Block Party Battle

They had a 2v2 battle in Salt Lake on Saturday.  I was overwhelmed after a crazy May, but Wyatt really wanted to do it so we went.

Mehkai and Wyatt wanted to be partners. He is one of Wyatt's best friends at the studio.

Their toughest competition is always from Breakin Circles.  There were some other good kids there, but Breakin Circles always dominates.

  I love seeing Tarzan's big smile while he watches Wyatt.

Wyatt did great.

I love hearing them cheer each other on.

  I'm really glad we went, it's always such a fun atmosphere.  It was starting to rain when we found out that they didn't make it to the second round so Wyatt and I headed home. 

Hope of America Award and 6th Grade Graduation

Mrs. Norris emailed me to tell me that she selected Wyatt for the Hope of America Award and that Keith and I were invited to a special assembly to see him get the award.  They keep the awards a secret so they didn't want us to tell Wyatt.  I think he figured it out when he walked in and saw us there!

They had someone from the district and the principal there to hand out the awards.  "The Hope of America Award recognizes and encourages students who have demonstrated academic accomplishments, leadership and good character." Mrs. Norris said, "Wyatt is so deserving of this award."

They asked for a paragraph about Wyatt that they could read and then they had the kids guess who it was.

 

I wrote, "This student is very creative and loves to come up with new ways of doing things. This student likes to take things apart and see how they work.  This student is a hard worker and has big ideas and is willing to work hard to make them happen. This student has a really good memory and can tell you lots of random facts.  This student loves to hang out with friends and considers everyone a friend. This student is kind and compassionate and worries about other people and tries to cheer them up if they are down.  This student is hilarious and loves to laugh and have fun.  This student loves to play video games and watch YouTube videos.  This student loves to fish and ride bikes.  This student loves to try new things and always has a new obsession.  This student loves to break dance and is very good at it.  This student is awesome!"  After he read that, he asked the kids to guess and they all yelled out, "Wyatt!"

Wyatt was the second one to come up so he got to sit up there while the other kids were announced.

Keith had a convention in Salt Lake that week. It was the worst timing! He stayed in Salt Lake Monday and Tuesday night and he drove home Wednesday morning to see Wyatt get his award and then went back to the convention until it was time to come home for Caitlyn's graduation.  I hope my kids know how blessed they are to have a dad who cares so much about them and will go out of his way to be there for his kids.

Wyatt was surprised and happy to win this award.  I'm grateful that there are awards like this to recognize people who are out there doing good and making the world a better place.  Wyatt is such a good kid and does so many good things.  He is always willing to help out and is always looking for people who might need to be cheered up. 

They chose one boy and one girl from each of the sixth grade classes.

We are proud of you Wyatt!

Two days later we had sixth grade graduation.  I really like their principal. This is her first year as principal and I'm really happy with her.  She loves books and is always trying to get the kids excited about reading.  She read them a book at graduation, "The Power of Yet."  She focuses on a growth mindset and I love that.

I saw this sign in the hallway of the school.  It says, "30 things a standardized test does not measure." I love that! Kids have so much pressure on them and they are constantly being compared to other kids, they need to know that the only person you should compete with is yourself.  It's about personal improvement, nothing else.  I love that their school has a growth mindset culture. 

Mrs. Norris has been such a great teacher for Wyatt this year.  She knows Wyatt so well and you can tell she really cares about him. 

She gave out class awards and she gave Wyatt the award, "No Name Champion." Ha!  He never remembers to put his name on his paper. She was really good about helping to prepare the kids for middle school.  She did a great job of helping Wyatt improve while helping him feel good about himself.

They called each student up and gave them a certificate.

The PTA gave each 6th grader a lion, so they would remember that they will always be a Lakeview Lion. 

Wyatt was our first kid to go to Lakeview since Kindergarten.  We have been so happy with the school. I'm so grateful for the amazing staff that makes it such a great place for these kids!

Wyatt had a great group of friends in his class this year.  He has been hanging out with Shae, Parker, Kellen and Dallin a lot lately.  It is nice that he has so many boys nearby to play with. It is weird that Wyatt is finished with Elementary School. He has learned and grown so much.  He has gone from a shy kid who wanted to be home all the time to a social butterfly.  It's been so much fun to watch.

Graduation Day

Last Wednesday was Caitlyn's High School graduation.  They held it at UVU.  I remember when Caitlyn was little and 2023 sounded so far away.  The years have flown by even when the days and weeks seemed long sometimes. 

They took a senior photo an hour before the graduation.  Me, Keith and Cayden went and saved seats and Caitlyn was off with her friends getting ready for the ceremony. 

