Shalee has decided to play girls rugby for Desert Hills. Her momma hasn't felt as good about it. She is so tiny. :) We compromised and she can  play if she wears her scrum cap. She's not happy because she doesn't think she looks cool. I'm ok with that. :) It is one thing that provides me some comfort.

Yesterday was her first official game. The end was depressing, but I learned a lot about rugby and it was fun to watch. When you score, it is called a tri. It is worth five points and is similar to a touch down. Then you can kick the extra point, only in rugby it is worth 2 points. They huddle together and try to kick the ball out to their team. This is called a scrum. When you get tackled, you immediately put the ball out, for someone to take. If you do it right, your team forms a block over you called a ruck and then someone on your team grabs the ball. There really isn't a lot of stopping in the game.

Shalee plays wing. She is fast, so as she learns more, she can run the ball. She likes to play hooker and be in the middle of the scrum. I like wing, because it is safer. This is going to be a fun season. I think I will really like rugby if I can get past the fact that there are HUGE girls trying to hurt my little girl. If I survive without having a heart attack, it will be miraculous.

The Merry, Merry Month of May

In one of my favorite musicals (no BR not Seven Brides), Camelot, there is a song about the merry month of May. I don't know quite where they got that idea. Around this house it is manic, maddening, and memory making, but rarely merry. It seems that from the end of April to the end of May it is constant on the go, no time to breathe and overwhelming. Several times I just wanted to sit back and cry and watch the world fly by. May brought another new change as I have been called to serve in the Relief Society presidency instead of my Activity Days calling. With the end of school and the new calling, I have neglected my journal and my blog. I am disappointed that I haven't done better. I am usually better at keeping it up, but can't make excuses. Instead, I am going to do a month's worth of posts all at once. :) So hang on and enjoy the manic madness of May at the Andersons.

Brittany was selected as the Student of the Month at Sunrise Ridge Intermediate School for CTE. This young lady is amazing! Any one who knows her knows this, but did you know she can type almost 100 words per minute?? It blows my mind to watch her type. She is crazy fast!! Needless to say she is my go-to typing kid.

Then, on April 21 we began our summer fun a little early. The weather was so beautiful! We were able to have our first swim of 2012 with Brandon's family. Taelor is now a fish. Braxton is walking. My younger kids were enjoying the water. The older girls were in for a swim and Ashleigh was photographer.

Also on April 21 was Brittany's first dance performance with The Vault. Both she and Shalee take jazz and hip-hop from there. Shalee had only been to dance once, so she wasn't in the performance. Brittany has amazing grace and facial expressions. At the end, Devin and Ashleigh were able to "shuffle" with the group. Devin's friend Donny was with us and a former neighbor, C.J. was there too.

On April 21, we also had some family pictures taken. Ashleigh used them to create a beautiful mother's day gift for me. She took the pictures and presented me with them on Mother's Day. I was impressed by her eye. Unfortunately I don't know where she saved them on the computer, so they will have to be posted later. :)

April 28 - Ashleigh took me to the Martina McBride concert at Tuacahn. It was so amazing!! We had fun just the two of us. It was an early Mother's Day. We went to dinner at Applebee's and then to the concert! It was fantastic! If you didn't know, I am a HUGE fan of Martina McBride!! Thanks Ashleigh!!

Now to May.

We received an invitation to an awards night at Desert Hills High School. We attended thinking that Shalee would receive an award for high honor roll. She has worked her tail off to keep her grades at A's and A-. I don't know which of us was more surprised when they announced her as the Biology student of the year at Desert Hills High. Way to go Shalee! I guess that dream of being a marine biologist prepared you for this! Yeah Shalee!! Her cousins Raycel and True McKelleb also received awards that night, so all three girls were recognized.

In May, Brittany sang a solo at her choir concert. She sang "We Are the World" (the new one, not the ORIGINAL 80's one). It was beautiful, but I can't figure out how to post the video. Shalee also danced at a Fine Arts Night at DHHS. Again a great video, but I can't figure this thing out!!

The littler ones are excited to be finished with school. Devin wrote an ancestor essay for 4th grade. He received a certificate for his efforts. For the CRT tests, the principal at the school promised "Gold" for the students that received 4's. Devin received 4's on all three tests and Breanna received a 4 on her math. The kids received a certificate with a gold eagle from President Barack Obama. Each received a letter from President Obama too. No matter what your political preference, this is cool!!

Well, that is a portion of the month. I am finally blogged and caught up. Hopefully the summer will be a little less hectic and I won't get behind again. I love my manic, maddening, and memory filled life!!