Class Field Trip to the CU Football Game

This morning started out bright (well dark) & early. Joseph's teacher gets his class & their families tickets for a CU football game each year. We knew the boys were going to go but we kept going back & forth on the girls. I called Lexie into our room & she said, "Yes, I want to go to the football game." So, we sent a text to Mr. K to make sure he still had enough tickets for all of us girls to come & we hurried to get ready to go to Boulder.
Andrew was taking the "layering" to the extreme.

I'm glad we told him to take the extra pair of pants off as the afternoon warmed up quite nicely. Before the game, Logan's family arranged for some tailgating for the class. It was awesome. We had a fun breakfast, colored "GO CU" pictures for the kids to hold up, played lots of soccer & football in the field, & Andrew & Eliza's favorite-tossed lots of bean bags. It was great & the kids were all sad to pack up & head to the game.

But, the game was plenty fun, too. Here's Joseph & his awesome teacher, Mr. K.

And here's Joseph with Logan & Brandon.

After the game (yes, CU lost by a lot) the kids stopped for a picture on the buffalo.

And Andrew needed his own picture, too.

Joseph's favorite part of the game was seeing Ralphie the buffalo run around the field twice.
Lexie's favorite part was being able to play with her friends during the game.
Eliza's favorite part was eating a cookie & making a mess with the drinks.
Andrew's favorite part of the game was playing with Preston & seeing the parachutes & skydivers.
Rick's favorite part was playing catch with the kids before the game. Lexie has a great spiral. (She must get that from her mom.)
Lucy's favorite part was being adored by tons of 2nd graders. She couldn't get enough of it.
Cheryl's favorite part was watching everyone have such a great time & enjoying it all.
We're so glad we got to go to the game. It will be easier in some ways when kids are a bit older & not falling asleep on you but really, it was a great age to take them & it was a blast getting to be with so many of the great families in Joseph's class. He really has great friends & kids in his class & an awesome teacher, too. We love fun Saturday's like this!

Eliza's First Quotable

This morning Andrew, Eliza & I were having a race. We raced cleaning. I had to clean the kitchen before Andrew & Eliza cleaned up the toys & books all around the main floor. At one point, Andrew asked, "Where is the table to the Thanksgiving toy?" I told him I saw it over by Eliza. Eliza piped up, "It's by bookshelf." Andrew goes over to look for it but it wasn't there. He said, "You're lyin' Eliza. It's not here." To which Eliza replied in her best stern voice, "I not a lion, I Eliza! I not a lion, Andrew!"
It sure gave me quite the chuckle.
We still haven't found that toy. I know it's here somewhere because I saw it that morning. Maybe a lion took it.

Leaf Fun

Today we had NO SCHOOL! So we had a really fun day. We spent the morning straightening the house from the week's activities & had a friend over for a bit. Then after lunch we went to the park with some other friends. It was a ton of fun & the weather wasn't so bad- a bit windy, but not too bad.
After we were done playing at the park, the kid's didn't want the playdate to be over, so we had the older boys come over to play for a few more hours. They all had lots of fun! We even got to go outside & rake the leaves & ride bikes/scooters.
Look at that frog of ours.

 

Joseph decided to make his own pile on the other side of the driveway.

Then he learned how fun it was to throw the leaves while the wind is blowing...

Because they attack your sister really well.

 

And here's Andrew with Brady raking the leaves for a new pile.

It was a really great day off from school.

Breakfast, Anyone?

I love how Eliza just takes care of things herself. Very independent. But, she must have 3 binks close by.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Tonight we had the Parent/Teacher Conferences for Lexie, Joseph, & Andrew. Never before have we had all 3 of them set up in a row & it was  really nice to be able to get it all done in one night. Wow, what a change from going at least twice for it.

Lexie's was first. It went really well. She's doing amazing with her reading and math-not shocked one bit about that. She always has her nose in a book! (Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.) She is blessed with an awesome teacher! We love Mrs. Freeman and so grateful that she loves Alexis. She's doing awesome in Math, Science, Writing...everything! She's so helpful to others in class and a great example. I could not be more thrilled with the progress and hard work Lexie puts into school. The only area Mrs. Freeman said she could work on is penmanship. Not a big surprise, so Lex is going to focus on taking her time more while writing and being neat all of the time.

Next we had Andrew's. It's nice that the first thing she said (reiterating what she told me a month ago) that we made the right choice to put Andrew in Kindergarten & not hold him. She said he's at the top of the class & his writing is awesome. That was nice to hear. Sometimes I still think about having him repeat Kindergarten, but those thoughts don't come as often anymore. He has friends, chooses the right in class, is a good example and is doing awesome academically. I'm so grateful for Mrs. Winkler who loves him (even though he's different than Joseph) and sees him for who he is and wants to celebrate his talents. That's huge for me. We do need to help him not talk out in class so much. We need to work on raising hands and waiting until we're called on. Not the easiest thing to reign in.

