Go-cart

Just hanging out with cousin Owen in October, driving their go-cart. David is in little boy heaven. Of course he asked if we could get one. Keep dreaming David. 1. We don't have a piece of property big enough to drive it, 2. We can't float that kind of cash. We will just have to keep visiting cousin Owen in the mean time. 

Keeping it simple.

   Great to be eight Mac! He requested a simple mint ice cream cake and some simple gifts. I may not write another post about this, but Mac took a national math NOETIC test in November and scored in the top 10% nationally for his grade level. He was also first in his grade at Ridgeview.  He is actually in fourth grade math, which gave him a definite advantage to start with, but there is at least one other second grader in that math class too.  He will receive a medal for his efforts soon, and I'm very proud of him. Mac shines like an apple when he gets gold stars.

Mac is still happy and playful, bright and observant, wiggly and silly, tough and tender. We love you Mac <3 font="">

This is the Simple Machine's project we somehow left till the very last day to finish, which happened to be the Monday of Mac's 8th birthday. Zach is in charge of overseeing construction and I oversee the poster and report. This was our third round with this particular project so we have our system down. Surprisingly though, it did not take all night and in keeping with the spirit of the project, we kept it simple. Lever, pulley, inclined plain (axle if you count the car) and done! Mac is incredibly good with school too, which helps. This was all his brain child. If you twist the pulley, the car rolls down the ramp and launches the rock into the air. He got an A. That's really all he ever gets. I'm not bragging, we really don't have a lot to do with it. He has a gift from God. 

Mac's Baptism

 What I would like  to say happened: All my children, including the sweet eight year old being baptized, were so quiet, obedient, and reverent. We could all feel the Spirit that day and there everyone was happy.

What actually happened. We arrived at 9:30 for a 10:00 AM baptism so I could take a few photos first. My kids scattered like marbles in a roller rink and we spent the next thirty minutes rounding up, shaping up, and hurrying up our brood. I actually was the last one to walk in five minutes late to my own son's baptism! Ahhh! How embarrassing, I should have been watching the clock better, especially since we got there a half hour early. It was especially bad since the one friend from school Mac invited, Jacob Long, showed up with his mother and they were there before we were. I was proud of Mac for inviting Jacob and hope that there were some positive feelings created but I still felt bad. The rest of the service went nicely, aside from certain amount squirming, and when Mac was changing in the bathroom he exclaimed to Zach, "It's just like taking a bath, only way more important!"

Mr. Sandman

Looks like it was just too cozy for David when we let him read up in our bed the other night. He must have put a rubber ball behind his head as a pillow for some reason. It didn't look comfortable at all. Zach just couldn't resist putting the pen on his face; he didn't even move a muscle. 

Cross Country

Gabe (6th grade) tried out cross country this year with his school. He has been going for runs with his dog Clarence for a year now so we suggested he try racing. Gabe really enjoyed himself and says he's planning on doing it again next year. 

First Day of School

Ruth and Lincoln get more press time because it was Lincoln's first day of any formal schooling (preschool) and Ruth's first day of Kindergarten. So far so good. We have 3/4 of the year left to go. 

2nd grade

first year of buying these adorable school jumpers

two regular dimples and a bonus one high on his right cheek. Pure butter and sunshine

6th grade, last year of elementary at Ridgeview

Cat in the Hat

Themed costumes this year. We are all characters from The Cat in the Hat. From smallest to biggest: Thing 2, Thing 1, Sally and I, Fish, Cat in the Hat, Mother, Dr. Seuss. The only one that was not so happy about his assignment was "Fish". That's okay, sometimes you have to take one for the team.

"Happy to YOU"

        Alara likes to say, "Happy to you" whenever she sees a candle burning or something that resembles a candle burning. She was a full participant in this year's birthday celebration from the song, to blowing out the candle to the traditional birthday bite. Earlier in the day I took her and Sunshine bear to Chuck E' Cheese which was a hit with the preschool crew. Her favorite gift was a tiny baby stroller for her baby dolls. When she opened the stroller, her face lit up like a star. She has put on many laps around the house with her babies since then. We can't imagine life without our little lemon drop. 

The cake had to be chocolate on chocolate because my family now refuses to eat white cake. Dessert snobs. 

Family Pictures 2017

 Every year our family sends out a Valentine’s letter. It is one less thing I have to do at Christmas time and a nice surprise to get in the mail in February instead of December. Half the time I pay someone to take a family picture and the other half of the time I just set the timer on our camera and hope for the best. That was this year. It is no small accomplishment to get six small people smiling at one time. A thanks to my nine year old David for taking the photos of Zach and I and a thank you to my husband for taking the solo pictures of me. It was a group effort but at least it is done for this year, phew!