Big Boy 5

Our big boy, Ammon, is finally 5!  This kid has been counting down since last year!  But 2 months ago is when he got real intense.  To him 60+ days didn't cut it for logic, so I told him how many more Sundays...that was more feasible.  3 more Sundays...then 2...finally 1 more Sunday and he grew more and more excited!  He woke up to a giant ballon to start his day.

We made cupcakes for the family (party on Saturday), went to lunch and shopped for treats for his preschool class to share.

For dinner, he requested pizza.  As you can see on his face he was the luckiest kid alive!

After blowing out the candles, he couldn't wait to open his gift from the family.  We asked him random times what he wanted...rollerblades was the answer we always got.  So why not!  This kid is a machine and when he puts his mind to it...there is no stopping.

Oh the joy on this kids' face!  Such a fun guy!  Took a few spins around the neighborhood...still needs some practice, but I know he will get it soon enough.

Love you baby! Happy Big Birthday to you!

Track Season

Rian decided to try her hand in track.  She has the long legs and, in my opinion, is a great runner.  She was a little taken back by how much distance they run in practice, but I think she likes it.  Mostly I think she likes being part of a team and with her friends, but this will give her a chance to try new things.  Her first meet was today, against their rival school American Fork Jr. High.  I think it opened her eyes to the running competition and that it can be rough.  She participated in two events.  The 1600m (mile) and the 800m (1/2 mile).  I think she learned quickly about pacing or at least that she needs to figure it out, because she wore out quickly.  But this was a great way to learn.  Very proud of her for all of her effort.

Chore Chart

For many years I have wanted to do this. The kids are starting to age out of this concept, but it still works to keep the chores flowing and me remembering who has what. 

                                             Weekly Chores                                                          Saturday Chores 

Yes, I'm cheap, but they seem to respond to it.  5 cents extra if they make their beds.  Jarom has been my best one at this...Ammon follows because big brother does it.  Others are hit and miss.  25 cents if they pass off stuff like times tables or for Ammon his sight words...

A Good Seed?

"Ye Receive No Witness Until After The Trial Of Your Faith" 

-Ether 12:6

Activity Days was fun this week.  We are having an excellent turn out and having some good laughs. 

We talked about seeds and what they need to grow.  Showing a small carrot seed we had a conversation oh how something so small can become a large carrot (found a good sized one at the store).  We then talked about seeds of faith in Alma 32 and what was needed to nourish those seeds, if it were a good seed and what would happen if it were a bad seed. 

I made these little "bookmarks" for the girls to put into their scriptures with carrot seeds to remind them how faith can grow when nourished and when acted upon.

For the activity, I had found these awesome Sunflower Grow Kits at Walmart for 98 cents!  Kristin Hatch my co-partner had these girls getting dirty and preparing their seeds to grow. Good times.

Finally, we played a fun skittle game that had everyone rolling.  You had to place a skittle on your tongue and roll two dice.  If you rolled a one or a seven, you could eat it.  If not, you had to leave the skittle on your tongue until your next roll.  One girl had up to 6 skittles on her tongue before she finally rolled a one.  It was a lot of fun.

Shakespeare At Its Best

Jarom's sixth grade class performed the Shakespear play, 'As You Like It'.  They did a great job with backdrops and memorizing all their parts.  It was a lot of fun to watch.  I was subbing for the other sixth grade teacher that day so I was able to watch with all the other students.  I also got to see other sixth grade classes perform their chosen plays as well.  Wow, lot of work, but they were awesome.

The final scene they all got up and did the Harlem Shake.  I don't know how to get video off my phone and on to here, but it was pretty fun.

Basketball Season

This season we had 3 kids playing Jr. Jazz basketball.  Rian, Jarom and Raegan.  Tarin wanted to be in the school play so she chose that over basketball, more on that mid March.

Trent decided to coach Jarom's team and had a great season.  Most all of the kids are in Jarom's school, so there was already good chemistry. 

Raegan just had a blast.  She's our social one and just all round happy girl.

Her team was a lot of fun.  Most of them this was their first year doing basketball, so it was fun to watch.  Not all were there for the last game, so this was all we got.

Daddy also had his fun with Church basketball...sheesh, these guys get very serious about this game.

Rian had fun, but struggled a little. I think she did a great job for what she was dealt.  This was her first year ever playing, and it was hard for her to keep up.  She knew several girls from school so that helped.  But the coach didn't really play for fun, he was all about winning, sadly, she didn't play as much as she should have.  But I still think she enjoyed being on a team and learning the game.

Best picture I was able to get.

