Snow Canyon

On Saturday Shane and Laura invited us to go on a picnic with them and Shellie and Allen. It was an overcast day but still beautiful! Carter and Caden loved zipping up and down the rocks. I, on the other hand, didn't do so well with Ella and/or Evey in my arms. Allen had to come help me. It was better though when I made it to the top! Thanks Meyers for a fun day!

A Valentine Breakfast..yummm!

It's so much fun to treat the kids. They woke up to some yummy candy! Curtis gave me a very large bag of milk choclate truffles..yum. I am savoring each and every one of them. THANKS Curt! Evey loved her balloon. It's very entertaining to watch her pack it around the house.

I decided to start a tradition this year..a valentine breakfast. I had way too much fun!

PEAS, anyone?! Non-valentine related, I know...I just had to throw this in here. Today during dinner Ella was particularily enjoying the peas. I turned to find her dishing her second helping into a huge pile. She ate them all and then dished up another huge helping. I think she ate the equal amount of vegetables that my other children eat..mmm..maybe in a whole year! VERY impressive Ella! Way to make a healthy choice!

Valentine Celebrations

I was lucky enough to visit Caden's classroom celebration this time around. Mrs. Bergeron really didn't need a helper..she was just nice to let me come hang out. I was hoping to be able to volunteer once a week in Caden's class this year but with scheduling conflicts, it just didn't work out. So he was VERY excited for me to come. When I arrived he gave me a giant bear hug. I am so grateful to still be a "cool" mom right now. Emery and Evey tagged along.

This is one of Caden's greatest buddy's..Kase Larsen. They are wonderful friends. One of their favorite things to play together is star wars. They morph into character and play at recess and after school. Infact their whole class is into star wars..ie. the boys. Mrs. Bergeron gave all the boys star wars valentines and put her own script in the bubbles above the characters' mouths..like, during a light saber battle between 2 guys she writes. "so what do you want to do after this?" The other one answers, "let's go and read." I was just lovin' it and totally LOL! She too was chuckling as she was making them up. Way to go Mrs. Bergeron. You are so creative.

Instead of an official Valentine's party Carter's class joined with all the other 4th graders in a trip to the "mall". This mall was their reward for earning school money all year. At the beginning of the year, all of the teachers made dollar bills with their faces on them. To motivate and teach the students about managing money they were given certain amounts daily for bringing forms and homework back promptly, behaving in class, doing extra work, etc. Carter had earned $1.600. thus far. The mall was set up for the student to bring their own items to sell. The night before Carter spent quite a while at home searching for attractive items. He took a few small things and then his big ticket item was an atari system that plugs into your tv. I can't believe Curtis agreed to this. Carter was so excited to sell it. His goal was to earn $10,000. This is what the students had to earn in order to buy a "blue" computer (Carter's description) from their teacher. Carter really wanted it. So we made sure that all his items would add up to the right amount. He labeled everything and then was on his way. I didn't attend the big event but I heard it was great. The teachers and parents even got involved in buying things. Mrs. Talbot bought his atari for $6, 700. He had listed it for $7,500. All morning I was just wondering and crossing my fingers for him to win that "blue" computer. So in combination with his previous amount and his earnings from the mall, he ended up with $8,000. A girl in his class gave him an extra 2 grand so he had enough! YAY! He actually was the only one that won the computer. By the end of the school day they had announced that he was also the top earner out of ALL the 4 graders. Way to go Carter. I think I was more excited than he was. So after attending Caden's party, I HAD to go to Carter's classroom to get the low down and then ofcourse take a picture. The blue computer turns out to be a used apple. Hopefully Curtis will be able to set it up for him. Carter is thrilled to have his very own computer.

Valentine Day Attire

Valentine's is definitely my favorite holiday when it comes to attire. My girls are so wonderful to put up with me...I love making you look extra cute! Thanks girlie girls! Emery loved joining in on the fun. She even put in her own heart earrings all by herself..a BIG accomplishment!

My sister Chelsea taught me this cool "heart" shaped french braid. I did it the night before so we wouldn't be rushing in the morning for school.

After I braided their hair I thought it would be so cute to have valentine bows..except I didn't really have any heart accessories to make them with. I checked my button collection to find just small hearts and I didn't want to run to the store so late. So I remembered Ella's bag of conversation hearts that she had been munching on earilier and found exactly 3 left! How perfect! I just coated them with clear nail polish and they have held up really well.

