M's 1st Graduation of the Week

Our children are DONE WITH SEMINARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, after 16 straight years of making sure that one or sometimes two children made it to the church at 6 am every day before high school, we are DONE.
Michael attended the graduation ceremony last night at the stake center. It was one hour long and then it was all over.
I am both excited and a bit melancholy all at once.

I did catch an issue when looking at the diploma just this am. Apparently, Michael didn't have to even wake up early this year. It states that he graduated last year, 2009, so I'm not real sure why he had to be sleep deprived this year as well.

My two oldest siblings who graduated high school in '67 and '71 honestly did get to graduate after going for 3 years. Most people at the time didn't even think of going their senior year. By the time Tom, Vicki (me), and Camille came along in '73, '76, & '77 respectively, seminary requirements had switched and we had to go all 4 years.

Let me explain seminary a bit, if anyone reading this doesn't have a clue what I'm talking about.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we have a high school course of study which we call seminary.  In the 4 years of HS, the curriculum takes you through:
1. Old Testament
2. New Testament
3. Book of Mormon
4. Church History (including modern revelation and doctrine)

This course is taught by volunteers, and attended by kids that are in high school. During the 16 years that my children have been attending, I woke up most mornings with them. ( I'd say probably less mornings as each became older.)  For 4 of the years I taught the class myself.  The first year teaching, Kathryn was a senior, the next 2 years I taught Stephanie's jr. and sr. class and the 4th year Michael was a freshman. That last year was the only year that I taught all 4 classes of kids together, but since then that is how they've done it. Our numbers had just dwindled down too few to warrant having to split the kids into a younger and older class.
When our two oldest boys were preschoolers, the Hubby taught early morning seminary in Oregon, to the high schoolers in Clackamas Ward.  We, as a family, have been involved for many years in this great program.
Seriously, how many high school kids relish waking up an extra hour and a half earlier than their peers, so they can go do "Bible Study?" I really had few complaints from my kids. David was probably the most negative about going every morning, but he still did it without moaning too greatly. He just compensated by sleeping during Math class the whole way through high school.

Seminary has been a blessing in our lives. It teaches teenagers that mind over matter is doable, that there is someone (their teacher) who cares about them and their progress towards knowledge of the Gospel. Some teachers are favorites, loving and nurturing the young minds, while others help my children figure out how to get along with variety of personalities. Last night one of Michael's teachers wouldn't even comment on him as a person, and I thought it was too bad that she didn't allow herself to get to know this great kid of mine. Children in this great program learn their minds can memorize scriptures, grasp gospel messages, and that they can be an example to all their peers. They learn and gain understanding about controversial as well as obvious Gospel truths.

I think the kids in Utah and other more Mormon populated areas lose out on the sacrifice that it takes to go to early morning seminary. We moved to NorCal just as Jonathan was entering high school and therefore seminary.  He would have had "release time" seminary during the class day in his Oregon school, but that was not to be here in Saratoga Stake.
I am so glad that my children have all had the opportunity, as I did, to learn and gain testimonies of the gospel through seminary.

Good Job Michael, (and all your siblings). You guys are awesome, and we are proud to have you as our children.

Whoo! Whoo!

I never beat the Hubby out of bed in the morning. It is just something I'm not competitive about.
"Knock yourself out Sweety, I don't have to be first here," is my standing motto.

Well I thought I did just that yesterday. I got up, leaving him soundly sleeping, and I went into the sewing room to start another project, then when I got to a stopping place, so I took off down to the high school to drop off Michael's Memory Board, because today is when we vie for placement of our kids posters for the grad week coming up.
(Believe me, I will do a post on the memory boards in the near future.)

When I arrived back home, the Hubby and Michael were both up eating, and that's when I found out the truth. I had not beat him up at all. He had been awake from 2:15 until about 6:00 am. He had accomplished all sorts of things and then was able to go back to sleep which is a rarety.

