School Is Out For Summer

First Day Of School August 2010

Today is the last day of school in Cassia County.  Where did the past 9 months go? It seems like just yesterday that I was standing in line at Raft River High school complaining about the $277.00 in fees I had to pay for the year. (Free public education. Ha!)  I have got to slow down and enjoy my life before it's over!

Some things I will miss this summer:
the routine
high school sports
the school buses driving past the house
Coach Spaeth's music at the basketball games
the weekends
Echo Hansen coming over for lunch
kindergartners
RRHS fight song
having the afternoons to myself
public displays of affection when I pass Jeff in the hall at school


Some things I will NOT miss this summer:
the routine
homework
busy schedules
waking up at 6 a.m.
sports practice
fixing a hot breakfast
feeling guilty when I don't fix a hot breakfast
6th grade P.E.
Tom Luna
washing uniforms
Monday mornings

I can hear every mother's collective sigh of relief and groan of protest.
I get it.

And They're Running........

State Track

 Bronco Stadium, Boise Idaho.

Important track terms.

1. "And they're running....."  Usually announced at the firing of the gun to let the spectators know that the race has started. (Uh, duh.)

2. Sophomore pronounced: Soff- UH- more. As in Sophomore, Haaaaaileeeeeeeey GreeeenwooD! (We heard that a lot this weekend.)

3. 400 Meter: One lap around the track.
4. Anchor leg: last runner in a relay race.

The Fans

The Pole Vault

The coaches talked Hailey into pole vaulting this year. It was fun and frustrating and a learning experience for sure!

She placed 9th of 17.

 

The Races

 800M Sprint Medley Relay

(400M anchor Leg)

4th Place

400M

4th Place

4x400M Relay

(Anchor Leg)

2nd Place

Kassie Ottley was puking and unavailable for the photo. :)

The Champs

The RRHS team also won the 1A Academic Championship Trophy. They had the highest combined GPA of any 1A schools competing. Pretty cool.

Soff-UH-more Haileeeey GreeeenwooD

  

 

I watched the track meet through the lens of a camera. I had tears in my eyes many times as I saw Hailey work hard, compete, and accomplish the goals that she set for herself. She did it beautifully.

It's a joy and a privilege to be Hailey's mom.

Good Stuff

Some things that I love: (In no particular order.)

1. Sleeping. I've been doing a lot of that this week.
2. Friends who bring me and the family a hot and delicious meal, just because they love me. :)
3. A lengthy, informative, spontaneous and unsolicited phone call from Marissa.
4. The blossoms on the tree outside my window.
5. Face book. I love it. I do.
6. DVR. How did I ever live without it?
7. Kathy's brownies. With frosting. Four or twelve of them.
8. Jeff (I am not kissing up, he doesn't read this blog.)
9. The State Track Meet. and Hailey for qualifying in 4 events so I can go and watch it.
10. Laying in bed with Paige until she falls to sleep. Or until I fall asleep first.
11. Brittin's delightful laugh.
12. A really good book.
13. Mechanical pencils.

Feelin' The Love

 Charles Dickens wrote, "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times."  That sums up the past few months for me. I think I went into survival mode and hibernated away the winter and spring! There have definitely been some highs and some lows in our family these past few months. I couldn't have done any of it without the love, help and support of my family and friends. I needed your phone calls, flowers, cards, letters, meals, visits, cookies, bread and most importantly, your love. I have cried on your shoulder and whispered in your ear and you were there for me. Always. Without a doubt, your love, positive thoughts and prayers have helped me get through the worst of times. You have absolutely sustained me and my family. For that, and for you, I am thankful. It's spring time in my heart. I hope the Idaho weather follows. :)

It's Just Brain Surgery

 On April 25th, 2011 Paige was admitted to the Shriner's Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. A depcompresson surgery was need to fix a congenital brain problem called Chiari Malformation. An amazing neurosurgeon from Primary Children's Hospital consented to do the surgery at Shriner's Hospital. Dr. Douglas L. Brockmeyer is the best of the best for this procedure.  After surgery she was in intensive care for two days. She woke with a terrible spinal headache and horrible nausea. Both things were expected with this particular surgery. She was unable to lift her head off her pillow for 4 days and was pretty miserable. Her turn around day was Friday, and was able to get out of bed and walk for the first time on Sunday. The surgery was successful and after 7 days in the hospital, she was able to come home!

