June in a Nutshell

Oh boy, did June fly by!! We hit the summer ground running with lots of activities, and adventures that did not disappoint. Each of the girls were able to do things they enjoyed, and were able to learn a lot, as well as have fun with friends. I must admit that I was a little relieved when June's activities slowed down, and we were finally able to enjoy some lazy summer days spent at home too. We needed it, especially with how busy we are now! But before I get into all of that, here is a recap of JUNE!!

We took a trip over to the quad cities of Davenport/Moline on the Mississippi river.  It was a fun day!

We really wanted to check out the John Deere museum, and it was really neat!

Our girl scout troop's end-of-the-year activity was really cool!  The troop had worked on a badge for most of the year wherein they learned about the world around us including architecture, building with green materials, and sustainability.  We toured a church that was being remodeled/restored into a family home.  The history of the church, the stories about the restoration effort, and the beautiful art that was uncovered was simply breathtaking.  I'm so glad I tagged along on this tour!

The mural on the wall behind us is what they uncovered under layers of plaster.  They had intentions of putting their kitchen in this area, but after they found this they are now reconsidering.

This is the view from the master bedroom looking out over the main living area.  How would you feel about waking up to this every morning?!?

The church was originally a Slovenian Roman Catholic church.  I liked feeling a hint of a connection to my eastern European roots.

Avery, along with some school friends, participated in a basketball camp, and did really well!  I have a good feeling about her future in basketball.  She won a free-throw competition, as well as her team won a 3 on 3 tournament.

We took a trip (finally!) to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.  It was awesome, and we're glad we finally made the time to go!! We are slowly crossing things off of our "Illinois Bucket List".

I love the giraffes!!  They had a whole family at this exhibit!

Maryn completed a "Babysitters Clinic" at our local hospital.  She had a lot of fun, and is all gung-ho about babysitting now.  We've had several new families with little kids move into our ward recently, and I think she is hoping that she will get the chance soon!

Maryn also was able to participate in a Theater camp at LP High School.  They did Broadway tunes and learned singing and dancing.  She really enjoyed it!

 

Maryn and her friend Angela showing us "theater face".

June was a month full of tornadoes and super bad thunderstorms.  One particular night we found our brand new trampoline in our neighbor's yard perfectly positioned on their concrete basketball court.  It was eery.  It had literally been picked up and sailed that far in the strong winds.  Needless to say, after that we staked it down pretty well, and now take the net off when we know a storm is coming.  Eeeee.

Celebrating Father's day with the best Dad in the world!  Each of the girls made Mark special momentos in Primary and at home, and I think he really enjoyed all of the special treatment.  The sign on his forehead was attached to a package of peanut M&M's and said, "To my slightly nutty, but very sweet Dad".

Avery was able to participate in a Science camp that was put on my the local chemical company.  It was actually a really neat experience.  They only took 30 5th graders from the whole area, and she was one of them.  She learned a lot of neat things, and still insists on doing experiments at home.

 Parker on a playdate at a splash pad in Ottawa.

All of us joined Parker and friends from church for a picnic/playdate at the park in Peru.  (How's THAT for alliteration?!?)  She has had soooo much fun with all of the new little kids who've moved into our ward over the past year.  I feel sad that she will have to leave them all so soon. Doesn't that always happen?  Once things start finally getting good, you have to leave and say goodbye.  Sigh. 

Stay tuned for the saga of THE Job and THE move...dun, dun, dunnnn.

Father's Day Top Ten

10.  Going downtown Detroit for the Thanksgiving parades and the Fourth of July fireworks when I was a kid.  My Dad braved the crowds, not to mention the thugs downtown, to give us the opportunity to have some holiday fun!  I remember very distinctly the year that we went to the Thanksgiving parade in our red station wagon, and upon returning to the car after the parade was over found that the back window had been smashed open and the rear spare tires stolen!!  We had to hold a blanket in the window on the way home so we wouldn't freeze, and then had to tape it up with a black garbage bag at home until we could get it fixed.  As a parent now, I wouldn't have reacted very well to that whole scenario, but my Dad did!

9.  FORD MOTOR COMPANY!!  I am so brand loyal, that when Mark and I broke down and had to buy a Dodge Grand Caravan before Parker was born I felt like I was betraying a sacred bond or something.  LOL!!  I recognize how hard my Dad worked at a company that provided our family with a very nice, comfortable life!  I am so impressed and proud of the fact that he worked there his whole career...over 35 years!  I bet the day after his retirement must have felt so strange NOT to have to hop in the little blue truck to make that treacherous commute to Dearborn EVER again!!  

8.  While working for Ford, he would often spend a lot of his time teaching seminars and doing management training courses all over the Metro area.  One place that he would often teach at a lot was the Hilton in Northville.  Because of his "connections", they let us use the pool a few times!  In addition to the pool, what was cool about this place was that they had all the free, hot popcorn you could stand!!  He would take us swimming there in the evenings, and bring buckets of popcorn home for us to munch on! Even though my memory of this is a little sketchy, I remember it with a lot of fondness.

7.  The Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance Mexican Fiesta when I was 11.  I know I've blogged about this one before, but this was such a special night for me and my Dad.  I felt special, and proud to be his date.  And I realized for the first time, that he was actually not a bad dancer!

6.  Our backyard POOL!!  How many summers did Dad sacrifice MOST, if not ALL of his time after work and on weekends taking care of our pool?!?  Wow! I can't even imagine!  But it was one of the BEST things I remember about summers growing up in our Golfview house.  I loved the pool!  Sometimes so much I'd end up a broiled lobster by the end of the day, but jump right back in the next morning.  I remember going to the pool store in Plymouth with our little water sampling kits in order to get chlorine and the supplies we needed to keep everything working properly.  Those were fun mornings with my Dad helping him out and spending time together.

