately responded: What do you call Chewbacca making a bowl?  Hairy Potter

Ella's second grade program was last week, and boy did she love being a part of it.  She is definitely not scared to perform in front of people, and she spent the weeks leading up to the program singing songs, practicing her part, and asking everyone how excited we were to go see the program.  They have a great music teacher, who has brought some great new programs, so I actually was pretty excited.

As I have mentioned before people in Scottsbluff have the tendency to attend every program, recital, meet, or clothes fitting that their second cousin's mother's boyfriend's neice is involved in.  I knew we would need to get to the school early, and Ella had to be there early anyways, so I thought 15 minutes would be plenty of time to get an okay seat.  I was expecting front row, but I was under the impression I would get a seat.  I was wrong.

By the time we got there every single seat was taken.  Every single one.  One man told me, like I couldn't tell, that the room was full.  His wife also stated that I should have shown up earlier.  I may have asked in a petulant tone "What do you want me to do?  Go home? Miss my daughter's program?"  Now I know there are multiple classes, but even if every child had both parents, and step parents, and 3 siblings in attendance there should have been room.  The problem is all 8 (including step) grandparents, all 30 cousins and all 15 aunts have to be there too.  I shouldn't complain.  If my parents lived closer I would ask if they wanted to come, but when space is limited and people treat me like I am an idiot I tend to get testy.

Eventually we squeezed into a spot on the floor, behind a speaker, to the side, but we could see Ella, so I guess it was fine.  It was also mercifully short, since I don't think Eric or I could have taken much longer sitting on the linoleum. The title was "Barn Yard Moosical" and Ella was a very cute cow.  She is on the top row (of course) and has a little too much attitude in the first song.  It made me laugh with delight, and a little bit of fear:
Here is her saying her part.  Maddi says "Most Cows are known for their milk and their butter." Then Ella says "But we're dancing cows and we're like no udder." (Just so you know what they were saying).

Baby Chicks, Ducklings, Goslings, and a Dead Squirrel

When I went to help in Ella's class this morning I was asked by her teacher if I would want to come back in the afternoon and walk with the class to the local farm and ranch store to see the new baby chicks. Of course I was thrilled, and Livi and I came back to help with the walk.
All I can say is only in Nebraska can you go to the local hardware store and find multiply professional displays of the cutest baby chicks I have ever seen, but what the kids really enjoy is the dead squirrel on the side of the road

Why I Should Take Kleenex With Me EVERYWHERE!!!

I was talking with several people (and reading my sister's blog) when I realized we all have these stories about seemingly stupid things we cry over. For one person it was a book, for another it was a new challenge at work. For my sister it is the animal "character" dying in a movie. We all have those moments where we are crying, knowing anyone on the outside is looking at us like we are crazy, and we couldn't stop even if we wanted to. I think my most memorable embarrassing cry happened this spring.

I read in Ella's kindergarten class every Tuesday all year. I really got to know the class and her teachers and it was a truly great experience. Livi even became a little class mascot and they would bring extra treats for birthdays and parties when they knew she would be there. I had a great time all year...until the very last time.
If any of you haven't read Mo Willems "Knuffle Bunny" series (pronounced Ka-Nuffle as plainly described in book 2) I highly recommend taking a moment to seek out these very cute picture books. The art is unique, the writing is funny, and the are very touching for anyone that ever had a "special friend."

I had read the first 2 books to Ella's class during the year, but refused to read the 3rd to them. All year long they asked me to bring it, but I held firm in not bringing it. Why? Because I sob like a little tiny baby every time I read it. It is emotionally gut wrenching to me because it combines my childhood trauma of loosing my "special friend" with the pain of watching my babies not be babies anymore. I loved Ella's class, but I just didn't think I could handle crying in front of 20, 6 year olds.

Then, on the last Tuesday I was going to read, I broke. I decided I was big enough to read this book. I could separate myself from the story and finish the series for these kids. It would be AWESOME!!!

