Thanksgiving...

Getting the turkey ready to go in the oven, this is Steve's domain.

 

We put the kids to work this year cooking, peeling potatoes, and seeding pomegranates.

 

The "Turkey Tango" hat.

 

And while the turkey was cooking we did a little art project.  The kids love to paint.

 

This little painter stayed busy for over an hour with her cup of water and paint brush.  :)

 

The "Supervisor"

Turkey's all done!  I forgot to take any pictures of the spread or of us doing anything else...oops!  We did enjoy a delicious dinner and played ping pong with Elder Siilata and Elder Cook.  It was a lovely day.  :)

Dusting by Sawyer...

Gobble, gobble...

We went to a cute Thanksgiving party for Sawyer's morning preschool class.

 

 

They made these fun turkey headbands.

 

And played at the park.  :)

 

And played Duck, Duck, Turkey.

 

And ate a yummy lunch!

Luckily we finished right as it started to rain!  We are grateful for fun preschool parties!

Anderson Dairy Field Trip...

Sawyer's morning preschool class went on a field trip to Anderson Dairy.  This is always a good one because it ends with ice cream!

 

 

Looking at the ice cream getting packaged.

 

Watching the milk cartons get filled.

 

And the best part....ICE CREAM!

 

A picture with "Calci" the cow.  :)

 

These stinkers did not want to smile for any pictures...

 

....until the very LAST one!

Boxes for the troops...

Our annual "boxing of the candy".  This is actually a pretty fun service project, despite how long it takes us to finish everything.  Friday was an early release day for the kids, so after picking up some lunch, we got right to work.

 

 

Setting up all the boxes and dividing the candy.  Thank you to everyone who donated their Halloween candy this year!

 

We add in a small hygiene kit and a pack of cards.

 

This year we recruited some help with all the forms!  This is the most time consuming part of the whole thing (and the most boring)!!

 

And can't forget all the letters.  Probably the best part.  :)  Thanks to several of the 3rd grade classes for writing letters along with many patients!

 

Finishing up.

And the long wait at the post office.  This also takes a while, but people are always amazed that we send so many boxes to the troops.  It is a privilege to do this every year and it is such a small thank you to those who sacrifice so much for our country!  THANK YOU!!!

Vote for Brityn...

This year Brityn wanted to do Student Council since they opened it up to include 3rd grade.  They decided to have a full elementary school council this year complete with secretary, treasurer, and historian.  The last couple of years they've only had a president and vice president for the elementary students and only 4th and 5th graders could run.  Kendyl was the vice president when she was in 4th grade and Brityn was eager to have her chance.

 

 

Brityn decided that she wanted to run for Historian.

So she worked on her campaign posters and wrote a speech.  I thought she would have to get up and say her speech in front of the whole student body, but they actually videoed the kids and then the teachers could play the speeches anytime during election day.  Cool and less stress for the kids!

 

No one else ran for Historian so our girl was a shoe in, but it a was good experience for her to campaign and practice her speech.  She was very excited to run.

 

Congratulations Brityn, the first Historian!

Brityn is on swim team!

After a couple of sessions at swim camp, Brityn was ready to try out for swim team.

 

 

She did a great job swimming all the strokes!

 

And made it on the Bull Sharks Team!

And she even lost a tooth during practice.  At least she caught it before it was lost in the pool!  Congratulations Brityn!!!  Way to go!!!!

Happy Halloween...

The big kids were allowed to wear costumes to school this year.  They were excited.

 

 

Our football player.

 

 

And cheerleader.  Go Cougars!

 

Mavis Dracula, from Hotel Transylvania.

 

Steve took the kids out trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.  I stayed home to pass out candy.  It was a lot quieter this year since our neighbor who always went all out with the decorations moved.  :(  I did get some "unusual" trick-or-treaters....3 grandmas followed a group of kids, each with their own bag that they held out to be filled.  I was too stunned to do anything but hand them some candy and a toothbrush.  Crazy!