Addison's Homecoming Dance Picture

Youth Leadership Conference @ BYU

Ada was able to participate in a Youth Leadership Conference  @ BYU yesterday. She has been involved with the Youth 2000 at Mountainside during fourth grade and now again in fifth grade.  She is such a great girl and we are proud of her willingness to be a good example and leader to others.

First week of school happenings

Ada was in the Founders Day parade in Wellsville for her involvement with YOUTH 2000 again this year.  She is a great leader!

 Avery joined an after school art club.  He is so creative.  He was given a tile to design.  This is his own design that he came up with all by himself.  A shield with swords and a howling wolf in the center.  I love that boy and his love to create.  He is excited to be able to do this once a week after school.

Back to School 2012

Well, this is a first for many years.  I now have three children in three different schools.  Ada is still at Mountainside as a fifth grader for one more year.  Avery is off to new adventures in 6th grade at Willow Valley and Addison is a BIG Junior at Mountain Crest.  My babies are all growing up too fast and I am not sure that I like it, but they seem to be excited to progress and grow up.  That is life!  I will miss my Avery being close to me at Mountainside and hope and PRAY that he will be okay at Willow Valley.  Ada and Addison pretty much have it covered.  My sweet Avery is just so tender hearted and sometimes it gets the best of him.  

Here's to another year!  

Avery's excited! ~ I'm NOT!!!

Avery has grown up too fast.  He is now eleven years old, getting taller and becoming such a great young man. He is all excited to go to Willow Valley next week.  We went to his school tonight to get registered, find his classrooms, meet his teachers, and find his locker.  We managed to get a locker close to his friends.  I am not sure if it will be good or bad.  As the large group of boys lined up to get their lockers together, it became apparent that they may be a bit crazy all being right there together.  Avery was a bit hesitant to still do it thinking it was "caotic".  Hopefully,it will be fine.  He learned his combination and we walked the route that he will be taking during his first term.  It is really weird to think of him going to Willow Valley now.  I will miss him so much while I still work at Mountainside.  He was always so sweet and we had so much fun being together.  I pray that he will adjust to being "BIG" and he can be happy.  He is a sensitive dude and this may or may not be a challenge.  We will see. Regardless, he is excited, and I most certainly am NOT!!  I love change, but not change that shows signs of my kids growing up and me getting older.  

Our Sacajewea girl!

Ada is involved with SEM at school. This is a group selected by the teachers to do extra areas of work .  They meet every Thursday during school hours with a separate teacher.  They get to miss their regular class time to work on research.  This spring, they researched a person of interest. Ada chose Sacajewea.  She was such a cute little indian girl.  She made a poster of her life including, here life story and fun facts about her.  She had to stand in front of the group and share a bio-riddle.  We were suppose to guess who she was.  Her outfit and braids kind of gave it away.  She did so great working on this all by herself.  SHe asked for very little help from me.  She is growing up so fast.  She will be starting fifth grade next year.  It is kind of sad to think of this being my last year in the school with my kids.  I better make the most of it. 

5th grade biography fair

In fifth grade, the kids get to work hard on their biography fair project.  It is quite the undertaking. They have to research their person, type a 4 page report, make a timeline, a poster, and a puppet.  They are to dress like their person, have a food to represent who they are and share a five minute presentation with facts about their person.  It is a big project. Avery chose to do James A. Garfield of all people!  Why?  I am not sure, but we went with it.  He learned a lot about him and we had fun making a beard like his.  We found the suit jacket at DI.  Got to love the DI!  We had to think of a food to represent him, so I decided to make a crockpot lasagna.  Lasagna- because "Garfield" the cats favorite food is "lasagna".  Everybody thought that idea was creative - and yummy!  I got multiple requests for the recipe that night.  It was a hit!

 We worked hard with Patrick to get him ready for the night.  He chose Wilson Bentley. He was the first person to photograph a snowflake.  He asked if I could help him. How could I refuse.  We worked hard one afternoon to do his report.  He can't write or type very fast, so I had him sit next to me as we read the story together and I would ask him to tell me what to type on the computer in his own words.  It took a while, but we got through it in about two hours.  We went to DI and got him some clothes to wear.  He was excited that I got a snow cone machine for his item of food.  He dished out mini snow cones because his person was nickname "Snowflake Bentley".  The snow cones were the favorite.  He went with us to the Biography Fair and on our way, he said that he thinks his dad might come.  I was so hoping that he would.  Sure enough with ten minutes to spare, his dad and siblings showed up.  Patricks face gleamed.  He was so excited.  I went over to talk to his dad and explained to him how much this meant to Patrick.  I was frank and told him that I understood that he is really busy, but that his kids really need his support and help.  He understood and thanked me for helping Patrick.  I had talked to him on the phone a few times to make arrangements to have Patrick over so that we could work on his assignments.  He was grateful.  I wish that I could do more. But, at least Patrick knows that someone cares and he is important. 

Mountainside Mile

Avery and Ada ran their Mountainside Mile this morning.  It is in preparation for the big race in Wellsville  on the 15th.  It was pretty chilly as they lined up for each race.  Avery ran so good with a time of 7:11.  He has done faster,but the cold temps made a difference.. He felt good about it and he didn't get a side ache.  I ran along side of him for part of it so that I could encourage him (as well as some others whose parents weren't there). It's amazing how much some words of encouragement and excitement can do for someone.  Made for some smiles and some quicker feet! 

 Ada insisted on keeping her jacket on, she was so cold.  She is the little runt of 4th grade since she is the youngest.  I was proud of her.  She ran well.  She did have to walk for bit because of a side ache.  caught up to her and ran with her to the finish.  She had a good attitude and ran well.  I was proud of both of my kids today.  

 Brother and Sister- Friends too!

Benson Marina Field Trip

Avery and all the fifth grade classes headed to Benson Marina for a fun day of learning and playing.

There was some canoeing........

 Wildlife observation.........

 Eating........

 Hanging around.........

 Learning........ This was my station.  I took a day off of teaching READING for a day of teaching about SKAT!!!! Yep, that's right, I taught four different groups about SKAT!!!!!!  They actually found it interesting.  I also taught them about tracks and skulls.  We had examples of each which helped them recognize what to look for as we then took them on a couple mile hike/scavenger hunt.  ( I did this four times, so I got my exercise in for the day! )

 Off on our scavenger hunt........

 Me and my fifth grader!

It was a great day, especially because I spent it with my son.