He's a winner!

Just a quick update on the science project. Chandler came in 1st place for a physical science project for the 4th grade. He came home with a gift card for $10 to the Shops at Promenade (outdoor mall by us). He has already spent the $ and all of his lawn mowing money on a new video game, Mario Galaxy. Somethings never change!! I suppose at least this time it wasn't a driving game....those have ALWAYS been his favorite!!

The sad part was that the school had an assembly to announce all of the winners and present them with their awards. That morning Chandler woke up and said he wasn't feeling good. This is a regular morning ritual I go through daily with Addie.....so it was a little unusual for him. I tried to be the mean, ol mom and told him that if he really felt like he needed to stay home, that he would be taking a nap, laying down, and taking it easy ALL day. I took Addie to the bus stop and when I arrived home he was throwing up. Luckily I let him stay home or that would have ended up all over the bus!! Yuck!! He's all better and busy playing his new game!

It's Only Fair! (2 posts in one day too!!)

I posted a story that Chandler wrote a couple of weeks ago, so it's only fair that I post one of Addie's. Addie amazes me with her ability to use her imagination. She is CONSTANTLY reading, drawing or writing her own books. Here is a story that I enjoyed.



I was on my bed reading one of my favorite books, "The Wizard of Oz." I was so interested in it I got sucked into it. I went outisde of Dorothy's house. But guess what... A tornado started! It didn't hurt me, but a message flew out of it. The note said, To find the next place to go, you need to play a 1 on 1 soccer game against a really famous soccer player. I've played lots of my friends before and I've beat them. So I pretended he was my friend. He was hard, but I beat him
20-19. It was a close game. He pointed toward a tree. There was a door to a room in the tree. It wanted me to go inside. I went in there. I saw a clue to get out because the door shut and I was locked in the tree. The note said to write 1 fact about each planet including the sun and Pluto. There was a microscope that let me see into space. I had all the supplies I needed. I got all the facts written down about each planet. I turned it in and a rainbow carpet took me home and I got a million books. It was the best thing ever!! By: Addie Age: 8 2nd grade



I love how her little mind works! A little insight into Addie. I love it and her! :)

Almost Done!

I can't believe another school year is nearly behind us! Chandler and Addie only have 9 1/2 more days left of school!! Then I'll have a 5th grader and a 3rd grader. What to do? I cannot believe that Chandler is in his last year of Elementary school. That scares me! AHH!! We just finished Chandler's science fair project and he is in the top 8. I guess we'll find out next week where he places.

Our soccer season is almost done too! Tomorrow is Chandler's last game and Addie has 1 more after tomorrow! It has been a fun busy season. I think Derek is ready to relax a bit more than he has been! He certainly deserves a little R&R!!

We also recently returned home from a wonderful visit to Arizona. Derek's sister had Trey sealed to their family. He is a sweet little guy that they have been able to adopt! I sat outside with all of the kids during the sealing. I enjoyed the quietness that even the temple grounds brings. It was a special day. Almost all of Derek's siblings were able to make it (we missed you Colin & Cori!). I loved the warmth of Arizona and the kids and I were very sad to leave. I am still constantly getting asked, "When can we move to Arizona?" I don't think my children realize that we wouldn't live at a hotel next to all of Derek's family....It was a lot of fun...and a much needed get a way for me!! Thanks Nana & Papa!!

While on the road home from Arizona, Derek and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary. Not especially romantic spending the night in Albuquerque, NM with 3 children. Or stopping every couple of hours at some nasty gas station to use the bathroom....but I guess that is us. Life is always an adventure! It's been a happy 13 years! Here's to many more!!

I can't think of anything else....we're just plugging along. Wishing Derek's job would give him a raise so he could quit the paper route....Or that we would win the lottery that we don't play.....that the laundry would magically wash, fold and put itself away....that we had self cleaning bathrooms and kitchens.....:) Like I said, our life is always an adventure!

Onomatopoeia

(I totally had to google what that word means: Onomatopoeia (as an uncountable noun) refers to the property of such words. Common occurrences of onomatopoeias include animal noises, such as "oink" or "meow" or "roar". Onomatopoeias are not universally the same across all languages; they conform to some extent to the broader linguistic system they are part of; hence the sound of a clock may be tick tock in English and tik tak in Dutch or tic-tac in French.) I hope this definition cleared things up...:)

This was the assignment Chandler was given recently. Write a one page scary story. Use onomatopoeia to include spooky sounds. (I love reading my kids stories!)

George had just got home from school. "Ding, dong," rang the doorbell. When his mom opened the door, he charged upstairs. Tonight was Halloween. He put on his costume and ran back downstairs. His mom handed him his bag and he was off. He stopped at every house saying, "Trick-ortreat." then he heard an "OOOOOOoooo."
"What was that?", George asked. At the next house, " Knock if you dare," was writen in blood on the garage door. George screamed and ran home.
Back home hea heard the "OOOOoooo," again, but this time it was even louder. Then he heard a "AHHHH, SLAM," and saw his sister scrambling down the stairs. He went to investigatge. He opened the closet door...., and there was a ghost! "AHHHHH," went George while turning white and passing out. Then he heard a "Beep,beep, beep," he sat up in bed. His alarm was going off. He then sighed because he knew it was all a dream. By: Chandler age 10 4th grade


I don't alway look forward to the piles of paper my kids bring home every week from school. I do always look for their stories and get a chuckle out of how creative their little minds are. This was one that I thought was funny. Most of his artwork and stories are about dogs. I think my kids are trying to send me a signal that they want a puppy. I'm trying really hard to ignore it! :)

No more Pinewood Derby...

A little bitter sweet, but Chandler participated in his final pinewood derby this week! In many ways I am glad to not have to "nag" Derek to get it done, but sad that my little boy is growing up far to fast! He didn't do quite as well as last year. He did take 1st in a couple of heats, but did not place in the end. He had fun and that is all that matters! He thinks he'll make a car next year for the open races at the end. We'll see....maybe if I'm still in scouts he can make a car for me to race. Oh, his car was arrow shaped and painted it yellow. He named it the "Funky Chicken." Boys and their silly sense of humor...I don't get it!

And so it begins....AGAIN!

I don't think I realized when I married Derek how MUCH soccer would consume my life! I often feel like I eat, sleep and breathe soccer. Our soccer season has started again. Derek is once again coaching both Chandler and Addie's teams. He tried last fall to only coach one team, but I ended up in crap holes of tiny towns in Colorado while Derek stayed in Johnstown with Addie coaching her team. I did enjoy the time Chandler, Brinley and I had together, but it's always more fun when everyone is there. So....Chandler's practices started 2 weeks ago and Addie's will start up this next week. Chandler's first game is this Saturday. We are off and running. I do enjoy watching my children play sports! I am not much of the screamer mom on the sidelines, but I will on occasion scream hysterically..."SHOOT THE BALL!!!" We have practice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday's. Derek will be busy! I sure appreciate his willingness to sacrifice some sleep to make our children's soccer experience a good one! Here's to another great season! Thanks, Dad!!

That's MY diet coke!!

My little Brinley loves soda. She watches Derek and I until we put a soda down and then she pushes a chair over to wherever it is and starts drinking it as fast as she possibly can when we're not looking. Today I walked away to check my emails and here's what I found when I came back. My little girl drinking MY diet coke and watching nick jr. She's breaking 2 rules. 1. don't drink my diet coke 2. under no circumstances is she to have food or drinks in the family room. Little stinker!