Red Ribbon Week

This week has been Red Ribbon week at school. Each day is a different theme and requires a different dress up. Tuesday was Hat day "to put a cap on drugs"and the girls were really excited to be able to wear hats to school. Rylee has recently rediscovered her baby doll and wanted me to take a picture of her wearing her hat while holding Lisa.

Avynlea wanted her hair all pulled to one side and after I finished she had me take a picture so she could see how she looked. Apparently mirrors are so last year!

Wednesday was "be a "jean"ious and don't do drugs" also known as wear jeans and a red shirt. My girls looked so cute in their matching Chaparral shirts that I had to take a twinners picture.

Paper Mache

Avynlea had to do a paper mache project for music class. She had to make a shaker by putting some unpopped popcorn in the paper mache ball she made. She worked really hard on it and had it ready to turn in on Monday.

I carpool with a neighbor friend who lives right around the corner. She drives the kids to school and I pick them up after school. The girls walk to her house in the morning for their ride to school. This monday morning that the project was due had been pretty rainy. Even though it was not raining at the time they were to walk out the door, Avy asked if I would drop them off. I said sure and we all got into the car. Avynlea had her project in a grocery bag to protect it from the elements and after she climbed in the car she reached around all her stuff to shut the door. That was when we all heard a crunch and realized she shut the door on her project. It was flattened and popcorn was falling out. Avynlea was devastated and did not know what to do. I told her to just take it in and her teacher would understand, she at least needed to see that it got done. Avynlea grabbed some white duct tape we had to take with her so that she could try to repair it. I felt terrible for her and hoped for the best. 

After school I asked Avy how it went and she said they did not have any time in class to do anything with the music makers. I asked when her next music class was and she said Wednesday. I told her we could make a new one but we had to do it quick seeing as how we had less time. We did not have any more balloons or newspaper at home and so after asking neighbors we managed to get a happy birthday balloon and some newspaper. I love helpful neighbors! One other girl was assigned the shaker like Avynlea and after seeing hers Avy wanted to make her second one a little different. She wanted it a little smaller and with more color. After doing one layer that night, we hung it up to dry over night. It was not quite dry the next morning and so we brought down Kenedys fan from her room to help it dry faster. After a couple of hours it was dry and since Avy was in school I helped her out by adding more layers so that by the time she came home it was ready to paint. 

I think this one turned out even better then the first one, it definitely helped that we were able to learn from our mistakes with the first one. Avynlea loved it and everyone was happy!

Pumpkin Carving!

We did pumpkin carving Monday night for Family Home Evening. I had Pandora going with some fun Halloween music that really made it all festive. I love the traditional things like pumpkin carving that we do every year. This year the kids all gutted their pumpkins and Kefford carved the faces for Rylee and Avynlea while Kenedy and Ryker did their own. I helped separate seeds from the guts and cooked the seeds and other then that I was able to just sit back and watch and work on my own Halloween project. It was a fun and relaxed evening in which everyone had fun.

Rylee was first to be done with her pumpkin and after taking a picture with me she got herself some ice-cream and watched everyone else working.

Rylee took some pictures of me working on my Halloween project. 

They did some fun designs this year. Ryker did the triforce from Legend of Zelda, Kenedy did BSU and Rylee and Avy did some cute faces. I love the buck teeth and eyebrows!

I love these kids and I love fun nights like these that will make long lasting memories!

End of October Randoms

Ryker borrowed my phone to call one of his friends and then used it to take a selfie and make a series of weird video shorts. Basically he was videoing the kitchen area from the room he was in and making strange sounds. I deleted them all.

Avynlea loves going to the store with me and as much as I love her company, my bill is always higher when she is around. We walked by the Halloween stuff and she wanted to try on this mask and then wanted me to take her picture so that she could see what she looked like. I am not a fan of the scary Halloween stuff at all.

Kenedy had this picture of her taken by someone on the yearbook committee. After it was forwarded to her she sent it on to me. Go Warriors!

After church on Sunday the girls had a little cuddle session they needed documented. Oh they are so cute!

This week is Red Ribbon Week and while I was at the school on Monday I was looking at all of the Red Ribbon things the teachers had up. I loved the third grade football goals and had to look for Rylees. I laughed so hard when I saw what she had put for her goal! She told me she wanted to be rich so she could buy me a present every day, that's my girl!

National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

A couple of weeks ago we got a letter in the mail inviting Kenedy to apply to be a member of the National Honor Society. I thought it was cool but didn't think much of it. Kenedy applied and then a little bit later we got another letter saying she was accepted. I thought that was great but again didn't think too much on it until I saw how excited she was. She was really thrilled with being accepted and when I saw her excitement I thought maybe I was missing something. I didn't realize what a big honor this was until we went to the induction ceremony. We got a fancy invitation in the mail for the Monday night ceremony. Kefford stayed home but I took all of the kids with me and we got to the school right before it started, probably about five minutes before. When we walked in everyone was already sitting in their seats, included a row of people on the stage, and it was deathly quiet. It felt a little awkward especially considering the fact that the only seats available for all 5 of us were in the very front. I could feel the eyes following us to our seats. 

