MAY 24, 2012 -- THURS

DAD'S PRESENTATION, LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
AND TREE PLANTING

Today at lunchtime, Dad gave a presentation to a BYU Alumn Chapter in Bentonville, AR.  I was invited to go!  It was held at the Bentonville Public Library and Dad did a great job talking about  "Financial Markets, Corporate Governance and Ethics."  He had lots of questions and group interaction!  We were also able to meet Brother Sederholm, from the  Rogers Stake, who is getting ready to leave to serve as mission president in the Denmark, Copenhagen mission!

Today was the last day of school for our kids!  They were quite excited!  They have had lots of fun activities this week!  This evening, we worked outside and planted 5 trees!!

 We planted a Corkscrew Willow down towards the pond, 2 of the 3 Maples and 2 of the 3 redbuds up between the garden and the cul-de-sac!  That area is going to be our shady picnic spot as we water the garden and look out over the pond!!!  The pictures show the potential of our trees!!

While we were working outside, Rachel and David walked over to see the horses.  Rachel was SOOOO excited because the horse had her baby and she got to pet it!!!  She has worked to develop the trust of the mother horse and so the mommy horse and baby came to the fence and let her pet them!  It made her day!

The concrete crew will pour concrete tomorrow.  I also sprayed all the Bermuda grass starts in half the garden area and sprayed lots and lots of weedy stuff down on the pond edge!  We are getting ready to plant, plant and plant!!!  I'm so excited!!!

Tonight, Dad took the kids on a "Daddy Date" and they went to Braum's for a "Last Day of School Celebration!"

Left to right & Counter Clockwise:  Rachel, David, Bethany, Benjamin, Joseph

Braum's is under construction

 Dad leaves on Saturday for Ghana.

MAY 23, 2012 -- GOODBYE WHITE CAR

DAD SELLS THE WHITE CAR

Well, it was time.  Our white car has traveled many miles and came to its last ride.  Dad sold it on Craig's List for $250 when the garage mechanic said he would be lucky to get $50 for it!  Go Dad!

See the new silver car in the back -- it is waiting to take the white car's place.  Poor little white car!

MAY 22, 2012 -- 5TH GRADE GRADUATION

BETHANY'S 5TH GRADE GRADUATION

Today was Bethany's 5th grade graduation.  We missed Matthew because he is in Arizona with Uncle Joel and Aunt Janell.  Bethany had a solo part in one of the songs, earned the Presidential Academic Award, and was lovely!!!  It was a fun celebration!

Bethnay makes her grand entrance with the other 5th graders!

Bethany sings her solo part with another gal

Vandergriff 5th Grade

Dr. Stark, Vandergriff Principal, is really a fantastic leader!

Bethany receives her "Presdential Academic Award" for having a 3.8 GPA or above and for scoring in the advanced range on the Benchmark testing.

Bethany says, "Thanks Dad and Mom for giving all the amazing opportunities you have given me!"

Behtany and her teacher, Mrs. Stokenbury

MAY 21, 2012 -- RACHEL'S MINI-MARKET

RACHEL'S MINI-MARKET

Today was Rachel's final "Mini-Market" that they do at the middle school for 21st Century.  I think it is a great program!  The kids are supposed to create a product, advertise and sell it at the "mini-market."  All the kids are given "money" called "bears" and they can buy things.  As their product sells, they get more money to buy more things.  There is incentive to have a product people want to buy.  

About 3 weeks ago, they had a "mini-market" with just their own class.  This let the try things out and see how it would go.  For that event, Rachel worked with a friend and decided that she did all the work.  She also made things out of duct tape but decided it was too much work.

This time around, Rachel worked on her own and made some button bracelets and also had bags of microwave popcorn.  On Saturday night, Rachel started to stress.  We had all the materials and had planned to help her finish things up Sunday afternoon -- since all week through late Saturday night was Hyrum's events with graduation.  On Sat. evening, she was in tears and didn't want to do it and wanted to stay home.

We talked through it.  Come Sunday afternoon, I was so proud of her for buckling down and getting prepared.  When she came home this afternoon she said, and I quote;  "Min-Market was the best thing ever!"  She had 5 customers, sold a few things but had fun buying things and enjoyed the whole event!  

Go Rachel!

Rachel and her "wares" for market

MAY 20, 2012 -- SUNDAY

A CHAT WITH MELISSA & 

SUMMER GOAL SETTING

The highlight of today was a nice long visit with Melissa!!  She is in France for the summer and we miss her but she is having a "dream come true" experience!!!  Melissa is half way through her study abroad and then she will go to Jerusalem for 2 weeks and then back for a 6 week internship in Marcailles, France.
A link to her blog is in the right side bar of this blog!

Melissa, on the right, and lots of cheese!!!

