So This Is Happening...

 

Last Day of School!

 It's always fun to go through all the books we  studied this year. It was a really great year studying world history. We had some wonderful read alouds and learned a lot. Man, it was simply another awesome year. What a blessing to learn along with these kids!

Audra was ecstatic for finals to be over and for summer vacation to begin! She rocked it though, and got straight As! She studied so hard and was particularly nervous for Bio and Geometry, but she did awesome. We are so proud of her! Audra wishes she was still homeschooling, but she does love band and some of her other classes, so for right now it's still a good fit for her. Now hopefully she can have a relaxing summer before it all starts again.

Sew Day

 With a foot of snow outside, we hung out inside and did some sewing. Camille finished her sloth for fair, Claire worked on an apron and Audra worked on a skirt, both for trek.

Camille's Band

You can barely see her, but if you squint, Camille is in the back row at her band concert. When Ben got sick, she immediately burst into tears, fearing she wouldn't be able to go to her concert. Thankfully, she tested negative. She has very much enjoyed playing the saxophone this year, and she is looking forward to fall when she gets to start again. 

Audra's 15th!

 In Birthday, Part 2, we celebrated Audra today!

This was the first time that someone has had actual school on their Birthday- and a VERY early morning, at that.

I decided to make her overnight French toast for breakfast. I made the French toast last night, and then woke up at 5:40 to put it in the oven. If you know me, you know mornings are not my thing. This was pure love. Even though Audra loved it, she was still bummed she had to go to school.

After school she opened presents. Camille made her a scarf. And Claire and Camille bought her an Hunger Games bracelet, which she loves.

Ben and I got her a chair for her desk. She had been using a folding chair which was awful, so she is much happier with this chair.

She chose a restaurant to go to- Gunter Toody's. This is a 50's restaurant, and she went there with the cast of Grease and wanted her sisters to enjoy it, too.

Ben couldn't go because he tested positive for the Great Unpleasant. The rest of us tested negative, so we went.

It was so much fun celebrating her Birthday!

Here's some quick Audra facts:

-Purple is still her favorite color

-Band is, without a doubt, her absolute favorite thing in the entire world and the only thing that makes school bearable

-She asked on her very first date today (a nice young man named Royal Harness invited her to go to the mall). She had to tell him no, though, since it was just her 15th and not her 16th Birthday.

-To know her is to love her. She is still the absolute sweetest person on the planet

-She is still a morning person, and doesn't do well when she needs to stay up after 10

-She gets nervous, but powers through. She is willing to take risks, and it's so impressive.

-School has been hard. She wishes she still homeschooled. Part of me wishes she did, too. But it's time for her to spread her wings, even though it hurts a little bit. And, oh, how it hurts!

-She has a very strong testimony. Seminary has taught her a lot. First semester was terrible with an awful class with a ton of mean girls. But second semester we switched her classes and it was a million times better. But, even when first semester was terrible, she told me, "I just focus on the Savior and it's OK." What more could I want from her? She knew what the most important thing was. But once we switched, it was a million times better.

-She is thriving in piano. Everything she does she does great

-She still loves to read, even though it's hard because she doesn't have a lot of time to read

-She's so adventurous. I want to travel Europe with her- she is truly the perfect travel companion as she is willing to try anything.

Camille Enters the Double Digits Club!

 Happy Birthday to our absolute favorite 10 year old!

Claire was super sweet and woke up early to make her waffles for breakfast. And she was spoiled all throughout the day. Claire and Audra bought her dangly earrings, Ben and I bought her a chair for her room that she wanted. Later we went to the Damstedt's where Beth was very sweet and made her a special dinner of pulled pork sandwiches. They also spoiled her with gifts. She sure is loved!

This is her trying to eat the cake because it looks so yummy:

Here's Camille as she enters the double digit stage of life:

-She is super FUN. She still just wants to have fun.

-She loves order. Her new bed/desk combo is her heaven. She is there all the time. With the new chair we got her, she says her room is now perfect.

-She still loves all things wolves

-She is very sensitive and surprisingly competitive

-She is still very shy

-She loves school and is very excited to go to Trailblazer next year

-She is fierce as a goalie. She still enjoys sports, that's where her competitive nature really comes out.

-She and Claire still fight like nothing else. But then they can suddenly be best friends.

-She almost has all of her multiplication and division facts down. She will get them this summer because she knows she needs to know the before school starts again in fall.

-She loves to read. Right now she is into the Penderwicks and Baby-Sitters Club

-She is loving playing the saxophone

-She is super sweet, and we just love her like absolutely nothing else! What a blessing she is to all of us!

Camille's Cake

 I have made a lot of UGLY cakes over the past couple of years. Not for lack of trying- I have watched videos, read blogs, asked questions....but I just couldn't get it. Until today! I am so proud of how this cake turned out! I think I finally have figured out the buttercream, or at least have come close. Camille chose this Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake for her Birthday, and I think I finally got it right. YAY! Bonus: It tasted delicious, too.

Claire Soccer

 For her last game, she got a massive bloody nose, then went back in and scored two goals. She was the MVP- even looking like Frankenstein.

I absolutely love this team for Claire- and so does she. The girls are so sweet and have such a fun time. It's truly a perfect fit.

Camille's Party

 Last year, after yet ANOTHER party that was freezing cold because we decided to do a May Birthday party outside, Ben turned to me and said, "we are paying to have indoor parties from now on."

Camille wanted to do a rock climbing party, but that didn't work, so she turned to parkour. I'm so glad we did- the kids loved it, and for most of them it was their first time doing it. It was a ton of fun! Camille was in heaven! She had 10 friends come, plus of course her sisters.

She was in heaven, and so were Ben and me because we truly didn't do anything. Easiest. Party. Ever.

This Guy

 After 17 years, this guy is still my favorite.

Grogu

 Claire finished her 4H fair project. I think it turned out super cute.

Homeschool Hike

 Someday when this wonderful homeschool journey ends, I will greatly miss our random Tuesday morning hikes.