We got so many artichokes from our garden this spring and I discovered a new way to prepare them: roasted in the oven with lemons and rosemary. Yum! One of them grew about as big as Gemma's head, and let me tell you, it was actually the most delicious artichoke I've had in my whole life. So. much. meat!
Hazel also took her AP Human Geography test this month. We won't get her score until July or something, but it feels good to no longer have that hanging over her head. She also won another poetry contest.
Excited about Japan, Jack made pork pot stickers for dinner. They were scrumptious! We are all craving more cuisine from him.
Jack had a handful of track meets. It was fun to go cheer him on. His favorite event seems to be the relay races.
We had an exciting opportunity to listen to the Young Women General President, Emily Belle Freeman, as she gave a regional youth devotional. Todd and I volunteered to drive youth from our ward because we didn't want to miss it. She was an engaging speaker and very inspirational. Everyone felt it was well worth our time. She spoke of living as a witness of Jesus Christ. We all got to meet her in the foyer of the building as well.
I was treated right for Mother's Day. Parfaits for breakfast, lasagna for dinner, fresh flowers and sweet cards filled with gratitude. Everyone played games with me and gave me back rubs. It was delightful.
My game night buddies and I went out for breakfast to celebrate Elaine's birthday. Then we went to the movie theater and watched The Fall Guy. Living it large while the kids are at school.
Jack was asked to help out a friend in orchestra and play the piano for a duet at their final concert. He sounded miles better on our piano at home than on the dinky keyboard they had there. Such a shame.
We went to Brentwood twice to pick cherries. So yum! We're so spoiled.
Todd and Jack attended a father/son campout at Manresa Beach. They came home exhausted.
Jack had the track championship meet. He ran well and had a good time with friends.
Todd got sporty and decided he needed to try the high jump and the long jump himself. The high school kids running the events were so confused: "Is this somebody's dad?" Todd knocked the high jump pole over, made a decent mark of 14 feet on the long jump, and got greedy going four or five times, ending with an injured foot - sprained toes and probably torn ligaments. He's been ice bathing and popping ibuprofen, elevating and sort of slowing down, but he won't go to see a doctor. He keeps forgetting he's injured and working it too hard, then regretting it at the end of the day.
Hazel had her final orchestra concert of the year downtown at the Bankhead Theater. It was cool to see her play in a nice venue, but lame that we had to buy tickets to come support her.
Todd is prepping his next big youth activity. I don't think it will be as elaborate as Survivor Night, but he did bulk order women's nylons for a supply, and couldn't resist trying them out. Oh, my. word.
Gemma researched the state of Oregon for a class assignment and made a state float. It seemed too daunting of an assignment at first, but I am so glad I stayed out of it and watched her rise to the challenge. She did a fantastic job on her own and was so proud of her final product.
Gemma has been playing violin in music class at school this year, although she found it excruciatingly show and feels like all they ever did was play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Thanksfully, she also had private lessons with Kirstan Hilton so she could really learn how to play. Anyway, 5th grade had a concert and it was fun for me to go and listen and support her.
Jack missed several days of school, home sick with a fever, nausea, and some overwhelming congestion. He never napped and was so blasted bored out of his mind, but was way too sick to attend school. He and I played lots of games, one of which was Battleship. I had to take a picture to show him after we were done that seven of his first eight guesses were only one space away from one of my ships. It was nuts!
Gemma had a piano recital and played one of her pieces without sheet music. It was her first time performing a memorized piece without backup and she was so proud of herself afterward. She can play her songs with her eyes closed at home, but it is another thing with the pressure of an audience behind you.
News articles were blasting one weekend about how if you were in the right place at the right time and had your phone camera on the right setting, you could see the Northern Lights all over the United States for some reason. Hazel was super excited about it and went out with friends trying to catch them, to no avail. She convinced us all to go out the next night as a family and try again. We stayed up until 11:30 even though the kids had school the next day, camping out by the open space here in Springtown. It was nice to sit and tell Jeffery Stories and contemplate things in the quiet night. We never did see the Northern Lights, but apparently, nobody saw much after Friday night, and they couldd only see it if they were looking through their phone cameras. That was a bit of a let-down, but this picture of Chris and Jodi still makes me jealous. They say the sky just looked black to the naked eye. Isn't that wild?
