January

Other Items of Interest

January is nearly over and we have had some other exciting events around here like registering Kameron for HIGH SCHOOL! That was a swift kick in the gut. I remember it so vividly when I got the jolt about Reilly. An innocently looking letter came in the mail in January when Reilly was in 8th grade and it took me but such surprise that I had a small melt down. I mean you somewhat anticipate things like that happening in the spring but not January. This year I kept reminding myself that it would be coming up for Kameron and not to freak out... so much for that! Instead of an envelope arriving in the mail, I got a phone call while making dinner one night in the midst of our usual evening fray. Again, completely BLINDSIDED!! It really feels like not that long ago that Kameron slept in a little cowboy bedroom and wore superhero pajamas...now he is going to high school. Sigh.

The other night all 8th graders and their parents had registration night at the high school. Kameron is super excited about their engineering program that he can earn college credit for (like father like son) and Band and Jazz band. I convinced him to sign up for French. Woohoo. If the kid is going to take a foreign language it might as well be one a parent can help them with...Tyler took Spanish and all he can remember is how to say "pancakes". That's no help. Parlez-vous francais, I say!!

Here he is annoyed at my sly attempt to document this momentous occasion. Hey, a mom has to do what a mom has to do.

Reilly got a new job!! She is now a CNA at a local assisted living facility and boy does she work hard. Being a CNA is extremely difficult and demanding and not for the faint of heart but she seems to really like it and it is a good opportunity to help her decided between Nursing School and Cosmetology School next year. She has been torn.

The fifth and sixth graders at my kids elementary school had to write essays on what they wanted to be when they grow up, provide career path, and a business plan. Ailey was one of several students whose essay was selected by the faculty and school district. Kids that were selected got to be photographed and have posters made to put up around the school. Since Ailey's future career includes Bryn she got to be photographed as well. She was so excited!! Their poster is so darn cute and hanging in their school!! The secretary in the office and the librarian were giddy to show me. It was hard to get a good non-glare picture but you get the idea.

Bryn also got to help out with another kid's poster... recognize those luscious locks?

They had so much fun at their *photoshoot* and have enjoyed being *recognized* from their posters by the kids at school. Ha Ha!!

Then one day I went out to the mailbox and who do I spy on the front of the monthly newsletter from our school district? Does the trumpet player look familiar?

The kids have had fun with being quasi-famous this month. The missionaries were pretty stoked when they got their mail and were like "Hey! That's KAMERON!!" So funny.

Ailey also got to sing at the Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly. She and her friend, Emily, had a little duet part. Where do these girls get their singing genes from? I would rather die than ever sing any kind of solo or duet!

Elle and Bryn continue to amuse us...they love to dress like twins whenever possible which turns out to be quite often as my mom usually purchases two of the same thing for each of them and they LOVE IT!! Usually at least once a week they want to be twins. I feel bad for their poor kindergarten teacher who can barely tell them apart as is. Ha ha!!

They also request that Ailey to do their hair in all kinds of different styles. This was sock bun day. :)

Speaking of cousins that look alike...check out these two. I was going through some pictures from my Uncle Mike's funeral and found this picture of Kameron and Miley. Don't they look like they could be brother and sister? Miley is my cousin Wendy's darling daughter. It's crazy because I usually think that Kameron looks more like the Johnson side of the family because he looks so much like Tyler. I guess not...those Ellersick genes are strong!!

Cuties!!

January has been fun with a lot going on but I have also had some time to cozy up here and read. Time to read is seriously such a pleasure and it is a bright spot in bleak and cold January.

Next up...you guessed it...book reviews!! I am reading the best book right now and I can barely drag myself away from it. It's a good thing too because we just got a ton of snow last night...boo.