This isn't a very good picture at all. I'm sitting in my car in the dark listening to Rachel's band rehearse, so that is my view. My view may be a bit better, but this is the best the camera is going to capture.Rachel received first place in her category at her forensics meet last night. When I hear the word, "Forensics" I think about solving crimes using science. That would mean Rachel was hanging out with a bunch of other kids solving crimes. Sounds exciting. However, in this case, we are talking about Speech and Debate or public speaking.
I do not like to talk in front of a group, so I am just floored that she would even attempt to do it. Her category is impromptu. She is given a topic and in a few minutes has to develop an outline and deliver a speech. Sometimes she doesn't know too much or anything about the topic so in those cases she really has to think on her feet.
We were discussing the meet last night after she returned home and I asked her if Speech is a required course in high school. PK said he didn't have to take Speech in high school, but it was required for graduation at my school. I did not like it one bit. I also had to take Speech in college. I didn't like it anymore then.
Rachel has never been afraid to try something new. She tried out for district band a couple months ago. She didn't make it, but her attitude was, "If I don't make it, it is ok. At least I can say I tried and learned from the experience."
Parents don't attend Forensic meets. The competitors have to go into a room alone with the judges, so it is not conducive to having spectators. Rachel was sweet enough to send me this picture of the team who brought home first place overall.
Rachel has been talking about the Eighth Grade Formal since the beginning of this school year. She and I went shopping for her dress a few weeks ago. We went to ELEVEN!! stores before we found the one. The school sent home a letter stating all dresses must have straps. Rachel didn't want a long formal because in her mind that is for prom which was fine with me. However, we had a hard time finding one with straps. Actually, I don't agree with the policy because having straps doesn't mean a dress is appropriate. We found one with one strap and it worked out well.
I spend a lot of time praying for my children because I know as hard as PK and I try to be good parents and make the right decisions for our kids, without God's hand in the matter, we would fail miserably.
We are living in the midst of middle school drama, teen texting and battles over who has spent too much time getting ready in the bathroom. We often have to remind the children who live with us that they have chores to do and we are not the Rockefellers a.k.a money doesn't grow on trees. Some of these things are repeated so often, I'm sure we don't speak the same language.
Some days I wonder if we have done or are doing all we can to impart a Christian perspective to the kids. They can tell us what they have learned, but do they really get it? Other days I wonder if they will ever be productive adults as I try to convince one of them who shall remain nameless that neat handwriting really does matter.
Then one of them will say something profound or extremely compassionate or as Rachel did, post something extremely wonderful on Facebook. I give you my daughter's recent post:
Well, not literally. We covered that about two years ago, as recorded in this blog. This time I mean it as a substitute phrase for, "Good Luck."
Rachel had a role in a production of It's a Wonderful Life. About this time last year the kids were in a play at church. They loved it. Rachel had mentioned several times since that she would like to pursue drama. There isn't a drama program at her school, so I looked for something in the community.
I found a 13 week drama class. During the class, the students brainstormed ideas for a play and the director wrote the script. Toward the end of the class, the theatre where she was taking classes had an audition for It's a Wonderful Life. Rachel decided to audition. She had such a fabulous attitude. She said, "I doubt that I will get a part, but every time I audition, I will improve and have a better chance at getting a role."
A couple days after auditions, callbacks were posted. She didn't get a callback. Just for kicks, when the final cast list was posted, I checked it out. She got the part of Mr. Potter's secretary. She only had a line or two, but she got a part the first time she tried out for community theatre.
The play ran the past couple weekends. I didn't get one. single. picture. from the actual play. Cameras weren't allowed during the performance and I didn't think of it later.
