Cousin Time

While Tim and Karen got moved into their "new" place, the girls came and played at our house.

Fun, fun, cousin time.

Sorry, I can't play. I have homework.

This past Friday, I had to turn down an opportunity to go to, "Art in the Park", because I had homework.... oh, I mean Taylee had homework.

Her assignment was to create a newspaper, about herself. It had lots of details and things to be included in the assignment. It actually took 3-4 days to fully complete.

Included was: 3 advertisements, a letter to the editor, 2 personal stories, a cartoon strip, a single cartoon, an editorial and fantasy article about her making history as an artist.
All of them had to be typed up and then neatly arranged on a large piece of poster board. Taylee added a few photos and drew a couple of pictures to give it more interest.

I think we... oh, I mean she, did a great job.



PS- I've done more homework this year, than I have in the last few years combined... and we're only in the third week of school!!! I haven't had this much homework, since I was IN school. This is going to be a busy year.

Paper

I have a TON of paper floating around my house; bills, junk mail, good mail, a gazillion kid drawings, receipts, coupons, newspapers, magazines, cards, scrapbook paper, lists, more lists and...... children's school papers.

School papers..... I never know quite where to put them or what to do with them. I know some of them are important. I know some of them I'll need. I know some of them I'll even want, down the road. But there are SO MANY of them. Sometimes I try to ignore them, but that doesn't help, it just makes things worse. We've never had a good system or a good place to put them.

Then I had an idea (not an original idea).....

What if I made a clipboard, for each of my children, to put their permission slips, upcoming projects, reading logs, teacher contact information, etc. on?

It's worth a try.

I decided instead of me having all the fun, why not involve my kids and let them choose the papers, stickers, embellishments, ribbons, etc. Being the perfectionist I am (I guess that's what you could call it), it was hard to let go of all the creative control. I found myself micro-managing... ok, taking control every once in a while. Sorry guys.Blayke came over to join in all the fun.
It was kinda messy. Lots of scrapbook paper, ribbon and goo... oh, I mean Mod Podge.
It was a fairly simple project, but required some precise cutting and skillful Mod Podging, as to get the least bubbling possible.
"I LOVE projects!"
Blayke's
(Notice Abree's has already been well-loved. There's purple marker and pencil all over it.)

Now the question is.... Where do I hang them????

Run Like the Wind!

Rylee's part of the Heritage Cross Country team, this year.

Allie, Rylee, Lessa & Laura.

They had their first meet this week. Cross country is quite a bit different than track... one race and it's over. They run 1 1/2 miles, "cross country", like not on the track the whole time (duh!). Some school's even have hills and berms they might have to race over.

It was a very HOT day. I was proud of ALL of them (even the opposing team) for running in that type of heat. Yuck!

In the first half of the race Rylee was consistantly in the 4th to 6th place (out of about 50 girls). Then towards the end the heat got the best of her and she dropped back a little.

Her final placement was 12th.
Way to go Rylee!

"Where's my water bottle?! I need water!"

Rylee, you amaze me and impress me with your "go for it" attitude. Good job.

Funny Cousins

"What you talkin' 'bout Willis??!"

School's In!

The kids went back to school this week...Rylee is in 7th grade this year. (I can hardly believe it!) At registration, she found out that she got a bottom locker, again. She was a bit disappointed, but made it her own by puting her white board, magnets and other fun stuff in it.

She LOVES her teachers and is in Cross Country... later she may also try out for basketball.
Taylee is in 5th grade. She's Top Dog, of the school. She says she doesn't feel like the oldest yet though. She told me her classmates basically still looks like 4th graders to her.

She was nervous about her teacher, at first, but came home the first day reporting, "She's awesome! She only has ONE rule in her classroom." What is that one rule? "Uhhhh, something about not bugging anyone." Hopefully she becomes a little more clear, as the weeks progress.

Treyson is in 3rd grade. (No way!) He's excited about the microphone/P.A. type of system, his teachers uses. Oh, and he thought it was way cool that his teacher gave him a fruit roll-up on the "meet your teacher" night. (The way to his heart is DEFINITELY through his stomach.)

Abree will be starting pre-school toward the end of the month. We had a planning meeting the other day, and now she's WAY excited. We're doing things a little different this year and I think it will be good. We're going to be focusing more on getting them ready for Kindergarten. These girls will be SMART COOKIES, by the end of the year!