Christmas Programs

Like a warrior to battle Elise and I geared up for Winter-Musical-1st/2nd Grade-Want-To-Run-In-Front-of -the-Bus-Afterwards Spectacular.  I am valid in my feelings, last year we went in with joy and glee to discover the program was 60 painful minutes with too many low-grade songs that contain strange lyrics that happen to rhyme with Santa.  Everyone's in misery.  BUT-this year was much, much better, Elise was behaved, the program was only 30 short minutes and Santa made an appearance half-way through the program (the result of Elise being so scared she submitted to sitting by me and fearfully behaving)

Jara and her classmates.  

I love the little class she is a part of this year, they are wonderful children she gets to spend every day with.  Although in the picture I think she is glaring someone down (just some boy)  It's okay, I'm 100% positive my mom has a picture somewhere of me doing the same thing during a dance recital in 2nd grade.  

Jara refusing to shake the fake Santa's hand.  I think her exact words were "I know you're Mr. Jenkins!" growl, growl.  Talk about suffering through music.  If she weren't so well behaved I'm pretty sure she would have started a riot.  Jara loves music and singing but not music CLASS and performing.  It brings out an angry side to her.  A side that would risk guttural growling at Santa!

Now on to Kindergarten...

Kindergarten is what set the expectations for Christmas programs so high.  Jara's kinder program was adorable and led me to the false belief that all Christmas programs were wondrous.  ALL KINDERGARTEN programs are wondrous, not all MUSIC PROGRAMS.  Big difference.  

Just wanted to put that down for the record.   

The boys singing "Must Be Santa" with actions.  

Kindergarten really is an overdose of cuteness.  Every child taking a turn saying what Christmas means to them, which by-the-way, means a Nerf Air gun to somebody, (true meaning, shmeaning) they sing songs that everyone has heard of, and at one point they were holding halos over their heads, really you can't beat it.  Christmas cheer-check!

A family affair.

Flag Football

Welcome to the world of kiddie sports.  Flag football is just as much fun as T-Ball, although much colder.  Jack wanted to play and so we signed him up.  Did I mention it was really cold?  No snow, but bone chilling cold at 6:30 at night in the arid, December desert.  

Jack was the first player on his team to score a touchdown!  It became vital to him to get a touchdown every game. The Jed (can we say competitive nature) in him came out when he didn't score.  We gave him the talk about being part of a team.  Not sure how well that went.  The best part about this age is the crazy things you will witness:  kids running the opposite direction only to realize it, switch gears and then run all the way back down the field to score a touchdown, kids trying to pull a flag in flying leaps, kids zoning out and then realizing their team is done with the play (Jack-he snapped back fast), kids dancing (Jack has a dance probably to ward off the cold), kids lying down in the grass and refusing to move.  Jed and I laughed so hard every game.  They are adorable at this age and down-right crazy too!  

Jack and his team, the RAPTORS!

A Little Gratitude

Jara planned and executed FHE the beginning of November.  I told her I wanted to talk about being grateful and she came up with the idea of hand turkeys and gathered her supplies.

Here is what made the feathers...

Elise: Jack, Jara, Daddy, turkey (I can't compete with "turkey vultures")

Jack:  Love, Santa, family, Ruby (Ruby-the dog!?)

Jara:  Family, Santa, home, Jesus, ME

It surprised me that they were already thinking of Santa/Christmas and I love that they all prioritized family.  They are grateful little turkeys!

In Sunday School a few weeks past we were speaking of gratitude and I remember the teacher saying something to the effect that gratitude was the base/noblest of all virtues.  There are many virtues and I'm sure the noblest is a debatable concept, but I believe in the results of being truly grateful.  It is not always easy to find gratitude in our daily dealings or in trials but I believe we are blessed, happier and enriched when we do.  I don't mean we should be unrealistic, "wow, I'm so glad I have this miserable cold" but thankful everyday what we are inherently privilege to:  life, the atonement of Jesus Christ, the beauty of nature and the ability to feel joy.  I am grateful for these things and so many more. I have a family that loves me, my husband has a job, we have a home that has electricity and running, hot water, we have safety and our kids are easily entertained!  

