Gettysburg

The 8th graders at Powell Middle School do a reenactment of the Gettysburg battle every spring.  We have been in Powell for 21 years and I have never taken the time to stop and watch.  I guess we have never had an 8th grader so I didn't know when they were doing it.  This year I finally got to go and watch because Emma was a Confederate soldier.  I love history and it was amazing to watch the kids portray the Battle of Gettysburg.  It brought tears to my eyes to watch them and hear the story about the battle.  The kids had to build cannons to use and they really worked.  They fired tennis balls at the the other side.  Some kids actually got hit.  Emma and a group from her class built a cannon, but it blew up before the battle.  I am so excited to see some of the Civil War sites when we spend the next year living in Virginia.

Here is the reenactment in pictures:

The Confederate Army ready to march

Emma marching off to battle

Cannons made by the students

Graduation!

Well we officially have another high school graduate, actually we have for a couple of weeks.  Julia graduated from Wyoming Connections Academy on May 16th.  Neil, Julia, Emma and I went to Casper for Julia's graduation.  It was fun to be there and support Julia.  She didn't want me to take too many pictures, actually I don't think she wanted me to take any pictures.  I did get a few pictures.  There were a couple of boys who graduated in Julia's class, but only the girls came for the ceremony. It was kind of funny to have only girls there. Julia did a great job in high school.  She had great teachers that loved her and helped.  She will always remember McCoy and be grateful for her influence.  We are proud of her and the fine young lady she has grown up to be.  We love you, Julia!

Photo opportunity before graduation

Julia and her favorite teacher, Ms. McCoy. Ms. McCoy taught all of Julia's English classes and really taught her to be a great writer.

Senior Pictures

I really wanted to do Julia's senior pictures early enough to have graduation announcements ready to send out. She was in the middle of trying to get school done and didn't really want to do pictures.  I asked a couple of times and then decided to just wait until she was done.  We went and did pictures last week. Julia is a beautiful young lady with an amazing smile!  I love some of the pictures! I think Julia was happy with some of them and that counts for more.  I had a good time taking them for her.  Graduation announcements are ordered and will be sent out soon.

 

Joshua and Lydia wanted in the pictures too

A busy Preschool week

Joshua and Lydia were supposed to go on a field trip with their preschool last week.  The weather was miserable that day so it was rescheduled to this week.  We went to the George dairy farm on Tuesday (May 12th).  It was a new experience for all of us.  I don't think I had ever seen a cow milked before.  It was cool to watch.  Lydia held her nose the whole time we were in the milking barn.  Joshua didn't want to get too close to the cows.  He enjoyed watching though.  The kids had the opportunity to feed the baby calves a bottle.  I helped Lydia and she loved it.  Joshua was being independent and was looking at the baby cows by himself.  By the time I asked him if he liked feeding the baby cows he told me he hadn't gotten to and the bottles were all gone. I felt bad that he missed out on the experience and I didn't watch out for him better.  My friend, Heidi George, lives on the farm and she said he could come back another time and feed the babies a bottle.  It was fun to share this experience with Joshua and Lydia.

Thursday was the last day of preschool this year.  I have loved going to preschool with Joshua and Lydia.  It has been lots of fun.  Miss Holly had promised Lydia that they could have a pajama day at preschool so Thursday was a pajama party and graduation.  Miss Holly called each child across the outdoor stage and gave them a diploma and bubbles.  They made cute graduation treats and played outside.  It was an emotional day for Miss Holly because she is retiring this year.  She was amazing with the children. Joshua and Lydia sure loved her.  What a great preschool year!

Home Improvement Project 2015

When we turned the garage into a family room and storage room about 5 years ago we gained lots of storage space.  The shelves in that storage room are really high and we didn't have a great system to get to the top shelves so I tried not to use them all the time.  I would have to get someone to climb to the top of the shelves and then hand them what I needed put up.  It didn't work perfectly.  We had a small step ladder, but it took up floor space and wasn't high enough.  I have always loved the library sliding ladders like in Beauty and the Beast so I started looking online to see what I could come up with.  I finally found an idea that I thought could work so I talked to Neil about it.  We bought some pipe and attached to the shelves at the top all around the room.  Neil built a ladder and put rollers on the bottom and hooks on the top.  I can move the ladder any where in the room.  It stores without taking up much space at all.  It is perfect and I love it!  Here are a few pictures so you can have an idea of how it works.

