What? My Son is an Adult?

Meaning I must be getting old.  The mom of an adult?  Well, he may be able to vote and sign his own documents but he is still a teenager.  And still my responsibility.  and still living in my house.  For a few more months anyway.  Then D is on his way to Utah State University.  The place of his birth.  We moved off campus and out of student housing when he was just a few weeks old to Salt Lake City where Scott got his first full-time job.  (The first of many because he liked to job hop a bit. Not in a bad way, just saw different opportunites.  And now he owns his own business which is pretty cool and ambitious.  anyway...back to Dustin).

We had a small pre-graduation party for Dustin the night before the big day.  Only I forgot to take pictures.  I was busy you know doing all the stuff moms do when hosting parties.  And it was supposed to be outside at the park across the street with a volleyball net and other games but it was like so so windy and we had to do it inside which of course I didn't plan on until an hour before.  Next time I will delegate the photo taking.

But here is one photo of the star of the party and the awesome cake I made.  The award there if you can see it is the "Sousa Award" he earned for outstanding senior in band.

In case you can't see the cake very well (and the cool scorpion I made out of an airhead), then here is another pic of the cake.  I found the drummer on the cake at Hobby Lobby and it was 50% off!

The grandparents came down from Utah so that was very cool.  However, I neglected to get any pics of the graduate with either set of grandparents, or Dad.  ARG!  But I got one of him with me.

And to our surprise he was on the front page of the paper the day after graduation pictured in a group with other graduates celebrating the moment. 
and 5 days later he had a birthday...
(I think he is more excited than he looks)

We took the older boys river rafting in Durango for his big day and had a great time.  The younger kids went to Utah with Grandma and Grandpa after graduation so they were not around.

He was hired at Home Depot this summer and he is also keeping his job at the library.  I am impressed.  This is the boy at some time in his life who, after I told him we were going to do some work and it would take about an hour, complained: "A whole hour of work!?!?" like it was going to be torture.  However, I guess part of the reason he has two jobs is because he is very good at spending but hasn't quite learned the saving part so he needs to catch up on his college account which is a bit lacking.  good think he got some scholarships!

He is a good boy.  A typical absent-minded teenager but a great kid.    Even though he was our first and the "one we make mistakes and learn on" I think he is turning out just fine.  Come fall I will miss this boy, or I guess adult.

End of School Year Activities

2nd grade music program (actually at the end of April)
4th grade recorder program (actually at the end of April)
High school choir concert
High school band concert
Band banquet
Tennis banquet
grade school field trips/picnics
Senior Awards night
grade school field day
grade school end of  year assembly
kindergarten graduation
Seminary Graduation
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
graduation party

And this month we had our last few soccer games, Cameron's laser (his last for a while), Scott ran a 10K, and DUSTIN COMPLETED HIS EAGLE PROJECT!!!!

After all is said and done, what a month May will be!
(and we will throw Mother's Day and a few birthday's in too)

Funny Funny Cam

I get a kick out of my 5-year old.  And lately I have been remembering back to when my 17-year old was 5.  They are a lot alike.  Full of imagination, and happy and easy going.  Dustin used to dress up in his costumes and wear them all day.  To the grocery store, etc.  And he wasn't "Dustin" he was "Peter Pan" or "Batman".  Cameron doesn't have the costumes but he still likes to get "decked out."

We had Cam's 8th laser treatment last week.  Our neighbor gave him Spiderman socks the night before.  He picked out his wardrobe for the hospital:  his Spiderman pajamas, Spiderman socks, and he put his stuff to do in the car in his Spiderman backpack.  Now I had just done laundry and washed two pair of pajamas cuz I know he likes to wear pj's to the hospital, but  Spiderman wasn't among them.  So I just got a wash rag and washed off the dirty spots (probably syrup).  And his pants had a hole but oh well.

When he was taken back to pre-op he promptly lifted up his pants to show off his Spiderman socks to the nurse who was taking his vitals.  And then he showed everyone who happened to come into his room.  When he got dressed in his hospital pajamas he asked if he could leave his socks on.  The answer was "yes."

The laser treatment went very well.  It was quick because the doc didn't do his neck, chest or ear.  She is done with those parts.  Yay!  He woke up from anesthesia just fine--no emergence delirium--and he didn't get sick.  Hooray!  Healing is much quicker this time and he was mostly pain free.  Yay!  And the biggest news--One more in May and then come back in a year.  Hooray!