Lastly, we had Joseph. I feel sorry for the family that was after us as ours started at 6 with his teacher & we didn't leave until 6:50. There was a lot to cover & with Mrs. M there, too, to go over things, it was a long but very fun discussion.
One thing that I found so endearing happened a few weeks ago with Joseph's teacher. Andrew's class came out a few minutes late & so I hadn't gotten over to the other side to pick up Joseph & here came his teacher walking him down the sidewalk to me & they were having a light saber battle all the way down the sidewalk. Who does that? Mr. Kennedy. Apparently, every morning that Joseph goes to school early, he drops off his backpack and runs in and attacks Mr. K. and they battle out of the room and out to the front of the school it looks like, too. He is such an awesome teacher and Joseph is such an awesome kid.

As always, we love the kids' teachers & all that they do & are grateful for how much they love our children.

Eliza's Rooting For...

This morning the kids were excitedly talking about the voting they would be doing in their classes at school. Then as we drove to school the kids were counting the political signs on the way to school. Andrew started a "Go Mint Romney" cheer in the car & Eliza quickly joined in. (I'm really going to miss hearing him talk about Mint Romney & President Obama.
After I dropped off Lexie & Joseph, the cheering continued & we went to the bank. We pulled up at the drive thru & the cheering continued. I was laughing so hard. I think the tellers weren't impressed because we didn't get suckers. :)
But, I was impressed that Andrew was learning lots about the election in Kindergarten. He told me that the elephant with red, white, & blue was for Romney & the donkey was for Obama. I didn't teach him that. But it's been fun these last few months talking about issues with the kids. It always makes for interesting dinner conversations. I'm grateful that they want to know things & think about things.

Well, once we got home from errands, I had to video Eliza doing her little cheer.

She definitely knows who she's rooting for. And she also surprised me by when she saw Romney on the tv she started the chant up again. Who knew that she knew who he was?

*Update*
We're pretty bummed about the results of this election. Poor Joseph shed many tears this morning. But, we had some good talks about how we will continue to pray for the leaders of our country, how we sustain them & honor the laws of the land & how we get to keep choosing the right & doing our best. I'm grateful for my kids & the desire they have for the truth & for doing what is right. All night long (since I slept from 8pm-midnight I couldn't sleep once I woke up) I kept having Sister Beck's talk, "Mothers Who Know" going through my mind. I don't know why. But I am grateful for my mother who knows & who has taught me important truths & principles. I hope that I can teach these principles & values to my children. I know they are teaching some of them to me. And I hope they will continue to have the desires to work hard, succeed in life, raise good families & serve others & the Lord. I'm grateful to live in this wonderful, free country, the greatest nation in the world. It is a divinely inspired country & I'm thankful to live here. But, I still think that our country just missed out on an amazing opportunity. And I think that is something we will end up regretting.

That Stage

It's official. Eliza has hit the "I don't want to wear any clothes" stage. The other day we were at the park for Andrew's soccer practice & she runs over & hands me her shirt. She refused to put it back on so I called it good & was just grateful she kept her pants on. Today we had her in a onesie, tights & skirt & she still managed to get them all off just by putting her arms through her onesie. She's a smart one. I'm hoping this stage doesn't last too long. I really don't remember any of the others doing this.

We are Thankful For...

We are doing a Thankful Door this year. Lexie, Joseph, & Andrew cut us out some leaves that we could write on & hang on our door.

This morning we were surprised to see Eliza's.

When we asked her who it was she said, "NaeNae." It's fun to see what a little artist we have on our hands.

This Little Girl

She sure loves her suckers! And is super cute!

Last Soccer Game

Today Andrew had his last soccer game. He scored a couple more goals! He had a great time playing soccer this season & certainly wants to do it again next year.
After the game we had a little team party. Here he is with his awesome coach, Melanie. We love her & Andrew sure had fun with her teaching him lots of great skills.

And here is the team with their trophies. Andrew was super excited that he got his very own trophy! He thinks it's really cool!

We're so glad he had a blast & we're glad it was such a fun season!

Owl-dorable

She's excited to go cheer on her brother in his last soccer game!

Yay, go Andrew!

 And yay, Lexie for making her smile!

And thanks, Aunt Barbara for my cute outfit!
I've discovered my tongue.

 And I look like I'm flying away, like an owl.

Adoring Lexie

Lexie has an amazing talent. She can make Lucy smile in a heartbeat. It's true, if Lexie is around, Lucy smiles. She loves her big sister like crazy.

 

 

 

I don't know what we'd do without our Lexie. I do know there wouldn't be as much laughter & smiles. I'm glad we don't need to find out.