It was great to be able to use SKYPE to chat with Melissa.  She could hear us and we could see video of her but it was hard to hear her.  Our conversation consisted of us talking and her typing the answers!  Sort of funny.  She was able to talk to all of the kids and Dad and I had a nice long visit with her.  She definitely is making the most of her experience and learning so much about the country, its history and culture.  I am so amazed at all the exploring she does!  She is amazing!!!

SUMMER GOAL SETTING WORK SESSION

Today for FHE, we had summer planning and goal setting.  It was great!  We have all the kids working to set their goals in the areas of:  Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Educational, Social, Personal Development, and Hobby.  We are in our last 4 days of school so we are gearing up for summer -- lots of fun and lots of progress!
We started our FHE by writing down what we would like someone to carve on our grave stone.  Then we talked about who we want to become in the future and then we made a list of things that we would be and where we would be in 5-10 years.  It was amazing to realize how many of our children would be Returned Missionaries, in college and possibly married in the next 10 years!!!
We then talked about the 6 different areas and gave some ideas for goals.  We also talked about some family goals in these areas.  Some of our family goals are:
SPIRITUAL:  daily prayers and scripture study
PHYSICAL:  daily exercise and healthier eating
EMOTIONAL:  lower stress levels
EDUCATIONAL:  flash cards & read
SOCIAL:  opportunities for friends to come over and play/hang out
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:  working on piano and other talents
HOBBY:  encourage finding new interests and developing them

We had a really nice visit and interview with each of our children.   It was a good day!!!!

MAY 19, 2012 -- HYRUM'S EAGLE COURT OF HONOR

HYRUM'S EAGLE COURT OF HONOR 

AND 

GRADUATION OPEN HOUSE

Hyrum Jay Richardson -- Eagle Scout -- Presented May 18, 2012

Hyrum and his proud parents -- Vernon & Connie Richardson

Hyrum has worked for several years to finish his boy scout eagle requirements.  We are so proud of him!!!

Michael Kamilos led the posting of the colors with Benjamin being the color guard.

 Mom played the opening song, "America the Beautiful", and Hyrum led the music.  Joseph gave the opening prayer.  Bishop Deryn Young was the Master of Ceremonies and talked with Hyrum about being a "Following Jesus" Eagle Scout.

Our Bishop, Deryn Young

Parent recognition -- Joseph was the escort

 Hyrum Richardson and Michael Kamilos sang "Called to Serve" as a special musical number.  Accompanied by mom, Connie.

Hyrum & Michael

 Mom (Connie) was honored to pin on Hyrum's Eagle  Scout Badge!!!  Pretty cool!

 Hyrum pins on the Eagle Mother's Pin on mom's "mother's sash."

 Dad, Vernon, gives some remarks about Hyrum and how amazing he is and then reads a poem that was adapted from a poem Grandpa Richardson wrote when Vernon became an Eagle Scout and from a Madrigal Tribute that Vernon wrote this past fall.

  

Hyrum – The Eagle Scout

To my son Hyrum it used to be

we’d play ping pong, basketball, and chess

Any kind of competition

to see just who was best

 

You used to let me win a few.

But lately I can’t get any passed by you.

Your field of play has changed from beating your old man

To shining in all you do.

 

The best saxophone in concert and jazz

Soloing in Carnegie Hall with some pizazz

Acting and grades, not much you can’t do.

You’ve made mom and me so proud with you.

 

But today we congratulate

As now arrives this special date –

It’s good to say or even shout

Hyrum Jay the Eagle Scout!

 

You’ve grown and learned lots of things –

Whatever now the future brings,

You’ll be prepared for come what may.

To meet life in a better way.

 

Shine on, my son, shine on.

We’re your most devoted fans hereon.

by Vernon Jay Richardson

Hyrum and Bishop Young

Hyrum's table of accomplishments.  

What an amazing young man!!!

HYRUM'S FRIENDS

Erin and Hyrum

Kathy and Hyrum

Hyrum and the Collins Boys -- also Eagle Scouts

Hyrum and Michael -- also an Eagle Scout

Hyrum and his support group

Hyrum and Carter

Hyrum and Jonathon

Hyrum and the Collins Kids

Hyrum and Jamie Collins

Hyrum and Hannah

Hyrum and Sami

Hyrum and Dylan

MAY 18, 2012 -- FRIDAY

MASON AND RACHEL

This week, I laid out Mason's clothes for him and asked him to get dressed and then left the room.  A little while later he came running into me and said, "I Did It!!!!"  We were so excited!  We have so many helpers around that he doesn't have to dress himself, so it is time we give him that opportunity!!!  Yeah Mason!

"I DID IT!"

Today, Rachel was out riding the "ripstick" and she took a crash at the bottom of the hill on the black top of the cul-de-sac.  It was a big wipe out!  When she was ready, we cleaned it with peroxide and and bandaged her up for the night.  She did some major "Whoopin' and Hollarin'" as we used the peroxide!!!  She loved the attention!!!

My "boo boos"

"Does it hurt?"  YES!

Rachel is a "whoopin and a hollarin"