Kashann and Clan

I love to write and thus have fully embraced blogging.
But it's hard for me to justify the time commitment unless the primary focus is keeping a family record. Sometimes I think -Why am I making our lives so public? This stuff should just be in a journal. Then I can record more personal stuff and don't have to worry about what is and isn't appropriate.

But I just like blogging a whole lot more. Back in the old days I kept baby book journals and scrapbooks for the kids and a personal journal for myself. The kids got an entry once a month and mine usually once a year, or whenever Brent and I had a huge fight and there was really no one else to talk to.

So I am committed to blogging. It might embarrass us some of the time, bore you a lot of the time, but when I look back and read past posts I am so glad I did it. I have never later regretted a post no matter how silly it seemed to post at the time. I am so grateful that my memories haven't been lost. Whatever gets the job done! And it's just more fun to have an audience -no matter how small that audience may be.

Last week I attended parent teacher conferences for my three daughters. They had such good reports that we celebrated at their favorite chinese buffet afterwards. We've tried to cut back on that place since Kennon turned 11 and no longer gets in at half price, but somehow we keep averaging a girls lunch there once a month. We usually go without Brent and tell him later. If we ask him he'll just talk us out of it.

Kennon missed her teacher conference so she could stay home and babysit Marcus for me. Her teacher first gave me a note she had written welcoming me to her conference. It summed up how she was doing in 5th grade - her strong subjects and trouble spots. I want to save the letter. She mentioned that she loves to write and her letter was long and super cute. She also admitted that her worst subject is spelling. Too funny in a letter including about 50 misspellings. She totally gets that from her Dad. And look how far he has gone. Almost 40 and in Dental school. She has great things ahead of her. :)

I was really looking forward to spending some time with Savannah's teacher. She previously was VERY concerned about Savannah and her reading speed of 174 wpm. Last conference I was blindsided completely when we discussed nothing but RED FLAGS and slowing this girl down.

Things have changed since then and she has a new appreciation of the kind of student Savannah is. They even really seem to be fond of each other. So we had a great conference and she raved about Savannah being her right hand man. She says she is often so busy helping other kids that she has Savannah take over the rest of the class. Savannah also has taught her tons of Internet skills. I am a little embarrassed about this because it only means she has way too much free at home. But the best part she saved for the end. Mrs. M proudly displayed a list of Savannah's current reading tests scores. Five different tests with scores like - 105, 123, 114, 132.

"Isn't this wonderful? Look how she has improved? She's gone DOWN a ton!"

"But has the comprehension improved?" That was my question.

Then, I asked to look at last falls tests again. I noticed that although her speed had come down a ton her comprehension scores were the same.

So of course, Brent and I talked to Savannah later and found out she is no dummy. She knew what her teacher wanted so she purposely read slow for the tests to please her teacher.

And I thought THAT was wonderful. She's still my little nascar reading. Vroom, Vroom!
Camille came with me to her conference and she hardly said a word once the conference began. She listened though, blushed profusely, and enjoyed the entire experience. This girl is so sweet and I am not sure where it comes from. But every mother of 5, deserves at least one shy daughter.
One really sweet thing about her lately is that she has started spending hours doing her own hair. She puts bows, flowers, and pony's everywhere. Always something new and exciting. Brent always tries to say something but I usually shush him. It can look pretty crazy sometimes but it's shows her creativity and she is so proud of it. I know I will look back someday and miss her hair creations each morning.


Caroline on the other hand. . . I am really concerned about her behavior. She embarrasses me constantly with her questions. She has one for everyone we meet. I know it is a wonderful trait to be curious and maybe that means she is smart, but it's just too much All The Time. While home teaching with Brent this week, she kept repeating the same question over and over again- "Why is your house so messy?"

The woman is older, but unfortunately not hard of hearing, like Brent hoped. She finally looked at Caroline and made up some excuse.

Grocery shopping with her is insane. I have to watch her every second or she starts up a conversation with the person next to us. "Why are you so short, how come you have a balloon, where did you get that candy?" I hear her starting and quickly shush her with "We will talk about it later". But as soon as my back is turned to grab a head of lettuce she asks it again. All I can say is she will definitely take kindergarten by storm in a few months.

On Sundays she has a handful of people that she runs up to, hugs them, and smiles up at them awaiting her treat. They always come through. Yesterday she got a new pen, a box of corn pops, 3 tootsie rolls, and package of smarties. I hate her candy collecting on Sunday. As of next week she isn't allowed to ask or accept any candy at church. It is seriously ruining her Sunday behavior. One of her favorite people is Taylor Hawes. But instead of her saying hi to him, he says that she just runs up to him after primary and says, "Where's the candy man?" As ward clerk he's supposed to know these things I guess. When he doesn't know, she is gone, without even the customary hug. Lately she only wastes a hug on someone who has previously been known for a good handout.

Brent is in the midst of finals and is bored out of his mind preparing for tests. When I think of all the hours he has spent studying for tests in his life it seems like it should just come natural to study. Can it really be that he is about to start his last and final year of being a student? I can't even imagine what it is going to be like when he is a dentist and won't have the excuse . .. "Uh, I have to study."

And as for Marco and Momma. He trashes the house, I clean the house. Don't expect to drop by unannounced and find a clear path through the house. It doesn't exist at most times. I am glad to have the extra exercise keeping up with him. It's nice to burn calories just in the course of my normal day.
You might've noticed that I left out a picture of Kennon. That is because I couldn't find any recent ones. Apparently she is the only one that remembers to take pictures lately and thus misses being in any herself. The only recent solo pictures I can find were from her musical and her birthday. Sorry, Kennon. I am going to do better.