Just in case you were wondering..this translates to "head OVER heels"

"You Rock"

"Too cool"

SUPAF

This week our pianists performed at the Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival. This big event happens every February for a lot of musicians including choirs, bands, and other instrumentalists. This is the 3rd year that I have entered my students and it was another success! I am so proud of them all! This is such a wonderful experience that everyone learns from..including myself. It's not a competition but a performance for oneself. After performing their song a student is critiqued and encouraged by an adjuticator. I have felt nothing but postiveness from them all. For the most part everyone goes away wanting to do better and to continue on as a musician! All the hours of practicing and instructing sure pay off in a small moment like this. As cheezie as it sounds, I often get teary eyed during performances..because I know what has been invested...so to all my students..CONGRATULATIONS for a job well done and to all of you wonderful parents..it couldn't have been done without you!!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You probably all feel the performance piece was just as much yours as it was your child's!

Katie, you are such a wonderful teacher to my kids..they did amazingly well. Thanks! All 3 of them left with a "superior" rating which is the highest you can get, 90-100 %! Way to go my Hancock gang!

Carter performed first with "March Militaire". It was virtually flawless and had a wonderful steady beat as a march should go. Comments from his judge included; very nice accents and strong tones. Good dynamics. You will go far as a musician. One thing that I found funny was that she told him she could tell that he LOVED piano. I think deep down he does, but like most of us all feel, it is a chore to practice! Carter is the most vocal in expressing his dislike of practice time. I just had to chuckle inside! She was also impressed with his suit. She called him a "little man" to which Carter wasn't too thrilled about.
Caden was next. His song was called "The Merry Farmer." He too sailed through it! It was one of her favorite songs and she liked his steady beat and was impressed with his memorization of it.

Emery was the last one to perform with "Yankee Doodle." Another perfect performance. The judge told her she is such a cute girl and that she was so brave at 6 years old to come and play her song memorized and to not be scared about it!
After the festival I rewarded the kids with a lunch to Taco Bell and a treat at Maverick. They were pretty stoked to be missing school. What a great mom day! I loved it!

Today I had the rest of my students perform. They all did so well with pieces all memorized and received many positive comments and high ratings. These are the ones who performed: Wyatt and Jaratt Earle, Aydia and Elle Melo, Taylor and Shaylie Jesienouski, Katie Blake, Emma Lawes, and McKenzie Thornton. Job well done guys! Thanks for all the time you took to practice. It was worth every minute. Now we can all take a great big sigh of relief...AHHHH!

Glitter Ball Mania!

So this past Saturday I took the kids to Walmart to buy the ever popular elementary school toy. They wanted to spend their allowance and Ella had birthday money. Carter has been talking about these balls for the past few weeks. I guess quite a few children have them. They are rubber balls filled with water and sparkles..and guess the price? $8.00 dollars/ball..a bit steep don't you think! The King kids ( a cute family in our neigborhood were giving us tips about where to buy them..we were advised to shop at the Bloomington walmart). So off we went. When we got there however, there was none to be found. I asked a worker if they had any in the back...NOPE..but she saw one hanging around just down the isle. It was purple...the kids went running to view it. Caden, Emery and Ella were claiming it was theirs! It went to Emery though because they had previously told me their color choices and that was the one she was looking for. I was desperate for 3 more. I asked the worker if she would check in the back...NOPE..apparantely she had just done so and said they were so popular that when a new box came out, they were gone quickly. So, we were just about to leave to go to the other walmart until I started fishing around in nearby boxes and sure enough..after some digging..we found 3 more. I think some stinkers out there hid them but no matter...mission accomplished. Everyone was happy! These balls are a treasured item. They played with them ALL afternoon and washed them to bring back into the house..you know me! :) They wanted to take them to bed and now they are going to school tomorrow..Emery's is all nestled in her backpack ready to go. Too funny! It reminded me somewhat of the movie Jingle all the Way where Arnold Swartgne....whatever the spelling is...was in search of the hot toy called "Turbo Man". I too was determined to find the toys for the kids..sorry Arnold! I had a much easier time than you!

Emery and Ella looked so cute today...I just had to take a pic. Emery is posing like Sharpay and Ella like Gabriella! ( High School Musical girls :) )

Saturday evening Lyndsi called to let me know that her sister was headed to Walmart to get her daughter a glittery ball..too funny...it's all the rage!

