Harmony in the Key of IDAHO

Treyson is in 4th grade. When you're in 4th grade, you study your state. So this year Treyson is learning about IDAHO.

He can tell you about IDAHO's state bird, flower, tree, gem, horse, etc. He also knows about the flag and state seal. Several weeks back, I heard him reciting/chanting something over and over. When I asked him what he was saying, he told me he was reciting the motto on the state seal.

I can't remember it now..something in Latin.

The program had good variety; different instruments, many hand/body movements while singing, cool props and lots of different types of song.

They sang a mix of; Native American "Flying Eagle", African American spirituals, Chinese improvisations, a Mexican folk song and a Basque folk song. --These are the different cultures that settled in IDAHO.

Treyson got to be a part of the "Tamborrada"... a Basque folk dance.

He told me as we were walking home that afternoon, that one of the girl's hands he was supposed to hold kept slipping. He said she wouldn't hold on to him, but just hold her arm out straight. Cooties, I suppose. :)

I think he was proud to show me what he had learned. He caught my eye, as soon as he was on the risers and kept looking my way the whole program. I'm guessing he was making sure I was paying attention and saw everything. I'm sure it pleased him when I snapped a few pictures too. :)


Way to go Treyson!

Blue & Gold Banquet

It was that time of year again.... time for the Cub Scout Blue & Gold Banquet.

This year the cub scouts were asked to make and decorate a cake with their dad. The theme for the cake; "something you like to do outdoors".

Jason and Treyson decided to make a fishing cake. Treyson helped to frost the cake, then sprinkled on the green coconut for grass. Jason did the placement of candy rocks, characters and trees.
Treyson was proud of their creation.
He asked, "Do you think it will win, Mom?"

Me- "Were you making it to win... or making it to have fun with dad?"

T-"Well, I was just asking if you thought our's COULD win."

Me-"I hope you had fun with dad and that it's yummy to eat."

T- "I know I didn't make it to win, but do you think it COULD win?"

Me-"I hope you had fun.... no matter what."

Of course he was making it to WIN! :)

These poor fishermen were not having very good luck that day. One guy's line is caught in the tree, another guy caught an old tire and the 2 stormtroopers got their lines tangled! Look at the fish, they're just taunting them...and some are swimming upstream. :)

Each cake was given a voting cup. Cub Scout families got to cast 3 votes per person, by putting "Cub Bucks" in the cup of the cakes they liked most. Treyson hovered around the cake table, watching his cup fill with "Cub Bucks".

In the end, there was no 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, etc. the Cub Scouts just got to keep the "Cub Bucks" to use at the "Cub Store".

Whew! so glad he didn't have to WIN... to win. :)

We enjoyed a nice dinner of BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, chips and salad.

That night, about 15+ boys received awards/advancements!

Treyson earned his BEAR badge. Now he has the next 5 months to work on his arrow points... then onto Webelos (sp?).

It was a fun night.

A big Thank You to our great Cub Scout leaders.

Soup-er FHE

For our Valentine's Day FHE, we had the opportunity to visit and have dinner with Grandma Ison.

We brought over cheesy, chicken, potato & veggie soup (Candice's recipe- YUM!), along with some homemade bread.

Let me tell you.. getting a full crockpot of soup from Meridian to Caldwell, during rush hour, wasn't an easy task. Luckily, I had planned for spillage with a thick bath towel and cookie sheet on my lap. I ended up with only a little dampness on my pant leg and tired arms from strategic maneuvering the heavy pot. :)

During our visit Grandma kept saying, "I thought someone else was coming... but I'm sure glad you could come." :)

When chatting and talking about how old the kids were, one of them asked grandma how old she was.

She said, "Guess!"

They took turns guessing, then Jason said, "39".

She said, "Bad guess" with a twinkle in her eye.

Then she revealed she wasn't quite sure how old she was.

I asked her, "What year were you born? We'll figure it out."

