1st Day of Winter

Noah & I treated my dad to a Birthday breakfast at the Harbor View Grille.  Yum!

We hope you had a great Birthday, Dad!

Here are some basketball action shots of Emily in her game yesterday...

 Catching a pass

 to drive to the basket to make a sweet layup!

 It's fun to see our police chief refereeing

 Emerson won.

The kids are on Christmas vacation!  We are off to a super fun start with cookie painting at the Daigle Cabin & then dinner and games at the Peterson's!

A Taste of Kindergarten

Noah & I spent some time with Kate today at school.  Noah fit right in!  We brought in my delicious sugar cookies for the special snack time.  There were several different kinds of yummy cookies to enjoy.  There were also fruits & vegetables & popcorn.  I was impressed with how well the children ate the healthy food as well as the cookies! 

While eating, Logan informed Noah that Kate & "her team" chase him around the playground.  Then Logan emphasized that Kate has a team!  It was so funny the way he said it!

We were only going to stay for snack time, but when we heard about the other fun activities going on, we decided to stay a bit longer!  Noah & Kate worked on a packet full of fun math and coloring before going into the conference room with the other Kindergarteners to watch Rudolph!

Noah loved his time with Kate this morning!

This is the first year that a student council has been formed for 4th graders.  Eleanor (along with the other 4th graders who wanted to be on the student council) wrote a letter to her teacher, Mr. Craven & to the principal, Ms. Ellis telling why she wanted to be on the student council.  She also had to write a short speech to present to her class.  3 representatives were picked from each classroom and Eleanor was one of them!  She is so happy about this!  Way to go, Eleanor!

Emily did a sweet layup during her home game against Emerson this evening!  She earned herself $1 from Matt.  Zoe made 2 baskets at her away game against Emerson and earned herself $2.  What a fun way to earn money!

School Christmas Events

Noah & I have been to several school events today.  We stopped by Eleanor's class to hear Eleanor give her Around the World at Christmas presentation.  She studied and presented information on Mexico and she did a great job!  Then she came and sat on my lap while we listened to two other presentations.  One was on Finland and the other on Great Britain.  We each got a yummy cookie from the Finland presenter.  :-)

Then we went over to the Senior Center where we waited with my grandmother for Zach & all the 2nd graders to come sing to us.  They were so cute and they are great singers!

 Each of the 2nd graders were able to pick a piece of candy from a basket before they left.  While we were waiting for the 2nd graders, Noah received a piece of candy from a lady sitting at the welcome desk, then an older gentleman walked by Noah, grabbed the candy basket and offered one to Noah, then Noah grabbed a piece of candy from the centerpiece on the table, then he was given a blue candy cane before we left.  Oh, the joy of being a cute 4 year old!

Perfected Sugar Cookies

I made 11 dozen cookies today with a bit of Noah's help.  5 dozen were delicious sugar cookies.  Go buy Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix, top with Pillsbury vanilla frosting, add crystal sprinkles & you've just made THE BEST sugar cookies!  I also made 3 dozen chocolate chip cookies from a tub of dough that my mom gave to me and I made 3 dozen cranberry oatmeal cookies from a tub of dough that my grandmother gave to me.  So, 11 dozen isn't so bad when the dough is mostly made and already made!  I made the cookies for our Relief Society meeting this evening.  I love getting together with the sisters in our branch!  Ariel Dauk has been in Florence Italy for a semester of college studying Art History.  She shared photos & some of the history with us.  It was amazing!  Then we sang Christmas songs and we had a cookie exchange.  There were so many yummy cookies to try!  I took one of each and brought all but one of them home.  My mom treated me & my grandmother to dinner at Governor's, so eating more cookies had  to wait.  We had some good laughs while waiting for our food.  My grandmother's trip to Bangor today had some hysterical moments!  I'm glad she had time this evening to share them with us.  :-)

Random Sweetness

Last Wednesday before Noah & I left to volunteer in Zach's classroom, I had Noah change his slippers to boots.  When we got to Zach's classroom, Noah spotted a few of Zach's classmates wearing slippers.  Noah just couldn't understand why I had him take off his slippers when clearly slippers are allowed at school!  Noah couldn't wait to wear his slippers to school today!  We volunteer at 2pm and he was ready to go at 10am!  Wearing slippers at school is so much fun!

Last week out of the blue, Zach said to me..."Do you know what I'm thankful for?  I'm thankful for Grammie and the yummy dinners she makes for us most Sundays."  Zach is such a sweet boy!  I am also grateful for these Sunday dinners!

2 packages from Grandma & Grandpa came today!  Exciting!

Looking more like Christmas

Matt bought our Christmas tree on Friday.  Noah & Zach were a bit unsure about Matt's choice at first.

When the netting came off, they were happy with the tree.  I love our tree! 

We decorated it yesterday.