Wasn't it just last week that I was admitted to the hospital after being in California all of two days? Wasn't it just last week the doctor handed me a little 4lb 14oz bundle? Wasn't it just last week when I was walking through KMart in Yucca Vallery with a baby propped in her carseat in the shopping cart who looked at me and blew her first raspberries? Wasn't it just last week she was taking her first steps trying to reach our neighbor who stopped by for a visit? Wan't it just last week that she wouldn't go to sleep witout her "pasibabyblanket?" Wasn't it just last week we were spending our days in the cul de sac with all the other neighborhood toddlers? Wasn't it just last week when Barney, Dora and VeggieTales were the shows we watched over and over and over? Wasn't it just last week when I snapped that picture of her standing on her tip toes trying to peak at her new baby brother in his bassinet? Wasn't it just last week when we took her to Disneyland and she insisted on waiting in line to meet every. single. princess? Wasn't it just last week when I was strapping three little kids into the triple jogging stroller every morning? Wasn't it just last week when my friend Christine and I took her shopping "down the hill" for her new kindergarten wardrobe which happened to be entirely pink? Wasn't it just last week she was trying to talk me into letting her ride the bus for her first day of kindergarten? Wasn't it just last week when she caught the Tooth Fairy trying to slip the dollar under her pillow (so busted)?
Wasn't it just last week?
Someone. Anyone. Please tell me how we went from just last week to having a teenager in our house.
The band from Rachel's school went to Six Flags and I was able to chaperone. It was nice to get to know some of Rachel's friends better. The kids were allowed to split into groups of four. Rachel has been friends with one of the four since we moved here, but the other two are new friendships she has made in middle school.
It was also nice to hear how much the band director cares about his students. Safety was truly his number one priority. Next year when Rachel is in eighth grade the band makes a trip to Orlando and goes to Disney World. I don't think PK or I will be able to make that trip and I was really concerned about letting her go. I still have reservations, but seeing the band director in action away from the school has lessened my fears.
Rachel is finishing up her eighth year of Girl Scouts. All six of the girls in her Cadette troop earned the Silver Award this year. The next big step is the Gold!
About a year and a half ago at one of the kids' dental check-ups, their dentist found an extra tooth on Rachel's x-ray. He had to pull another tooth that wasn't falling out, but when he went for the extra tooth he realized it is attached to a tooth next to it. They are both permanent teeth. Hannah also had lost two baby teeth that had been missing for almost two years and had not yet been replaced by permanent teeth. Here came the dreaded words, "I am going to refer the girls to an orthodontist."
I have loved our orthodontist. I was expecting him to give me a list of things the girls needed done right away, but at the first visit he said, "Let's wait and watch." He knew something would eventually have to be done about Rachel's extra tooth, but she had some loose teeth and he wanted to give them time to fall out and the permanent ones to grow in. Hannah had fallen several times as a toddler/preschooler and caught herself with her mouth. One fall chipped a tooth and one fall loosened a couple. Our dentist at the time did x-rays and said everything appeared to be alright. The teeth tightened back up and one turned slightly gray. The ortho thought that because of the "trauma" to her baby teeth they probably fell out prematurely so the permanent teeth were just taking longer to appear. There was no charge for the consultation. Really? You aren't going to recommend any treatment right now and you are telling me that for free? We made an appointment for six months later.
By the time we went back for the six month appointment, Hannah's permanent teeth had made an appearance, so she was good to go. The ortho was still a little unsure how to proceed with Rachel's extra tooth and wanted to wait a bit longer as she was still loosing teeth. Another free visit!
At her last appointment, the ortho decided it was time to move forward. He made a mold of Rachel's teeth and once again we walked out without paying a dime and with an appointment for today.
This is the mold of Rachel's teeth. It allows the ortho to see them out of the mouth and from different angles. It was kind of fun to see them.
Here's my girl.
The extra tooth still hasn't grown in all the way and Rachel doesn't have much space. She will have braces for about 12-14 months and then a retainer. After we make some space, our ortho will send us to and endodontist who specializes on root canals and working on the inside of the teeth. He will have to see if there is a nerve in the extra tooth. If not, he may be able to just file it down. The course of treatment will also depend on how far into the gums the extra tooth is connected to the permanent tooth.
Rachel had the spacers put in today. Those are the little blue things at the back of her mouth. She has a set on the top and bottom. We will go back in about a week and half to have the braces put on. At that point the freebies are over.
How much will all of this cost? Let's just say that after insurance pays their portion, I could still afford to take the entire family to Disney World for less than what we will be paying out of pocket.
