REPEATING 7TH GRADE!

 Since the boys are switching to a new school next year and since its a charter school, we are able to repeat a grade if we would like. We wanted the boys to repeat kinder, but their teacher worked so hard with them and got them caught up, they couldn't. They struggled till about 3rd grade and did fine ever since. But I have never loved the idea of them graduating at 17, turning 18 3 weeks later and then taking off for a mission. They seem to young, to immature, they are so little still, it just never sat right with me. And now CUSD is wanting to add a bunch of stuff to the school curriculum which I don't want my kids being taught so we asked the boys if they would repeat 7th grade and then we told them they would get to be with all their friends. At first, they said yes. Then they thought about it and said they didn't want to do all the work over again and it was a hard no. So we let it be. It was their decision. Sadly, it the decision wasn't sitting well with me. I couldn't really explain why. I talked to Jared and we thought about it for a few days and then came to the conclusion, they needed to repeat 7th grade. We sat them down and talked to them about it and presented some valid points on our behalf. Tyler just looked at us and said he didn't care. Tyson was a hard no. We told him we really needed to do this and asked him what we could do to make it better for him. His response was, "fine! For $100!" I said, "ok!" He said, "$110!" I said, "ok!" He then came back and said, "$125!" I said, "ok, but that's it and next time learn to negotiate better!" The next day I made Jared come with me to ALA and talk to the office about switching them. I was preparing for a fight if need be and I needed Jared to be there to be my calm and my reason. We went in and bodda boom bodda bing, they switched them easy peasy and even gave them a shirt! We got in the car and both felt so good about this. It was so easy. We knew we were doing the right thing. I went to the bank and pulled out their cash and we left it for them to find after school. They were very excited aobut their money and pretty much thought they were rich! Eli was jealous and thought it wasn't fair, ha ha! We also found out that all the 7th graders eat lunch together so they can eat with Nash and Mikey every day and they are most excited about it and couldn't wait to tell their friends they were going to be repeating 7th grade and got paid for it! Love them!

TRACK TIME!

 Jared and I made Tyler do track this year - we said it would be the only year he would have to do it if he did his best, Tyson already wanted to so it that was easy. We knew Tyler is fast and can jump so we really wanted him to do the hurdles. These boys kind of got thrown into track without any training. They had 2 sort of practices before the first meet, but one practice was handing out uniforms and they other practice they barely ran - I mean Tyler only jumped hurdles twice before the meet and it was on grass. The night before the first race Tyler looked at me and said he just didn't want to be last - I assured him he wouldn't be. The day of the meet Tyson ran the 800, 200, 4x400 and something else I can't remember. Sadly for him, all his races were pretty much back to back so he didn't really have a whole lot of time to recover. Tyler was the first race and he jumped so high on the first hurdle he stumbled when he hit the ground, he got back up and cleared the next 2 hurdles then he stumbled on the next hurdle and ate it again, got back up and finished last place with jacked up knees. My heart broke for him. Tyson was right there cheering him on, his friends high fived him and others also told him good job. Something in my gut wasn't sitting right, and wanting to help them but play it cool cause they are in junior high now, I told Jared to take the drinks over there to where he was under a tree and check on him but the drinks was a good disguise. As soon as Jared got over to him, he burst out into tears. They had a good 20 minute talk over there and Tyler went back out and cheered on Tyson. Tyson can not and will not watch the video of Tyler falling, he says it makes him sick. They care so much about each other. I hope it always stays like this! Emma watched on facetime and as soon as his race was done she started researching videos on how to train for hurdles, Jared ordered him a practice hurdle at home and we all went out and helped him practice for 2 nights. The kid never fell again. Learned how to sort of properly jump them and never came in last place. He usually always beat 2 kids. Tyson dropped down to just the 200 and the 4x400 and Tyler ended up joining their team. I love how these boys went out and did something different. Jared and I loved going to their track meets and helping time the races. We are super proud of these boys! And don't kid yourself, they loved getting out of school early for meets and getting new shoes! Ha ha! 

OVERNIGHT WITH JENNIFER!

 Jennifer was coming into town to meet her mom and sisters for a girls trip so she quietly text me and we met up for another quick 24 hour togetherness trip! I picked her up at the airport and we went and stayed at a resort, hung out and talked all night, spent the day by the pool and then got her to her family! I love our little secret rendezvous! 

YOUTH CONFERENCE!

 I was called to be the stake FSY person. Then covid spiked again so the church canceled FSY, again! But our stake still wanted to do a youth conference which meant I was in charge of it. But our stake had one planned for 2020 that also got canceled so pretty much went with those plans and I just organized all their ideas and executed them. I got to work with Megan Bell again and Amber Varvel! I love these ladies and their talents! Hope came in clutch though - it ended up being so hot and it was so nice to walk over to Hope's house since the activities all rotated around Mormon acres and her house was in the middle so I could use her bathroom and get ice cold drinks! The kids all loved the rotations and the event I think was a success! For sure things I would change for the next time, but right now, I am just glad it is all over! ha ha! 

EASTER!

 Easter was a little different this year. No Emma, no party at Regina's, Tyson had a 12 hour stomach flu so he couldn't go to the Jensen Easter party, Tyler was the only one able to go to the Bells glow in the dark Easter egg hunt, but luckily Easter morning came and we got to find eggs from the Easter Bunny with Alyza, had a yummy breakfast and watch conference, the bunny brought the boys an Oculus (something Eli has been saving his money for and dying to have) so we spent the afternoon playing that and then went and ate Easter dinner at grandma and grandpa Rodgers house and even grandma got in on the oculus action! (I couldn't let Easter pass by without Emma getting a little something so we mailed her a yellow lululemon makeup bag with a yellow egg inside with cash in it (yellow is her favorite color). (the pic of Tyler in the car with his phone is the face you make when your mom tells you to put your phone away but Uncle RJ is in the car and catches you red handed and rats you out!)