Science Fair Winners

Both of my babies were science fair winners for their grade level.  It wasn't mandatory in 1st grade so there were less students that did one but Grace was still a top 3 for her grade level and moves on to the district science fair. It was mandatory for Andrew in 3rd grade and he was a top 3 (out of about 120 students) in his grade level as well.  They were each chosen as top 3 for their class and given an honorable mention certificate on stage at science night and then announced as top 3 for their grade.  A proud mommy right here!!!  We worked very hard on our science fair projects.  Grace obviously needed more help with the writing but Andrew was able to do it on his own.  We definitely had some tears and it was tough to get it all done but we made him write his stuff out and I helped him type.

Such a fun night. We were so proud of them.  When they go to district they will each get a medal and then the top 3 will also get a trophy.  Grace was giddy up on stage and I didn't get good pictures because I was off to the side at that time.

Andrew is playing basketball for the winter season.  We are half way through the season and we are staying busy.  I'm teaching in a 4th grade classroom right now at the kids school.  Definitely different than the younger kiddos that I'm used to but we are getting through it.  By the time I get it all figured out, my time will be up!  Other than that, life is good.  Just busy, busy, busy!!!

Soccer and Dance

Well, the regular soccer season has come to an end.  We have been with this team since practice began in July.  It was a very long season with quite a bit of drama.  We were the 2nd place U10 (under 10) team and went to a tournament 2 hours away with other teams from our district.  We knew it would be a tough weekend but our boys did very well.  We won our first game 5-0 and then lost 5-1 and 6-3.  The second team played dirty and called our kids names the whole game and even said stuff about our parents and coach.  The kids got very beat up physically during that game and David almost got a red card because he was so mad about no calls being made when our kids were getting hurt.  7 of 9 kids came off the field at the end of the game crying because they were either hurt or called a name or both.  I am so proud of them for going back out there today and keeping it together to play a really tough team.  Here is the collage I made for Andrew. Each player will get his own collage this week at our team party.  I did this in the spring and everyone loved getting one.

It was a busy weekend as Grace also had her winter dance recital today.  Grace and I left early this morning to drive home and relax and take our time getting ready. She doesn't really like being at the soccer games which makes it not very much fun for me (and the other parents I'm sure) so we skipped today's game and came home.  David and Andrew drove home after the game and went straight to the school to sit and wait to save our seats for the recital. It was a long day for them away from home.  Here is Grace in her tap outfit.  I didn't get a picture of her in her tumbling outfit.  We had plenty of time I just didn't even think of it.  I'm going to see if I can figure out how to get the routines on here so you can watch them.  They all did such a great job and Grace has improved so much!

School is out for Christmas break on Thursday, Grannylou gets here in a couple days, and Andrew starts practice Wednesday for All Stars for soccer. David is going to be the assistant coach for all stars and I am proud of both of them for being chosen.  So we leave one team and join another.....no breaks!  We then go straight into basketball and back to soccer in the spring.

September Update

I know it has been a while and I'm sure my mom (and my aunt since she reminded me to update) are the only ones still reading....if there is anyone else then I'm glad to still have you along.  We have been really busy since school started.  Well, at least since homework started!  Andrew is now in 3rd grade and has a LOT of homework.  Sometimes I wish I would just home school but we wouldn't last long in this house.  The kids love going to school and seeing their friends and I would hate to take them away from that.  Seriously though.....50 triple digit math problems a night and/or 20 rounding to tens or hundreds place!  I feel like if a kid can do 10 of the subtraction problems then he can do 100.  Same with the rounding problems or any math problem for that matter.  He also has to read for 20-30 minutes a night and then complete a reading response in his journal for each night.  I like that those really make him think and I'm sure we will see a lot of growth in his responses throughout the year.  I hope these continue so I can compare the first month's journal to the last month.  Anyway, that is what keeps us busy along with tumbling, dance, soccer, and mommy subbing 2 or 3 days a week!

