Makeup artist to the stars

Everly was in her first play! 

She did makeup for the lead, Anastasia, and helped with costume changes as the actors transitioned between scenes. I feel like all those dramatic cat-eyes in 3rd grade are really paying off! She's got a steady hand and discerning eye. 

We celebrate with Freddy's!

 

First Day of School

 We are down to the final trio. Megan is taking the semester off of school and building up her bank account while she considers her next move, Mathew is working for a hospital in Rexburg, ID doing IT, and Ethan is happily married to Kassie and working at CED in Sprinville, UT. 

Everly is starting her 6 grade year at CST and pretty excited to be in band and theater. I'm pretty excited to say goodbye to elementary school life! We're movin on up!

Laneybug is a Junior at Olathe South and is confident and self assured. Their class lineup is pretty sweet and after many years of curating and nurturing a solid and supportive friend group, this year is looking promising!

AJ is starting 8th grade and is homeschooling from the start (hooray!). This leaves lots of time for hanging out with mom and saving Mathew's reindeer beanie from getting donated. That was a close call. 

Here goes another school year!

Sunnyside Farewell

This is it. 14 years of Sunnyside Elementary are coming to an end. 

Everly is 5th Grade Graduate!

 She enjoyed taking photos with some of her friends

We watched intentely for her photos to come up on the final slide show. She was clearly the best kid there. 

We really will be so sad to leave Miss Frieberg. She was the perfect mix of love and discipline. 

One final cookie in the cafeteria....

And that's a wrap!

I love her. She is sweet and funny, kind and confident. 

She's ready for middle school!

Hollywood Ending

Once upon a time, we got burned by the mean girls and their mommas. I won't go into detail. 

Fine. 

The details: In Anna's fifth grade year, we found out after the fact that almost the entire grade got together and went to "Day at the K" together, even though the school had stopped organizing it as an official fieldtrip. It was put together by the queen bees and their offspring.  All but a few kids were made aware. So Anna went to school that day only to find out that she not only wasn't invited, she had to sit through a useless day of classes. 

It was a jerk move. 

I may have made my feelings of frustration known on the school facebook page. I was mad and hurt for Anna. 

Fast forward to Everly's fifth grade year! We were tipped off by one of the nice moms that the same thing was taking place. Did we want to get in on it and buy tickets with the group? I had mixed feelings. I suggested that everyone in the grade be invited. A novel idea! I asked Everly if she'd like to go and Mark offered up an alternative plan. 

Would we like company seats in the Diamond Club?

Why yes, that would be PERFECT. And even better? We had four seats. So Anna got a redo and Laney got to take a day off of school. 

Diamond Club seats are FANCY.

They include an all you can eat buffet as well as candy bar, ice cream bar and free ballpark food brought to your seat by a darling waitress that asks you every 10 minutes what else you would like?

It's a kid's dream come true. 

It isn't often that those childhood wrongs are made right. 

And it didn't even require therapy!

Peace out, Day at the K! 

Wax museum #6

Did you know that Mary Hayes was an American patriot? Did you know that she fought beside her husband, cleaning and cooling the cannons, dragging him to to the doctor after he was shot? THEN....she survived a bomb exploding under her feet and kept going with her clothes in tatters. 

Everly new it. And she remembered every word like a pro.

And I can officially donate our wax museum clothing stash!

 

Stand out

We got an invitation to an award ceremony held at 7 AM.

That seemed a little weird. 

But, wouldn't you know it, it was an early morning thing!

So we were in. And Laney rocked the latest 90's style to accept awards in visual arts and geometry. 

 

Sweethearts Dance

 Laney and Cole doubled with Andrea and Jillian to go to the Sweethearts Dance!

I found out this was happening exactly 3 days before the dance and with a combination of thrift store grit and and easy to please kid, we found the dress, shoes and earrings in one after school shopping trip. 

Isn't she beautiful?

Some of my favorite pictures!

When the momarazzi shoot was over, they were off to Texas Roadhouse for dinner and then to the dance. I picked them all up and took them to Andrea's house for an after party. I'm so glad Laney has such good friends and they are making these memories together! 

Summer Bucket List 2023

 The silly string battle is over. It was epic, for sure. I'm so seasoned by now. I've been an elementary school mom for SEVENTEEN years. That's more than enough time to figure out that you gotta get the double pack from Amazon in late April. 

Or your kid is hosed. 

Going into battle unarmed...or worse.

With a dollar store can that runs out in 4 seconds. 

She'll get clobbered.

The battle is over.  And the bucket list looms large. 

We ride at dawn.

The Eternal Band Concert: Megan's Year

At long last...its Megan's year. To be seen, heard and celebrated. 

If only she had known she was actually going to KU when the office asked where she was going to college.  Whoopsie!

It's a pasta bar...and it's not half bad!

That singular moment where they get to say out loud that they have BIG plans. BIG.

Laney in concert band! 

And the very last time we will ever see Megan on stage rocking the percussion. It's been so fun to watch her love her time in band and make such strong friendships. 

Not we settle in with our drawing pads and contraband snacks...it's gonna be long night.

 

Watercolor

Look whose watercolor was chosen by the Johnson County Arts Council to be an actual card that they use and send out! 

I love it!

Megan Hufford - Artist!

Overalls

Some sisters might be annoyed to find themselves twinning as they walk out the door.

These might be those sisters.

But I think they actually love it. They're cool like that. 

Cross Country Anna

 Look at her go!

First day of school!!

 These girls are feeling it!

Everly, 4th grade

Anna, 6th grade

Laney, Freshman

Megan, Senior!

I'd say it went pretty well!