Some Fun Photos!

Happy Happy Birthday Chuck and Hannah!

Chuck and Hannah's birthday was on Memorial Day this year.  Jonathan, Kami and their kids were in town making the day more fun.  We had mac and cheese with a side of beets for Hannah's birthday dinner on Sunday (per her request).  And we had a BBQ on Memorial Day.  Chuck's birthday present was going on a 4 day/3 night backpacking trip with some friends; no kids and no wives.   They went to Hannah Hot Springs in the Blue Primitive Area in Eastern Arizona.  He said the trip was "perfect". 

We had a swim party for Hannah at Charity's community pool.  What better way to spend the day when it's 115 degrees!  Needless to say, we had the pool to ourselves.  

Raygan, Rylee, Natalie, Audrey, Jackson, Layla, Madelyn, Pyper and Ginger

Hannah hasn't changed much in the last year.  She is still a very enigmatic child.  She can still be found doing cartwheels, handstands, and headstands wherever she can find space.  She started taking dance in January and LOVES it.  So she can often be found dancing around the house.  Her favorite time to show me her skills is when I am trying to talk to another adult or I'm fixing dinner.  She also likes to make up dances to her favorite songs.  And she also likes to write songs.  She needs constant reminders to practice her piano, but it pays off when she does practice because she is getting quite good.  Hannah has a fear of kidnappers and murderers.  So, in October last year after I became worn out from taking her back to her bed at night, she began sleeping on our floor.  She would always start out in her bed, but would make her way into our room during the night.  After some time, she finally stopped asking me to help her settle down on the floor.  That went on for about 5 months or so until were sick of tip toeing around in the morning.  So she started sleeping on the floor in the boy's room.  They soon tired of her tormenting them so I told her she had to sleep in her bed all night from then on.  The first couple nights I laid with her until she fell asleep and had to take her back to bed and lay with her until she fell back asleep.  But after a couple nights, she was doing fine.  We can't go to bed until she is asleep and I still have to take her back to bed occasionally and sometimes I'll wake up to her in our room,  But for the most part she is sleeping in her bed all night.  As she should be at 9 years old! Hannah plays well on her own and doesn't mind helping pick up.  In fact, she will often clean and organize her room with no encouragement.  She has grown quite found of antagonizing her brothers.  That is my biggest source of frustration with Hannah.  But overall, we enjoy having her around and will probably keep her for another year.  At her 9 year old well check, Hannah weighed 54 pounds and was 4 feet 1 and 1/2 inches tall.

In the Spirit of Dance

Hannah started a combo dance class (ballet, tap, jazz) class in January at Dance 101.  And she loves it! They had a big recital at the end of the year.  Hannah's class danced ballet and jazz.  She is one of the better ones in her class.  And I am not saying that because she is my daughter.  She has good form and rhythm.  That can't be said for all.

Bikes, Bikes and more Bikes

Here are all the bikes that got us to and from school during the year (with the exception of Chuck's bike).  I started on my green road bike and ended the year on my green cruiser.  Hannah started on a small blue bike (a hand-me-down from Cameron) and finished the year on a cruiser, Christian started on a new red bike (because Hannah wasn't ready to give up the blue one even though it was too small for her) and finished the year on Cameron's black bike that he started the year on but out grew.   Christian was very excited to have a bike with gears.   Cameron finished the year on a very nice brand new mountain bike.  I'm not sure that there was a commute where I was riding that someone, usually Christian, did not cry.  In addition to the crying, there was bickering, arguing, fighting, name calling, etc.  Taking the kids to school and/or picking them up was always by far the worst part of my day.  Obviously for the already stated reasons, but also because I worried about crashing and getting hit by cars.  But the kids are very aware on their bikes and know the rules of the ride.  One might ask why we rode bikes and the answer is not riding would have been lazy.  And Royaltys are NOT lazy!

Good Bye to 3rd Grade!

Hannah had a "fabtastic" year in school.  Her teacher, Mrs. Paul, was very nice and brought the kids treats.  Hannah enjoyed art and math.  Art is not offered as a special, so when they have art, the classroom teachers teach.  Hannah enjoys and excels at math but she really enjoys reading and writing.  She would quite often write her own stories.  She made good friends and would spend her time at recess making up songs and dances with them.  Hannah was really impressed with the 4th and 5th grade choir and is very excited to be in the choir next year.  Just like her brothers,  Hannah is very well behaved at school and we never got anything but good reports.  Hannah is a hard worker and we are so pleased she enjoyed the new school.

Farewell to 5th Grade (and Elementary School)

Cameron had a great year in 5th grade!  He said his teacher, Mrs. Light, has been his favorite teacher so far.  He made good friends and had lots of fun playing football before school and at recess. Cameron, who used to complain every day about going to school, rarely complained this past year. He ended the year on the Principal's Honor Roll, which means he had straight A's the whole year. And he was also awarded the Outstanding Citizen Award, which means he had stellar behavior all year long as well.  Cameron played flute in the band and was in the PACE program (the gifted program).  He enjoyed band but did not like to practice.  And the band director had little to no expectations of the kids, so he rarely practiced.  He REALLY enjoyed his time in PACE.  He learned to code and studied ancient civilizations.  Cameron excelled in math and was able to make A's in reading and writing even though he hates those subjects.  Thankfully he was not graded on his spelling.  There is still a lot of work to be done there.  The only thing Cameron really complained about was Reading Buddies.  The 5th graders read with the Kinders once a week.  Cameron said his buddy never listened and lived in la-la land.  Sounds like my life!  Although Cameron really enjoyed his 5th grade year and had great experiences, he is ready to move on and up to Middle School.  Yikes! We are so happy that Cameron was happy during his 5th grade year and we wish him the best in Middle School.

Aloha to Kindergarten!

Christian had an amazing year in Kindergarten.  He really enjoyed his teacher, Mrs. Vargas.  And she really enjoyed him.  Christian was the model student!  He worked hard and was always well behaved.  He also really liked the principals.  He made lots of good friends and had many great experiences.  And he learned so much, even how to read.  But he liked math more and can count to 200.  He liked learning about dinosaurs and the ocean the most.  And of course he liked recess.  Christian rarely complained about going to school.  If he did, it was just because he was tired. Kindergarten is hard work nowadays.  We are so proud of Christian and his success!

C's two best buddies; Trex and Jack