Paige has been amazing throughout. She has handled all things with grace and maturity beyond her years. She has not at any point cried or complained about the things she was going through. What a great example she has been to her family and friends.

Through it all, I have felt the love and support from all of you. We appreciated all the visits during her hospital stay. She had at least  one visitor every day she was in the hospital. We thank all of you who took the time to come and visit us or call and to see how we were doing. Our good friends drove to SLC just to give us a much need break, and take Jeff and I out to dinner. There were gifts of flowers, homemade soup, cookies, ice cream and so much more. We couldn't have done it without you!

 Day One: ICU

Day 5: Raising her head

The Nasty Incision



A Graduation or Two

The weekend of April 4th was a big one in the Greenwood family. Bryce and Max both graduated from BYU-Idaho! It is quite an accomplishment and came only after many years of hard work.

Max graduated with a Bachelors degree in Exercise Science. He has been accepted into Baylor University's Physical Therapy program at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. In three short years he will have his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. (Dr. Dummar sounds pretty cute!) If you know Max,  you know how hard that he has worked to achieve his goals thus far. On the day of graduation, he also  commissioned into the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant.  He is a good man and will do many great things.

Max

Of course behind every good man is a great woman. Natalie finished her time at BYU-I  by completing a Dental Assisting program, having a baby and also earning her Associates degree in University Studies. Natalie was behind Max every step of the way and was an important part of his success. We are proud of you both!

Bryce



Bryce graduated with a Bachelors degree in Communications/Public Relations.  Bryce had a very interesting way of registering for his college courses; he didn't. His philosophy was to go to the desired class on the first day of school and charm his way into the class. This worked for him. Every time. His parents had to have many "stay in college" interventions with him, usually at the beginning of each semester. To his credit, he has 100% financially supported himself through college. He was a full time student and had a part time job. There were a couple of semesters when things were pretty tough. (He may or may not have lived in a tent in his employer's shop during a couple of college semesters.) He is independent, resourceful and wonderful.

After graduation,  Bryce jumped into the career world and is working in sales in Salt Lake City. He is living with a cousin for the summer and loving every minute of it. We look for great things to happen for him in his future.

Love Is In The Air

 

After a six week engagement, (I know!) Marissa and Mitch were married in the Logan temple. Mitch is from Moses Lake, Washington and was raised on a dairy farm. We love him and he loves us! We think he is an excellent addition to the Greenwood Family. He is ambitious, hardworking, handsome, (he has the biggest dimples I have ever seen!) and he likes Marissa. He is also an accomplished pianist. I love it when he sits down at the piano and plays for me. They are currently living in Moses Lake. Marissa is settling into married life beautifully. I love getting phone calls about cooking, (can I put tin foil on a hot pan or will it burn?) laundry issues, shopping lists and such. She called the other day and expressed that she was getting tired of thinking of new things to cook and then apologized for for all the times that she had ever complained to me about what I was cooking for dinner. (Yes! One of the rewards of motherhood!) Marissa has a job working at a car wash and is earning great tips and Mitch is working this summer on the family farm. We miss them and wish they were closer. We also wish that Marissa would return our phone calls. :)

Baller Status

Hailey loves sports and is a very competitive athlete. She is talented and makes it look easy. The most wonderful things about her though, are not her skills and talents, but her humbleness and willingness to learn and improve. Playing for a new coach this year was a challenge, but one that ended with success! (She will be embarrassed when she reads this post, but its a mother's perogative to brag! Or in this case tell the truth.)  Hailey's average for the season was 15.2 and her high point game was 24. This year's honors included being named First Team All Conference and also Second Team All State.  Along with her ability to score points is the ability to see the court, pass the ball and get her teammates involved. Her biggest fans of course, are her family, but Grandpa Gary tops the list. (Is there a ball game he doesn't love?) The Raft River Lady Trojans placed 4th at the State Basketball Tournament in February.