Rhett is working a lot with his new job. He’s gone pretty much all the time, except for some random times of the day that he gets to come home for lunch, etc. He’s definitely trying really hard to make this new job selling life insurance a success for our family. Rhett is also now studying for the Texas State Insurance Exam, which he has to take by the end of May. Right now he is working off of a temporary license. One night while I was hosting Scrap Night at our house he called from a client’s home saying that he had locked his keys in his car. I ended up going out and saving him at 10:00 at night in the middle of nowhere-ville San Antonio. Definitely a place I’ve never been before, or want to visit again! We later found out that our roadside assistance plan that we have on our cell phones includes “lock out” service, so next time he’s on his own. Rhett continues to teach Primary, and it’s nice that he’s not working on Sundays anymore. At least we get to see him one day a week uninterrupted.
As for me, I’ve been busy lately (as usual) with a hundred things going on.
I recently completed 400 homemade birthday cards for our Bishopric to send out to our ward members (I already gave him 100).
BEFORE
painted the boys bathroom (no more pencil Spiderman drawings on the wall)
AFTER
and pulled off the first of many Primary Activities with our new Presidency. On April 10th we had a Cub Scout Fundraiser Spaghetti Dinner and Primary Talent Show. The event was well attended, and we had a great show. Austin played “The Star Spangled Banner” on the piano, and Logan & Carson danced to “Beat It” by Michael Jackson. Well…more like Carson danced around (including the moonwalk) while Logan stood there with stage fright. Everyone is still laughing about their dance! All of the boys also displayed some artwork that they had done. It was a great time for all! As for my extracurricular activities, I’m in charge of the Scrapbooking focus group that we have twice a month, I head up the once weekly “park day” outing, I’ve been working out 3 times a week with some ladies in our ward, just started a “kid swap” 4 days a week for Carson, attend Ward and Stake choir practices, Ward Council meetings, take care of my family and home….and try to fit some Primary Presidency meetings in the midst of all this. Did I miss anything???
Austin has been busy also. He has been studying for the math & reading TAKS tests that were this past week, has been participating in the Wetmore Chorale (school choir), finished his year of piano lessons, lost another tooth on April 23rd, got registered for the “Shockwaves” swim team again (which starts on May 17th), decided he wants to earn money to pay for (at least half) of a Spurs basketball camp next summer that he wants to attend, just finished his antibiotics for a double ear infection, and participated in the Cub Scout Pack 424 Pinewood Derby this week.
He was 4th seed going into the races, but wasn’t as victorious as last year when he placed 2nd overall. His car looked awesome though (“Bumblebee” from the Transformers movie), and everyone had a great time as usual. This week Austin was chosen at school to be a morning “Patrol” for next year, which means he’s on a team of 5th graders in charge of making sure all the traffic (vehicles and pedestrians) are safe getting to & from the school. It’s an honor reserved for kids showing academic stability, good citizenship and positive leadership qualities. Way to go Austin!!!Logan continues to show improvement at school in his conduct as well as his reading capabilities. He is also a very good artist and recently 2 of his pieces were chosen to be in the North East Independent School District “Young Masters” Art Show
(Austin was chosen to participate in this same event in Kindergarten also). 
During “Fiesta” (a big, week-long party in San Antonio) the Kindergarteners hold a fiesta parade and walk through the school with their homemade “floats”. Logan wanted a bus, and this is what he got.
I had a little fun with my Cricut! Logan is also registered for his 2nd year on the “Shockwaves” swim team. We have new coaches this year, and when we got home from registering, Logan had a sad look on his face. I asked him what was wrong. He said “I miss her!” I asked him who, and he said “JJ”. She was his coach from last year that spent so much one-on-one time with him trying to get him to swim. She will definitely be missed!
Carson is CRAZY about Transformers! He is constantly talking about them, transforming the ones we got the boys’ for Christmas, watching You Tube videos of people talking about how to transform their transformers, etc, etc, etc. He is sort of obsessed I guess you could say. Oh, well. They all go through some sort of phase I guess. Carson also loves playing basketball with Austin. We have an over-the-door hoop upstairs in the playroom. They also brought in the Little Tykes hoop from outside so that they could have a full court. They will spend hours playing an entire game, including time-outs, half times, breaks (with Gatorade as their drink of choice). They even have a timer (from my kitchen) and a scoreboard (marker board easel). They are especially lucky when they can talk Logan into being the official, scorekeeper, timer, or all of the above. They even have to wear their jerseys just like the pros. Austin actually has Spurs shorts and a jersey. Carson is the “Carson City Hoops”. It’s quite entertaining! Carson is also enjoying the “kid swap” that we started last week. Four mom’s in our ward take turns one day each week watching 5 kids. Which then gives each of us three days without our 4 year olds and one day watching all of them. Quite a good deal I think!
Jackson is still getting new teeth, most recently his molars. There are always more to come though, so he’s been grouchy off and on lately because of that. He also started this new thing where he loves to “squeal” if he doesn’t get his way or something he wants. It’s especially annoying when we’re in the middle of Sacrament Meeting. One of the cutest things he’s done lately is learn how to fold his arms when we have family prayer.
He just started doing it one day, none of us even showed him how. Now, whenever we say “fold your arms”, he does it quicker than anyone else. Very cute! Jackson will be 16 months old tomorrow. Where has the time gone? My baby is growing up so fast. We were hoping to be able to see some of you this Summer, but with Rhett’s loss of job, and a slow financial start to the new one, we will not be able to go on any vacations this Summer. Bummer of a Summer for us!
Well, that’s all from us for now. Have a great month!
Love – Rhett, Maren, Austin, Logan, Carson & Jackson
PS. GO SPURS GO!!!!!