She looked at me and gave me the cutest little raise of the eyebrows and shrug.

I told her I thought she was 95. She was ok with that.

We cleaned up after dinner, then visited in the living room for a bit.

Grandma said to me, "What would you like, when I'm gone?"

"Uhhh. I don't know. I love a lot of your things. Maybe something that I remember playing with as a child. Or something that you made."

She said, "I think the grandchildren and great-grandchildren should be able to pick something they want."

I don't know what's "claimed", but it sounds like Grandma is thinking about giving her things away.

We visited a little longer, talking about the things in the room. A few things she talked about she would say, "You know those are antiques don't you?".

We also talked about how Grandma had decorated beautiful eggs. The kids ooo-ed and ahhh-ed over the pretty eggs.

I think the "Joseph Smith- sacred grove" egg is one of her favorites. She's pointed that one out to me several times and also showed it to the kids over and over.

Before we left we hugged and kissed a few times before getting out the door.

Grandma said once again, "It was SO good to have you here. I thought someone else was coming, but glad you were here." :)

It's such a blessing to have Grandma here. I love that my kids know her and will remember her.

I love you Grandma Ison!

Happy Birthday Jason!

On the day before Valentine's Day, Jason turned 41.

For "cake" we had brownie trifle; brownies, chocolate pudding, Cool Whip, candy and chocolate drizzle. Oh my!
"One year older and wiser too.... Happy Birth-day.. to YOU!"

It was a low-key birthday, compared to last year's surprise 40th, but it was good.

The kids gave him homemade presents and video games they had saved up to buy. Oh how happy that makes him. :)

Happy Birthday Jason!

Whooo Loves You?!

Krissi was here this week.

We did nothing too extraordinary, but had FUN doin' a whole lotta nothin'.

When we are together, usually something crafty occurs.

This week; Owl Valentine cookies.

The original idea used OREOs and different kinds of melting chocolates. I have a hard time copying someone's idea verbatim, so mine look a little different.

What I used: vanilla sandwich cookies, wintogreen Lifesavers, mini chocolate chips, cinnamon lips (cut in 1/2), pink colored melting chocolates and orange frosting.

On the site where I found the cookie idea, she also had these cute cards to print off.

I like that mine look like the Valentine card. Sooooo cute!

FINALLY!!!

Being the youngest, Abree has watched her older siblings lose their baby teeth one-by-one. She has longed for the day when hers would get wiggly and finally fall out. She has been talking about it for years.

Over the years, when the subject of loosing teeth would come up, I would tell her that she didn't need to worry about it until kindergarten... when most kids started loosing teeth. She couldn't wait for kindergarten to start and noticed "The Tooth Book" in her new kindergarten classroom when visiting.

The start of kindergarten came and went. As the year progressed, it looked like she would NEVER loose a tooth.... at least that's how she felt. Recently, she came to me and said, "Mom, even 5 year olds are loosing their teeth... and I'm 6!"

(Totally NOT fair in her book.)

Then one day in January it happened.

She came to me and said, "My tooth hurt when I bit my carrot at lunch. I think it's wiggly." I checked the tooth and could detect the slightest bit of wiggle..... maybe. Really I thought she was still just hoping.

When she got home from school she showed Taylee her "wiggly" tooth. Taylee took action. She grabbed the tooth with some tissue and pushed it in... HARD.

Boink!... out popped the tooth.

After locating the tooth on the floor, Abree picked it up and came running in to show me. Truthfully I couldn't believe it, but I was happy for her.

Yay, Abree had FINALLY lost a tooth!!!

Side note: Our tooth fairy stinks. She only gives .50/lost tooth....when others are giving $5 plus. And that's only if you catch her on a good day... most days she forgets. She even stopped coming to the older kids when she found out they didn't believe in her any more. She's kinda moody I guess.

If Abree was in it for the money, she'll be quite disappointed.