Knoles Talent Show

Yesterday was the Knoles Talent Show at Sinagua High School auditorium for Kindergarten through Sixth grade.  All 4 of my children tried out and made it! They only kept 13 acts, so they were all really excited.  I attempted 'You Tube' for my first time tonight, so whoever wants to, can see the video recording of their acts!

Chase & Taige Proud to Be An American

Mini-Man Mason & Jeremy

Chase's good friends! This was so funny!

Brooklyn - Break Away

Knoles Talent Show

What's for Breakfast?

This morning I asked Hallie what she would like for breakfast.  She requested little tortillas (corn) with cream cheese and Ranch and 'Batalion' dressing to dip it in, AND a 'Smoozie'! I made a really yummy, healthy 'smoozie', so at least she did receive some nutrition!

Happy 12 Birthday Abi!

In just these past five weeks, I've gone from 2 of my kids in Y.W.'s to 4 of my children in the Y.M./Y.W.'s program! Next year I'll have 4 official teenagers in the house! Crazy and fun!

Abi chose donuts for me to bring to her class.

Her class clapping and singing the birthday rap!

Abi and her teacher, Mrs. Helwig

Abi opening all of her cards & presents!

Check out this cute apron, and shave ice set!

In the evening, Abi had her end of year Children's Chorale party at Bear Paw.  She enjoyed pizza and had an especially fun time with Brooklyn, her friend Anna & Anna's sister.

Chase & Hallie

Later - after her actual birthday, we celebrated her turning 12 with some of her good friends.  They came to our house, played band hero, ate nachos, cake and ice cream and played the candy bar white elephant game! After hanging out at our house for a couple of hours they went to the Aqua Plex for a couple more hours and swam and raced down the water slides!

Megan Hansen, Abi, Alyssa McGuire, Brooklyn & Lauren James

D.A.R.E.

This has continued to be a very eventful day! The 5th graders have been enjoying the DARE program at their school.  It is now coming to an end and they had each 5th grader write an essay about something they have learned from this program.  They then had the opportunity to read their essays aloud in their individual classrooms.  The 'top two' essays from each class were selected to be read at their DARE graduation next Wednesday, the 19th.  Abi's essay was one of the two chosen from her classroom! She was absolutely elated and so was I! She has always claimed writing to be her worst subject - I told her now her worst subject was going to end up being one of her best! She was all smiles.

Study Program

In addition to Chase's school play and Brooklyn's field trip to the Grand Canyon, Kailan and Chase participated in the AZ Music Study Program today.  This school year they have been working very hard on 4 pieces to be judged.  They were challenging songs for them that they learned by memory.  After performing for the judge at NAU, they went to another room and took a written theory test.  I've been so nervous for them all day! I think I'm more relieved it is over than they are!  I am so proud of them and the progress they've made on the piano this past year! They are very excited to get all new music next week!

Busy 5th Graders!

Last Thursday Abi's 5th grade class performed their play that they had written themselves.  They did a really cute job.  The play was about the Revolutionary War.  Abi played the role of a Colonist as well as an Indian in the 2nd Act with the Boston Tea Party.

Each 5th grader was required to create an invention of their own.  Abi chose to create a Funtastic Soda Fountain.  She put several Mentos in the soda (this would cause the soda to erupt) and then she would quickly put the tubing/lid on the bottle and would fill up the cups!

Chase wants to create all types of cases with compartments for tent parts in order to ensure organization and quick tent set up.  He used a suitcase as well as cardboard to create this case.  They demonstrated their inventions at school on Tuesday.

Today was Chase's play called 'Name this American'.  Chase played the role of Gutzon Borglum.  He was the founder and sculptor of Mt. Rushmore.  His class also did a great job!

Hallie's 1st Dentist Appointment

Hallie's 1st dentist appointment! Dr. Peterson declared her cavity free!

She was so good at opening wide!

Now her teeth are all clean!

Six of the nine of us had dentist appointments today and yesterday.  I am thrilled that we are steering clear from cavities this go around!

Taige had a panorama and has 17 MISSING permanent teeth.  He has 3 permanent teeth in so far and will have 8 more.  He only has 1 permanent tooth on the bottom of his front middle four teeth.  We are striving to take extra good care of his baby teeth since we need to hold on to them hopefully forever! 

Dr. Peterson told him he doesn't get a practice set like most people do.  When he is finished growing we can do implants to fill in the gaps.  Meanwhile they'd like us to get into an orthodontist to create a master plan for his mouth!

Taige is considering being a dentist when he grows up.  His dentist in Fort Collins told him by the time they are finished with his mouth he will know everything there is to know in the field of dentistry!

Today at Church..........

Chase passed the Sacrament for his first time.  He said he was really nervous, but he did a great job.  Of course I beamed with pride watching him! I love my kids!

Women's Conference

Cari, Me and Kimberly (wishing Aubrey was here as well!)

Cari is taking a picture with her camera of us 3 sisters while we are waiting for the next class to begin.

Then we got someone else to take our picture.

We had a great time.  It's so nice to go and feel motivated and uplifted and gain a greater desire to better yourself!  We enjoyed some really wonderful speakers.   The hotel that we stayed in also upgraded our room free of charge to a corner room that consisted of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen and a small living room with a fire place.  It was so nice.  After the conference was over we drove to Salt Lake and went to the Temple.  In addition we enjoyed lots of shopping, spent more money than we should have, played cards and enjoyed lots of good food.  We made it back to Flagstaff about 8:30 last night.