Field Day!

The Second to last day of school is always Field Day.  My kids look forward to this day all year long.  We don't do organized sports yet, but the kids all love to run.  After looking at these pictures, it's no wonder they love this day so much.  Jacque and Samuel ran and won each of the races that they competed in, and Calista got 4th and 3rd!  It's fun being able to go and watch them have fun!  They don't hand out any ribbons or anything, which Samuel was a little disappointed about, but I had him think about what all the other kids in his class would feel like.  Yes, some day they'll have to deal with those feelings, but I'm glad we're not that competitive in grade school yet.

They each competed against their own classmates, since we're a small school there is only one class per grade level.

 Samuel winning the 50 m

 Samuel winning the 100m

 Jacque winning the 100m

 Calista placed 4th in the 100m

 Samuel winning the 200m

 Jacque winning the 200m

 Calista getting 3rd place in the 400m

 Samuel winning the 400m.  He wasn't going to run this one, but I talked him into it.  Later I found out that he didn't want to run it so that his friend Riley could run and win it.  Oops!  He was trying to be a good friend and I ruined it.

Jacque winning the 400m

Ellen Turned 5!!

Ellen is officially 5! That means that she gets to go to school in the fall and she can hardly wait!  She already reads better than any of my other kids did at her age!!  We've started having her help read scriptures and its fun to see some words getting easier to sound out or have become sight words.

Aaron went on a walk with Aaron the other day and Aaron found out that Ellen has a dramatic side to her.  As they were walking along she would suddenly exclaim, "Wow Dad!!  Isn't that just beautiful" as she was looking at a run down house.  When Aaron looked, he had to ask what she was looking at.  She said, "That rose!"  Isn't it beautiful!!"  And there at the base of the house was a beautiful rose bush!  Aaron hadn't even seen it.  That happened several times on their walk.  Ellen knows how to find beautiful things!

 Playdough

 Books!  Winnie the Pooh and other Disney books!

 I love these little dolls. They are magic clip dolls.  They are the perfect size for little hands and so easy to change the dresses.  Even Sarah can do it by herself!

I made Ellen this play dress.  She got to wear it for her Preschool/Valentine's party and looked/felt like a TRUE princess!  You can't really tell, but I had braided her hair into a crown.  This picture was taken at the end of the day so you can't tell how pretty it was, but just take my word for it!   :)

Calista turned 7!!!

Things have been crazy the past 6 months, but here's a little start to catching up!

Calista turned 7 years old last January!!  I love these early morning pictures!  Some day they might regret having our early morning wake up tradition, but that day is not now!  They love it when we come in singing to them.  

Calista had a great 1st grade year and so excited that the teacher said she could go on to 2nd.  For some reason she seemed very nervous about whether or not she would be allowed to go on.  Calista loves reading, math, recess, jump roping, hot lunch and her new friends!  She also loves coloring, writing letters,  chap stick and fingernail polish.

Calista is starting a new book series entitled, "Ivy and Bean."  They are really cute books.  They kind of remind me of Junie B. Jones, but the girls are older.  Aaron sat down and read two or three one night, so they aren't very long, but he enjoyed them.

Calista is a wonderful helper with Heidi.  If Heidi is crying, she is the first to volunteer to help and she does a great job walking her around, getting her interested in other things, or feeding her.  It's fun to see her mothering skills develop.

 Chap stick and fingernail polish

 Colored pens!

 Aaron crocheted this bag for Calista!  That is something I haven't learned to do.  She was so excited.  She decided to have this be her Sunday bag.  Aaron was a little embarrassed to have her bring it to church, but she is very proud of it.

 I made Calista this blanket.  I've made blankets for Samuel, Jacque and Ellen, so it was Calista's turn!

Her WONDERFUL castle cake.  Poor cake kept falling over, but she really DID think it was wonderful!