My accomplishments weren't so great after all, but I want to show the cute little shirt I made Ells.

Cute little owl fabric, and one of my favorite sewing tools built right into the machine.

The rolled hem foot just turns the fabric under twice so no raw edges are showing and then the needle comes along and seals the deal. Makes for a perfect edge. I just love it.

I also used another tool that I haven't used since high school. Elastic thread. I used it 35 years ago for tube tops for Camille and me.  
This time around, I got this cute pattern "Claire" by Sandi Henderson of Portabellopixie Patterns.

...and it called for "shirring" with the elastic thread as the important tool.

Turned out so good. I'm gonna remember this in the future.

Got the pattern by ordering from this store.  But you can also order it direct from the designer .
Such cute stuff.

I failed to get a picture of Ells in the finished product. I'll get one my DD took of her sleeping in it off my phone.

.....
There we go. Kinda bunched up, but you can see how the shirring works more or less.  When I put it on her, she marched right out to show her parentals.

Pretty good for a 3 hour morning.

Cal Hi Sports Banquet

We were invited to the EA Sports Headquarters for the Cal Hi Awards Banquet last week.
Michael had won a "Play of the Week" award during the year and they were recognizing him along with other high school athletes.
Their facilities were beautiful and it was quite an honor to be recognized by the sponsors of this weekly TV show.
The main facility was set up with various video games and the kids seemed to enjoy just checking all the new games and competition out.
Then we had a nice dinner in the huge gym, followed by awards in the auditorium.

They had a huge movie screen for the audience to see all the plays and stories, as well as 2 or 3 other screens for the kids on stage to see while their backs are to the large screen.

Here is a picture of the screen as they started honoring Michael.

....and a still shot of the video in progress.
The Hubby is always a good sport to bring along his camera and miss seeing things with his real eyes.

The play that won for Michael, was the winning shot against Palo Alto when he scored a three pointer at the buzzer to win by 1. Other athletes had great shots, runs, hits, catches highlighted as well.
We heard from pro sports personalities, stories about high school students that have difficult circumstances, saw some of these kids get awarded scholarship money, and enjoyed 4 other kids from LG who also got awards.

This is a great venue to see and applaud others who share the same interest and love of their games in a non competitive setting. Cal Hi Sports is a one of a kind program that shows of the high school player.
We have watched it for years, and even have it on DVR so we can zoom to the games and events that we want to see each week.

Congratulations, and what a fun ride you have given us Michael.

Last Prom at LG

Michael asked his girl to the Prom by posting this

outside her bedroom window so she could see and not read until going outside to get.
Once she brought it in, she found that it really doesn't ask anything, but is rather a menagerie of random statements.
So, then later when she went out the door to come have breakfast at our house, she stumbled upon two rocks and this note.

On the rocks were written her possible answers. A cute tiny rock with a "yes" painted on, and a large slightly immovable stepping stone with "no" painted on it. She was to pick up the correct answer and bring it to him.
Pretty cute, eh?


Then the day of prom came. I got to fix up her hair in an updo. I was a little reluctant, because I wanted her to be able to state her opinion without the fear of making me feel bad and being uncomfortable.

I recruited my DD Kathryn for the liaison and my other DD Stephanie had showed up a couple evenings before, so we had a party in my bathroom while doing the prom goers hair. We even used a "bumpit" for effect. That was the most fun of all.  There is a picture on Stephanie's facebook of it, I'll try to get it off.

................Oh lookie, lookie I did it!!!

Woo Hoo, quite the picture of the use of "bumpit's" in American culture.

She wanted it loose and curly instead of neat and tight. Turned out pretty and looked great with her flowing dress. I was worried that it wouldn't stay in, but apparently she didn't have any of it fall out until she took it down the next morning.

They looked really cute together as usual. Michael in his free tux from "Men's Wearhouse". (Thanks David - you are a nice brother), and matching her purply dress with his vest and tie.

Handsome kids.
All the kids looked pretty fancy in their prom garb. It is amazing how sophisticated they all look. Really ready for the red carpet.

