Ryan's Science Fair Project

Or should I say "PARENT'S Science Fair Project"

First of all, I will start off with his proud moment:

He was chosen as one of 6 kids in his class to be judged for a chance to go to district.  He didn't make district, but we are still very proud of him.  

This is the final completed display board.  He really did do most of the work, even if he was not very happy about it and we had to remind him about 100 times to stay on task and get the @*!!**@! thing finished (of course it was the day before it was due, as well, because that's just the way we roll around our home).  

The school is always very good at getting us the information a good month before we actually have to have it completed and turned in, it is just our problem that we wait until the last possible moment to get our behinds in gear and actually "do" the project.  

Here Ryan and Jeff are on the last possible day to "try" the experiment that was not working like the internet said it would.  We were feeling a little bit worried about the whole project.  Finally we decided to start over from the beginning and WOW it actually worked!!!  

I am very proud of him and the hard work he put into this project, but I must admit, I HATE science fair projects.  They are one of the most loathed projects I can think of as a parent.  I keep thinking at this point: "I still have 3 more kids to go through this every year" and I get a little bit more cranky about the whole thing.  Maybe, just maybe, one of these coming years, I will be more organized and get the ______ thing finished at the beginning of the month and not wait until the deadline comes and is almost gone.  Maybe?????

Logan = Par-tay

So, what do our kids do as soon as we mention "Logan"?  Well, Logan and the Parks just go hand in hand.  The kids LOVE going there because they know what it means.  Party, party, party, and "Grandma Carma" and "Grandpa Scott" are going to SPOIL them!!!  No, they are not of any blood relation, but they sure do love our kids just as much as their grandparents do.  

Keylee is on the Mountain Crest Caprielles dance team.  She is an AWESOME dancer and we really enjoy going to watch her perform.

Sarah and Shay

Ryan and Nathan

This is where the girls were most of the evening, up on the balcony trying really hard to mimic the dancing moves.  Ali was on the ground with her feet waving wildly in the air, Bella and Sarah were just running around doing turns and different variations of the dances which were very interesting to say the least.

We always have a good time when we go visit the Parks.  I love that family and I am soooooo sad they had to move.  They are even taking our kids for this next weekend, as is tradition, so Jeff and I can have some alone time for our Anniversary :)  You want to know what we have planned????  Painting the living room!!!  Are you all jealous?  I guess we will see how far along we get.

Jr. Jazz

Ryan just finished up his 3rd season of Jr. Jazz and we had a lot of fun.  The boys are just now getting it and can really pass the ball and make some plays.  On Saturday, Ryan played the last game of the season.  He made his 1st basket of his basketball career!!!  We were all so excited for him.

Here he is going for the steal.

He was especially happy that his Dad got to be his coach.  I don't know how excited Jeff was though???  They had a fun season.

Good job Son!!!

I sure do love you!!!

Big Budah at Harmon's Day!!!!

Today is Harmon's Day which means that our kids beg us to death until we can't stand it anymore, to take them to Harmon's.  I kind of wonder if the teachers are in on the conspiracy with Harmon's.  The kids come home from school for a week with different fliers just to remind us that we need to go to Harmon's and spend money.  They also have fun little games for the kids to play, they give out popcorn, ice cream and candy, and the principals of different schools participate in a bagging contest.

All joking aside, it really is a good thing that helps our school.  We get a percentage of money that was spent that day buying groceries, and the money goes directly to our PTO which pays for the field trips and assemblies and other fun stuff that goes on at the school.  It really is a fun event they put on every year for the kids to enjoy.

This morning Big Budah came from the Fox 13 morning crew and had 4 different segments with the kids.

Here is the 1st segment just talking about the party trays, you know, getting ready for the "Big Game" aka the "Super Bowl".  (Sarah is in the middle)

Bella and Hayley right up front

Sarah with Big Budah -- do you get the name???

Hayley and Bella with Big Budah

In the 3rd segment, the 3rd grade Spanish classes sang a song in Spanish.  

Bob and Randy took time to take a few pictures with the kids also.

In the last segment, they asked just a few of the kids to stay behind.

They were preparing fresh salsa, very yummy if I might say so myself.  Just a shameless plug, Harmon's has the very best fresh salsa I have ever bought at a store, and we LOVE fresh salsa!!!!

In the end, the kids were late to school, but with the principals OK, they got the excused tardy.  Way to go kids, you all did such a fantastic job on TV.  It was a very fun morning and I am glad I woke up waaaaayyyyy too early to make it over there.

Thank you to Harmon's, Fox 13, and Big Budah!!!!

INTRODUCING..........

Well, so I don't really know what this characters name is, but "it" caused us a lot of laughs the other night.  I just love how creative Sarah is.  She kept running up and down the stairs and here and there and then finally she came out of her room with this little guy.  

If I am not mistakin', it sure does look like the hands are kind of backwards.

The girls really got a kick out of posing with the "it".

Aren't they so dang cute together!!!  I just love times like this when there are relatively few issues and just a genuine love for each other.

Did I ever mention how much I really do love my family???

If not, there it is for you.

A trip to the Fire Station

Last week, Ali's Pre-School class took a field trip to the fire station in Murray.  I don't know how much they got out of it, except that the fire station has bedrooms and a kitchen with lots of fridges in it, and the refrigerators are just like ours (only because they have a water dispenser in the door).  They also were pointing out all the TV's they could see in the different rooms (hmmm....... I wonder what was on their mind!!!).  

Needless to say, I would be very surprised if they remember what they are suppose to do in case of a fire.  They did, however, enjoy looking at the fire engine and climbing up on it.

Officer Jake with the kids

Ali's hat would not stay on and she thought it was hilarious

The backseat of the Fire Engine

This picture makes it look like the kids were hanging on to every word that was said, but, what is really happening is that the Captain is pointing out the TV that just happens to be in the Fire Engine.

I do think they really liked it and had a lot of fun.  I just had to laugh at some of the questions and comments that the kids came up with.  I just love this age.  They are so innocent and much more observant that I would give them credit for.

I thank my Heavenly Father for kids and I am so blessed to have had four of them come into my life.  Gosh I am going to miss this stage in life!!!   

Christmas Day

I know I am VERY late with this, but I wanted to document it on here anyway.

We did have a wonderful Christmas time this past year, even if it did sneak upon us.   I felt like our December was swallowed up with sickness and then trying to catch up.

Christmas Jammies

Sarah in the middle of opening gifts

Ryan showing off his loot

This was what Bella did most of the day

And Ali, just check this out -- her pillow is a Hannah Montana guitar, her art table is a table to hold her millions of little nerds, she has Hullaballo at arms length to push the button at will, and is just as happy as can be.  What have we allowed her to become???

Sarah made and decorated this mini cake

Bella attempting to play the guitar

I don't even know what to say about this one

Bella showing Ali how to play her Leapster

And the grand finale, the family playing Hullaballo.  Is this another one I am going to regret posting on-line?

All in all, we had a fantastic Christmas.  We probably spent too much and were far too lazy, but we had one of the best days of the year.  We spent the whole day playing and just being together, at home, some of us didn't even get out of our jammies.  What could be better than that.  The house needed a hose down in the end, but we didn't bother cleaning up one thing until the next day.  I guess I can justify one day a year to relaxing in a mess.