Second Week of Summer School

 We've been MIA from church for a while due to our busy Summer. But at church on Sunday, Rayleigh received the most beautiful heart necklace from her sweet teacher, Sister Graves, and a super kind note that really touched our hearts! Sister Graves is the most loving, compassionate, kind, friendly person in the whole world. Everyone needs a Sister Graves in their life!

We spent the rest of Sunday being sooooo lazy. I mean, next level lazy with 3 rounds of movie watching and everything.

But Monday was picture day and we all did our best to look snazzy. 

Wednesday I was in charge of bunco for Relief Society. Jill agreed to host so I brought the kids over to play while we got things ready. We played outside and it was fun to be together and play bunco again. 

Thursday my heart broke into a million pieces when Ray came home crying because Jillian wasn't being friendly to her anymore and the boys she's been hanging out with were saying unkind things to her. I cried with her and did my best to listen and say the right things. No one deserves to feel this way- but especially Ray who is always so kind and compassionate. She was trying to talk to Jillian at lunch and she just kept walking away from her. So she ended up crying in the bathroom and when the bell rang, her teacher told her to go to the office where she laid down and was so sad for a while. The office called me and I wished more than anything that I could have taken her pain away. But, that's what Christ's atonement is for and I told her that.

Luckily, we had a fun pool party to attend that night so it was a good distraction for her. Desiree invited us all over to her pool to eat dinner and make s'mores. Zach made the kids hot dogs and tacos for the adults and it was so nice sitting out in the warm evening hours, chatting, and sharing in our friendship. It really helped ease my pain for Rayleigh. And the s'more were delish.

Friday, Ray said the boys apologized. And after trying to connect with Jillian's mom (who was avoiding me because she thought I was trying to schedule a play date and she's just "too busy to be social"), I let her know I was worried about Ray's feelings and she agreed to talk to Jillian. We'll see.... I know girls can be mean and it gets tough around this age. But my heart just can't handle it.

Ella, on the other hand, is living her best life. Amelia invited her out with her sister and her 4th grade friends (Shannon has been feeling similarly to me and is trying to get the girls in 4th grade to bond). But she took the girls to the mall to shop at Clarie's and then out to dinner at BJs. Ella has been rubbing it in my face that she got her own pizzookie. When I picked her up around 9:30 she was dancing and having a ball! So fun! Shannon is the best!

Saturday, since Tanner was in Laughlin for some team building with his employees, I took the kids to San Clemente. We went to the outlets and the boys walked around and admired all of the cool cars at the car show while I took the girls to Chick A Lay. Then we took the shuttle down to the beach (it was super crowded due to Ocean Fest) and waited to meet Emerald, Parker's new love interest.

Well, let me tell you, Parker is winning at life right now. He met this girl online through friends of friends. She's been pretty into Parker, talking to him a lot and being cute. They set up this date to meet weeks ago and he was soooo nervous. But he met her at the shuttle stop right by the pier and he was such a gentleman! She came with her parents because she is semi famous with over 330k followers on Instragram and she's a drop dead gorgeous model. Her special talent is contortion and she's been on many shows and in many movies. She's adorable and they immediately set off on a walk down the beach while I stayed to chat with her parents. Both of them are so chill and so nice. They are both only children and so is Emerald- so she has no aunts or uncles or cousins. Our big family was pretty entertaining, I think. Anyhoo, I said to the mom, "Well, I have to go. Is that weird that I'm leaving Parker with you or are we doing this right? You are chaperoning their first date?" and she goes, "I think we're doing this right!" and we high fived. It was awesome.

I left the kids home alone that night while Parker went to dinner and the San Clemente dance with Emerald. He had the best time and it was cute to hear his conversation with Kimmie late that night after he got home. Kimmie and Jessi were at the dance too and got to meet Emerald and saw how cute they were together. They even got to slow dance! I went out with the school moms to celebrate Gabby and Nichole's birthdays. We went to all you can eat sushi and to Dueling Pianos in Buena Park. It was soooo fun! I might have been a little high on diet coke, but we had a good time.

Tanner was burning up in Laughlin and drove home late that night to be home for church on Sunday morning. He led the young men in a song and then Parker spoke about his experiences this summer. He focused on FSY at Weber and how his testimony of music and song grew. 

Parker is on FIRE and we are having a good summer but I cannot WAIT for our break from school. We are going to have so much fun!!!

A beautiful picture of my mom that Jennie found at the Cottage. It looks like she has a baby on her lap and she's admiring the little darling.