20!!

I can't believe Bethany turned 20 on Thursday!  It was a busy, but fun day.  We went clogging and then Bethany came home for a Mexican buffet for dinner.  We made chicken enchiladas, chicken taquitos, chicken fajitas, and burritos to choose from.  It was a yummy dinner. After dinner we went to Dallin's soccer game.  Dallin's team won 7-0.  It was the last game of the year and the first game that Bethany got to come to.  After the game we came home and let Bethany open presents and ate cake.  We made a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and Minnie Mouse on the top.  Lydia helped decorate the sides with red, white and pink M&Ms.  It was easy and cute.

Bethany received things for a mission, which she hopefully will be serving later this year.  She also got a tee shirt that I have been very excited to give her.  She likes creative shirts.  I found one that is actually printed with words from the book and makes a picture.  I think she liked it.  We gave her some scarves because she likes to wear scarves and two skirts.  I am grateful for Bethany and her easy going nature.  She is always willing to jump in and help.  Her younger siblings really love to have her home and she is so good to give them love.  She is a natural nurturer.  Love you, Beth! May 20 be a great year for you!!

Tennis, anyone?

Emma has been playing spring tennis on the Middle School team.  She loves to be involved with her friends and this is a good way to get exercise and be with friends. Emma's friend, Aspen, is playing and they like to be partners. She doesn't love tennis like she loves volleyball, but she is giving it a try.  I didn't get any really good pictures, but here are a few pictures from her match last week.  I am glad she likes to be involved and is willing to try new things.  I love to watch Emma play!

Soccer!

Dallin loves to be involved with activities and using his energy.  He wanted to play soccer this spring.  He is really good at getting after the ball. He and his friend, Adam, have had fun playing together.  Last week Dallin played really hard and scored a goal for his team.  I love watching him play soccer!

Parkside Marathon 2015

All of the elementary schools here do a really cool program to help the children stay active and be healthy.  The children run laps around the school grounds throughout the year.  They have to run a certain number of laps to qualify to finish the marathon at a celebration at the end of the year.  MaryAnne and Dallin each qualified to run this year.  On Friday (May 1st) the school held their marathon celebration. Every student in MaryAnne and Dallin's classes qualified to run. I loved taking Joshua and Lydia to watch Dallin and MaryAnne run.  I planned ahead and took treats to keep them happy and occupied, but we left them in the car.  Joshua and Lydia did well without the treats and liked watching the runners. I always get emotional when I watch our children participate in activities. It was neat to watch them run! MaryAnne looked so happy every time she came around the track and Dallin looked determined to get it done fast.  It is a blessing to get to cheer our children on as they learn to run the marathon of life.

Priest and Laurel Prom 2015

Princess Emily and Princess Julia

Julia and Matthew ready for Prom

The group from our ward visiting before dinner

The youth from our ward at the dance

I think that it is a really great idea that our Stake does a Priest Laurel Prom. I love to see the youth all dressed up and ready for the occasion.  I love to look at the hairstyles and the pretty dresses.  I talked Neil into going for the second year in a row.  It was on a busy Saturday.  Neil had been in Laramie at a conference.  He met us at the dinner.  I drove the youth from our ward over with Sister Graham.  Matthew had a track meet in Sheridan.  We didn't think he would get home in time to go so Emma and I drove to Sheridan to bring him home.  It was a miserable day for a track meet, cold and rainy.  We watched him run the mile and then headed for home.  We got home about 4:30 and then had to get ready and be to the church at 6:00 to go to the Prom.  I thought Matthew looked very handsome in his new suit.  Julia looked beautiful.  I don't think everyone else from our family had  a great time at the prom, but I loved being there.    Matthew had had a long day and was pretty worn out that night.  It might have been a better plan for him to just stay at the track meet.  I was glad he asked Emily  Clark.  It worked out well, she and Julia love to spend time together.