Well, it wasn't. I sobbed so hard Ella had to get up and read the rest of the book for me. When she started reading the note at the back from Mo Willems to his daughter (that the books are based on) I had to get up and leave the room. Here was my little girl, almost done with Kindergarten, reading about another little girl growing up. (Plus ask anyone in my family, we feel stupid when we cry and that only makes it worse)

After we were done with the book one of the teachers came up to me and asked: "when did he pass away?"

I sat there a minute confused. Had I missed part of the conversation? Was she talking about the fish we had recently lost? What in the world was the lady talking about?

Me: "Ummm, who?"
Her: "Your father."
Me: "My Dad is still alive, last I checked." (secretly dying to leave the room and text my dad to make sure).
Her: "Oh, I assumed by the way you broke down in the father part, that you had recently lost your dad."
Me: "Um, no, I'm just a weenie."
Her: "Yeah, I guess."

That was the most embarrassed I have ever been while crying. Fun time all around. I help in Ella's class again this year and a couple of the kids have brought it up to me "remember that time you cried so hard Ella had to read..." Yep. I do.

Speaking of breakdowns; We are putting Tonks in a kennel for our trip to California. Eric and Ella both want to take her, and I do to, I just don't want to have to deal with her in the airport. Then this morning I came out and she was doing this:

How in the world can we leave this comic relief here?

The Tooth Fairy Gives Me Heartburn

Thank you, Tooth Fairy, for instigating many uncomfortable conversations. Why do some kids get $0.50, some a dollar, and some get two? Why do some kids get special coins or presents when they lose their first tooth? Why do some kids get a note, a toy, a car, when they lose a tooth? What does the Tooth Fairy look like? How does she fly? Is she tiny or big? What in the world does she do with all those teeth?

Ella recently lost her first tooth. It had been loose for ages, and for days had been at that gross stage where it moves around on its own every time she opened her mouth. She didn't even notice it was gone until we were reading for bed and I asked her what happened. She remembered spitting something in the sink when she brushed her teeth. Yes, her first tooth and been lost down the drain.

There was the inevitable break down that only a type-A child with a very type-A mother can produce. She worried that the Tooth Fairy wouldn't leave anything because there wasn't a tooth to collect. She worried the Tooth Fairy wouldn't even show up since there was no lost tooth in the house. She worried she would get in trouble with the Tooth Fairy and it would affect later tooth profits. Ethan was actually very reassuring and told her about the time he lost his tooth at school and the Tooth Fairy still came. This brought on all the questions about how different kids have different experiences with the Tooth Fairy.

We decided that there are many, many, MANY tooth fairies that are in charge of different families. They have individual relationships with their assigned families and individually decide how to reward the child for the tooth. I never thought I would have to have deep philosophical discussions about flying tooth collectors, but there you have it, the ever amazing job of a mother!

p.s. We decided that our tooth fairy has a tooth alarm that goes off when someone loses a tooth. We left a note explaining what happened and she was very understanding. Thank goodness!p.p.s. What would someone do with all those teeth? We came up with: build a really disgusting castle; sell them to dentists in poor countries; and maybe she is a hoarder, the likes of which have never been seen. Any other ideas?

I Feel Like I Was Hit By A Mac Truck

We've had some eventful days. Ella's end of the year dance program was yesterday and we spent ALL week preparing for it. We had rehearsal on Tuesday and Wednesday and then a full dress rehearsal on Thursday. Just carting kids to and from and helping with hair and costumes made me exhausted. I should have known it would only get worse.

Friday night Eric and I got to go watch the program, which was actually really good. Ella and I had to be there at 5:45, the program started at 6:30 and we left the high school at 10:26. Yep, the program was 4 HOURS LONG. The tour on Gilligan's Island was suppose to be shorter than that program. There were 58 dances. 58. 5-8. We were all very tired on Saturday, but looking forward to that night's performance. We should have known better.