What more in life can one ask for? 

 (I really don't need another pair of pretty boots.)

Take a Hike

Let me give you the top two reasons we hike...

#1

#2

Dogs and boys have lots of energy, this is a good outlet.  Once the weather cooled off, and we have since had a brief respite from the blazing inferno of the desert, our hiking has commenced!  One beautiful, rainy morning, after we dropped Jara off at school, Jack and Elise were marveling at the low position of the clouds along the mesa, so we decided to drive into the clouds.  It was a little eerie.  Lord of the Ring's eerie.  I kept alert, just in case of Orks.  The most amazing part was the silence.  We do not live in a loud place but up in the hills with a blanket of clouds surrounding us it was so very quiet.  Peaceful.  

Driving into the clouds.

A few days later hiking to the Native American village.  I marvel that signs of civilization have survived so many years.  My children are very interested in these rock villages and get a little social studies every time we go.  I might have read Island of the Blue Dolphins and Indian in the Cupboard one too many times as a child.

My mountain goat.  Climbing every hill.

Cat Problems

I went to the bathroom one night and to my surprise, I found a cat glued to my toilet!  Quite alarming in the middle of the night.  All I could think of was our Elf on the Shelf really was Chucky.  Once I came to my senses the next morning, I realized my 8-year-old has perfected her scissor skills and has a wicked sense of humor.  I have no idea what gave her this idea but I'm still laughing at creepy cat stuck to the toilet, it never gets old.

Then our evil, black cat went on a killing (kinda) spree.  She wounded this helpless little bird, left feathers all over the garage and then disdainfully went back to sleeping.  So...

Jed had to extract the birdie from the garage.  The squeaks.  I'm still hearing them.  I tried to get him to raise it in captivity until it was strong but he has no mercy for wounded creatures he might have to splint with popsicle sticks and feed with a dropper.

Jack is 6

The birthday KING! 

 Jack had a great day; he was able to go shopping with Grandma, be the king of kindergarten and then have a party with friends at the park.

No party is complete without a ninja turtle pinata.  

We had a few extra party-goers, that happens when you have your party at a public place.  No complaints, I didn't have to clean anything.

A little red light/green light.

The party crowd.

Opening presents

Six-year-old milestones:

He is reading like crazy.  

He is learning the piano

He makes his bed and his sister's bed

He can do a "poppa wheelie" on his bike

He can defend himself against Ruby

He loves ninja turtles and nerf guns

He is playing flag football and scored a touch-down

He is loving

He makes friends easily

Happy Birthday Jack!  We love you!

Star of the Week

Each week, near their birthday, a student in Jara's class has the chance to be the STAR OF THE WEEK!  It's very exciting, they get to bring in a poster, tell about what they like and bask in the glory of being special.  Jara's teacher told me after being star of the week, Jara started talking more and participating more.  I also thought she was happier that next week with her lot in life (second grade) Hurrah for star of the week!  

While we are at it...and since she had a birthday...there is more that needs to be documented about Jara

Sometimes she's a super-hero, cowboy.  

A dress-up day she couldn't resist, that somehow brought out an alter-ego 

we didn't know existed.

Her true nemesis...spelling.  We hate you spelling.  

As a birthday present she wanted her ears pierced.  My rule is they can get it done when they are old enough to want it/ask.  (That rule does NOT apply to bikini wearing.)  She was very excited to have it done, freaked out a little after the first ear and then proceeded on.  She's a classy lady and chose pearls for her first set.

Another birthday request: rollerblades.  Thankfully she does not have my coordination and therefore is able to get around pretty good on these wheels of death.  She learns new athletic actions so easily.  

I can't believe my Jara is eight.  We love you Jara!