It very quickly got started and it was a really nice ceremony with speakers giving short messages and the current presidency explaining all about National Honor Society. I got this picture of Kenedy solemnly swearing to do something or other as a member of NHS, maybe it was the actual induction, I really cannot remember but I am sure it was good.

Kenedy gets really annoyed with me taking pictures of her and so when she acts like a stinker in front of other people I make sure to do whatever I am doing to annoy her more. In this case it was the picture taking, apparently its only cool to take selfies, not when a parent takes your picture. 

They called the members names and they got to go up get their certificates, shake a lot of hands and then get their official pin and sticker.

The principal of the school gave one of the speeches and I really enjoyed listening to him. He was a good speaker and he kept it short which always pleases me. He is the lone man in the bottom picture. I love the look on Marshanne Bates (in the blue and black) face being excited for Kenedy. She does all of the financial stuff for cheer and was Kenedys math teacher last year so she knows Kenedy pretty well. We like her a lot, and she is the advisor for the NHS which is cool, we did not know that.

After everyone marched across the stage it was time to make this all official by putting the sticker they were given on their certificates. 

Kenedys friend Katie Thidedeau was inducted that night also and it was fun for the two of them to do this together.

This was a fun night of honoring Kenedy and her accomplishments. After all of this was done they announced the members by classes and when they came to Kenedy the girl said Kenny Peterson. We all thought that was hilarious! They got her name right every other time so it was ok. :)

When we got home apparently Rylee decided to be a bit annoying and take pictures of Kenedy as she was lying on her bed. She took a ton but I chose two and then deleted the rest.

Field Trip to Downtown Meridian

Rylee got to go on her first field trip of the year on Monday. Her teacher told me I could go with them but I teach dance on Mondays so I had to opt out. I was a little bummed but not too bad. I have been on a lot of field trips so it was ok in my book to miss one every once in a while. Rylee's best friends Mom was able to go and she was awesome and sent me some pictures of the trip. They went to downtown Meridian and took a tour of City Hall which was fun for them. They have been learning about government in school and have even learned the names of our President, Idaho Governor and the Mayor of Meridian. I asked Rylee if she got to meet Mayor DeWeerd and she said nope not this time. 

After that they went to the Pine Street School which is a historical one room schoolhouse. Rylee really liked writing on the little chalkboards.

Maryn and Rylee

in the bottom picture Rylee is top row on the very right

In this bottom picture Rylee is second from left 

Rylee said she had a lot of fun on her field trip but it was pretty cold. Makes me glad I was not involved, ha!

Maryn and Rylee BFFs

At dance I always give the kids a stamp on their hand at the end of class. The ink pads have different fruity smells depending on what color it is and the kids like to smell the stamp after they get it on their hands. I always try to remind the kids to blow on the stamp 3 times before smelling them so that they don't end up with ink on their faces. Inevitably I always have at least one kid leave with an inked up face. This week I was doing spider stamps with a grape scented pad. I cracked up when I saw Lila's face after she smelled her stamp, it was the perfect spider kiss!

Personal Progress

Two Sundays ago I missed church because I was home with a sick child, Kefford had Bishopric meetings before church and while he was there I got a text saying they were going to give Kenedy her Personal Progress award that day. I replied quickly with a, no way, you are not giving that award when I can't even be there, type of reply. So it was put off for another week.

This last Sunday was the big day and as we were sitting in the Chapel waiting for Sacrament meeting to start Kenedy got very nervous. She knew she was going to have to bear her testimony and was worried about it. I told her not to worry she would be great. 

Soon enough the two of us were called to the front and we met Kefford up there. The parents are always asked to come up with the Young Woman getting the award. After talking about how wonderful Kenedy is Bishop gave me the necklace to open and put on her. While I was struggling to undo knots and get the necklace out of the packaging , Bishop Buttars had Kenedy say a few words about Personal Progress. I really wished I could have heard more of what Kenedy was saying but I was stuck trying to get the necklace out. I know she said she appreciates the skills she learned while doing Personal Progress that will help her become a good Mother like me. That was a nice thing to hear and for her to say.

After Sacrament Meeting was over Kenedy got a lot of congratulations and I had a couple of people tell me good job. I was very quick to let them know that Kenedy did this all on her own. She made the goal a couple of years ago that she wanted to finish her Personal Progress before she became a Laurel. I had nothing to do with this accomplishment of hers. It is called Personal Progress for a reason and I believe that it is something the girls need to do on their own, how else will they learn and grow. It is my job to be encouraging but not to force or do it for her. I am proud of Kenedy for making the goal and for keeping it. She is a great example for her siblings and I love her!