Preschool Graduation

Carlee completed her last year of preschool at Smart Little You with Miss Julene.  It was held in the library combined with all of her preschool classes and they did such a cute job.  Attending this graduation made it more apparent to me that we are really in a new phase of life with our children.  I have taken note of this over the past year as I have watched my children become more independent and as Joe and I have given them more responsibility and challenges.  If there is a need or desire, everyone can make some type of their own food, do their own laundry, handle bigger chores, and put themselves to bed (if they want to).  We don't carry diapers, toys, snacks, or blankets on a daily basis in a big bag on my shoulder or in the car (although I still keep baby wipes on hand).  Everybody can ride on almost every ride at Disneyland and can walk the entire thing for three days straight with little complaining.  And we have in-home babysitters that we take advantage of for more date nights than ever in our life (It is so fun! but is much to their chagrin sometimes).  Although these are great things, it makes me a bit sad to see my last one completing preschool.  It is definitely strange not to have another toddler following suit.  Carlee is my little shadow and best buddy.  She loves to run errands with me, help me with housework, and just "be with Mom".  I am going to miss her terribly as she heads off to Kindergarten in the fall but luckily I get her for half of the day.

 

Carlee led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance with a special speaking part. 

Miss Julene ranting and raving about Carlee's "responsible and spunky personality" and "natural tendency to lead the class".  (She was very polite in avoiding the word, bossy)

Carlee and Rex

He claims that he is going to marry her and is always willing to play the dad when they play house at school.  He's a cutie but a little shy, which is probably good for Carlee's "natural tendencies."

The three girls in the class--Carlee, Ava, and Ella

Congratulations, baby girl!  We are so proud of you and all you have learned this year.  

On to bigger and better things.  We love you!

Amazing Race: 4th Grade Edition

Katelyn was very lucky to have Mrs. Montgomery as her fourth grade teacher this year.  And she was doubly lucky that she had two of her best friends in the class.  Mrs. Montgomery organized an "Amazing Race" at Floyd Lamb State Park to help the children review that things that they had learned this year.  I got to go on the field trip and we had so much fun running around trying to beat the other teams in the class as well as the other 4th graders.  And Mrs. Montgomery announced that she is moving up to teach fifth grade and taking this class with her.  She begged for that to happen and worked her magic to keep these kids because they are an "exceptional class" that she had to take along.  Next year is going to be as wonderful as this one and we can't wait.

Riding on the bus with Mia and Katelyn

I was in charge of the Pink Team and we ended up getting 2nd place in the race.  Way to go, Pink!

(Katelyn, Malina, Jennessa, Jason, Logan, and Sam)

 Some of the boys were a little more interested in chasing the birds around the place.

Answering the question to get their next clue . . .

Eating lunch after the race

Mrs. Montgomery's Happy Racers

Aspen and Katelyn killing some time before loading the bus

These boys love to jump into the pictures with the girls.

Summer, Katelyn, and Mia

Pinewood Derby and Orchestra Concert

Jake attended his first Pinewood Derby this year and he was thrilled.  He drew out the design and wanted to work on it every night.   In true Stuart fashion, we procrastinated until 2 days before the race but we pulled it off and Jake was happy with his car.  Clark wanted to improve and restore his old derby car but wasn't able to race it due to his Orchestra concert the same night.  Joe and I tag-teamed for the activities with me watching the concert while he and the kids went to the Pinewood Derby.  Katelyn was my trusty photographer of the event while I took pics and videos of Clark with my phone.

Jake's car is the red one on the bottom of the picture with the "lightning strikes".

Jacob and his good friend, Carter

While Jake was competing in his first Pinewood Derby, Clark and I were at his final orchestra concert.  Clark did a great job and it was amazing to hear his improvement and playing from his first concert of just plucking the strings before learning to use the bow.  It was a great concert and his Orchestra teacher is fun, eccentric, and famous around Las Vegas.  The middle school's orchestra is one of the best in the state.

 The picture quality is really poor on these because I had to zoom in so closely to see Clark from where I was sitting.  But at least he is there playing away on his cello.

Mary Poppins

We got tickets to see Mary Poppins with a bunch of friends at the new Smith Center.  We ate dinner at BJ's Restaurant and then drove to the brand new cultural arts building.  It was absolutely gorgeous and our tickets were in the very top balcony.  We were really high up there but we could see everything down on the stage.  The play was amazing and so fun with tricks and the "magic" of Mary Poppins.  We loved every second of it.

Such cute girls:  Aliyah, Amberlie, Allison, Ellie, Lexi, Katelyn, Aspen, Sara

The moms ordered the Pazookie Platter and we downed it all.  It was delicious!

Stuarts, Allreds, Dustins, Keyes, Stevensons, Reeses

All the way on top!

We then went outside the Smith Center and looked outside at the lights of the Strip and took pictures of the city below.  The girls also called out and giggled at the valets running back and forth picking up cars for people.

Baseball Season 2012-Reds

During the springtime, sports start for our boys and games, practices, and batting cages 3-4 times a week on top of our regular daily schedule makes it really crazy in our household. 

This was our after-school weekly schedule from the beginning of March through the end of May:
Monday--Homework, instrument practicing, FHE
Tuesday--Dance, Homework, instrument practicing, Activity Days (every other week), Baseball game
Wednesday--Homework, guitar lessons, instrument practicing, YM/Scouts, batting cages
Thursday--Homework, instrument practicing, Hollywood Kids, Cub Scouts, Soccer Practice, Baseball Game
Friday--Piano lessons, occasional campouts/activities for Scouts, friend fun (late nights, parties)
Saturday--Soccer game, Baseball game, Birthday parties (almost every week), any extra activities

Needless to say, we were pretty busy since we also tried to fit in playdates here and there along with social events such as baby showers, birthday dinners, RS meetings, and work and church responsibilities.  There was a lot of changing of clothes in the car, doing homework on the go, grabbing food on the run for picnics at practices, extra washing of uniforms, loading gear in and out of the car, running back and forth all over town with 30 minute increments to the next destination, meeting halfway to swap children and cars for the next stop, and filling everyone's water bottles (Carlee was an excellent watergirl!).  Next year, Jake wants to try out for a more competitive soccer team so I think that Joe may have to quit his job so that he can help me taxi kids around!

Clark played baseball again this spring was on the Major League Reds Team.  He did a wonderful job and is getting better every year.  His coaches were great and he learned a lot and got some great tips on technique and how to better play the game.  Their team landed right in the middle of the pack as far as wins and losses but ended up taking 3rd place in the tournament.  We were excited that they did so well at the end but I have to admit that I was a bit relieved when they lost that last game.  It was a double elimination tournament and Clark had been playing every night without complaining.  But I was not looking forward to 2 more weeks of games in the Tournament of Champions if they had gone all the way!  We were all getting a little burned out.  And winding down to the end of the school year adds a lot more "extra" activities that we have to juggle as well.

But Clark had a great season and played well.  He had some pretty awesome catches, hits, and slides.  He is so happy when he does well and I love how excited he gets.  It is fun to watch.  The team moms put together a nice scrapbook and slideshow presentation of the kids on the team at their end-of-season party at CiCi's Pizza.  It was so nice and I love all the action shots of Clark.  He really enjoys playing baseball and looks forward to it every year.  Keep working hard and practicing, Clark!

 

Make it around those bases, Clark!

Signing scrapbooks at the end-of-season party