What's up in our house lately?

Life has become a whirlwind.  Spring sports have started and my children decided to pick up something new.  Samuel, instead of going out for Track and definitely earning that varsity letter as a freshman, decided instead that he would try out for soccer.  Um, What??  The last time he played soccer was when he was 12 (I thought it was 9, but he insists he played when he was 12, too.)  He was the redheaded step-child  at try-outs, with hand me down cleats from a friend (Emma's feet never got that big) and Emma's socks and shin guards.  The first day he went without shin guards or soccer socks. I was amazed he made the team, as this is Europe and these guys play year round soccer, but he is extremely fast and extremely athletic.  He only made JV and he isn't a starter, but he plays a fair amount of time and actually does really well.

The first day of try-outs, they all met at the main field and then walked away together.  The track coaches saw him start to walk away and yelled at him to come back.  He was supposed to be their hurdler!   Well instead we sent one of our other family members to try out hurdles.  Emma decided to run track this year.  She wanted nothing to do with the soccer team here, despite them begging for players this year.  I think they really burned some bridges when they allowed 9 captains to choose who would be on their team last year.  Emma is not the only one who refuses to go out for the team again.  She was originally going to try shot-put, but she said that all the fatties went there and so instead she is trying to run hurdles.  She still doesn't have the timing down.  She is able to get over the 300 meter ones now, but stumbles and stutters a lot.  I told her to concentrate on 100 and 200 and try to get on a relay team, but she really wants to get those hurdles.
Besides sports (the little boys still haven't started), we had senior portraits done and are working on graduation announcements,

planning our spring break and end of year trips and getting ready for girls camp.  Yep, Emma is going for one more year and so is Mom.  I was called as the assistant camp director.  Sometimes, I  really like not being in charge!  Do what I'm told and do it well and not worry about anything else!
I am trying to finish up Emma's quilt before she graduates.  It's a queen, so it really won't work on her bed at College.  It was meant for her bed here.  The fact that I decided to try and hand sew it, is what is taking me so long.  Now that it has been half hand sewn, I can't change and use the machine!   I just have to buckle down and do it.
The other day Emma told me about all the times she has cried in public this year.  Most of them involved in public speaking.  She was fine with Model United Nations, but she can't tell about a board that she made about herself to her class.  She said, "people scare me when they are all looking at me.  I need to come with a note that says Emma shouldn't be made to speak for more than a minute in front of people."  I told her I would pin it to her blouse when she leaves for college and to make sure that her new bishop gets it.  Mostly I just try not to think about that time.
I have also been working a lot.  It seems that no one has a substitute nurse and so I am getting calls from almost every school now.  I do enjoy the school nursing.  Last time I worked for a whole week.  I brought my 5 pound weights and my pad and every 30 minutes or so I would go lift weights for a few minutes.  I couldn't do it for long or I would start to sweat.  Some days were crazier than other, however and I couldn't hardly get any weights in.  It's a lot like the ER that way.
Rob has been busy with work and being sick.
Max got glasses (he is far-sighted, like his Daddy) and has been sick as well.

Now mom is sick.  I think we are all on the mend now.
Joe, of course, never got sick.  I told him that he has the constitution of a rock- rock's never get sick either!  But he did stay home one day with me.  We watched the solar eclipse together and then I took him to get a ride to the Merit Badge University.  He earned a badge for climbing and for rifle.  He said he almost got the badge on his first try.  He was supposed to get 5 shots in one quadrant and he got 4.  He got it on his second try after readjusting the sites!