New Office Manager and Other Delights

Joe hired another part-time office manager. I've been training her for the past two weeks. We've worked together 7 days with the holiday weekend and whatnot. I will be ecstatic when she is trained and I only have to work 4 hours most days. Maybe I'll have the time and energy to clean the house, make dinner and work on my writing projects.

I've done no writing for the past month and a half. I wasn't able to go to the writing group the last 2 times because I had to work through it. I haven't even started on my next writing project that's due June 21. Maybe I should get started?

By the time Saturday rolls around I feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck. I think I should convert to Judiasm, then Saturday could be my day of rest and I could get some work done on Sunday. Then I'd have to be done with work and be home by sunset on Friday, wouldn't I? Maybe I won't convert.

OK, enough complaining. Since the last time I wrote:

Amber - had her last elementary school choir concert. The choir sang songs Mrs. Robinson, the chorister, likes because she's retiring this year. Miss Marchant, the pianist, is looking for someone to be the chorister next year, so the choir can continue. I hope it does. Amber has sung in the choir the last five years and enjoyed it. Meagan and Cameron were both in the choir for a couple of years, too.

Yesterday Amber got 2 awards at school: one for perfect attendance and the Presidential Award for Scholastic Achievement. David and I had no idea Amber had perfect attendance at school until she got the award. Amber didn't get an award for reading the insane amount of minutes she read during the school year because she never turned in her minutes. The top reader got an award for reading 14,000 minutes (233.33 hours) during the school year. I'm sure Amber read at least that many minutes. Silly Amber.

Jarom - got to go to the Jr. High's Awards Ceremony. He got the Presidential Award for Citizenship, the Presidential Award for Scholastic Achievement and Top 9th Grade Quest Social Studies Student. He is quite the scholar. Jarom also got 3 of his pictures in the Art Show: a pastel parrot, a colored pencil seascape and a colored pencil mountain. Not the dragon picture he posted on Facebook, he didn't get it done in time.

Wednesday Jarom went to 9th Grade Lagoon Day. His friend Cody didn't go, so he hung out with Rachel, Justin and Lincoln. Jarom's favorite ride was the Wild Mouse. He had $13 to spend on food and spent $6 of it. He got a soft pretzel and a cinnamon roll. Can you tell what his favorite food group is?

The High School Seminary invited the 9th Graders to breakfast on Thursday, so I dropped Cameron and Jarom off at the High School at 7:20am. Breakfast supposedly started at 7:00. By the time Cameron and Jarom got there, only 10 other students had arrived and they were just setting up. Cameron and Jarom walked over to the school to pick up Cameron's yearbook and by the time they got back, all the pancakes were gone. Luckily another teacher had pity on them and gave them some doughnuts. Cameron and Jarom stayed at the High School until 2:00, spending most of their time in the courtyard. They both got sunburned. Friday they planned better and put on sunscreen.

Cameron - I'm glad Cameron likes hanging out with Jarom now. They're best buds. Looking back, it seems Cameron finally decided Jarom was OK after Amber was born and Jarom was no longer the center of attention.

A couple of weeks ago Meagan and I went to a RS Brunch at Sister Baron's house. Sister Baron, who I hardly know (she's from the new part of the ward), told me, "My daughter says that your older son is the most intelligent person she's ever met, and that's saying something because she's pretty smart herself." I came home and told Cameron and he blushed. Apparently Sister Baron's daughter knows Cameron from riding the bus to GTI, but Cameron's not sure if he knows who she is.

Cameron's friend Chris who lives across the street is moving this summer. They usually walk home from school together. Walking almost 2 miles everyday has been good for Cameron. I'm glad Cameron will have Jarom to walk home with next year.

Meagan - is still recuperating from her car wreck 3 weeks ago. Yesterday the physical therapist told her, "This is about the point where I tell patients they're going to survive. We're not going to have to take you out back and shoot you." Meagan laughed. Meagan's feeling better and taking half the ibuprofen and muscle relaxants she was taking right after the accident.

Today we got the check in the mail from Am Fam for the damage our car got. A couple of days ago I found out I could have gotten a rental car paid for by Am Fam. Since my car is still driveable, I don't know why I would have gotten a rental car. One of David's friends told him we should hire a collision attorney. I told David, "Why would we want to do that if the insurance company pays for Meagan's medical bills and the damage done to our car? That's all we want." David agreed with me.

Meagan is also being very crafty since school got out. She's made 2 tote bags, 2 quillows and a bunch of headbands. I told her she should open an Etsy shop. She told me one of the blogs she follows has a list of what to do when you open an Etsy shop - things she learned the hard way. I guess Meagan has already been thinking about it.

David - is waiting for me to get off the computer. So I guess I better. It's his turn now.