May 2022

May brought with it warmer yet temper-mental weather and a graduating senior. 

Owen was extra busy and finished up his track and tennis season. He also spent a lot of time sleeping. I'm surprised he didn't wear out his mattress. His tennis season started out strong and he won his first match against Mountain View. He played singles this year and did a great job. If he wants to do tennis again next year he'll be guaranteed a spot on Varsity. At his track meets he competed in the 800 and the mile. He loves to run, but he's never at the front of the pack. He wasn't able to beat his nemesis, but he was happy with his times and did great for trying to do 2 sports at the same time. 

Owen also got a job with some friends. He got a job doing housekeeping at the Grove Hotel downtown. He worked with his friend Emma and Clara. I was a little nervous about it at first, but Owen was working with friends and said it was a super easy job...which he loved. But after hearing some of his stories I don't know that I ever want to stay at a hotel again! Ewww!

Emmie created a piece of art to auction off at the YW ward fundraiser with the help of her art teacher. (Spoiler alert...her art piece sold. To her parents, because we couldn't part with it.) Emmie's works of art are slowly but surely filling up our home. Which I love.

We got a late snow this year and I snapped this picture one night while I was walking Leo during Emmie's soccer practice. I loved how we had green grass and snow covered mountains for a few days. 

Emmie ran track and did soccer this spring. However she only got to compete in 2 track meets. We had my grandpa's funeral during one track meet and she had a soccer game during the other. She ran hurdles and seemed to enjoy it. I'm guessing she'll do the same thing again next year.

End of year band concert for Emmie. 

John and I also let Ains and Owen stay home alone while we took Emmie to Idaho falls for a soccer tournament. And this was the only picture I took. I went on a walk one morning with another mom and snapped this picture. The tournament was so windy. SO windy. We lost horribly and spent hours in the wind. But the good news was that we stayed in a big and super fun house with several other soccer families and the girls all had a blast. 

I also attempted some yard work. This photo is proof that I am my father's daughter and can't seem to leave bushes and trees alone. My pruning efforts often end in messes like this. 

The good news is...somehow this bush grew back beautifully. So maybe my pruning efforts are actually more skilled than I realize.

And finally graduation. 

Ainsley graduated from seminary with 2 other kids from our ward. Ainsley was a bit of a lone wolf in our ward youth program. She was the only active senior girl and didn't hang out withe the only other senior boy. To be honest, she really didn't like going. But she did it...and now she get to move on to bigger and better things in college!

John's parent's were in town for Zach's mission farewell, so it was a nice treat to have them here. We went to his farewell that morning, Ainsley's graduation that afternoon, and then Zach's open house that night.

And then finally on May 27th graduation day came. And from what I can tell it was a success. Ainsley had to go to school that morning for a rehearsal with all of the seniors. Then she came home and had time to get ready for that night. 

The ceremony was at the Ford Center in Nampa and was pretty good for a graduation. The speakers did a good job and the ceremony was over in less than 2 hours. 

After graduation we all went to a Japanese steak house for dinner. Which is always fun because its a dinner and a show. 

Then we came home and Ainsley opened a few gifts and we watched a video that Owen and I made of her whole life. It was LONG! But super fun to watch. And after that Ainsley headed out with her friends to the Senior all night party. This year the kids went to Wahooz and had food and played all the games until about 4 in the morning. And with that...Ainsley's high-school journey came to an end. Which is completely bitter-sweet.