Science Fair

Just a little update on the science fair. The district competition was last Wednesday. Wednesday is not a good day for me to have a science fair. I was wondering how I could fit it all in. I reminded him that it was 5 hours long and that he would be sitting there most of the time just waiting. I told him I wouldn't be able to be there the whole time. I reminded him that it was stiff competition and not to feel bad if he didn't win. I asked him if he was sure he wanted to go. I prayed he wouldn't but then felt really guilty. He had one question. Do they serve refreshments. "Uhh - no" I said, "no refreshments - just sitting in the gym waiting to be judged and everyone looking at your project." He said he would think about it. He came home from school and said "Dane is going so I am too." Great I thought - what a nightmare this is going to be. Well Wednesday morning rolled around, Rachel was sick and my throat was killing. I couldn't leave Rachel with so I knew I couldn't get a babysitter. I racked my brain for a good solution but never came up with one. So as soon as Taylor walked in from school I took him and Rachel over to the Jr. High. I left Dallin, Ryan and Anna home and gave them strict instructions to stay downstairs and watch a movie and not get off the couch or answer the phone. I programmed my cell number in the phone and made Dallin hold the phone just in case he needed to call me.

We got Taylor all registered and set up and then I left him with my other cell phone, his homework and a book to read and told him to sit there do his homework and not leave the room. I needn't have bothered with those instructions because he never got out his homework and he later told me how he and Dane explored the school. I went home and my cub scout boys came over to carve soap. One of my least favorite cub activities. I was praying no one would cut themselves but I had bandaids just in case. I looked over and Josh was hold his finger blood was everywhere and he was silently crying. When I looked at him he whispered - I cut my finger. A bandaid wouldn't cut it. I wrapped it and a towel and called his mom. She came and took him to the hospital. I cleaned up the blood and prayed I wouldn't get sued. For some reason a couple moms forgot to come pick up their sons. This has never happened before usually they are waiting while we scramble to get done in time. Well today I had Rachel in the car waiting in the driveway for the last boy to leave so I could got and check on Taylor. I was feeling guilty for leaving him over there all by himself. I was hoping to get there before he was judged but didn't' make it. He was having fun though but was getting hungry - I was feeling awful and had no desire to make dinner so Rachel and I went to Carls Jr picked up some dinner, dropped some off for Taylor then went home and fed the kids. I was also feeling very guilty about leaving the other kids home by themselves - I have never left Dallin babysitting for even close to this long before, but since I couldn't come up with any other solutions and my head was hurting too much to care much about anything I just left.

I took Ryan and Rachel back for the award ceremony. We had to park on the far end of the school, it felt like it was at least a mile away as I was carrying my sick baby and dragging Ryan with the snow falling all over us. I was really nervous for Taylor, I wanted him to win but didn't expect it- there were about 100 entries and only about 20 went on to the next level. Taylor was one of them. When they called his name and he jumped 6 feet out of his chair and ran up on stage I was glad he hadn't listened as I tried to persuade him not to compete.

By the time we got home I felt like death would be a welcome relief. The thermometer said my temperature was about 103 but I was shivering and my teeth were audible chattering. I had the kids get ready for bed, we read scriptures and had the family prayer. I crawled into bed and let the kids play computer games for a while until bedtime. When 9:30 rolled around I told them to turn it off and go to bed. It came out in a whisper - I think they heard me but it was pretty obvious I wouldn't put up much of a fight so they just completely ignored me. I mentally willed them to go to bed and begged for the next hour. Finally sometime between 10:30 and 11:00 the older kids reluctantly went in and got in bed and Ryan and Rachel climbed in bed with me and went to sleep.

I really wanted a drink and some medicine but didn't think I could make it to the kitchen. I really wanted to someone to come take care of me. I kept thinking Rick will walk in any minute. He didn't. The phone finally rang a little after midnight - it woke me up but I didn't get up to get it. I knew it was Rick saying he was leaving work. It rang until the machine came on and then my cell phone rang. My cell is louder and right next to Rachel, she woke up. I silenced it laid it down and coaxed her back to sleep and waited the 1/2 hour it took for Rick to drive home. He came home exhausted, he did bring me some medicine before he went in the other room and went to bed. I fought with the tears a little but the medicine did finally bring sleep.

So anyway amazingly enough the judges deemed Taylor's project good enough to move on and compete at the next level. I believe it is all of Utah Valley that goes to this level, it is held over a couple days at BYU. He is really excited to go. He read the agenda and about flipped out. The most exciting part is he gets to miss school and they provide refreshments. It's always about the food for him, if they serve refreshments he's there. Too bad he got that from his mother.