1st Day of School!

Today was the 1st day of school for Chase, Abi, Brooklyn & Taige! Kailan started the Wednesday before, and because of the construction on Flag High, Jordynn's school is not starting until Thursday. 

This is the 1st year for 6th graders to be a part of the middle school.  Chase & Abi are going to a really big school, Sinagua, this year and they even get lockers! Last year Sinagua was one of three High Schools here in Flagstaff.  This year, the school district has made Sinagua a middle school and we now have 2 huge High Schools.  Flag High, the H.S. Jordynn is attending, has I believe, 1,780 students currently enrolled.

Chase & Taige

The middle school has a dress code.  Chase & Abi have to wear solid colored shirts of certain colors.

Brooklyn & Abi

Chase & Abi are in 6th grade, Brooklyn is in 5th & Taige is in 4th.

Tanner Mickelson & Taige

Taige & his teacher Mrs. Peters.  Mrs. Peters is new to Knoles - she came over from Marshall Elementary School.  Taige says she is super nice!

Mrs. Helwig & Brooklyn

Mrs. Helwig was Abi's teacher last year!

Hallie is 4!

This morning we woke up and had french toast and bacon (at Hallie's request) and opened presents!

Abi gave Hallie this cute little puppy dog purse!

Grandma Jackie gave Hallie these cute jeans.  We found them at Kohl's (less than 1/2 the original price)!

Brooklyn gave Hallie some Princess bracelets.  She also hand made her a little play dress out of material.  She just lacks sewing the buttons on.

Hallie started to open Grandpa Randy and Grandma Cindy's present when Aunt Aubrey called to wish her a happy birthday.

She has it on speaker phone!

Cute outfit from Grandpa & Grandma! Hallie was in need of pants for the winter!

Taige is so sweet - he gave her $!!!

and made her a card!

I didn't get pictures of every gift, but she made out quite well from all of her family members!

After church, Hallie requested enchiladas for dinner and then we had the Bliss family over for cake and ice cream.

Ava, Hallie & Mallory

Make a wish.....

and blow!

Jordynn has her own class!!!

Jordynn's day was made when she was asked to teach 2 preschool classes at the gym during this coming school year! She was so excited to get her very own classes to coach! She will also be doing quite a bit of substituting for other classes throughout the year along with her own Teen Tumbling class that she is enrolled in.  The owner of the gym pulled her aside today to tell her that she appreciated her - that they were always able to count on her and complimented her on what a hard worker she is.  She said they had been watching her and had noticed. Way to go Jordynn!

Boys & their toys!

Mark and the boys, along with help from Kailan, were able to accomplish a lot of yard work today!

Chase and Taige had fun cutting a few branches with the chain saw for their first time!

Meanwhile, Jordynn, Brooklyn and myself organized some of the kitchen cupboards and cleaned the house! Later in the afternoon, Jordynn, Chase and I went and volunteered at the Soup kitchen here in Flagstaff.  It was an interesting experience for all of us. Jordynn and I served food and Chase served all of the drinks.  Kailan went with Mark to be his 'second shooter' at Emily Fisher's wedding reception.  She's a budding photographer!

A date!

Unfortunately these seem to be far and few between! It was definitely a nice get-a-way for the both of us.  We played tennis with Mark and Jeanna Hansen and then afterward went and sat in the jacuzzi at Bear Paw.  It was a lot of fun!

Quite the Seamstress!

For one of Jordynn's Personal Progress projects, Jordynn made a dress! One of her friend's mother's was a great help to her!

Looking on the Bright Side.....

Abi has received lots of goodies from family and friends! Her school teacher even came by the house to visit her.  We appreciate everyone's thoughtfulness.  It has really brightened her days and weeks!

She received a whole box of goodies and crafts in the mail from her Aunt Lisa & Uncle Shawn.  And they even came in a green (her favorite color) tote! She's already created a ton of spiral designs!