Todd and I met with the elementary school principal and asked for Gemma to be moved to a different teacher. She had been coming home with too many reports of her teacher yelling and having a lack of classroom management. On top of some major disorganization we've experienced throughout the school year, that propelled Todd and me into action. We were pleased with how seriously Principal Angelo took our concerns, and we have been grateful for the positive differences we have seen in Gemma's new classroom. We only wish we had moved her sooner.
Jack continues to adore everything Asian. His latest obsession is boba, a drink made with little gelatinous balls you can suck up through a chubby straw. He invited Juno over to help him make a homemade batch, and then everyone was curious about a side-by-side comparison with a store bought type, so we headed over to Boba & More.
I was impressed with the shop. There was plenty of entertainment and fun decor - ping pong, air hockey, Pac Man, sidewalk chalk walls, and a side shop of K-Pop paraphernalia. The drink ... let's just say I'll give all my future boba to Jack.
Jack had his first piano recital since switching to Beth Tomlin. He did such a great job! I loved watching him sway on the piano bench, feeling the emotion in his pieces. He does a great job practicing consistently and working on the details of his music. His technique has improved quite a bit this year.
We went to a Piano Guys concert in San Jose. (Santa gave us the tickets.) It was a late night, but it was totally worth it. They were fun and the music was awesome.
We went to see Aunt Erika's new house in Alameda. We watched funny youtube videos,
"Activewear, activewear. buying activewear in my activewear."
"Work those thighs; sanitize!"
And everyone was enamored with Erika's Nicholas Cage reversible sequin pillow.
Todd took Gemma and Jack skiing while I worked on a Relief Society lesson I was asked to teach and Hazel had a social Saturday full of youth breakfast, a friends' birthday party, and a youth dance.
My lesson was on equal marriage partnerships, and I was excited for the opportunity to talk about Heavenly Mother and Heavenly Father giving us the best model to follow.
We went to see Juno's latest bunny batch.
We had a nice Valentine's Day. Todd even met me for lunch in the middle of his work day! Everyone gave each other love notes and seemed to treat each other especially well.
I then kickstarted what I hope to be 100 days of eating low carb. I am doing a terrific job of sacrificing bread and pasta. It is a lot harder for me to say no thanks to cookies. Overall, I'm eating lots better and feeling less puffy.
Jack has enjoyed being on the school volleyball team. He's made friends with several of the other boys, grown in confidence, and shown a lot of responsibility. We're glad he had the opportunity to try it out.
Jack is still putting his crocheting skills to good use. He made this darling koala for his music teacher and spearheaded a birthday poster-signing campaign, too.
We hosted the Turri's up at our cabin over President's Day weekend. Ollie got sick just before, so he stayed home with Jason, but we had Kalin up with Verona, Brady, and Carson. It was a wild time. I think we underestimated how untamed those kids are. The sun was out, so it was gorgeous. Hazel and Jack drove them on snowmobiles all around the neighborhood, and there was plenty of sledding to be had. I'm glad it was so easy to be outside for most of the visit.
After the Turri's left Monday morning, we took the opportunity to go for a family snowmobile ride up beyond Lake Alpine. It was a quiet, calming, restorative time to get us all back in balance after the Turri wildness.
Livermore High had an Expo Night. We got all sorts of questions answered about their programs and classes so we could determine what classes to register for Hazel for next year.
We had the George's up to the cabin the next weekend. The weather was far less cooperative - slippery roads and grey skies - but the company was easy to be around. The kids played constantly, Katie and I fit in several fun games, and Todd and Ryan had plenty to talk about.
The highlight may have been finding this massive sledding track someone else had laboriously created with snowshoes, and pulling the kids back up to the top again and again on sleds pulled by the snowmobiles.
There has been so. much. snow. this winter! This is the front of our cabin.
Hazel has been taking an art class through the community. This beauty is the first project she has brought home, acrylic on canvas. She has put in a lot of work practicing hands!
Gemma researched the Gabrielino tribe for a school report, and she made a tule grass skirt to present with her presentation. She was proud to be able to do it almost all independently.
My favorite tree down the trail is in blossom. It smells amazing! I love passing it. It makes me so happy.
