Hannah's First Reconciliation

Hannah did a great job at the service and we all enjoyed a few cookies and juice boxes afterwards in the church hall. We were able to spend a lot of time outside all afternoon thanks to the great weather, doing rainbow loom and washing the filthy van. We finished the night with Hannah's request for Grandpa's chicken soup for dinner plus cake and ice cream.  It was a great day!

Spelling Bee 2014

Elizabeth was in her second spelling bee this year, placing second overall for elementary, going 12 rounds in front of about 250 people. She did awesome!

We had 3 days to study vs. at 10 days last year.  She accidentally left her study sheet at school over the weekend. This left us with 24 hours to cram 450 words into her brain. Early on, as Aaron and I took turns quizzing her, she kept getting stuck on the word "hermitage." We tried to describe to the visual of Grandpa falling over if she got this word wrong. The conversation went something like this:

"Think 'Hermit.' Like Grandpa. He's a hermit. H-e-r-m-i-t."
"Grandpa? He is not a hermit. He lives in a house."
"True, but yes he is a hermit -- Ok well...he would be one if he could.  If your Grandma would let him, that is."

So unlikely she'd get the word anyway. But oh the smile on her face on stage and mine in the audience when she did in fact receive the word "hermitage"... and proceed to spell it correctly.

Before starting: Three 4th graders, Three 5th graders on the elementary side. 6 Finalists for the Intermediate side

With the Final Four from Intermediate and Elementary

So proud of you ERS!

Swim lessons

Right after the bee we were off to swim lessons. Hannah started today and she did great! 30 minutes on Tuesdays.

Akeelah err... Elizabeth and the Bee

Here's ERS...studying for tomorrow's elementary school spelling bee. She is jumping rope to keep rhythm as she spells...just like in the hit movie "Akeelah and the Bee" (Dorothy and Benjamin you would enjoy this film).
Good luck tomorrow ERS!

(P.s. we agreed that Aunt Sara would look smashing in a  floral drindl.)

Best Chore Ever.

We have high ceilings in the entryway. I cannot reach some dust bunnies that have settled in the crease. I enlisted Paul to shoot them down with his new Nerf gun. He is a good shot!

Kate and Leah

Kate is having a movie night with her look alike friend Leah. :) And the last photo show the boots Aunt Beth once gave to Hannah for Christmas...now fitting Roo.

New glasses for ERS

Here are her new frames...we will pick up the new glasses this week. Stylin!

Kate's Paperwork

Kate and I worked on her Kindergarten packet this week to reserve her a spot at Ridgeview.  She signed pages that said she would always try her best, respect other teachers and students, and abide by all traffic rules in the parking lot at pickup time. :)

Boy Scouts meeting

Today Paul was a pro at scouts where he learned to sew buttons. After the dozen or "sew" he did at Camp Grandma, it was a cinch!

One last nap

Of Christmas Break...  Tomorrow let the mayhem begin again!

Building with clay

The kids are enjoying making animals out of the kit Grandma and Grandpa sent to Paul. Paul made a beaver and Hannah an elephant.

School starts tomorrow...we are at our high today of ten degrees and the snow is still coming down.

Here is a new hairstyle Eliz tried for church this morning (Hannah got a book on hairstyles for Christmas). 

We also had our last visit with my parents until they return from FL