I remember dropping Caitlyn off at her first day of Kindergarten.  We watched her walk into her classroom and I stood outside the door for a long time.  Keith had to finally make me leave.  It was so weird to start that phase of life after having Caitlyn home with me all the time. I was so glad that Kindergarten was only half a day so we could still do fun activities when she got out of school. Caitlyn's anxiety hit hard in 1st grade and was really high through fourth grade.  She had to work so hard just to go to school and deal with her anxiety.  I think we were led to Diamond Ridge Elementary, it was a tender mercy for sure.  Her teachers were amazing and Dr. Prasad, the school psychologist, helped Caitlyn so much. Moving to Provo in the middle of 5th grade was really hard for Caitlyn, but again she persevered.  She is so resilient and so determined.  Caitlyn still struggles with anxiety and it has ebbed and flowed through out her time in school, but she is a fighter and she always pushed through it.  She pushed herself in ways that were so hard and learned how to focus on hard work instead of results.  She learned that she couldn't expect perfection, but could enjoy the feeling of giving it her all. 

All of these things were going through my mind as I watched Caitlyn walk across the stage.  How can we already be at this point?  I still remember my High School graduation so well. 

Caitlyn and Mrs. Thurston (the assistant principal who always helped her with her math) came up with a handshake to do on stage.  It was fun to see Caitlyn stop and hug a lot of the teachers.  It makes me so happy to see how much they all love Caitlyn.

It meant so much to Caitlyn that Amarie came to her graduation.

It was so nice of Mel and Amarie to drive out here to support Caitlyn.

Caitlyn loves grandma and grandpa and were so glad they came.

Caitlyn had a cord for graduating summa cum lade, avid cords and cord for taking CE classes.  The cheerleaders were selling leis when we got there so we bought one of those for Caitlyn. 

Keith and I took Caitlyn over early and Jonah picked the kids up from their classes and brought them to the graduation.  Caitlyn was happy to have them there.

Keith and I are so proud of Caitlyn and all of her accomplishments.  More than anything we are proud of the person she is.  We are proud of her for having strong values and living those values.  We are proud of her for being kind to everyone she meets and for looking for the good in life and those around her. It's bittersweet because we will miss her so much when she moves out, but we are so grateful and proud that is ready to move on and start the next chapter of her life. 

Before we left for the graduation Caitlyn told Hallee that she had a present for her.  Hallee is very sad about Caitlyn growing up and she does not want her to move out.  Caitlyn gave her this pillow that she could sleep with when Caitlyn moves out.  Caitlyn is so thoughtful and the best big sister!

I sure love this family of mine.  It was great to be together and celebrate Caitlyn.  It's hard to think that we are entering a new phase of life where we all won't live together anymore. 

Mrs. Hoffman came running out because she wanted a picture with Caitlyn.  She has been so good to her and Caitlyn is going to miss her so much. 

Caitlyn and Alexa. 

Caitlyn and Makenna. 

Cayden wrote a sweet post about Caitlyn and said she is the most kind, hardworking person he knows.  

After the graduation Jonah took the kids home and we took Caitlyn and Cayden out to dinner.  We were all starving because it was 9 PM by the time we finally got our food.  It was fun to have time with them to visit and relax after the busy day. 

Caitlyn went with Makenna to the grad night party later that night It was at Classic Skating.  Caitlyn kept debating, but decided she would rather regret going then regret not going.  She said they jumped in the bounce houses and skated.  They stayed for a few hours and then they were ready to go home.  Caitlyn said she was glad she went.  She was ready for bed after that, she had to be up that morning at 5:30 AM for graduation rehearsal.  That was a long day for those kids!

Life Lately

Hallee loves going to Tessa's house.  They had fun having a tea party on the deck.

Tiff got this cute picture of Damon showing Caitlyn his birthday card.  It's going to be so sad when Caitlyn isn't here to go to grandma's with us.

Jonah has been having a great time hanging out with his friends every day after school now that soccer is over.  I love seeing the pictures on his phone.  He said they found old costumes at James house so of course they put them on and took a picture, ha!

Caitlyn found these gems on her phone after Stake Conference. 

Caitlyn and Cayden hang out here and watch movies a lot.  

Caitlyn was a bridesmaid in Ashlyn's wedding on Saturday.  The wedding was at This is the Place park. Cayden went with her and they were up there all day helping with the wedding and then enjoying the reception.  Caitlyn wasn't excited about this dress, but Ashlyn's mom made some adjustments and it looked great on her.  This picture is so cute!

Caitlyn looked so pretty.   

I think they enjoyed the day and enjoyed hanging out with their friends from work.

Caitlyn and I went and watched Amarie's last recital.  It is emotional to watch these girls do things for the last time.  Amarie is an amazing dancer and I have loved watching her over the years.

Lindy came over on Sunday.  We love it when she comes over. Me and Hallee had fun playing games with her and Hallee loved making dessert with her.

At the seminary graduation I was telling dad about picking up Jonah earlier that week. Jonah asked me to pick him up after his student government retreat.  I drove over to the school and waited for a while before he came out. I told him that he should be waiting when he asks someone to pick him up.  He said, "Sorry mom all the ladies wanted me to sign their yearbooks, I can't help it that I'm such a babe slayer."  After the graduation dad went up to Jonah and told him that he is a babe slayer too.  He said all the old ladies are after him, ha! I had to snap a picture of my dad, the babe slayer.