Local Fun

Every year our fire station has an open house. They give out hot dogs and popcorn and fire hats, the kids get to try on the uniforms, explore the vehicles and hoses, experience a smoke house, use the hose, and get a gift bag of important fire safety tips.

We had some free time a couple Saturdays ago and actually had a chance to go. We participated in more of the activities than we have in the past, however Karissa chose to stay behind, for whatever reason, and decided to clean her room, which I couldn't argue with. Jason stayed home with her to get some things done as well. Austin, Erik, and Victoria came home talking about our fire safety plans for our house, so it was a good reminder.

Austin spraying the hose.

Victoria having a go at it.

Erik loved sitting in the driver's seats.

We stopped to see the ducks on the way home.

 Every year in downtown Plymouth, our sister township, they have a pumpkin display. We have driven by it every evening I take Karissa to cheer practice this month. We decided for our special time together to check it out up close. There were some very creative pumpkins! Here's our top favorites:

The vet pumpkin. 

The ballerina pumpkin.

Yoga pumpkin

Lastly, Jason and I got to do a different date then we usually do. The Family Fit Program that we participated in last year started up again. For October, they had a barn dance. None of the kids wanted to go. The girls used the excuse that they've already done square dancing before. Since they are all pretty busy and we had a busy day the next day (Saturday), I let them off the hook and Jason and I went alone! We had more fun than we would have if they were there, well, at least if Erik were there. We did many popular and classic square dances and a couple of line dances. Super fun!

Fun Run

Austin's school had a fun run last week. It was the best fundraiser ever! By the way, if we didn't ask you to sponsor him, never fear, we will ask you for the math-a-thon that will be in February. ;)

For the Fun Run fundraiser they made over $14,000! They will use this money for new playground equipment at the school and a GaGa ball pit. Lucky for Erik and me, we got to see Austin run because his time was later in the day. He went around the course ten times in 20 minutes. Erik and I got to participate a little as well. Austin loved the obstacles!

I think they should do this fundraiser every year! The shirts were bought for each student and staff member through donations from local businesses. What a great way for the community to come together!

The Big 12!

Victoria has been ready to leave primary and advance to Young Women's at church for a while now. She finally turned 12 yesterday and can go to YW this Sunday. Since Jason teaches in Primary and I am in the Presidency, the rest of us are in Primary, so she will be the only one not it- weird!

Some members of the Beehive class, the YW class she will be entering, came by and gave her a YW necklace, her Personal Progress Book (where she can keep track of the goals she makes and completes while in YW), and some calendar information.  This Friday she gets to participate in a special joint activity with the boys at a corn maze!

The necklace is a torch surrounded by the motto, "Stand for Truth and Righteousness". The torch represents the light of Christ, inviting all to come unto Him.

For her birthday celebration we had 5 friends come over for a taco bar. After eating, opening presents, and doing the cake, we all went to the Summit to swim, minus Austin who still has a cast. He was very excited to go to his school for their movie night with his friend. That worked out pretty well for him. He felt like a big shot off on his own at his school for the movie. After enjoying the water slide, lazy river, and free swim, we came back to the house and watched Maleficent. It was an easy party! She got no toys for gifts, which she tells me now that she is "done with toys!" I told her she can still play with the ones she has, but just not get any new ones.

Eating tacos: Bethany, Kajul, Bella, Makayla, Victoria, and Olivia.

Karissa, Austin, Kaleb (Austin's movie buddy), and Erik.

Erik helping pull out candles.

Waiting to go down the slide.

Kiddie pool

Adult pool

We brought a ball for some games.

 She still likes to play with her American Girl dolls with Karissa, but she mostly does their hair. She does play with shopkins or Lego's with her siblings here and there, but not as much as before. She's definitely growing up! I would say that her favorite things to do now are crafts, draw, and hair! She loves to do hair and learn new hairstyles by watching, YouTube videos, especially Cute Girls Hairstyles. She's much better than I am, seriously! She can do just about whatever braid there is.

On her birthday, she had a usual day with orchestra, very early, and some quizzes at school. Quizzes meant she didn't have much homework that night, which was nice. We still had to get take out for dinner with a coupon at TGI Fridays since Karissa has cheer practice and we wouldn't have had time to eat out, as she wanted.  We sang quickly to Victoria before Karissa left and she opened presents leisurely later on. Her main gift was a new phone, or new to her. Her phone from last year had a water accident, but she really did a good job taking care of it, just one mishap in August. At least she was brave enough to pluck it out of the toilet! Three days in rice didn't cut it though. She has waited patiently, somewhat, for her new one. She didn't abuse the use of her old one, let's hope she's good at that again!

The big day!

Happy for her phone back!

Happy 12th birthday, Victoria!

Last day in Primary!

4 Weeks In!

We've had four weeks of school now and we are going with the flow like it's been this way forever. There were so many changes this year that I wasn't really sure how we were going to survive. Victoria still loves middles school and has earned two ribbons for passing off Hot Cross Buns and Mary Had a Little Lamb on the violin in orchestra. I would still like her to go to bed earlier, but she's managing to wake up every day for orchestra. Karissa is keeping up with her schoolwork and cheer practice really well, not to mention her piano practice and lessons which are always in the morning before school. She's been more proactive in taking care of herself and her things. Growing up!

Austin, though he had the least amount of change, except for getting to school a little earlier and going without Victoria, had some hard times adjusting. He was really upset one day, carrying on about many things, so, when the next day he came home saying his wrist hurt, but had absolutely no signs of swelling, bruises, or redness, I thought he was just looking for more attention. I gave it to him. We iced it, wrapped it up for school the next day. He started to seem happier and only complained a couple more times when he banged his wrist over the next two days. He went to piano, played soccer outside, did his homework (it's his right wrist), and seemed pretty good. Four days later, I noticed his wrist looked slightly swollen, so we went and bought a brace. 6 days later, I took him to the doctor. I learn everything with Austin. I learned he has a buckle fracture. A buckle fracture has no outward signs of injury and they heal fairly quickly. He got a cast 8 days after the injury and has to wear it 3 weeks. He's adjusting so well to it, it seems to hardly phase him! He can't use his thumbs for piano, but other than that he's still going strong!

Erik has grown the most over these past 4 weeks. He's much more level when he's around others and even let's people who know and love him, like his old babysitter, give him hugs. He's very excited to tell everyone he goes to preschool at Red Bell. He's been eating the triangle cut-outs of tortilla at school with his milk, something his class gives the kids who don't want to eat any of the lunch. He never ate a tortilla with me before, so that's progress! When they eat yogurt, he eats that too.

As for me, I hope that I am having an impact on my students. I absolutely love my job! I would never have thought I would have enjoyed teaching preschool, but I really do! I love the read-alouds, the songs, the activities, and ease of planning for such a young age. I love their smiles and hugs and love that they are learning the words to the songs, how to line up, and how to sit for circle time. For the past few years I had been thinking of going a different route for my career when my kids got a little older, like a personal trainer or strength training instructor, but when I thought about it, I would get a little anxious. I think it's because in that field I have to work with adults. I love working with kids! No judgments, no criticism; just love and fun! Erik tells me when I say I'm going to work that "it's not work, it's fun!" I have to agree with him!

Getting it wrapped

Orange! I can find him anywhere!

Every day we leave he wants me to take a picture of him on the bridge.