Life Update

 I feel like life is just flying by lately and although nothing special is going on, I just felt like it was time for a little update on the normal days of our lives. 

Tanner has started High School band practices and depending on the week- he goes to the high school 2-3 days a week after school and practices for 2 hours each time. He's loving it and can't wait for marching season to start. Chris and I have different feelings about it but we are trying to be supportive. Marching band in Bentonville is highly competitive and requires a ton of practice. I don't know that we will see much of our boy when school starts in August. But he can't wait and his enthusiasm is a little contagious. 
We are making him work to earn money to pay for marching band since it cost $650 per year. So he will be mowing lawns and doing other projects to help earn some of that money. But he loves it and that makes it worth it. 
We also got to attend his end of the year concert recently and that was so fun. It's so cool to watch all these kids in band just love playing together. Their love for the art is palpable and its awesome. 

That's about it for Tanner. He's doing well in school and is still serving as the teacher's quorum president at church. He's getting excited for the end of the school year and for all the fun things this summer- including FSY and Young Men's Camp. 

Bailey is also in band still but it's quite as enthusiastic as Tanner. Bailey has been taking almost all advanced classes this year and has discovered they take more effort than she is use to. There are many nights where she does homework for hours but I think it's good for her to learn how to work and study. 

She's still taking sewing lessons and will continue that through the end of the school year. 
She's recently started drawing and that's been a fun talent to watch develop. Tucker really enjoys drawing with her. Sometimes I find them huddled up together drawing together. It's pretty cute and I know Tucker really enjoys the quality time with his sister. 

As Bailey has gotten older her attention has shifted more towards her friends and I think Tucker has really missed the time with Bailey. So it was nice to see the two of them hanging out without being forced to be together. 

Speaking of Tucker,  he's doing great. He loves 4th grade and he loves his teacher. He has a great group of friends and they are so cute together. 

Tucker and Benson both participated in "Running Club" at school and loved that. Sadly, their 5K was cancelled at the last minute due to bad weather. But they still enjoyed staying after school and running with their friends. 

Tucker was also Student of the week at school and so I got to go to the morning assembly to hear that announced and then I also got to have lunch with him. 

I can't believe this boy will be in middle school next school year. I'm not ready for that! 

Benson is the same as always- he's a crazy, happy kid and we love him. He keeps us laughing and busy with all of his made up games and fort building ideas. Currently, Tucker, Dad and Benson are working together during their free time to build a fort in the back yard. They can't wait to hang out in their fort all summer long. Benson is doing well in school and also loved running club. Although if you were to ask him, he would say he doesn't enjoy it. But he does. 

He was also picked as "Student of the week" again, so I got to go have lunch with him again too. 
This is always a favorite for the kids because they get to pick whatever they want for lunch. 

Both crazy boys picked poke bowls this time. They are such weirdos. 

All in all, the kids are doing great. We've been relatively healthy *knock on wood* and they are happy. 

We've been doing super good on our scripture reading and we haven't missed a single school morning since January. We have been able to stay on track with our Book of Mormon reading and that's been so great. 
We are busy with church stuff and school events but I feel like we still make time for the important things and spend quality time together on the weekends. 
Chris is about to finish his ARMY Public affairs class and that will free up so much time for him. I can't wait. I'm busy with my calling at church and I'm still working for Cat part time, but I love it and I am grateful for both my calling and my job.

I'm also so very grateful for my family and the sweet life that we live together. 

So that's the update. School is out in about a month and I can hardly believe it. 
Stay tuned for all that craziness!