Aaron, Hannah and I dropped Rachel off for a week of church camp this afternoon. She and I did some last minute shopping last night and got her all packed up.
She has been to camp before, but this will be the longest amount of time she has been gone. The camp runs from Sunday through Friday.
We arrived about twenty minutes before the gates opened and there was already a line of cars waiting to get in.
There were signs along the road into the camp announcing the camp radio station. It was really helpful. They broadcast exactly how check in would work. This camp was organized! Check in was so easy and the counselors were all very cheery. It kind of made me want to stay.
At one point the radio announcer said, "We like to get an idea of how many of you in line are listening so when we count to three, honk your horn." They counted to three and I honked my horn. In my defense, I was NOT the only one. Rachel fell in the floor because she was so embarrassed. She has got to learn to have a little fun!
Once we got through the gate, we had to go through three stations. We stayed in our car and drove to a line of counselors. The first stop was to check Rachel's name off, make sure we had paid up and that I didn't want to deposit any more money in her camp store account. Her friend, Montana, has attended this camp before so I talked to her mom about how much money she thought Rachel would need.
The second stop was to take Rachel's temperature. Every camper is checked and anyone with a fever can't stay. Whew! We passed that one.
The third and final check point is to get her cabin assignment. The counselor gave us a car tag and color coded it for the girls' cabins. There were then counselors along the road to direct us to the proper parking lot. Once we parked there were counselors to greet us, carry the bag and walk us to her cabin. We met her counselor, Mariah. She seemed very nice. As Rachel was the first girl to arrive, she got her pick of bunks. She chose a bunk bed and took the bottom bunk, saving the top bunk for Montana.
I had to sign her in with the counselor and then leave. Rachel is so independent and self confident, she didn't care at all that I was leaving. I asked her several times if she was o.k. Finally she asked, "Are you?" Uh, maybe! I left, but ran right back in to take a picture of her for the blog.
The cabins seem really nice. Seriously, that floor looks cleaner than the hardwoods in my house. Notice the pillow and sleeping bag hanging on the front of the suitcase. I got the brilliant (so humble) idea to bungee cord them on to the suitcase. It worked really well because the suitcase is a rolly one.
On Friday, there is an end of camp celebration and families are invited. I can hardly wait to hear all about her week. Hopefully, she will do a guest post!
Rachel had a band concert to close out the school year. She started playing the trumpet this year and is doing very well. I was really surprised how much the entire 6th grade band has progressed this year.
Rachel is second from the left in the white headband.
That is Rachel's new nickname now that she can wear two shoes. After three months in either a cast or aircast, she is delighted to be able to wear two shoes.
Here she is on her first day back to school wearing two shoes. 
She had to wear this aircast for the entire month of March. It was a welcome change after having been in the "plaster" cast for two months. She had to wear the aircast all the time except when she was showering. Showering with the previous cast required garbage bags and duct tape. The aircast also allowed her to once again wear jeans. She managed to make sweatpants stylish. 
Realizing her life on crutches was going to last a while, she decided to make the most out of it. She added some fun ribbon and a little bling. She received tons of comments on her crutches. I am very proud of her. She made the best out of a bad situation the entire time! (Well...most of the time. She is a pre-teen and I am finding with that comes a certain amount of complaining that is mostly aimed at the Momma!)
This picture is from one of the trips to the orthopedic surgeon. I think it is the second trip. She had already had the thigh high cast for a while and I had been under the impression she would be getting it off on this particular visit. Fortunately, at the previous visit Rachel understood the doctor to say he would x-ray it and we would go from there. 
When she had the thigh high cast, she was doomed to a life of sponge baths. We tried washing her hair over the sink. That was not an easy task. I splurged a couple times and took her to a salon to have her hair washed. One of the stylists did a fantastic job blow drying it straight. Rachel has wanted her hair straight for about as long as I can remember. The grass is always greener. She loves having it straightened and was thankful for the treat.
Now she still walks a bit slow and has to build up the muscle in that leg, but she knows that she is capable of enduring which is a great lesson for us all to learn.