PTCs and Book Fair

It was my "usual" Tuesday morning today: Wake at 4:20, 5am initiatories at the Jordan River Temple,  then for climbing I went bouldering at the Sandy Momentum instead of driving out to Millcreek - I didn't have time to do that because Abi needed the car for school at 7. Went home, got the teens out the door, cleaned myself up, woke up the boys and K and then took ODPK to Books and Bagels. They love it. Donuts and chocolate milk for breakfast yayyy? 

The kids looked at the scholastic books for the Book Fair, and I went in the area but then said to Daniel that I am not going to do it right now. There was a line of people waiting to buy stuff, and I'm not waiting. I resented the pressure of it as usual. I wouldn't resent it if we had $ to burn, but it's not in the budget, and we don't need more books anyway, so I just wish the book fair didn't exist. BUT, I had denied my children books at the conferences last fall, so Peter started campaigning last night for permission to buy a book today. I told him (and thus also his brothers cause I gotta be fair) that they could each get one book, but we'd do it later after Parent Teacher Conferences. I was sure I'd have to get one for Katharine as well, and I was right. So after Book and Bagels, I came home, took a nap to recover from my early morning while K played some Starfall. After that, K and I went over to church so I could work on the RS board for March. K drew with markers on the dry erase board. I called my mission comp Charity who had a birthday last week and we caught up, it's been two years I think since we talked last. It was a good visit. It's funny that Nicole's birthday is the day before our anniversary, and Charity's bday is the day after our annivesary, so I always remember their birthdays. 

After finishing the board, I took K to Macey's for a free ice cream cone (thanks Daniel) and then home where I finished my visit with Charity and also worked on memorizing section 2 of the Living Christ. I had this song on repeat. I did section 1 yesterday, but I found a song with a singer for the next section,  cause having the same lady sing all of them sounded a little harder and boring. So I'm going to use the various artists of the Living Christ Album and I'll try to do one section each day this week. I'm not sure if it would be easier to learn 8 different short songs, or if it would be better to learn all of it in one song/oratorio? Although a ten minute song sounds more challenging to me. K yeah I think I'll just go with the Living Christ Album's versions of the songs. 

Time for parent teacher conferences. Owen was first at 6:30, then Peter at 6:45, and Daniel at 7. While we were Peter's teacher, I thought he looked so cute so I took a pic. Then I thought I'd get one with his teacher, cause Peter loves her and I think she's an amazing teacher too. 

I don't think I've ever taken photos with the kids and their teachers, except at school plays. Or if the teacher takes it and sends it. I am going to try to remember to do this from now on though. Their teachers are amazing. Daniel's teacher is Ms. Hekking, and Melodie had her in 3rd grade too. 

We talked about how crazy it is that enough years have passed that Melodie is married now! How is that possible? As I trying to open my phone to take that pic, it froze and my camera wouldn't open. I barely was able to take that pic though, my phone... ugh. This iPhone storage is stressing me out, combined with pressure from my kids via the book fair to buy stuff was bugging me. I was in a foul disposition. After finishing with Daniel's teacher, we went to the book fair. Katharine wanted a puppy book - $8. ugh. 

This morning it was very crowded. This time we were almost the only ones there, and it was quiet. I tried to bribe them and said I'd get them TWO books at the thrift store, or they could have just 1 here. They chose 1. Um, how about we all leave and go get ice cream at Macey's instead of books? No, they wanted books. Well, except Owen. Ugh, I don't want to make a trip to Macey's unless it gets me out of this for everyone... I thought I saw the lady at checkout give me a little glance as I tried to talk my kids into NOT getting books. Daniel got a book that was only $5, yay, that works. Peter finally found an acceptable special price $5 book as well. It didn't have a lot of pictures but it was about Spiderman, so he approved. That's good. Katharine was the hardest to bargain with. She ended up getting some small $4 rip off white paper notebook with a glitter cover. Dumb, but if it means we can leave, I'll give in. I ended up getting Owen a football helmet poster so that I didn't have to make a stop at the store for ice cream. 20 min of negotiation and I got left only paying $19 for 3 books and one poster. I let that all get me too worked up. Owen posing by the Book Blitz team posters. He's read all the books. Good job O. 

I needed a pic of Owen with his teacher. We went back to his classroom but she was gone. Then luckily we saw her down the hall heading to the exit. I deleted a few photos so I could take some more photos, and we caught Ms. Z in the office.

Ms. Z had Melodie and Wesley too. When I was texting her last month about Owen being behind on his science fair and my excuses of "we had a missionary come home and my daughter is getting married" etc etc, I didn't take note that they were the two kids of mine that she had taught. She pointed that out to me tonight when we were visiting. I don't think any of Joseph's teachers are still here, but the rest of the kids have teachers that are still here, and we have one more kid that will be coming through still. I have Katharine at home with me for one more year, then she'll be starting school in Fall of 2027. She'll be the class of 2040!! That's wild.