Our 4 year old princess Ariel..oops, I mean, Ella!

We LOVE our four year old princess. She is such a special part of our family. It was so wonderful celebrating our Ella Shae today. Here are the things dearest to us about you; the cuddles you give make everything better..I love how you want mommy to "HOLD ME" all day. I really wish I had all day to do so. No matter what, you are ALWAYS up for cuddles and loves. I love your cute little voice..the skits you come up with in your polly pocket playing with Emmy and the lisp that comes out with your s's is so stinkin' adorable. Also, in your daily playing you so easily skip around the house while dancing, humming or singing. What a great quality to have..being happy is a true talent. Another thing I love about you is that you are 100% girl. Gazing in the mirror, posing for the camera, constant application of lipgloss, dressing up numerous times a day all prove this and we can't get enough of you glamour girl!! I am excited to see you sharing so well these days with your siblings and friends. This was a new year's resolution for you and wow, you are doing FANTASTIC! Way to go Ell's! You are one sweet little girl and we love you to pieces!
As you read the title I'm sure you've figured out that Ella's favorite princess right now is Ariel. This was the focus of the birthday and boy it was a lot of fun. It has just about convinced me that Ariel is my favorite too, 2nd to Giselle that is. :)

Here she is at 7:30 in the A.M. excited to discover what was under the "tinfoil".

WOW, all this for me!
Sitting in her birthday chair!

This is her yummy lunch. I tried to think of all her favorite snacky foods while keeping within the "ariel theme." We had bun sandwiches with sides of goldfish, blueberries, pineapple, veggie tray with snow peas, chips, cheetos, blue ocean jello with gummy fishies(kinda gross), and swedish fish. She pretty much ate all the sides without the bun. Now that's the way to do it!

When Ella asked me for an Ariel cake I was a little concerned but up for the challenge. Thank goodness it ended up being really easy and fun to make! It was even better to display one of her new toys..a bath tub ariel barbie with flounder! She was so excited to get her hands on this barbie!
Present time! She was definitely spoiled..thanks everyone!

Sporting her new Ariel "dress-up".

A few shots of our guests....Lily was so cute when she saw Evey..she says "Eeee" then grins. Evey ended up swiping some of Lily's bread. What a good friend you are Lily to put up with that!

Carter and Owen love each other. Owen was quite pleased to be in Carter's arms.

Here's Ella at the end of the day loving her tub toys...an Ariel slide and her changing color Ariel Barbie. Ella and Emery spent a good hour splasing around.

Thanks to the Meyer and Houskeeper families for coming and making Ella's day memorable. Also, thanks to our far away families for the phone calls and presents. Ella had an amazing day because of you all!

Ella's birthday festivites

We had fun starting Ella's celebration early. Since her birthday was on Sunday, we decided to do some fun activities on Saturday. In the morning she watched one of her favorites, ARIEL. She got to choose where to eat for lunch..Del Taco, and then what to do in the afternoon. A swim at the rec center was her choice. We had a great time. How could you not with this adorable almost 4 year old!

It's been a while since we've been swimming. Even though Evey was happy in this picture, she wasn't too keen on it.

Thanks Ella for the great day! We had a blast!

Ella's school day

On Wednesday January 28th, Ella was honored at preschool for her 4th birthday. Four is a HUGE change for me. It sounds sooo much older than 3...come on, she's practically a whole hand for goodness sake. Evey and I were lucky enough to go help in the class. Ella got to be the line leader when heading to recess and lining up to go home. Also, just before show and tell Miss Keri had her sit up at the front and tell all her favorites that went onto the chalkboard. She also received a birthday hat and candy necklace. I'm confident to report that she felt special! Thanks Miss Keri and Miss Lindsey!

There were many favorites...she was very healthy that day in her food choices; oranges, corn on the cob, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc. Her teacher was surprised not to hear the typical mac and cheese or pizza. Ella really does love these foods on a daily basis! Shocking, I know but wonderful!

The birthday child is allowed to bring a treat for her friends and ofcourse gum was the choice. Each classmate got a watermelon package of gum. Ella's lasted for..um..maybe an hour!

It was so fun to see you in your environment at school Ella. Thanks for having a birthday. You are a special girl and we love you!