Choices

Sabrina informed me that she didn't want to get baptized when she turns 8 - because then she'll have to listen in church (4/25/10). She said that she knew she'd have to, though. I told her she didn't and that it's a choice she needs to make. So, the next day in FHE I did a lesson about choices. I talked about the why and consequences for our choices. I figured I have a while to discuss this whole thing with her. The next Saturday (5/1/10), I told her she needed to go through her money and figure out tithing. She told me she didn't want to pay tithing, she wanted to keep all her money, and that she knew it was her choice. After talking about the why for tithing and the blessings involved, she said fine. I figured it was just to get me out of her hair. However, the next day, she told Brian she needed to pay her tithing and she brought it down herself. During Easter break, she worked for Grandpa White and earned a few bucks. When we went to pay tithing, she said she wanted to give it all to the church to build more temples. I guess it's her mood on the day you ask her as to what she'll say.

Willy Wonka

Yes, the girls were all in Willy Wonka. An adaptation by Disney for kids. And, of course, a musical. Tailor played Veruka Salt. She was perfect for the part, especially with her 12 year old self. Emily was Charlie Bucket's mother and an Oompa Loompa. Sabrina was a candy kid and a squirrel. Instead of the goose that laid the chocolate egg, there were squirrels and their acorns for Veruka to be mean to. After the Saturday performance, we had a cast party at our house while the other adults took down the set and cleaned up. About 30+ kids. It was a lot of fun. Good thing we have the perfect front yard (the courthouse back yard).

Ski Awards

The girls ended up having a good time at their ski awards. Tailor insisted that she didn’t want to go, she wasn’t going to get an award. I forced her to go. She ended up with 2nd place in 11-12 y.o. girls (neck medal). She also got her coach’s award (trophy). Good thing she made it there. I was surprised that Emily didn’t get an age group award since by the end of the season she was skiing about the same as her buddy Julia who got 2nd place. Then she got the most improved skier award (trophy – 2nd year in a row). It was based solely on times. She missed two of her races due to her GATE program. That meant her first races were included in the times, and they must have been pretty lousy. Sabrina, being on the development team, didn’t get any awards. However, we’ve had a difficult time convincing her that to be on a racing team she has to go around the gates, not straight down. She was enthralled by the trophies. She asked how she could get one next year. Daddy told her that she has to go around all the gates from the top of the hill to the bottom. She asked if she’d get one even if the other person was faster than her. We told her she’d have a chance. Another local paper picture.

Elementary School Musical

Similar to the High School Musical, but without the drama, campy music and gag me acting. So no, not really similar at all. Emily was in a class play/musical. It was about California gold history called, “Gold Dust or Bust.” It actually turned out quite cute. Better than I was expecting. She got into the local paper and everything. I'll have to try to scan the picture and post it as well.

Now, back to my Sabrina. When she gets an idea stuck in her mind there is just no altering. She decided she wants to go to Chocolate World for her birthday party. Take a few friends with. When I explained that it costs over $1000 just for our family to fly to Pennsylvania and that she couldn’t go there for her birthday, she was very upset. She argued with me all the way to school. You see, she doesn’t WANT to go to the pizza parlor or the bowling alley for her party. But if she can’t go to Chocolate World, she did decide that Golfland would work. Got a little ticked at me when I told her none of her friends’ parents would let their kid drive 4 ½ hours to the Bay Area for mini-golf. So, I told her what her options were. Nearly in tears, she exclaimed, “It’s MY birthday and you're giving ME options?!” At school, it took her 10 minutes to get out of the car. She took so long, the bell rang to go to class. I did get out of her that she wanted me to walk her to class. By the time we got there, her teacher had already started (she starts early), so I wasn’t about to follow her in. She walked through the door and never looked back. I heard from her teacher the next day (saw her in the drugstore – the fun of living in a small town) that she was at her desk in tears. Sabrina told her it was because her mom didn’t give her a hug and a kiss. And no, her teacher’s hug and kiss would not be good enough. She may get stubborn and hard to reason with, but after an argument, she needs to make sure you still love her.

Social Butterfly

I haven’t written about Emily yet. Yes, she’s my most even tempered, easy going one, so there isn’t always a lot of stuff to write. Today she is my social butterfly. Yesterday, after school, she went to friend Leta’s house. She’s spending the night there. Then the two of them are going to friend Anna’s house for a turtle club meeting from 11-1. This is Emily’s first time at the meeting. They decided if they only let turtle owners be members, it would be a very small club. They’re really just coming up with an excuse to have a play day. I can still call it that. Once Tailor hit 6th grade, I got in trouble for calling it that. It was then called “hanging out.” Anna’s mom will serve something for lunch. Brian, Tailor, Sabrina and I are going to Reno. Tailor has temple baptisms at 4pm. So, after the turtle meeting is over, Anna’s mom will take Emily to friend Autum’s birthday party that starts at 1:00. Autum’s mom said she’d keep Emily until we get back from Reno. They’ll feed her dinner and everything. So, she’s going to 3 different friends’ houses today for playdays. I have a feeling she’ll be glad to go to bed tonight!

Sabrina's report card

Her report card got a little better. There’s only one thing that has a checkmark on the “Experiencing Difficulties.” That’s her “Written Expression.” Of course there are two categories her teacher checked on the border of “Meets Expectations” and “Experiencing Difficulties.” That’s her “Comprehension” and “Listens to and Follows Directions.” The best, though, is what her teacher wrote in the comments. “Sabrina’s reading has greatly improved this trimester – thank you for all your hard work. Sabrina has a lot of creative ingenuity and uses it quite well when it’s something she is interested in or has control over. Otherwise she shows little or no interest.” I think it sums up Sabrina well. If she likes it, she does it. If she doesn’t like it, as little work as possible to be done – including not actually reading anything, guessing on everything works for her. Her reading has improved so much that she’s not testing borderline reading recovery anymore. Of course, that’s because she likes reading now – occasionally.