Con-GRAD-ulations!

June 6, 2009: Today Mote graduated alongside his fellow Kindergartners. Bubba, Siope, and I sat in the school cafeteria as a trail of 6 year olds made their way on stage. Mote was so excited and seemed almost a little surprised to see us. He waved to me and Bubba, poked his tongue at Siope, and waved some more as he laughed and marched toward the front of the lunch room. Mote was in the back of the line and as they took their places on the steps of the stage I could see why. The taller students stood on the back top, and there was my little Mote with the rest of the shorter kids on the bottom front row. The camcorders rolled and cameras flashed as the students performed songs showcasing their spelling and counting skills as well as their excitement to excel on to 1st grade.

At the end of the program we made our way to Mote's homeroom where we were treated to one last song by Miss Ruffridge's class and watched our kids receive their diplomas. After enjoying refreshments (cake & Capri Suns) we left campus with our new graduate alongside. Bubba offered to treat us to a celebration meal and told Mote that he could pick wherever he wanted to go to eat. His choice?: Chili's. The following day we would leave to Salt Lake to spend Mote's summer break with his Dad. Kindergarten- completed!

Visiting Fatu

We got the chance to visit Fatu on Wednesday before we left back to Vegas. He's been at football camp for a while, so we hadn't had the chance to see him at all while we were in Salt Lake. The day we planned to come home, my dad called me and asked if we wanted to stop by the stadium to watch Fatu's scrimmage. So me, Ti Tonga and the boys headed up to Rice Eccles Stadium and had the opportunity to watch Fatu and his Utah teammates scrimmage against each other. It was so awesome!! It was my first time in the stadium. My initial thoughts were "Wow, this is where the world's eyes were the winter of 2002!" I've never been around college football period... I thought a couple times that Fatu was way too small and young to be around such aggressive guys... then realized that he of all people was meant for this. I'm so glad the boys got to see uncle Fatu before we left. We got to have lunch with him, Misi, and my Dad after his practice- a sweet treat to top of a wonderful experience. We probably won't get to see any of his games this season so it was nice to be able to see a little bit of him on his home turf.

Offense vs. Defense

Nic with some sign he found. Go Fatu! =)

Fox 13 News & ABC 4 News on sight

Give it a couple months and I'm sure the big head will fit ;)

Nici, Mote, and Siope with Fatu (Siope's head can't quite hold up the helmet like Nic's)

Last Week of School

Monday: Game Day. Students may bring in their favorite board game to play with their classmates. (Ms Ruffridge will bring Twister)

[Mote took Bingo. He said his favorite game he played on Game Day was Twister.]

Tuesday: Art Day!! Students will need to bring a white t-shirt from home that can be decorated. We will all sign the back and make our own art on the front.

Wednesday: Wacky Clothes Day! Come to school looking your wackiest!! We will have a disco dance party in class.

[Mote is so picky! Everything that I tried to put together wasn't "wacky" enough

for him. We finally came up with this: aloha shirt, soccer tee, Superman cape, Jack

Sparrow skeleton boots, and head band (which is a "ninja headband according to

Mote). Bubba taught Mote a couple disco dance moves so that he'd be prepared

for his dance party :) And Siope of course wanted some of the picture action.]

Thursday: Graduation Day! Come to school looking your best, caps will be put on in the classroom. Parents please find your way to the lunchroom.

[Mote was so excited to graduate. I think a lot of it had to do with him seeing Fatu

graduate this past June. The graduation was put together so well and the kids did

awesome. It deserves a post on it's own with more pictures which is on the way.]

Friday: PJ party and movie day! All students are to arrive at school at 9:05 am for a movie and popcorn party. Wear your favorite PJ's and bring your pillow and your favorite stuffed animal. All students should be picked up at 11:30 am.

[This is the activity that Mote was looking forward to most this week. I got him
new jammies that he was so excited to wear. We got a little taste of his new
morning start time. So with his pillow and a teddy bear in hand we dropped him off
at 9:00 am. He got to lounge around with his classmates and eat popcorn while
watching "Meet the Robinsons"]

Summer Break

Tomorrow is Mote's last day of Kindergarten and we'll be hitting the road as soon as he gets off. He gets a whopping 2 weeks off before he starts first grade BOOOOO! I'm not too fond of this year round schedule, but there's not much I can do about it. This will be our last road trip for the summer then when we get back we'll be sitting tight for a while. We've traveled quite a bit this summer and I'm actually ready to get back to our chaotic routine of work, school, church, and sports. Hopefully Ti Tonga can join us soon. Home's just not the same without him.