May 2022

 May started off with helping out at a memorial for a husband of a friend and co-worker.  He was a musician so his friends put together a musical memorial complete with all his friends performing, a merch table and videos of him performing.  It was a great night to remember Chris Garges.  

I got to help work the merchandise table selling t-shirts and taking orders.  

The best co-workers in the world (Shilpa Pandya and Sarah Melton).  I love working with them.  

May 3rd started off with getting Jeremy new tires. That evening was the band concert at LNC.  I cannot believe another year has gone by.  Avian will be a junior next year - YIKES!!  As always, they sounded amazing.  This was kind of a bitter-sweet concert in that it was Mr. Scaringelli's last concert with the high school band.  He will be full-time at the middle school next year.  The kids are going to miss him but he said he would still be helping with Knight Watch - bonus!

Performing with Knight Watch

Performing with the high school band. 

May 4th I got to help out with the reward for the 7th graders doing so well on their spring MAP tests.  For every point they grew on the reading test they got one water balloon.  For every ten points they grew, they got to pie one of the teachers or Mr. Mavity.  It was a fun day.  So proud of these kids.  We filled 596 water balloons!!!!  In order to make sure everything was cleaned up, and that everyone got something, we handed out popsicles for ten pieces of trash.  The courtyard was cleaner at the end of the day than at the beginning.  

Water-balloon fun

Mr. Mavity and Mrs. Tedder are great sports!!

May 6th we had a rainstorm that was another great argument for getting kayaks.  It poured and poured.  I love Carolina rainstorms!  Avian had volleyball that night and we continued working on the trim.  The downstairs is slowly getting put back together.  

May 7th I started the morning with a walk with Sandra.  Steve had a Woodbadge planning meeting.  Avian and I went to the grocery store when I got home.  They love coming to the store with me because I let them pick out a treat or two.  Anything to get to spend more time with them, even if it is only grocery shopping.  I will take it.  When Steve got home that night we went to Rug and Home to find a new rug for the living room.  Avian was a big help in finding the perfect carpet.  It is soooooo soft and complements everything in the room.  We also found an end table for Steve's chess set and lamp.  It is also a storage for the blankets (and it looks amazing in the room as well).  We are slowly getting things put back together.  

May 8th - Steve was set apart as the Stake Self-Reliance Coordinator.  He is going to be amazing in this calling.  Later that day I Zoomed with Mom so I could play the Thornbirds Theme for her on my violin.  Happy Mother's Day!!!

May 11th Nick got to bring an Audi home to test drive and see if there were problems that needed to be fixed before it could be sold at the dealership.  He was one happy boy!!

May 12th - LAST! DAY! OF! TUTORING!!!!!!!

May 14th - Nick and I tore his room apart to find his retainer.  It had fallen out of his mouth while he was asleep.  We finally found it AND his room got cleaned in the process. I also got the rest of the trim painted!!

May 16th we were finally able to pull both vehicles back into the garage after two months of having to park them in the driveway!!!!

May 17th was the traditional end-of-year band soccer game.  I love watching the band kids just spend time together.  Mr. Scaringelli makes it extra fun by trying different ways to pitch the ball.   This is always a favorite with the kids and everyone attends.  

May 18th we had our new neighbors over for dinner.  Joel and Jessica Lopez (and their dog, Gemma) came over and we had a great night getting to know them better.  We already love having them as neighbors.  They are really fixing up the house and yard.  

May 19th I helped decorate for the 7th/8th grade dance.  I had the arch and left-over balloons from the band banquet and was happy to help out.  Steve came with me after the dance to help clean up.  

May 20th, Avian got a 93 on their math final.  They were really worried about how they would do because this year math has been more difficult for them.  Way to go, Avian!!

May 21st Avian played in a volleyball tournament.  It was fun to watch the team come together and play some really great games.  It was fun enough that Avian asked to play in the summer season as well.  

May 26th Nick was called as the assistant ward clerk for the single's ward.  Way to go, Nick!

May 28th, Avian attended a graduation party for Elaina Yamalis.  There was Greek food and Greek dancing (which Avian was surprisingly good at).  Steve and I stopped in for a bit at the very end to wish Elaina well in all her college endeavors!

May 30th was a chill day.  Avian and I went art supply shopping with Shea and Maddie Wilson.  Avian is going to give Maddie art lessons over the summer.  

Also, my cell phone has been acting up lately and there was an insanely good offer for a new phone, so...  I have a new phone and I am still getting used to it.  I really liked my old phone, but technology keeps marching on even if I don't want it to.  

May 31st Avian had a redo of the green hair and then I attended a fun retirement party for Kim Ribbans.  We are going to miss her expertise at LNC, but she gets to spend more time with her hubby, who is also retired.  

I love driving in North Carolina.  This is on the way to pick Avian up from one of their various activities.  

