May 2023 - Spartan Race, End of School Year

The sixth graders had a field trip to BizTown, where they had different jobs for the day, such as bank CEO, scientist, radio host, and many others. Ever was a big-wig with Wells Fargo. The kids were supposed to dress professionally, but she refused and instead sported leggings and her SD Wave / Kaiser hoodie. Lucy Bowen and Ella Herrell twinned in business casual sweaters.  

Tiny's storage-depot bed is wildly unacceptable. 

The Littles got an amazing letter from cousin Gunnar.

Tiny and Jim took a sweet Sunday nap together. 

Draft of a written-just-for-fun talk by Bear:

Tiny used the holes in her pants as a pencil holder. 

Wren's friend Sienna from school had a birthday party at Alga Norte Aquatic Center. Wrenzy's in the long-sleeved blue swimsuit on the inflatable.  

Tiny, in her matching swimsuit, took on the high dive.

Jim and the girls served me an amazingly delicious waffle for Mother's Day, served with flowers even!

Presents from Sweet Bear. 

And Tiny gave me a sweet bracelet and a Target gift card. 

For Mother's Day, I requested an afternoon walk. Tiny picked up all sorts of odd trash and carried it the whole time.

Jim had gifted me a Spiralizer years before, and my failure to take it out of the box was a running joke. He finally decided to get inspiralized and make zucchini noodles (and, while he was at it, some curly fries) for our Mother's Day dinner.    

They were OK, but nobody ever asked for them again. Turns out zucchini is not the same as pasta, notwithstanding what people say. 

At pickup time, Tiny and her friend Kaia Johnson showed off the creations they had made that day in school. 

Ever got her Girl Scouts bronze award. The girls collected donations of shampoo, toothbrushes, and other items for kids in need in the area. Each girl was supposed to put in something like 20 hours. Ever helped write a letter, and I took take her to a few hotels so she could solicit shampoo donations. She did a good job talking to people, but no donations resulted. She went with Leela to pick up donations from a hair salon. 

Definitely Ever did not put in enough hours, but Jodi Tran (former super Girl Scout, mother of Kylie in Ever's troop, and person who headed up the bronze award) wanted her to get the award anyway. 

I caught Berry doing some leisure reading in one of the children's scripture story books while sporting a lovely bubble braid. 

Tiny's Girl Scout troop made nature-inspired wall-hangings. 

Tess and Rue Hawkins did the kids' Spartan race in Big Bear again with us. This time we had registered Tiny and Ever. Berry didn't want to do it, even though last year she and Tiny both jumped in the race when only Ever was registered.  

Ever took this picture while checking her hair with my phone after putting her headband on. So great. 

Sam supplied the under-eye paint. 

Hauling a heavy sack up up a hill was one of the hardest parts. Tiny struggled and struggled and ultimately (at least the second time around - they did the course twice) had to get help. 

Wrenzy jumped in briefly to climb over this thing.

Tess said on the way to the race that everybody just had to stay together, and that seemed like a nice plan. But Ever didn't slow down and walk enough to stay with Tess, who got super bitter. I felt bad about that. She was going really slow, though. Tiny stayed with her while the others went on ahead. 

Tiny did a nice job getting up these things that were quite tall for her

The super-hot tunnel is not the highlight.

Ever finished strong.

As did Tiny and Rue.

The whole successful gang.

Tiny's class went on a field trip that ended at the park. 

Ryan, Vanessa, Kaia, and Tiny

Because Tiny's class with Mrs. Haseyama was a combo kindergarten/first grade class, they did a graduation ceremony on the last day for the kindergarteners, but the whole class participated. They walked in to "Pomp and Circumstance" and then sang a couple songs. The first graders got put in the back, which was understandable except that Tiny was the smallest of everyone and therefore invisible. I moved to the side of the room where she was so I could see her.