School Week 34

 I got to go to Damon's Book Fair in his class. He did an awesome book report, and the parents got to go in and hear the kids tell us about their report. Damon has learned a lot this year and I'm very proud of him for working so hard.

We finished another puzzle this week.

Wednesday was "Walk to School Day." Aubrey and Lucy walked Damon and Richmond home from school.

Richmond came over to play with Damon, and he asked if Lucy could stay and play too. I thought that was sweet that he wanted his sister to play, and was happy to have her stay. Those three walked back over to the school with me to pick up Tessa and McKay. Luckily the weather warmed up just in time for this day. That made it much more enjoyable. This has been a cold Spring!!

Paul received the Teacher of the Year Award this year. The PTA nominated him unanimously. :) 

I got to go to the award ceremony with him at Los Hermanos on Friday. I loved hearing all the great things Joe had to say about him when he presented the award, and also all the great things the PTA members had to say about him while we were eating lunch. He is very loved and respected in the THS community!! Here is what Joe wrote for the program:

"In an unprecedented pandemic year, Paul Barth has created an unprecedented level of service to teachers and students through the media center at THS. He has taken on a crucial role of accomplishing our school-wide vision goals by nurturing connection and well-being of teachers in multiple ways. Need a snack or a drink? Paul will deliver, on demand, on a silver tray with white gloves. Need a great read for personal inspiration or teacher development? Paul has developed a professional library for the adults in the building, and there is something for everyone. But, beyond these tangible efforts, Paul has created a safe space for teachers to just catch their breath in this crazy Covid year. He has also instituted "Get to Know You Tuesday" and "Feel Good Friday" where he digitally fosters connection amongst the staff and celebrates the good that is happening all over THS. And, he serves on multiple leadership teams where he genuinely helps all of THS stay focused on deep learning and well-being for students and staff. We are deeply grateful Paul is a T-Wolf."

I'm so proud of Paul, and so grateful when he is recognized for all the amazing and important things that he does for the students and staff at the school.

Rockwell invited some friends over Friday night for a campfire. Aiden, Ashton, and Logan came over and played for a while before we started dinner. Paul was working and so I made the fire myself. That's the first fire I've made by myself and I was proud (and relieved) when it was successful. :)

We roasted hot dogs and then made s'mores after. It was a beautiful night, and all the kids had a great time playing outside. I loved hearing Rockwell laugh and have so much fun with his friends!

Caitlyn had a tennis match at Timpanogos Saturday morning, so I walked over there and watched her play. She did awesome!! She played doubles, and her and her partner took 3rd. 

The kids and I met Al, Keith, Hallee, and Wyatt at Big Springs that afternoon. We said we were going to hike, but really it just turned into the kids climbing on, over and through everything in sight. We didn't cover much distance, but the kids sure loved it!

It was great to watch the kids have so much fun, and visit and laugh with Al and Keith while listening to the water and enjoying the beauty. Aren't they just the cutest?!

There's a concrete tunnel that the kids love to send sticks through and run over to the other side to watch them come out. This time they walked through the tunnel (without walking in the water) and thought that was awesome!!

When Damon came out of the tunnel, he slipped and fell in the water. It was shallow, but he fell all the way onto his back, and so he was soaked. He didn't like that at all.

I love that Al loves pictures as much as I do, and takes them of everyday, non-posed moments. She snapped a couple of me trying to comfort Damon, and also of Tessa showing me that she was bleeding at the same time I was trying to calm Damon down. The funniest/most frustrating part was Tessa also asking for a snack in the middle of all of this. There's always so many things, and so many emotions, a mom needs to take care of/deal with, all at the same time. Within a couple minutes, Damon is cold and wet and so sad, Tessa is bleeding and hungry, and Rockwell is disappointed that we have to leave since there are soaked clothes and bloody hands. Motherhood is such a fun, wonderful, and exhausting job! :)