April 2025

Highlights of April: we kicked off the month with a work trip to New Orleans for Derek, civics bee, the end of Brady's indoor soccer season, Shelby's Piano Guild, a quick trip to San Antonio for Derek {resuming control of our home there after having it rented out the past few years}, Easter, camping/birthday trip, and lots of crochet projects for Hadley {she & her friends at school have started a little business!}.

{long live movie night!}

Shelby's language arts teacher required each of the students in her class to write an essay on a civics issue in our community & then encouraged each student to submit the essay to enter the National Civics Bee. Shelby's essay was selected, and she participated in the local bee on April 5th. There were two rounds of civics trivia, and then the finalists each stood before a panel of judges & pitched their essay topic in 3-5 sentences and answered questions from the judges. Shelby won 2nd place overall and a cash prize of $250. She is participating in the Alaska State Civics Bee in June, and the National Civics Bee will be in the fall. It has been such a valuable experience thus far.

{the library is our happy place!}

{whenever Derek is out of town, Hadley happily takes over pancake duty on Saturday mornings!}

I had never heard of it before living here, but all of our local middle & high schools participate in WACKO--Wild & Crazy Kid Olympics. The girls' school goes all out and each team {they have two teams per grade level} decks out in their team color for the big day. Lots of fun was had!

Brady & I attended a 6th grade honor roll assembly for Hadley one afternoon at her school.

{all-city orchestra concert!}

{they were eating breakfast together before school one morning & discussing their bible reading}

Shelby's 8th grade small group at church was having a semi-formal end of the year soiree, and Shelby had so much fun getting her hair curled & wearing a dress & heels from my closet.

{new Magic Puzzle Company puzzle courtesy of the Easter Bunny}

Shelby's turn for an Honor Roll assembly...

Brady had an end of the year performance with his Readers' Theater class that Derek, Hadley, and I came to watch. It was so fun for Hadley & Derek to get a little peek into his homeschool classes.

It's hard to believe May is already in full swing & that we only have two full months left in Alaska. Time is flying!