Another funny story at the hospital.  We had to wait in the waiting room for an hour and a half! (not funny).  That has never happened before.  Usually its 10-15 minutes or less.  Anyway, there was a play house with a kitchen and play food.  So Cameron was pretending to cook and then served me food, which was breakfast.  He was very good to split everything evenly, even pretending to cut up some things so we could both have the same amount.  After we ate then he got into the car there (the kind you use your feet to move) and said, "Goodbye. I am going to work.  You wash the dishes."  I thought it was very funny.  But later, after he fixed lunch, went back to work, came home and fixed dinner, he told me that I don't have to wash the dishes at night because he does them at night.  Isn't that great?  A "hubby" who cooks breakfast, lunch, and dinner and does the dinner dishes at night.  Not bad.

Back to the Spidey socks--I think he wore them everyday for the next week.  He had shorts on one day with his sunglasses too.  couldn't resist the shot:

It's Spring Break!!

And I am so happy to say we are staying home!   I am still recovering from our Christmas vacation.  and I vow to never go on Christmas vacation again.  at least for now.  However, I know the kids had a great time with cousins over Christmas and that is what really matters. (right?)

Anyway, the kids have the week off from school and I have no idea what we are going to do, but I get a week off from making peanut butter sandwiches (at least in the morning)!  I used to make one sandwich for Janessa but this year it is 3 or 4 sandwiches for kids in the morning.  Because Cameron started school and needs one (creamy peanut butter and grape jelly), and Andy decided he never wants school lunch again, and sometimes Dustin and Brennen take lunches (but usually not on the same day).  That is 8 slices of bread per day.  We go through bread like crazy.  And peanut butter.  though sometimes Andy and Dustin take meat sandwiches.  And yes, I could have the kids make their sandwiches themselves but it is a lot less hassle for me to do it.  (Dustin is never ready on time to make his own anyway so I guess I spoil him).

so, this week maybe, just maybe I can sleep in a little bit.

I am sure it will be a week of video games and TV.  with some scooter and bike riding and trampoline jumping if the weather is nice.  some friends over.  and some fighting mixed in there.  and I am hoping to throw in at least one "field trip" somewhere.  But I haven't thought about it that much yet...

By next Monday I know I will be more than happy to get up early and make peanut butter sandwiches again, but for now, I am just excited to sleep in.

Snow Day

I think New Mexico is the only place you can have a snow day (school canceled) and then the snow is almost all melted by the time school would have gotten out!

I took the kids sledding around noon but they got pretty muddy as the snow was already melting away...(I just stayed in the car and read a book).

Growing Boys

B has grown a lot the last 8 or 9 months.  And during that time he apparently hasn't worn his scout shirt much.  He had a board of Review last week and when I saw him in his uniform shirt I wanted to laugh.  (maybe I did).  It was way little.  But he didn't care.  He is advancing to Life (I think thats what its called--the last one before Eagle) and he has an Eagle project planned and plans to have it done this summer.

On the other hand, D has never done an Eagle project and probably never will.  He turns 18 in May.  There were two different projects he has had in the works but they both fell through.  The first one wasn't entirely his fault but the 2nd one he just decided he didn't want to do it.  He has an idea for another one but I don't know if it will happen.  The motivation and drive just isn't there and he only has 3 months to get it done, including meeting with the district board a few times which only meets once per month.  D will do fine in life I am sure but he just wasn't born with much drive, unlike his younger brother who sometimes has too much ambition.  Eagle project aside, I am proud to say that D spoke in Stake Conference last weekend!  He did great (and it is something I hope I never have to do).

We found out that B needs glasses.  I have been surprised that none of my kids have needed glasses since I have horrible eyes and most of my siblings wear glasses also.  Well, last week B came home and said that he took an eye test at school.  The school had already called and told us we need to get his eyes checked.  Well B said that he can see just fine but the machine was all messed up. It was all blurry he said.  It was the machine, not his eyes.  Yesterday he had a physical because he wants to play on the tennis team at school.  So guess what the doctor said?  He needs to see the eye doctor.  I made an eye appointment for next week.  Yet he insists he can see just fine.  I told him he doesn't know what he can't see!