5.  The Wilderness Youth Conference when I was 14.  It was my first Youth Conference, and we were going into the wilderness to do high adventure stuff and "rough it".  I had really, big hair back then and was looking at not having access to my arsenal of hair-doing devices for a whole week, in front of boys!!  It was really the true definition of "roughing it" for me at that point in my life.  My Dad was one of the leaders that year, and I remember seeing him every now and then out at the high adventure spots, handing out Gatorades to the youth and leaders.  I remember being so glad and relieved to see him!!  It was so good to have him there, and I remember feeling really safe knowing that if I needed him, he'd be close by.  I also remember the last day, we got letters from our parents for us to read on our "solo journey".  His letter was so sweet and I will never forget the way it made me feel.  I knew my Dad loved me and I was special.  

4.  My Dad only has 1 lung.  I have really vague memories of this because I know I was really young when he had the surgery.  What I do remember is climbing all over him in his hospital bed, and while he recovered at home.  He had one of those "breathing machines" where you have to blow in to make the little ping pong ball rise to the top.  I remember thinking that was my toy, and I'm pretty sure he let me.  Since his surgery, I remember noticing that when he slept, only one side of his chest would rise up and down.  Remembering that my Dad only had 1 lung when he would be working hard on the pool, or in the yard made me appreciate him all the more.  He never complained, but got the work done anyway.  His example taught me that you can overcome physical obstacles, and not letting it hold you back.

3.  Going through my Mom's heart attack brought my Dad and I closer.  I remember the morning after my Mom's heart attack, coming downstairs to the kitchen and seeing my Dad sitting in her chair situated between the table and the counter by the phone, with the family calendar on the table in front of him.  What a surreal moment that must have been for him.  Looking at this full calendar of activities and obligations for five of his six kids, and the realization that he was in charge.  I remember feeling the mantle of my place in our family very distinctly at that point in my life.  I was 12, and I was the "woman of the house" while Mom was away.  Shauna was at school by this time, and the boys were busy with high school and jobs.  I was the next oldest in charge of the "little girls".  I set to work that day making sure the laundry continued to get done, lunches packed, house picked up and straightened, and helper of the meals that would be brought in by so many Relief Society sisters.  I know my Dad was grateful that it was one less thing he had to worry about.  I wanted to make him proud by helping him, and my family by doing the best I could.

2.  Service with a smile.  My Dad gets the best hometeacher EVER award.  Especially during the "Joyce Kotlarek" years.  LOL!!  What other hometeacher is willing to help a cranky old lady who calls him at 11 pm to tell him she's got some diarrhea and can he run to Perry Drug and get her some Immodium?!?  Who will ever forget all of that?!? 

1.  Priesthood.  One of the stories about my birth that I love is that my Dad had to miss Stake Conference (when he was in the presidency) because I was being born!!  From that time on, my Dad has always been an example of the Priesthood and service in my life.  His Prieshood has blessed me all through growing up...father's blessings before the start of the school year, before starting jobs, before going to college, on my mission, getting married, etc.  He has always been able to do it, and the first person I look to when I needed extra strength and support.  To this day, his blessings are important in my life and I am grateful that he is now able to bless all of our kids through his calling as Patriarch.  Thank you for always being worthy and representing Christ in our home, Dad.  I love you, and am grateful for you today on this Father's day!!

No More Pencils, No More Books

School's out for summer!!  Hooray!!  I feel like we've all graduated...it's been a tough year...hopefully we are all a little wiser for it.  Looking forward to some freedom and summer adventures!!

   

"TGS Spring Show" Each class sings a song, the band performs, there's a sentimental Powerpoint presentation, the super inflated Superintendent gives his sappy shpeel, the audience sweats in their seats...blah, blah, blah...pretty basic.  Haha!  I must say that Maryn did great on her flute!! (She's sitting in the white top, front row.)

  

Our Star Reader!!  Avery took 1st place in the K-5 grades for AR this year with a new school record (guess who she beat for the record?  that would be her own flesh and blood...Maryn...talk about sibling rivalry!!  Erg!)  Anyway, she scored a 665 over Maryn's 530.  As you may recall, she did this by sequestering herself in her bedroom over Christmas break to read "Gone with the Wind".  She did this for dual purposes.  1.  To beat Maryn's score and 2.  To beat her "boyfriend" Brian who is the next white star down from hers in this pic...haha!  She did it!!  Girl power!!  So proud of her performance this year!

 Here's "MarynAvery" on the last morning of school.  Avery made this sign for her 5th grade teachers, Mrs. Cacciatori and Mrs. Mareta.  She really did have a good experience this year, even though in many ways TGS is a ship going down in flames.  I am soooo bitter, aren't I?  LOL!!

Little Miss Parker Faye amidst the spring dandelions...and believe me, there are PLENTY in our yard this year! 

This was getting ready for Mimi's (what Parker calls Maryn) "Spring Flute Fling" held at a church in Peru.  Maryn has been playing with an Ensemble this year, and this was the Concert to end the year...the music was beautiful, and I am loving her teacher and this studio!!  I hope Maryn continues to love it as much as I do. (She's on the front row, far right, green dress)

I just love these girls of mine!!  So proud of how they are growing and blossoming.  Another school year down, and now they are mine all summer long!  Whoo hoo!!