I can't remember exactly which day was field day, but it was amazing.  The coaches had everything planned out with an Olympics theme.  The classes each chose a country to represent and spent time before field day making a flag to represent their country.  One of the 6th grade classes was Italy and the teacher purchased stick-on mustaches for everyone!  Everything was run so smoothly and the kids really enjoyed themselves.   At the end of the events, the winning class for each grade was awarded a trophy that will be passed to the winner of next years' olympics.  I love this tradition.  

The torch relay

I can't remember what olympic-themed relay this was, but it was fun to watch.  

Me and Karilee Croshaw.  We are constantly being mistaken for each other.  Now we have picture proof of just how much we look alike.  

Avian's art was featured on the LNC art Instagram page.  

School is out and I am chilling!!!! Not a bad way to start the summer.  

April 2022

 

April 1st we celebrated 20 years in our house by pulling up the carpet.  I was amazed by how much dirt was under the carpet and padding.  With three kids and 5 years of teaching seminary, not to mention the countless parties and baby/bridal showers we have thrown, it actually held up fairly well.  

April 2nd we had a baptism for Daniela.  It was fun to be a part of her special day.  I love being on the ward missionary team.  I get to meet a lot of really amazing people.  

Back at home we continued to pull up the tiles.  Avian is helping out in order to earn the money to have their hair died.  They are working really hard, and I think they are having fun using power tools as well.  I was out in the yard pulling weeds and got to meet our new neighbors, Joel and Jessica (and their dog, Jemma).  It is nice to have someone in that house again.  

In between all this activity, I listened to conference with my headphones on.  I love Conference weekend!!!

April 3rd was another Conference day.  We got the rest of the tile pulled up and we all talked to my mom for her birthday (via Zoom).  

April 7th Jeremy came home from school really excited about his new major.  Someone had come to their class to tell them about a brand new major and by the end of class Jeremy was convinced this was his new path.  The major is called WRDS (pronounced "words") and is an acronym for writing, rhetoric and digital studies.  It takes what Jeremy really liked about Communications and combines it with an English major.  He is stoked.  They are also offering a class on how to tutor.  Jeremy signed up for that one as well so he will have a way to make a little extra on the side.  

April 8th was a half day at school and then spring break started!!!!!!

April 9th I spent the morning pulling up the floor, then went to lunch with Jill and then met my committee at the high school to plan the band banquet.  

April 13th we finished with the scraping of the floor.  All the glue was FINALLY gone.  What was left was an awful looking mess.  

The dark grey is the concrete.  The light grey is where the concrete pulled up with the wood.   What a mess!!!!

We then took a small break from the floor to get Steve's office cleared out and ready to go.  Later that night, we poured the concrete compound and floated a new concrete floor.  The only problem was we were stuck downstairs for the night (or until it dried).  We floated our way into the living room instead of up the stairs.  Oh well.  We will know for next time (hopefully there will not be a next time - this was a nightmare).  Eventually, Steve found a really long board and we did a tightrope walk on the board from the living room to the bottom step.  I almost fell, but luckily caught myself just before I would have stepped into the wet cement.  Thank goodness it was dry by the next morning.  

The moment we realized we had floated ourselves downstairs and were cut off from our bed.  

It looks much better though.

April 14th we picked out the new roof tiles.  Everything is happening all at once, but that is what you get with a 20-year-old house.  The floor is ready to go.   The final step was to use a grinder to make sure everything was nice and smooth.  We couldn't have any bumps or depressions or the floor would go in as easily.  Luckily Steve figured out how to attach the grinder to the shop vac so the dust was easily contained.   We went couch shopping so we can eventually have a place to sit down once the floors are in.  We didn't find anything we particularly liked.  

April 15th we took a break from everything.  I got caught up at home with things that really needed to be done.  Steve and Avian went to the gun range and shot Steve's new rifle.  They had a great time.  Apparently, Avian is a really good shot!!

Avian was really good and has a natural talent for shooting the rifle. 

That is a long way to the target and Avian was hitting the center regularly.  

April 16th, the downstairs is cleared out and ready for the floors to go in.  Our garage is full to the brim with all our furniture.  So is the bonus room upstairs.  It was a huge job getting everything ready, but we did it.  I have to give credit to Steve for keeping us focused on getting the task done.  We could not have done it without him.  We also found our couches!!!!!!  Steve and I decided to stop in to Ashley Furniture to just see what they had and everything was on sale and we fell in love with a couch set.  You will have to wait until the floor is done to see it though!!!   

All cleared out and ready to go. 

April 17th was Easter Sunday.  We went to church and came home to make sure the floor was really ready for then next day (INSTALL DAY!!).  We talked with family on Zoom and got ourselves prepared for our return to school/work the following day.  

April 18th - Eduardo started on the floor!!!  Steve sent me pictures throughout the day so I could see the progress.  

The floor is finally going in !!!

