Claire = 10

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Friend: Lucy
Food: everything besides meat and seafood and veggies
Color: everything besides brown
Subject: everything other than drama
Things to do: run, swim, skits, chopped (cooking game), art, board games, card games, family fun
Animal: Claire-apotomous
Number: number Claire
Person: Claire
Possession: mermaid blanket and lotion that I can't find and money

If you had a million dollars, what would you do? Give it to Billy Bob Joe (that is her name for her father) and Billy (that is her name for me). Her name for herself is Billy Bob.
If you had $20 what would you buy? Save up for something better (she is currently saving for a google home mini)
What you want to be when you grow up: actor (but not so much anymore because she hated her acting teacher), runner, dancer, gymnast, cheerleader, inventor, engineer, doctor, comedian, and Claire
What’s the best thing that happened while you were 9: Moving to Basis; although it was hard at first, I went through it and came out with something really good: Lucy.
What are you looking forward to most as a 10 year old? More privileges
How have you changed in the last year? I've become funnier, faster, better at gymnastics, taller, more faith, cooler, more popular, better at crazy hips
If you had 3 wishes, what would they be? 1) The superpower to make other superpowers or speed or dance fighting, 2) An endless supply of money, 3) To make Porfirio a Superdog sidekick

     Claire insisted that what she wanted for her birthday was a date with mom and Dad. We went to Old Navy, Justice, and then to eat pupusas. I got home that night and felt wonderful: an incredible feeling of gratefulness for the awesome people in my family.
     Another cool story about Claire is that each grading period her school gives out "90's club" certificates to all those who have a 90-or-above average. She got it a few times and then barely missed it and came home certificate-less. She immediately solved the problem by typing up a certificate for the 89% club, signed by the only 2 officials who could impart such an honor: Porfirio and Sybil. It's still hanging on our fridge, months later.

I love my crazy 10 year old!

Field Tripping

David signed up to go on 2 fields with Claire, but didn't want to go through the hassle of getting a fingerprint card. So I happily substituted.

We went to the Science Museum

With a Planetarium presentation 

and a nail bed

Water play

Sand dams

And then to an arcade with a rope course and laser tag

Can't believe the school year is almost done! Elijah finished finals yesterday. He is starting a special project analyzing FIFA soccer teams. Iris is in a special project focused on Latin America. She said she will be the teacher's special helper and insisted on wearing her colorful Mexican dress and ginormous green sombrero.

She-kokay

This morning, Sybil was angry that I wasn't getting her chocolate milk ("she-kokay") quickly enough.
She tried to get my attention my calling me "Ker-rine Gacia" several times.
It sounded so wrong coming out of her mouth,
Which made it all the more precious.

I'm free!

Last week I took my final exam, so I feel like a free woman this week.
With all my extra time, Sybil and I painted the town red! We got the oil changed, went to the dentist, took the car in to fix a few recall items, got the pool swimming-ready, and...
attended a showcase for Iris' music and drama class. The drama teacher announced that memorizing a monologue was optional and 3 students had opted in. To my surprise, Iris was one of them. She memorized it without telling me.
Here is her performance:

Sybil and I hung out at the library and the public gardens while the oil got changed:

And a few more notes from Mother's Day. I love how the kids make me feel special.

• There's a candy man in our church and Elijah gave me his candy. He even switched out the flavor when I said I didn't like the flavor.
• Sybil told me a story and the punchline was "I freaked out!" I've never heard her say that before--Loved it!
• Claire made me a plethora of cool stuff: cards, a booklet, a clay pot
• Iris let me tickle her as much as I wanted, even though she didn't really have a choice.
• Iris kept her calm when Sybil said, "My mommy, not your Mommy."

Spiritual Mothers

Yesterday I was thinking of a Mother's Day story about my mom.

I saw about 90% of my R-rated movies before the age of 10 at the house of my friend.
For the most part, they were horror movies.
For the most part, they scared me to death.
For the most part, I haven't been scarred permanently
except that I have never been able to kneel by my bed to pray
because of the bony hand under my bed
which has the sole purpose of grabbing me.

At a sleep over with said friend, we were watching such a movie.
I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the horror.
Soon after, my mom unexpectedly came to get me.
She said that during family prayers that night she had felt impressed to come and get me.
I was relieved.
That's the benefit of mother's who look for and follow revelation.

ON Mother's Day, we went to another ward to listen to this guy give his pre-mission talk.

Sybil loved the attention of all the Schmitt cousins.

Had to work in that pre-mission humble pie.

This is Iris' note to David.
She told me not to show anyone this picture.
But I couldn't resist--her advice is something nobody should never forget:

Never let your fears get in the way of your pride!

"To all mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle--and all will--I say, "Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. In fact, you are saviors on Mount Zion, and like the Master you follow, your love never faith." I can pay no higher tribute to anyone.

Elder Jefferey R Holland

Happy Mother's Day!

Sybil painted a flower for me at school and her teachers helped her fill in some blanks about me.

My mom's name is: mommy
My mom's hair is: nice
My mom's eyes are: brown and clean
My mom likes to cook: soup
My mom likes to wear: shirt
My mom likes to: read
My mom likes to buy: babies

At the top there's a #1 MOM.

Sybil showed it to me and then told me she made it for her dad.

Complicated feelings

As mentioned in an earlier post, Iris regularly draws a smile on the back of her neck and then wears her sunglasses on top of her ponytail so that it looks like she has a smily face on the back of her head.
Sybil attempts to imitate her sister's coolness. 

Sometimes the mouth looks more judgmental than smily.

Today, her feelings are complicated.

Acrobatics and High Waters

Claire and Iris had a gymnastics performance yesterday. Iris got a bloody scratch on her arm as she was jumping through a hula hoop. But she was brave and after a bandaid and a hug, she finished strong.
Claire was nervous about her acrobatics performance. She told me afterward that it went so smoothly because she said a prayer before.

This is what my boy wore to church today.

I bought these pants for Claire a year ago.

At least he's covered if there's a flood; high-waters rock!

So does his tie.

What you don't want to hear your husband say when you walk in the door

"You wore THAT in public?!?!?"

Yes, yes I did. 
And guess what, you just chose my outfit for your next client double date.

Go Team!

 Today, Elijah's Junior High soccer team played in the state championship.

I got slightly frustrated because Sybil wanted to go to the bathroom that was located in another galaxy every 2 minutes. She won. She peed on herself twice.

Zoe and Claire saw how frustrated I was and took over, 

treating Sybil like the queen she knows she is.

Melted my heart.

The men are at a baseball game. David has a suite.

I should be studying.

But I think I'll go to sleep now.

I only need a 70% to get an A. So I should be good, right?