El Clase' de Espanol

When we moved to Georgia, one thing I especially missed from the Utah environment were the community classes offered by UVSC, now UVU.  These classes are amazing.  I learned how to cut my own kids hair, or took a ceramics class...loved them.  So moving back here it was the first thing I looked for.  It wasn't til now that I'm able to take advantage of this opportunity, but I'm so glad to benefit from it.  I've always wanted to learn a new language, and Spanish seemed the most practical and "easiest" to start.  Well, with only the knowledge of one semester in high school and Trent's association with Mexicans in his construction business back in Georgia, I have a lot to learn.  I only have 8 classes (2 hrs each) to soak up what I can...before paying for another session.  Luckily, a few brothers and brothers-in-law and a texting amiga from class, I'm doing my best to learn.

Every morning, I sit at the table to do a little studying, and Leona is right there to help me.  She fights with my pencil and suns on my notebook.  I think she's trying to give me a message.

Activity Days

Things have been a little busy...in a good way.  I'm up to 3 callings in the ward, which they try to discourage, but if they asked me to give one up, I don't know which one it would be.  I'm in the RS activity board, which I love because it keeps my foot in the door with "grown ups" since my other two callings are in Primary.  I teach the 8 soon to be 9 yr olds in Primary, and love it!  Especially since those girls will be in my Activity Days class as they turn 9.  (Three Activity Day groups 8, 9 and 10-11 yr olds) Seriously, I'm having so much fun learning right along with them.  Activity Days is brand new to me, so I'm up for the challenge to learn and be creative.  For a long time I never really knew what Activity Days was or what was really going on, so I took that and decided to be more organized.  (Of course I knew what it is for, but felt in the dark)  The girls are doing reminder calls, and taking turns with the treat.  I also made up a 6-9 mo calendar, so moms and kids know what is coming up.  Love pinterest for all the blogs and ideas!

These last few week, we have been working on serving others.  The requirement is make your own idea for serving others, so my first activity (2 weeks ago) we did service checks.  They had to "write" a check for the service they were doing.  This week we did something for the nursery. we cleaned all the toys.  Germs have been extreme this winter, so I thought this would be awesome.  We started with this poster as girls came in the church building.  "What would you want someone to do for you?"  I used an article given by Thomas S. Monson about Warm Fuzzies of service.  We talked about what other kids had done for service and the poster of what they would like to be done for them.  They each had fuzzies to take home and leave behind as they did services.  Then we broke into two groups and cleaned both nursery toys (other group finished before I could get a picture of them cleaning).

My girls worked hard and did a great job.  There were a lot more toys then I imagined, so they were awesome to accomplish all they did in a short amount of time.

Finally, to finish out the activity, we did "All About Me" bags.  They brought things from home about them and shared with the group.  Some are less active and really... this was for me to know them better.  Noelle brought amazing chocolate chip cookies in the treat basket to share...I thought it went really well.

Early Spring??

Giving Blood

I love doing this when I can. Giving blood isn't fun, but I enjoy doing the service for others.  Raegan wanted to come along and "watch" or get snacks, which ever it was, I think she learned something.  Although, I felt a little light headed that night, I still think it was worth it.

Valentine's Date

 I'm very simple so I'm glad Trent is better at this stuff then I am.  He put together the Valentine goody bags and flowers for the girls.  So this is what the kids saw V-day morning.  Lunches made, goodies, flowers and  bag of candy for the boys...chocolates and flowers for me.

 Yes, Leona wanted in on the action too...

For the grown ups Valentine's, we waited til the weekend to celebrate.  When Trent and I were dating 15 yrs ago, he taught me to snowboard up at Brighton during night skiing.  Cheaper at night for us poor college kids...  Anyway, with Sundance Resort closer and even cheaper (rentals and lift ticket--I don't have a board yet) we went there.  These were the slopes Trent blew his savings on and would ditch econ class for...oh the memories. 

Yep, I know I'm not looking and Trent thinks he looks funny too...that's what you get when you ask some guy to take a picture...

Since it had been 4 yrs since Snowbowl in AZ when I boarded last, then another 8 or so years before that...I decided to hit the bunny hill to make sure I remember my balance.  One time was all I needed then it was up the lift to better hills.

We felt young again.

 

Looking down from the lift...our boards dangling from our feet.

I think Trent would agree that I did pretty good.  I fell a few times and have a few bruises to show, but overall, I was able to keep up and carve up the mountain.  Sadly I had a basketball injury on my knee that was revisited on the mountain a few times, but otherwise nothing major...

Afterwards, we hit a Thai restaurant.  Oh it was so good.  A great night that brought us back to the good 'ol days.

Passing On The Tradition

Trent has been excited to be back in snow country!!  He found a great deal on snowboarding equipment and decided it would be a perfect investment to staying young. :o)  Sundance was the mountain that enticed him initially to skip college classes, so naturally he wanted to revisit his glory days (and I guess it being the closest resort helps too).  

Naturally, you want your kids to like or try things we as parents like.  So Rian had her first try at snowboarding.  Overall it was pretty rough, but I think she enjoyed daddy time and the new experience.  Season is coming to a close, but hopefully there will be a few more opportunities.