Can you say, "over the top?"

Childhood friends abounded throughout the great picture taking yard.  There were about 70 kids in the group that gathered here. Thanks, Kevin.

Teammates, and playmates throughout the years, with their dates and parents.
Starting to grow up?

Surprise

Last evening I answered to door to a couple of Stephanie's college volleyball teammates that we were expecting. They had driven to the bay area all the way from Utah, to enjoy a play and have fun in San Francisco.
As I was talking to them and inviting them into my house, my Stephanie appeared in the family room from the other door and said "hello".  So fun that she came on my birthday weekend.
Kathryn was at the house for the afternoon and she soon gave me an invitation for an afternoon tea, which was today.

She had made up this cute little invite and we were all excited to go with all the little girls as well as the more mature ones.

So here we were today at lunch  tea.

Lena stirring her watermelon tea, as she prepares for a fine peanut butter/jam crumpet, and tiny cheese pizza.

Lexy was trying to be patient as the tea was served. "Where is our food?"
They all looked so cute in fancy dresses. Aunt Stephanie had purchased little hairband/hats for everyone. They had feathers and netting and were black except for mine which was white and fluffy.

All sorts of beads pearls around our necks were also part of our attire.

All my girls look like they are rather enjoying themselves. I think everyone likes to dress up if given the chance and excuse.

Very cute set of girls outside the shop.
Thanks for a wonderful afternoon and yummy lunch.

Times Past

When Michael was in 5th grade, he rode his bicycle to school every day save maybe 5 days for miserable weather.  It became a mantle of honor for him and his band of friends.
Two other Michael's who live in the adjacent neighborhood would start out from their houses and drop by our house on the beginning of the trek. It was not just dropping by in my book, because they had to ride up our long, arduous hill before arriving on our doorstep. (or garage step if you are into technicalities


Stephanie's volleyball coach, Shelby, once asked me to tell her the 3 names of the boys so she would be able to call them by name as they went past her employers home upon her arrival each day. I said, "Michael," and she replied that she remembered His name, but wanted to know the other cute kids names. "Michael," was my final answer. "All three of them are Michael, and so it seems like you are pretty safe using it."


They would then travel into the neighborhoods on the way to school, picking up more 5th grade boys along the way. By the time they arrived at their destination of Daves Ave., they had accumulated up to 5 Michael's, or Mike's, or Mikey's, as well as about 6 other various named 10 -11 year olds.


These cute boys are now on the verge of graduation from high school.
I just spent an hour looking for an old picture of them riding their bikes. That is all the time I allotted myself this morning, and I was unable to locate that snapshot in time.


I did take a pix, this am before my Michael left on his bicycle yet again. He wasn't traveling with the big pack, although I think they should figure out a day where they all do it again in the next couple weeks, but he and at least one other friend thought they'd go back in time and ride their bikes to school today.

I used to make him wear a helmet, but now that he is 18 I guess I have to let him make his own, albeit sometimes poor, decisions.
Have a fun day!!

Family is Awesome

We had a nice little visit from our oldest niece (we keep bringing that up, don't we?) on my side over the weekend.
KM is such an even and fun girl to be around. She has grown into a good mother of 4 and is just plain adorable. I'm sure her little people missed her, but it was probably a good thing for her to be able to enjoy a weekend with "the girl(s)." I think most mom's need a little rejuvination once in a while.
She brought a nice friend for a visit to the magical city of San Fran, and they were able to stay with us. "Wicked" was the entertainment of the night on Friday after they enjoyed the city during the day. On Saturday they went to the beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. That is just over the mountain from our cute little town, and easy to get to for a nice afternoon.
They brought us this

from Gayles Bakery in Capitola. YUMMY.
That bakery has such a beautiful assortment of amazing treats. They also serve up a mean breakfast and lunch for your eating pleasure.

Thanks, Kel. You've grown into a beautiful woman.