Maori Jake Takes His Turn

Jake decided he needed a turn in doing a haka. He's pretty funny. He got a bone necklace on Sunday--finally. All the other kids had one and he's been waiting. So he wanted to entertain us all. What a cutie.

The end of another school year

Dante had to give a report on New Zealand. Could he have chosen better?! How great was it to be able to tell about something he has grown up with. We even have Maori things to show. He borrowed Uncle Lynn's piupiu (grass skirt) and came running in hollering Kia Ora! He went right to the front and did the Potene, Potene haka. Then he told about New Zealand and finished with Ka Mate. I was really proud of him--he was confident and bold. The teacher from across the hall wanted him to come and do a haka for his class, and then he told his class that he wanted them to knock his socks off, just like Dante did. I had a proud boy.

We even made trifle for the class. I took a picture (with the whipped cream on top since you wouldn't be able to see anything. It was yummy.

Jake's class went to the Natural History Museum at the University of Utah--Taylor and Simona and I got to be helpers. The kids were all sad who didn't get to be in Taylor's group. I think they got over it.

They had this "toadally" cool exhibit--it was all a bunch of toads. Some of them looked like they were recently painted.

I went to the planetarium with Dante's class. It's been newly redone and is pretty cool. 6th graders are just not the same as the 2nd graders. They are all wonderful, just very different from each other. I'm so glad I got to go to both field trips. Both my boys have had wonderful teachers this year, and I'm actually sad to see the year end. I don't think I've ever felt that way before. I love having them home, but I just wonder what next year will bring.

Graduation

Here's some personality!

Taylor announced--he really graduated!

There's my boy. I am really proud of Taylor--he had good grades and really was a good kid. I was always amazed at how much his teachers praised him and how happy they always were to have him in their classes. That's quite a compliment.

These are girls that Taylor met in the second grade. They all live in our neighborhood--fun to see them all grown up.

My serious family. Jake was sick that day so he and Dante stayed home.

The after-party. Taylor invited four of his best friends to our house to play Rock Band and eat, and play and eat. Food! The cake at the back of the table has the Hunter High school colors.

These are the buddies--Colin, Nathan, Taylor, Travis, Brandon.

It is really a strange feeling to know that I have a child who has "moved on." I'm not really feeling any older, but maybe like I should be more responsible or grown up or something. I'm not really sure when the maturity comes since I'm still waiting for it to happen. I think maybe one day I'll wake up and be the person I'm supposed to be.

I am happy for Taylor--he working at scout camp again this summer, but as a director this time. When he gets home, he wants to find a job and save until he turns 19 in December. Then, who knows where he'll be? That will be an exciting adventure.

The Falls

The Falls

Goofy Jake

The Whole Fam



More Falls



And again, more Falls

I love the Falls. Obviously Twin Falls was named for two falls, and I loved growing up near them. We spent a lot of time at the Falls. There are two parks with falls--Shoshone Falls and Twin Falls. They were the same, but different. I remember many family picnics at the Falls, ward picnics at the Falls, and mutual activities water skiing at the Falls. I had a boyfriend in high school whose best friend had a boat, so we spent a lot of time water skiing. I loved being on the water, gliding along. I haven't been on the water for oh so many years.

I remember one time getting stopped by a policeman while driving down the long winding road to the Falls. I was looking for a group of kids who were there for a Young Adult activity--we always had a hard time deciding which Falls everyone else decided to go to. They didn't show up where we were, so I volunteered to drive to the "other Falls" and see if they were there. I guess I drove too fast, and I got stopped. The policeman kind of chuckled and he made me go back up to the top and drive down again, this time counting how many speed limit signs there were. I was not happy, and now I was really late for the activity.

I remember climbing the rickety stairs (that are no longer there) and counting, and climbing, and counting some more. It was a big deal to say you had climbed those stairs. I know there were over 100, but I haven't been able to find out exactly how many, and of course, I don't remember.

I can look at many of the picnic spots and remember different reunions or parties that took place at those exact sites. I can see my aunts and uncles there, under a humongous pine tree, having family pictures. I remember one time we were planning a birthday party for Dad, and his sisters showed up. Of course we all went to the Falls. I can see Aunt Myrtle and Aunt Marion there, sitting at the table. I can picture playing catch and, naturally, doing a haka. I can see my parents young and vibrant at the ward breakfast, cooking on the big grills and keeping kids out of the stream. I can see my dad aged and feeble while his sons helped him across the lawn. I can see our last family reunion with all the kids wearing their Maori faces and sticking out their tongues. I can see family gathered, laughing and vying for a new pillow case.

I look forward to new memories; some will be similar, some people will be missing, but I can't wait to once again be at the Falls.