Christmas for a Family in Need

So I would not normally post things like this, but I am the one that started this fundraiser so how else do I get the word out, then on my blog?  The family right behind us lost their father due to a sudden heart attack back in June.  He left behind a wife and five children ranging from ages 3-16.  I am wanting to set up this fundraiser/pledge so I can help them with Christmas gifts this year.  The Mom did not work and was a stay at home Mom so she is really in need of the assistance right now, and has yet to find a job.  It is a really sad situation and I just can't sit here at my home and do nothing about it.  I am keeping this totally unanimous since I am their resident manager and I possibly could be fired for doing this so I will leave whatever I buy on the porch and watch their reaction out my back window.  Thanks in advance for the help in bringing smiles to this sweet family this Christmas.

http://pledgie.com/campaigns/13841

Playing Catchup - June Happenings

PIANO RECITAL

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Back in June, Lindsay and Ashley had their yearly piano recital. They have grown so much in piano and are doing really well. I can't say that I do not have to fight them to practice or to go to piano, but it is worth it and they get excited when they pass of their songs. We told them that when they can play a Hymn from the Hymn book we will allow them to quit piano. I hope that they will choose to continue after that, because that is when they start getting good and start playing the fun songs. I like to tell them that I have always regretted quitting piano at about that time and I know they will also if they do. We will see how things go the next couple of years.

Lindsay and Ashley with their piano teacher, Becky Baker.

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Ashley playing her recital song, "Spanish Caballero."

Lindsay playing her recital song, "Morning Snowfall."

HAILEY's PRESCHOOL GRADUATION

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Hailey really enjoyed preschool this last year. She met a lot of fun friends and really enjoyed her teachers, Jen and Patti. They were awesome with the kids. She want to school at Mini Hearts Preschool in Roy at the Catholic Church.

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Her graduation was such a cute day. She looked so grown up with her cute little cap on her head. They sang a song for the parents called, "Tony Chestnut." Each of the graduates also told everyone their name along with what they want to be when they grow up. Hailey said she wanted to be a ballerina when she grows up. A lot of little kids wanted to be a vet or as one child called it, a "vegetarian."

UTAH FUN

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In June my family had their Doug Adamson Family Reunion. Since Mitchell was so busy with work, I decided to take the kids and go for a week to Utah while he finished up stuff at home. It worked out great that I could take Danielle and the kids with us. It was fun driving together, and the kids loved having their cousins in the car.

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I stayed a couple of nights with Tricia and her family. We had fun playing outside, making a campfire in their backyard, ice blocking and running through fountains. It is always so much fun to have lots of cousins for the kids to play with and they got along really well.

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Allyson lives close by so I went to her house a couple of times. I enjoyed holding baby Eliza and playing with Myles and Rose. We had a little soccer game in front of their apartment with Uncle Dallin.

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Since I was in Utah during the Manti Pageant I decided to take my girls. It was amazing and the spirit was so strong there. I met up with my friend Krissy Lundeen and it was a lot of fun talking and catching up while waiting for the Pageant to begin.

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The main reason for going to Utah was for the Reunion. We decided since there would be two pregnant women that we would camp out at Tricia's house. It was a wonderful idea and the kids decided to camp in the back yard with tents while I slept inside in a comfy bed.

The first day we went to Wheeler Farm and enjoyed walking around their beautiful grounds and looked at animals. It was just fun being together as a family. We then went to Allyson's church where we played outdoor games until it was to hot then we brought them inside. The kids made fun hats with their names on them and Camille made some balloon animals. Paul put together the game Minute to Win it. I had never heard of it before but it was so much fun. Everyone laughed so hard and we really enjoyed ourselves.

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Before we went home I took the girls along with my parents, Allyson's family and Tricia's family to Temple Square. It is always amazing to go there and the girls really enjoyed walking around visiting the museums and the temple grounds. It was the perfect ending to our wonderful vacation!

1st Day of School

I will have to do a summer post later since we have had so much going on. I want to just kinda catch up to today before I forget all of the exciting things that are going on in our lives.

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This school year was such an exciting one for my girls because they all knew their teachers already. Lindsay and Ashley were lucky enough to keep their same teacher as last year and Hailey already knew the kindergarten teacher since she taught Lindsay and Ashley and I helped so much in the classroom.

Lindsay is the head honcho on campus this year since she is in Sixth Grade which is still in Elementary School here in Oregon. I remember my first day of Sixth Grade I wore a My Little Pony t-shirt and had pig tails in my hair. Not sure why I was able to walk out the door like that, but I did. I am so glad that Lindsay is more mature then I was at this age. Her teacher is Mr. Williams and she is lucky enough to be on the SALT team which is a leadership group that meets every Monday to discuss the weeks activities. She also gets to read the bulletin over the intercom. I was worried about her this year since her best friend, Victoria, decided to go to a Private school, but she has done really well. She has a lot of friends and is a big help to all of those around her. She is my special helper around the house. I always know that I can count on Lindsay for anything. The past couple of days she has decided to clean up our neighbors yard without her knowing who was doing it. I would say she has spent five hours beautifying her yard. We are so proud of her.

Ashley loves being in Fourth Grade. She is lucky enough to have Mrs. