Mary's Awesome Fantastic Show and Other Montessori Mary Awesomeness

Mary's grandparents happened to be in town for this--

What luck!!  Each year Anna's Extended Day class learns a number of songs, dances, and plays which they perform at the end of the school year.  It's an entire hour of entertainment by one class!

(Extended Day is the Montessori equivalent of kindergarten.  The children spend the morning with the 3-4 year-olds.  Before lunch the younger kids go home, and the 5-6 year-olds stay for the whole day.  They solidify their individual reading, writing, and math skills; take on additional responsibilities in the classroom; continue to work on geography, science, music, painting, and sewing; go on outings; undertake class projects like cooking together or preparing for this performance; research various topics together or individually; and build friendships.  It's such an amazing and special year.)

Mary and her friend Nora named this year's performance "Fantastic Show!"  They all worked together on the invitation.  (Mary drew the little scene at the bottom left side--it's of the Jumping Beans play with her as the housekeeper with a kerchief on her head.)

Greg, David, Grammy, and Grandpa Steve attended the show on Friday.  Then Grandma Evie, Grandpa Mike, Sara, and I attended the show (and ice cream social) on Monday.  It was fantastic!!  Really, it was remarkable.  I was stunned.  They performed so many plays and sang so many songs and did a variety of dances from around the world!

I rarely video record much.  A few snippets here and there.  But this I really, really, really wish I had recorded the entire thing, start to finish (with a high quality camera) because it was so amazing and joyful.  Sigh. I do have a video of Mary starring in the Jumping Beans play HERE, "Fried Ham" HERE, a clip from a silly "Singing in the Rain" song HERE, and a clip from "Move to the Groove" HERE.

Best of all (for this momma), was that Mary shone.  She simply shone!  She was entirely in her element performing and serving as a leader of the class.  I was blown away.  I think my jaw was on the floor.  (And tears were definitely in my eyes.)  I knew Mary was happy (very happy) at school.  But I had underestimated the extent to which Mary was excelling and the amount of confidence and leadership she developed.  It was like I was seeing the REAL Mary.  The reserved, uneasy Mary was nowhere to be found.

After Monday's performance, we all celebrated with an ice cream social.  Mary loved being with her friends.  It was a love fest among the kindergarten girls!  Meanwhile, numerous people came up to me and commented on what a great dancer Mary is.  None of the video clips do it justice, but, trust me, that girl can DANCE.  And I had no idea!  Sure, I knew she could follow directions in ballet.  But, like I said earlier, my jaw was on the floor when I saw her really performing.  (Is this bragging?  It's not meant to be.  But when I am blown away by the awesomeness of my offspring, I have to write it down!  Perhaps I should stop being so surprised by their awesomeness.)

I was sure to get pictures of Mary with her teacher and assistant.  Mary was with them for three years.  What a special bond she has with them.

Mary and Kim W the class assistant.  Kim lovingly cared for Mary for three years.

Mary and her teacher Anna.  What a gift for teaching Anna has.  She is amazing.  She saw Mary for who she is, and Mary simply blossomed with Anna's love, experience, and nurturing.

It was an emotional afternoon for me.  I think I cried the whole time.  Call me crazy, but I really believe God led us to that school and that Anna needed to be in Mary's life. It's difficult to see something that has been so amazing for your child coming to an end.   It's especially difficult since we decided not to send Mary to a Montessori school next year.  (I know she will be fine, even excel, in a traditional school.  She will even shine--in that quiet, teacher's-pet, perfection kind of way.  But will she really shine?)

Since we are on this Montessori school subject, and I'm not sure I can emotionally handle revisiting it again in another post, I am going to go ahead and post the pictures from Mary's final Go-to-School-Night.  It happened back at the beginning of May. Greg and I had to split up that night, since we had a busy evening.  But since I had opportunities throughout the year to observe and help in Mary's class, I sent Greg with Mary.  He took these pictures.

Mary works on drawing and labeling a bird.  

Wherever Mary is, her best friend Brooke is too.  Those two are inseparable!
 (Brooke is working on tracing and coloring metal insets.)

Mary works on her cursive. 

Mary works on math with the bead frame.  She is able to work with really large numbers this way.

Anna checks in with Mary.  She gives her a little reminder when Mary gets stuck.

This girl loves her work!

A final word on Mary awesomeness--and, don't worry, this isn't about school.  Most of the weekend was centered on David.  It was David, David, David all weekend long.  But she was a real trooper.  She was definitely a little jealous of the book we made for David.  And, even though she was trying really hard to be strong, she did shed a few tears after David's baptism.  She said she wanted to be baptized now--but they were sweet, sincere tears.  But over all, she really hung in there.  She was excited for David and supportive of him.  She was helpful and happy.  I know she drives him crazy, but he is very blessed to have Mary as his sister.  I also have to give another shout out to all the grandparents for coming!  With everyone here, there was always someone available to make Mary feel special.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to you all for coming.  It might have been Mary who needed you here even more than David.

Sara's Usual Awesome Cuteness

When the grandparents came out for David's awesome weekend...

BONUS!  Cute baby granddaughter to cuddle!

Grandma Mike loved being with Sara!

Grandma Evie loved being with Sara!

Grammy loved being with Sara!

Grandpa Steve loved being with Sara!
(Wrapped in your arm while you work on the computer?  That's where Sara spends her babyhood.)

A few more pictures ...

My parents arrived just before David's party.  They drove down from the airport and met us at Cave of the Mounds.  And they quickly took Sara off my hands!  (It was great to have their help.)

Grammy enjoyed being with her girls!

And the girls enjoyed being with Grammy!

Grammy with the "twins"!

Proud Grandpa Steve and his sweet little granddaughter

Sara-love isn't only for grandparents!  Here cousin Mikhael takes a chance to cuddle with cute Sara.

Sara is one loved baby!

Other Birthday Weekend Awesomenes

Saturday evening, after the birthday party, it was time for more festivities!  David opened some of his birthday presents, including a little Lego set from Mary that he had wanted so badly he almost died of happiness when he opened it.  (Way to go, Mary.)  We also grilled brats, and, as entertainment, Mary convinced her grandmas to join her in dancing to "Move to the Groove."  (Have I mentioned the force of Mary's personality when she gets an idea in her head?  Like having her grandmas move to the groove with her?)

Sunday morning, before church, we enjoyed a brunch of Wisconsin cheeses and crackers and Danish kringles from Racine.   Then David had a few more gifts to open that morning, including an I Am a Child of God pillowcase and a fluffy white CTR towel from Grammy.  (I wrapped him in that special towel when he came out of the water after his baptism.)  Greg and I also gave him a special book.  In the month or so before his birthday I put together a book (over 250 pages!) with letters, pictures, and stories from his life and his family's life.  There were letters to him from his parents and grandparents, as well as pictures and stories of his ancestors. I also included our adventures and pictures from when we lived and traveled abroad with Baby David.  And I also included some more recent thoughts and pictures (which I dug up from my blogs).  It was a big undertaking.   (And, yes, we will do it for Mary too! And Sara!)  It was wonderful for me to reflect on David, his life, and his family.  (A big thank you to mine and Greg's parents for their submissions!)

My dad reads to David the story of George and Fanny's long, long journey from England to Salt Lake City.

David and my dad look for George and Fanny's names on  a ship's manifest, dating May 10, 1943.

After church and David's baptism and confirmation, we gathered for a meal all together as a family, grandparents and cousins included.  We had one final surprise for David--his birthday cake!  

Grandpa Steve helping to put the finishing touches on David's birthday cake.

When I was putting together David's book, I came across this picture of Greg on his 8th birthday (which was also the day he was baptized).  I knew we had to do a "golden plates" cake--referring to the Book of Mormon--for David too!

To top off the birthday weekend of awesomeness, on Monday morning Greg and David took Grammy and Grandpa down to Mineral Point to visit Pendarvis, check out the shops, and eat at the Red Rooster Cafe.  (Grammy has been out to help us so many times--but we usually don't make it too many of our favorite Wisconsin spots with her.  So we're glad Grammy and Grandpa, at the very least, got to visit pretty Cornish Mineral Point.)  Not surprisingly, David's favorite part was seeing this tank as part of a memorial in the public park.

That afternoon we said good-bye to Grammy and Grandpa Steve.  We are so glad they came!  It was a busy weekend, and we so appreciated their support and help.  They have quite a few grandchildren--and they never ever fail to make each one feel special.

My parents were still here, with my dad leaving the next morning.  That evening my dad kindly took us to dinner at the yummy Hubbard Avenue Diner, where we all had dessert too.  (Too much dessert, probably.)  We are very grateful both my mom and my dad came to be a part of our special weekend, and in particular David's baptism and confirmation. What a blessing to have them here.

I definitely think it was a birthday weekend David will never forget!

David's Very Awesome Baptism and Confirmation

David was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, June 9.  It was his 8th birthday.  It was serendipitous the way that worked out.  It was extra special because David's dad was baptized on his 8th birthday too.

It was a very special day.

To make it extra memorable, our bishop (and good friend) accidentally drained the font right before the service!  Oops!  But have no fear, our friends pitched in with buckets to hasten the refilling of the font.  And we didn't end up starting too late after all!

It was a very nice program.  Greg had insisted that I give a talk, so I spoke briefly about baptism, focusing on what Nephi teaches in 2 Nephi 31:16-20 about following the example of Jesus Christ.  Then David's Primary teacher, Juanita W, shared a beautiful message about the gift of the Holy Ghost.  She bore a strong testimony of the importance of living in such a way as to always have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Following the messages shared about baptism and the Holy Ghost, a group of children sang "Baptism."  Singing were David and Mary; Liam and Whitney N; Zach and Tessa R; and Jack W.  Brooke N accompanied them on the piano.  It was so sweet and powerful.  The children sang their testimonies.  The warmth of the Spirit filled the room as they sang.  (You can see a video of the children practicing HERE.  But please note that this was just a practice and the kids knew it.  They were even more serious and sincere and focused when they performed before David's baptism.)

After that short program, David was baptized by his father.  (David was so excited to be baptized--and the water in the font still wasn't particularly deep--that his foot popped out the first time.  So he got to do it again!  All with a huge smile on David's face!)  I met David as he came out of the font.  There has never been a happier kid.  He leaped into my arms and declared that this was the happiest moment of his life.  And it was absolutely sincere and spoken from the heart.

After Greg and David changed their clothes, Greg, David's grandfathers, and the bishop put their hands on David's head and Greg confirmed him a member of the Church and gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost.  David was reminded in the blessing that he has a special gift to feel the Holy Ghost.  It was simple and powerful.

The presence of the Spirit of the Lord was felt so strongly in the room  that afternoon--there was peace and warmth and power.  It was a special, sacred experience.

I cannot say enough about how happy David was.  (Everyone commented on it!)  He was glowing and smiling and giddy and bubbling and bursting.  He was so joyful.

It was wonderful to share the joy with David afterwards.  We had root beer floats for refreshments, and David was congratulated by many people.  We are so grateful for the friends who joined us for the event.  David (and our whole family) felt very loved.  (And thanks to my friends who helped prepare and serve the refreshments!)  David was especially excited to see his good buddy Isaac from school there.  And our cousins Mikhael and Deserae and Elim came to support us.  And, most special of all, David's four grandparents were there to share this special event with him.

To mark the occasion, afterwards we took the requisite pictures.  I have to give a huge thank you to my good friend Shannon for taking pictures!  (It was so nice to not have to worry about bringing a camera and finding someone to take them.)  I am so grateful we have these pictures to remember this happy day.

All the family in attendance!  David has a family who loves him very much.
Grammy, Grandpa, Mom, David, Dad, Sara, Mary, Grandpa Mike, Grandma Evie, Mikhael, Deserae, Elim

David with his family and grandparents.
We are so grateful all of his grandparents made the effort to be here to share this special time with David!

A family picture with our handsome David

 The months leading up to David's baptism and confirmation were a special time for our whole family.  We took time on Sunday mornings to have special gospel discussions.  We talked about baptism and what it really means to follow Jesus Christ.  We talked about the gift of the Holy Ghost and becoming an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Then, using the "What Do I Study and Teach?" section of Preach My Gospel as a loose guide, we discussed the Apostasy, the Restoration, prophets, the Plan of Salvation, and other topics.  Most importantly, Greg and I found many opportunities to testify to David of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's love for him.

There really is something special about turning eight.  A year ago, or even six months ago, I could not have imagined David being capable and responsible and mature enough to make a covenant with God.  But over the last few months, David has matured leaps and bounds.  He developed enough emotionally, mentally, and spiritually to be able to choose to be baptized and confirmed.  Sure, he's growing up in an active Mormon family, so there was little to zero doubt he was going to be baptized when he turned eight.  But when the time came, I know it was David's choice.  It was his sincere and honest desire to make a promise to follow Jesus Christ.  That is why he felt such pure joy when he came out of the font.  Not because he was pleasing his mom or his dad or his grandparents.  It was because he was pleasing God.  He was feeling pure love--love for God and the love of God.  I am happy that I could be there for that moment.  And, as a parent, I am grateful for the opportunity and responsibility to facilitate that moment.  But that moment was truly between David and His Savior.  We were all on the sidelines.

David is a remarkable boy.  He certainly experiences struggles, some quite challenging.  And I will admit that he has caused me and his dad a great (great!) deal of stress throughout his life.  But there is no doubt that he feels close to God.  And I hope he will draw strength from his relationship with God throughout his life.

This kid is awesome.  I love him very much.

David's Awesome Spelunking 8th Birthday Party

We had David's birthday party at the Cave of the Mounds.  How often do you get to have your birthday party at a cave?!  David is interested in science and rocks, so it was a great fit.  The cave is in a beautiful setting, and it was a lovely day--perfect for running around before and after the cave tour.  Plus, grandparents were there to lend a hand in the festivities.  It all made for a great celebration.  Of course, though, the best part was friends.  David has such good friends here in Wisconsin.

Good friends!  Trevor, Ethan, Isaac, David, Mary, Jack, Owen, and Whitney

Silly friends!

Good buddies David and Isaac

Good buddies since kindergarten!  They haven't all always been in the same class.  But they've always been friends.

Sweet Mary enjoyed being a part of David's birthday party

Down, down, down into the cave

Subterranean buddies! (David is going through his rabbit ears phase--bleh.)

Yay for Cave of the Mounds!  Yay for friends!
(Whitney, Owen, Isaac, Ethan, Trevor, David, Jack, Mary)

Mining for gemstones.

Gems!

Friends showing off the fruits of their mining efforts.

Happy birthday to David!

Making a wish.

Enjoying cake.  Yummm.

Hiking up to check out a sink hole on the site.

It was a delightful afternoon.  So delightful that we were all a bit tuckered out.

 So here's a funny tidbit.  I thought we had said the party ended at 3:00, so I kept us on a strict schedule for cake and presents to make sure we ended promptly at 3:00.  Then, at 3:00 I remembered that we had put 3:30 on the invitations as the ending time!  Oops!  We had half an hour and no plans.  And it ended up being wonderful.  The weather was perfect and the grounds are beautiful.  The kids had a great time of unstructured play.  They played tag and follow-the-leader and marched around exploring the sink holes.  It was idyllic.  It was truly a wonderful afternoon.  What a great way to celebrate a great kid.