Muskingum Valley Outstanding Student & Teacher Recognition

Sean was honored for his "Outstanding school performance by a 2011 West Muskingum High School graduating senior" by the Muskingum Valley Education Center along with outstanding seniors from four counties - Muskingum, Morgan, Coshocton, and Perry. (Matt also won this award when he was a senior.)

On his award it states,

"Your creative, academic, and personal achievements have brought distinction to not only you, but to your local school district and Muskingum Valley as well. As educators, we take pride in recognizing your accomplishments, knowing that you will embrace the challenges of the future with confidence and optimism.

"Those who have motivated and inspired you throughout your school career have the assurance that you will maintain a dedication to life-long learning. Our support will remain with you as we offer you best wishes for continued success."

Let me say once again that it is humbling to be a mother of such amazing children. And I have five of them!

Les Miserables

An anxious Sean and Mom!
In the exquisite Ohio Theater!
Sean with Madame Thenardier

Les Miserables - the new stage version - came to the Ohio Theater in Columbus. I have anxiously awaited its arrival since November!

The ladies at the office gave Lyle a ticket for his Christmas present. Lyle and I gave Sean a ticket for his 18th Birthday present. I just got a ticket because... I'm spoiled!

We had a such great time. We thoroughly enjoyed some fabulous Japanese Steakhouse food before the show and then had a spectacular time listening to and watching all of the amazing talent on stage!

Sean listens to the Les Mis music on his Ipod all of the time. He has sung some of the songs (note November post). He was inspired!

The staging was so incredible, but we really were impressed by the 'sewer tunnel' scenes and the Javier Soliloquy - jumping into the river! What they can do!

Every time I see this I am taken back by Victor Hugo's understanding and presentation of Justice versus Mercy.

Lyle told the ladies in the office the next day that if they died without seeing Les Miserables, they had not lived! I whole-heartedly agree! Yvonne went to her computer and bought herself and her husband a ticket for the next night. She thanked Lyle later.

Journaling Sean's statement

Last night I was up late -- 1 am -- with Sean. He was doing homework (and I just hate to go to bed before he does -- especially since he gets up much earlier than I do every morning for Seminary). He has really had lots of homework this entire Senior year. He still maintains his 4.0, is ranked #1 in his class, and is sitting for several AP tests in May. He is very dedicated. Lots of things come easy to him, but if they don't, he isn't afraid to put in the time and hard work to learn what he needs to.

This incident happened on Wednesday. After school he had track practice, an AP Government study group, he stopped on his way home from school (as he does every day) to clean the laundromat, he gulped down some dinner and headed to young men.

Anyway... as to the statement.

I had just said that I hated that he was up so late studying yet again. And he said to me,

"Mom, I am not willing to sacrifice doing the things that I want to do and am involved in. I am not willing to sacrifice taking the classes that I want to take. And I am not willing to sacrifice getting the grades that I want and expect to get. The thing that I am willing to sacrifice is a little sleep. I'll be just fine!"

Sean's Feeling Good! FBLA Convention

(If you double click on the picture it should maximize it.)

Sean was coaxed and coaxed by the WMHS Future Business Leaders of America club presidency (and by his mother) to compete at the State FBLA Conference in the talent portion. He finally agreed and here is his performance. He wasn't very happy that his voice kept cracking. I thought that he overcame it pretty well, though. I am sure that he learned that if he wants to sing a song with this range at 9 a.m. he probably will have to try to warm his voice up better. He still was phenominal. And he placed second. Lots of his friends as well as his dad, who got to attend, thought he sang equally as well as the first place finisher - or better. THANKS, SEAN!

Time spent with Brooklyn, Camryn, and Kendyl (as well as Nic and Steff)!

Brooklyn's To-Do List for my visit. Camryn made a list also, which contained the same things, luckily!
Kendyl on the purple dragon at Kangaroo Zoo!
Camryn and Brooklyn bouncing for fun!
Do you think she is enjoying this? And Camryn can't wait!
Camryn and Brooklyn.
This is a STEEP slide!

Brooklyn and Camryn waiting for Kendyl so she can slide down the other side with them!
Brooklyn is so extremely helpful with her little sister! It was truly impressive!
The Nana helping Kendyl up the very steep steps!
Brooklyn aiming in the Blast Zone! I believe she was trying to hit her mother!
Here, Brooklyn is trying to 'nail' me! Camryn is shooting at Kendyl and Steff.
Kendyl and Steff
Kendyl can do anything her big sisters can do!

Utah trip March 3 - 10, 2011

Brooklyn shared her Nana's To-Do List! This list provides us an opportunity to accomplish lots of fun things! No sooner had I arrived from the airport than we had our coats on headed for dinner at McDonald's and time at the Playland! Other events on the list: Movie Night - we watched Tangled, Eating Banana Splits, Playing outside - one afternoon was perfect for swinging and hide 'n' seek, Bouncing at Kangaroo Zoo, and Swimming at the Rec Center! We managed it all!

Girls Get-together and Baby Shower

All of my sisters - Karla, Sheri, Karen, Leslie, Colleen, Laurie, Yvett, plus Logan & Lora.
Mom - busy at the kitchen sink!
Crafting away - Britany, Laurie, Shawnie, Angie, Karen, Leslie, and Karen.
Angie assists Laurie with her masterpiece vegetable basket - sweet potato, kholrabi, and turnip flowers.... amazing! Too pretty to eat, but too yummy not to.
Front row: Nichole, Beckah, Britany, and Angie.

Middle row: Steff, Heather, Ashley, Melanie, JeNeal, Karen, Sheri, Laurie, and Shawnie.

Back row: Karla, Yvett, Leslie, and Colleen.
The ladies with child! Lora and daughter, Steff and son, Ashley and son. Lora is due March 31, Steff is due May 25, and Ashley is due April 12!
Shawnie, the good sport, during a stupid baby shower game.
The silky, fabulous blankets that Great-Grandma Schenk quilted.
Cute swimming trunks for Hudson!

I got to fit in a trip to Utah to celebrate my mother's birthday and enjoy a baby shower for Lora, Ashley, and Steff! Of course, I spent the bulk of my time with Nic, Steff, and girlies - which is always so much fun!

Karla invited all of us girls to her home in Logan, Utah, for our 'girls get-together'. She has such a beautiful home with plenty of room. I appreciate her letting us be there and getting everything all organized for us!

As far as the birthday party went, I'm afraid that we didn't do much celebrating for mom's birthday, but really she didn't want a fuss made over her anyway. She did bake a cake for us all to enjoy??! I'm not sure how we let that happen. She just loves to have everyone together. I can't think of much that I love more than spending time with my mom and my sisters. We were all there: Mom (JeNeal), Karla, Laurie, Leslie, Sheri, Karen, Yvett, Colleen, and me. Then we had most of our 'out-of-high-school' (because that is the requirement!) daughters there: Lora, Shawnie, Britany, Angie, Heather, Nichole, Beckah, Ashley, and Steff (for a little while). We missed Jenn and Katie! Hopefully they can come next time!

We spent time just visiting, eating fabulous food, watching movies, Zumba-ing, Sewing/making fun 'Anthropology-inspired' flowers and necklaces, visiting, eating fabulous food, playing baby shower games, and opening baby shower presents. LOTS OF FUN!

Steff brought Brooklyn, Camryn, and Kendyl as well as her mother to be part of the baby shower. Grandma Clark, Pam, Patti, Tonya, Lilly, and Jessica came. Lora's mother also was there.

IT WAS A GOOD TIME!!! Thanks everyone!

Averi's 2nd Birthday!

Averi loved her presents - each and every one of them. I really love to watch her open gifts! She seems to savor every moment. She exclaims her delight in such a cute way and then instantly wants to play with that present! She has to be coaxed to move on to the next package to open. I find that very refreshing! She opened her hat and backpack from Sean and Tanner; then she left it on the whole evening until she opened her 'Belle' dress!
Little 'Belle' ready to have a tea party!

Blowing out her two candles on the cake that her mommy baked and her daddy decorated.