Kids Spotlight: End of 2025-2026 School Year
It’s the end of the school year!
L earned an “All A’s – 4.0 GPA” Award at school that came with a certificate, complete with a nice gold foil stamp on it!
She also got a certificate of Completion for 2 years of Orchestra (through all of Junior High). I’m so happy she was consistent and stuck with something.
It’s the end of Junior High for her. I asked her what she’s most excited about for high school and she said it’s weird because what she’s most excited for is also the most nerve wracking thing too—talking with people, making friends, hoping she doesn’t end up sitting in the back embarrassed from saying the weirdest things. Whoever ends up being friends with her is super lucky; she takes really good care of the people she loves. This month she bought a clay beads set with money she’s earned from babysitting so she could make beautiful gifts for her friends’ birthdays, along with handmade watercolor cards. Since she’s transferring to a new school she’s been so brave with nourishing the friendships she has now and being willing to make all new ones again.
I found out that L also signed up for one or more of the girls camp committees. This means on Sundays she has meetings for her youth presidency to plan regular church activities, a Youth Council with the bishopric and other leaders, and these committee meetings in addition to church. Haha I blame Jer for how our kids are turning out to be so enthusiastic to volunteer.
L is my right hand helper when it comes to Baby Henry. He beams at her daily! She is gaining confidence in all of his cares including baths and diaper changes even after a blowout. I’m so thankful that her kindness allows me to have a break.
After shopping with her I think her style is evolving to be a bit Boho, and I’m totally here for it! Her hair was a little past her hips, and she decided to cut 11.5 inches off.
W got 2nd place out of the whole school in reading the most books the entire year. He read a total of 60 books! His prize was a long tube water toy blaster pump for splashing water while playing in the pool / splash pad.
He has become very particular about his clothing, which I would lovingly describe as “Grandpa Core”. He says that the suspenders are his life and he wants to wear them every single day. I couldn’t convince him to wear something different, though this is toned down from what he originally tried to wear. He says he doesn’t have PE today and doesn’t run around very much anyway. Fletcher says this is now his brother‘s personality.
On the day it snowed (in May of course), I let W finally wear his snow pants with suspenders 😏 But we reached a compromise—no golf cap! He’s wearing a beanie instead.
The last week of school, W reminded me that we never celebrated the boys’ birthdays in class. I realized their half birthdays would have been during December a very crazy time so no wonder it got postponed. They chose birthday treats to share, and when we brought it to school one of the teachers called to W, “Hey Up Man!” “Like the guy from the movie Up!”
During our dental visit, W was the only one with cavities—and 3 cavities at that. We got them filled the morning after school ended! He wanted me to hold his hand while they numbed around his teeth.
F won a dance contest during Field Day at the end of year festivities at school. This kid has some moves and the charisma to match! W says his brother is “hot stuff” at school and that his friends use him as bait because girls flock to him when he’s sitting alone. I almost choked laughing!
He is my sweetheart always checking on me, giving me hugs at bedtime, willing to help with anything right away on the first ask. I feel so lucky as a Mom that he works so hard at being responsible, and it IS work for him! Every weekend this month F has eagerly helped clean the church with his Dad. He regularly asks to hold Baby Henry and is so sweet playing, talking, and singing with him.
The boys got into their first ever physical fight with each other, in our friend’s car during carpool on the way home from school. It was the first time they’ve become so heated that they laid hands on each other. They did have lots of apologies afterwards including to our carpool friend. Jer says it’s been such a hard year for everyone, and they’ve likely gotten on each other’s nerves spending too much time together. F still prefers being with other people than having alone time.
I can’t believe what fortune and joy this little ones bring me. Can I even call them little ones anymore? They are all growing into their own big hearts and minds. I’m super looking forward to seeing them more every day and soaking in the summer with them.
Love, Mom
