Emma's exciting month

Proud Emma and her cheesy father

 June was a big month for Emma.  First, she reached a major goal she has been working on all year.  Each year all of the 6th graders have an opportunity to win a $300 mountain bike and helmet from a local car dealership.  Emma has been so excited for the chance to win that bike for the past few years, since she knows it's her only shot at riding a non-hand-me-down beautiful bike!  All the kids have to do is have perfect attendance, including being on time each day.  That's all.  That's all?!  This was the hardest school year of my life!  Every time Emma was around someone who coughed or blew their nose she got a panicked look on her face, afraid she'd catch whatever foul germs they had and miss a day of school.  I was worried that she would become a germaphobe after this year, but so far she is a normal 12 year old.  Every night in her prayers, she remembered to ask Heavenly Father to bless her that she wouldn't get sick so she could earn a bike.  And He did bless her!  When the rest of our family caught colds and flu, she always managed to wait for a weekend or holiday.  Lucky girl! Then there was the worry about tardies.  We carpooled with a the Hibberts and whenever it was their week to drive we would have at least one day of Emma in tears and panic as they pulled up late to pick her up.  Their daughter wasn't a 6th grader and had no reason to hurry in the morning, often driving her parents crazy with her snail's pace.  She's a sweet, stubborn, slow child and we love her, but I wasn't sure if her friendship with Emma would survive if she made her lose that beautiful bike, so for the last few months of school we had Emma go with my friend, Maggie, the secretary at the school.  She was 45 minutes early for school every day and loved it!  No more stress and plenty of time to help and chat with her teacher each morning.  And the result?  She was one of seven 6th graders at our school who got a bike!

 

The dealership sponsored a free picnic for all of the winners and their families and presented them with their new bike.  There were hundreds of people there, and I think they gave away over 300 bikes.  It's pretty generous and the kids love it, although it really stresses parents out.  Emma has been having a great time riding around the neighborhood, so I guess it was all worth it!

Emma's other big event in June was her play, The Music Man.  She loves performing and she gets to do it twice a year with CMT.  She was a Pick-A-Little Lady, along with her friends, Priscilla and Britlyn, and they did a terrific job!

The girls with their teacher, Dana Atkins, who announced that it was her last play.  The girls were so sad that she has moved

Emma did her own hair every day in a Gibson Girl style.  She's pretty talented!

Emma's 6th grade teacher, Jessica Baker, came to support her and brought Emma her favorite flowers.  She's so sweet.  We love her!