We are still counting down the days 'til Christmas and we're excited that it is 9 days away!

Zoe & Emily had games on Thursday against Brewer.  Brewer has tough, fast aggressive teams!  We lost both games.

Man Camp was Friday night with Matt, Justin, Dustin & Jason.

 Jason had to leave early due to health issues and he spent most of the next day in the hospital!  The first casualty of man camp.

 Saturday evening was our branch Christmas party.  Lots of yummy food, great company & a fun nativity play!  The young women helped decorate on Thursday evening.

 Noah entertained himself & us!  He was a cute shepherd!

 Zach was the inn keeper, but we didn't get a picture of him.

 The angel Gabriel (Emily) & Mary

 Eleanor was the narrator.

 Samuel the Lamanite (a Book of Mormon prophet prophesying of the Savior's birth)

 Kate was an angel.

The fun CTR bracelets the children received after the play.

It was a fun & sweet evening!

Report Cards

Kate
Kate has adjusted to Kindergarten very well.  She is comfortable in school and gets along well with her classmates.  She loves to learn and she tries her best.  She is becoming a more confident risk taker as she is presented with new tasks.

Zach
Zach is a kind and conscientious student.  He is reading a bit above grade level with good comprehension.  He enjoys a variety of books.  Zach seems to enjoy writing and is never at a loss for good ideas to write about!  Zach is doing well with addition and subtraction facts to 20.  In Social Studies/Science/Health, Zach demonstrates he is learning new concepts, contributes to class discussions, participates in activities and seems to enjoy the topics.

Eleanor
Eleanor is reading above grade level.  She always works hard and does her best.  She does not ask many questions in class, but if asked specific is usually on target with the answer.  Eleanor's behavior in class is always within expectations.  She is always a positive member of her class.
Language Arts ~ 94 (A)
Reading ~ 94 (A)
Spelling ~ 84 (C)
Math ~ 88 (B)
Social Studies ~ 80 (C)
Science ~ 88 (B)
Music ~ 95 (A)
Art ~ 99 (A)
Physical Education ~ 95 (A)

Emily 
Math ~ 94 (A) ~ Emily has a strong number sense which allows her to grasp new concepts easily.  She always completes her homework and pays attention in class.  (Teacher ~ Merriam)
Language Arts ~ 95 ( A) ~ Emily is a very strong leader.  Her written responses are usually both thoughtful and detailed.  It is a pleasure to work with her!  (Teacher ~ Cooper)
Science ~ 96 (A) ~ Emily thoroughly completes her assignments and is enthusiastic and inquisitive about the ideas presented in class.  (Teacher ~ Mrs. Williams)
Social Studies ~ 93 (A) ~ Emily has worked very hard at learning how to use an atlas to identify geographical features.  Her maps are usually accurate and she'll continue to work on her neatness.  Her participation in classroom discussions has increased throughout the term. (Teacher ~ Merriam)
Physical Education ~ 99 (A) ~ Emily is an excellent student and a pleasure to have in class. (Teacher ~ Frost)
Music ~ 95 (A) ~ Teacher...Birmingham
Health ~ 99 (A) ~ Teacher...DeRedin

Zoe
Math ~ 100 (A) ~ Zoe is one of my very best students.  She is very talented and her effort matches her natural skills.  She works very well with those around her and is a great influence to the rest of the class. (Teacher ~ Boynton)
Algebra ~ 97 (A) ~ Teacher...Boynton
Language Arts ~ 98 (A) ~ Great student and a great addition to our class. (Teacher ~ Patterson)
Social Studies ~ 99 (A) ~ Teacher...Gauvin
Science ~ 100 (A) ~ Zoe does a terrific job in science. (Teacher ~ Mr. Williams)
Physical Education ~ 100 (A) ~ Zoe is an excellent student and a pleasure to have in class. (Teacher & Basketball coach ~ Frost)
Spanish ~ 99 (A) ~ You were graded on completion of assignments, projects, final quiz and class participation.  It was a pleasure having you in class.  You are a positive role model for peers.  Good luck in high school! (Teacher ~ Fiveland)

Well done Kate, Zach, Eleanor, Emily & Zoe!  We are proud of you!

Hold your kids close

My thoughts & prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones today in Connecticut.  Tears come to my eyes every time I think of the children who were killed.  It is so horrible!
I picture Kate & I walking out of her school this afternoon hand and hand, talking about her day.  A live horse & goat came to visit her school today and they brought candy canes to share!  My heart hurts for the parents in Connecticut who now don't have precious little hands to hold and who will never enjoy the company of their children again here on earth.
I am so grateful for my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am grateful that I have been sealed to Matt & my children for time & all eternity.  I am grateful that these children who were murdered today will live with God forever and have eternal life.  I am grateful for an eternal perspective.  I am grateful to still have time here to be with my children and to love them.