On Saturday I signed up to be a "Chaperone Mom" which means I was a backstage helper for Ella's class. I was in charge of 11, 5&6 year olds (two of which are ADD) for 5 hours. I feel like I did after my car accidents. I think I was running on pure adrenaline last night and now I feel sooooooooooo worn out and achy. On the bright side, I did my turn and the other moms can do it next year.

Even as hard as it all was, and as blurry thinking as I am now, I am really glad that Ella has been able to participate with this dance company and I am extremely glad that she had such a good time that she is talking about "next year."

(This is why I love watching her dance. She exudes pure joy.)

Ella's first dance was a tap dance to "Sugar Time." She was a little disappointed her costume wasn't pink (I'm okay not having another pink costume in the house) but she loved how sparkly and girly it was.

Her second dance was a ballet number to the nursery rhyme "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary." The other class in her age group did a "jazz" number (mostly pantomime to the words) to "Candy Man," but Ella's class did so well they actually got to perform a real ballet dance. Ella also got to be the middle (since she was the only one who could consistently find center stage). She liked these costumes a little more since they had flowers on them and that ups the fancy factor.

Ella's Six

I can't believe it, but Ella is finally 6! We all woke up bright and early (thanks to a little help from Ella), and got right to it opening presents. She was very sweet and let Livi "help" (which was awesome until Livi realized she didn't, in fact, get to keep the presents she opened). Ethan, too, had a hard time seeing Ella be the center of attention, but he came around (about 2 days later).

After all the presents were opened Ella was surprised with one more... the bike she was dying for.

She got to wear the birthday crown at school, we brought in cupcakes for her class and I read the book she picked out to them. After school we took Maddi and Caleb with us to Sonic for treats, and then played at the Bagley's. We had peach cobbler with scrambled eggs for dinner (considering I nixed the ideas of coffee cake for breakfast and doughnuts for lunch I felt I had to give in for dinner) and chocolate cake with vanilla ice-cream for dessert. Happy Birthday Princess Ella!

As much as I love singing "Happy Birthday" to my kids, it is Livi's contribution that just made me smile:

Ary, Ary, Ary

We have a wonderful video of Ethan when he was about 3 seeing a frog that Eric had brought home from fishing. Ethan looks in and says "Ary, Ary, Ary," while signing "scary." (translation: "very, very scary").
It's been that kind of week for me.
Eric quit his job...
His wonderful benefits, government job...
In the worst economy we have been alive for...

I do understand why we are doing this. I do understand he isn't paid enough. I understand there is no room for growth at his job. I understand he wants to be his own boss. I UNDERSTAND all of this on an intellectual level, but it is still "ary, ary, ary."

So to lighten our (my) moods here is Ella's class doing the BEST rendition of "I'm a little teapot" I have EVER seen!!!! No joke! Ella's on the top row, and I think her snobby, British pose is the best!

A Good Day... or Doughnuts Make Everything Better

So, I have been a little melancholy. With a general lack of purpose and growing sense of dread to be stuck in a town that, although nice, has nothing to offer but occasional movies and two places to eat, I have been feeling a little down. A week ago was one of those days that remind you that life if beautiful, and I wanted to share two highlights:

I normally spend every Thursday morning helping in Ethan's classroom. They have writing homework due that morning and there are about 7 that never seem to bring it back. I just sit and help them get it done.

When I went last Thursday they had a surprise: a Thank You Party for me. They had all signed a card and we got to eat doughnuts and drink orange juice while watching part of Charlotte's Web. I don't do much, but it felt nice to know I had helped them in some way and that they appreciated it. The kids were very cute, and I got lots of hugs.
Later that afternoon Ella had her class Easter party. The kids were excited and it was just fun to see the pureness of their happiness. It was a real mood booster to watch this:

Breaking Up The Band

This is why I get migraines: (I love how part way through they have "creative differences")

Dancing Queen...s (to be said like Keanu Reeve...s)

I'm a little loopy from medicine but I wanted to post these videos for grandmas real quick. Thursday Ella had "parent watch day." Eric was in Lincoln arguing before the State Supreme Court so I "got" to take Livi and Ethan with me. Ethan grumped the whole time about not wanting to be there, but Livi had the exact opposite reaction, it was all I could do to keep her off of the dance floor.
Here is Ella tap dancing:



And here is Livi tap dancing:


Here is Livi (In the mirror) copying what she had seen the big girls do:


Here is part of Ella's big ballet dance they are doing for the recital in June, and Livi doing her own interpretive dance on the sidelines (when she's not directly in front of the camera you can see her in the mirror):


I don't know who I feel sorrier for, for the future. Ella, who will always have a charming, blond, angelic sister (not that I have any experience with that:) ) right on her heels wanting to do everything she does; or Livi having the beautiful, elegant, older sister who is competent at everything she does. Or me, who is going to have to be beating off boys with a stick.

Reason 2,568,997 I LOVE Disneyland, or Ariel Rocks!

Oh Disneyland, how do I love thee, let me count the ways...one one thousand, two one thousand....
One of the things that made this trip awesome was that it was the torrential rain and so nobody was in the park. We were able to walk on most rides and were able to go on everything that we wanted, lots of them more than once! We did have to plan ahead and buy rain gear before we got to Down Town Disney (or we would have spent twice as much) but for the most part we stayed nice and dry, just a little bulky.

This was such a fun trip to Disneyland because we tried so many new things. It was just our little family and my mom so we were able to do things for the kids and not worry that we were boring 7 other adults. We found some new gems that I hope we continue to do every time!
Just a note: They have "cast members" (employees) that have special pins on their jackets that show they are character experts. I learned that the Beast's real name is Adam. Go figure.

We ate lunch in the Golden Horse Shoe, which we had never done. The food was fried, but the entertainment they put on was very funny. The inside is beautifully done as a theatre, and we got prime seats in the balcony.
While the brave 3, Mom, Eric, and Ella, went on Splash Mountain.... (like we needed to have more water poured on us) Ethan, Livi and I explored the candy shop right at the exit. We tried their mini cupcakes and (take note Jes) they have the most amazing dipped marshmallows. I got the kind dipped in caramel, and then dipped in chocolate. Delicious.

While the big kids went with Eric on Matterhorn we took Livi to Toontown to meet "Mihee Mouse." She is just in love with Mickey Mouse so we thought it would be fun. Normally the line to meet him in his house takes FOREVER, but because no one was there we were able to walk through the house, meet Goofy and Minnie too, and then go right up and meet the big mouse himself. Livi was in heaven and still gets excited when she sees the pictures.

Also new for us, in Frontier land they had turned an area into Santa's Home. They had all 8 reindeer, and a keeper we could ask questions to. Santa had the cutest decorated little cottage and Ella waited in a short line to tell him what she wanted for Christmas. He was the best Santa I have ever seen in person.

But the thing that TRULY made this my favorite trip to Disneyland was going to see the princesses. We have never done this because the line is normally 2 hours long, but this time it was only an hour, so we braved it because Ella really wanted to meet them. It was finally our turn and she was so excited she ran over to Ariel, slipped on the wet stones, and fell hard on the ground. Ariel picked up her dress and RAN over to Ella, hugging her and soothing her, all in character. My favorite line was "I slip all the time while I have my human legs."
She spent 10 minutes just talking to Ella and making sure she was ok, the whole while keeping everyone in line waiting, just for my little girl. She wrote a long note to Ella in her autograph book, asked about what she wanted for Christmas and then they did a special princess handshake to promise to be best friends forever. I cried. It was so sweet that she would take so much notice and care to be sure that Ella had a good experience. Thank you Disney for employing such wonderful princesses.
I just included this picture because I like the look on Ethan's face. It's like he is expecting the horse to break and come crashing down at any minute!