April 22 I took Avian to see Kelsey who helped Avian fulfill a dream of theirs.   Avian wanted green hair!!! Since this appointment was 5 hours (we took a half day off of school), I brought my violin with me so I could take it in the violin shop in uptown Charlotte.  I met Jessica at the shop and she was very helpful with helping me make sure everything was just right.   She even gave me some tips on how to hold the bow to get a better sound.  By the time I got back to Kelsey's salon, Avian was all bleached out and ready for the color.   It turned out a lot better than I thought it would.  

The end product!  Avian is very pleased.  You can see a few of the hair clippings on the floor behind the chair.  It looked like someone had dropped grass clippings on the floor.  Funny!!

While Avian and I were off getting their hair done, Steve was at home with hammering going on above him and below him.  Both the roof and the floor at the same time.  

These gentlemen were very fast and efficient.  The new roof is amazing and won't leak anymore.  Things are getting done around here.  

April 23rd, Eduardo finished the floor!  It is amazing and I LOVE it.  

More pictures to come as we get everything put back together.  

After Eduardo finished and we had cleaned up a little bit, we went to find some rugs for the floor.  I had been reading that the rubber-backed rugs will ruin a luxury vinyl plank floor.  You need to have natural fiber rugs.  A coworker told me about a rug store in Kannapolis and we went to check it out.  It was fun looking through all the rugs and we eventually found some throw rugs for in front of the sink and the doors.  

We went to Avian's volleyball game after rug shopping.   It was fun to watch the team interact and see how much they are learning.  

Avian and Sam warming up before the game.  

A final pep talk before the game starts.  

April 25th was the band banquet.  My committee made it a super easy night.  They all showed up early to help decorate and we got it done in record time.  Everything was ready by the time our guests started to arrive.  The food was amazing (City BBQ) and the kids had a great time in the photo booth.  I love doing the band banquet because it is such a fun and informal night. This is the best group of kids and parents.  

Avian and friends posing for a picture in the "photo booth"

We had a large crowd.  Almost every seat was filled.  

Knight Watch 2021-22

Our graduating seniors.  We will miss them.  

April 27th, Avian got to do some dissection in Biology.  Anusha Pandya was their lab partner and I work with Anusha's mom.  She pulled me aside and asked if Avian had told me about the rat dissection.  When I told her no, she pulled up the picture Anusha send of them holding up the rat intestine.  It was longer than they thought it would be and they were shocked.  

Science is so much fun.  Anusha, Andrew and Avian showing off how long a rat intestine is.  

April 29th was the last play that LNC will ever perform (unless they get together a theater club).  The long-term substitute (Lee Koch) helped the kids put together an amazing performance so they would not miss out on the opportunities that had attracted them to the theater program in the first place.  The play was "Dinner at Eight, Dead By Nine".  Several of Avian's good friends were in the production.  Since the theme of the play was a restaurant, they had decorated the audience area as well to look like a restaurant.  The actors seated us and interacted with us in character.  The whole thing was amazing!!!  Avian went with the cast and crew to Bojangles afterwards.  

April 30th started out with a volleyball game in the morning.  Avian's team lost the first game, but won the second which was the longest they had played yet.   Usually they lost in two and it was over, but not today.  Avian's serves are what won it for them.  They have a wicked floating serve that is hard to hit.  They also had excellent blocks and hits.  Avian was laughing at the irony because they needed to be at the Recycle the Runway at 11 and this game was going long.  

After the game, I took Avian to the Northlake Mall and helped them find their group, then went and did a little shopping on my own.  That NEVER happens.  I actually found a black dress I really liked.  Sandra met me at the stage area and we talked while we waited for the show to start.  

Before the show started, they had all the designers come onto the stage and talk about their thought, design and manufacturing process.  They were also asked several questions by the judges.  You can see Avian's green head on the end.  They were the spokesperson for their group.  

This was from Lake Norman Charter and won the award for "Most Creative Use of Materials - a $4,000 prize. 

Avian's team called their creation "Knight in Shining Ardour"  Alex Oneil was the model and she did a fantastic job of high lighting all the amazing things about their outfit.  

Alex, Avian, Morgan and Audry - the design crew.  They were so happy to win "Crowd Favorite" which came with a $2,500 prize.  

Alex showing off the metal gauntlet.  Avian spent hours and sacrificed numerous Monster drink cans for this creation.  Avian also sewed the corsette, constructed the skirt and made the necklace.  

Alex is a natural model!

Below is what was posted on the Lake Norman Charter Instagram page.  Mrs. Matocha, the art teacher, had a professional photographer come and take pictures of all the designs (there were 5 in total).  

After the competition, the girls went to have a celebratory lunch and I helped Mrs. Matocha carry everything to her truck.  She is such an amazing art teacher and so encouraging to all the students.  I am really glad that Avian has had her these last two years.  

After the girls were done with lunch, I drove Avian to Maeve's house for a birthday party.  Steve and I took Nick (since he was the only one home) and went to Ikea for some Swedish meatballs.  We then came home and I painted some more trim, moved the bookshelves back into place and carried all the books from upstairs in the bonus room back downstairs.  The house is getting put back together slowly.  Everyone was exhausted by the end of this eventful day.