This weekend I am going to Women of Faith in Anaheim.  This is at least my 5th year in a row to go.  One year when David was out of work my neighbor gave me tickets and my mom went with me. I haven't even looked at who is going to be there this year but through facebook I saw that Anita Renfroe will be there and I'm excited because she hasn't been there in a few years.  I also saw one of my friends post that MercyMe will be there.  Maybe I should take a peak and see what all I have to look forward to.  I'm sure the girls I'm riding with will be talking about the speakers so I won't end up surprised anyway.

Grace lost another tooth this past weekend.  It was her first top tooth to come out.  For those of you not on my facebook, here is a picture.  She looks so cute!  My friend took this picture right after it happened.

She lost it at her BFF Emily's house at a sleepover.  Emily actually pulled her tooth just a few minutes after Grace!!  The tooth fairy had double duty that night!!  Such a fun memory for those girls!

Also, Andrew got a new haircut and it made him look so much older all of a sudden!  David cut it and I think he did a great job!!

They are both growing up WAY too fast!!!  Stay tuned for a sneak peek at school pictures!  I'm going to schedule those to post on Monday!!!  They are great pictures!

I'm back!!!!! with a LOT of pictures

Computer is fixed and almost all of my files were saved!  A few pictures here and there didn't copy but I'm sure I'll never miss them!  So here is some of our summer in pictures.

 Swim lessons (first session) Grace level 2, Andrew level 3

 Andrew working on diving

 Grace swimming across pool

 Daddy's birthday

 They passed!

 Huntington Beach

 Father's Day at Chili's

 Silverwood Lake with Papa Wayne

 Skipping rocks and giving Papa a high five!

 Minecraft with friends

 dressing up for the movies

 dance recital

 summer reading program at the library

 swimming with friends

 bbq with new friends and neighbors

 Andrew's birthday

 learning how to rollerblade in a swim suit

 lots of lego building

 4th of July

 painting (like Rapunzel)

 movie day at home with mommy (watched Dolphin Tale) 89 cent icees from the gas station and popcorn

 another session of swim lessons and the both passed

 dance competition

 dinosaur exhibit on the way home from competition

 bowling day with lots of friends (about 20 actually)

 reading books at barnes and noble

This is a little of what we've done this summer.  We've had such a great time with friends and family.  I've started running with a friend and getting ready for my first 5k in September and trying to work out and improve my diet.  The kids have been playing and reading and enjoying their time off from school.  This is probably one of the best summers we've had in a long time.  Only a few more weeks until school starts.  Andrew started soccer practice a couple weeks ago and Grace starts her new dance season the first week in August.  She has added tap and ballet to her tumbling that she already takes.  We will have 4 practices a week between the 2 kids and Saturday games start the 2nd Saturday in August.  Life is about to get really busy so I am trying to take in the last couple week with nothing on the calendar!

Competition

This past weekend we went to Grace's dance competition.  I was a little shocked at a few of the young dancers (like 5-6 yrs) that dressed and danced so inappropriately for their age.  One of the routines was so shocking several of the dads around us were uncomfortable even watching them.  It is so sad to me that the parents think this is ok and the little girls are learning that this is ok.  Anyway, Grace had a great time and had her best performance yet!  Her group had a high score giving them a 1st.  They also received a special judges award at the end of the day!  We were so proud of all of them and had a great weekend away.  The kids spent about 5 hours in the pool with their daddy while I watched the older age group perform in the afternoon session and then I joined them for a while.  Then we grabbed dinner, Grace took a nap, and we went back to the pool with our friends that stayed at the same hotel.  I'm sad that I didn't get pictures of all of us together that night but it was a fun time!  Someone has pictures of me and a friend in the pool making up our own routine and performing just for fun (and no there was no alcohol involved)! 

 She is on the left with the black and pink.

 Perfect lift.

 Hard to see because my camera couldn't focus fast enough but that is Grace doing her cartwheel.

 Pretty little girl.  She looks so grown up here with makeup on and no bangs.

 Checking out her trophy!  She is so proud of it!

With one of her best friends.  Belle actually danced 3 times that day.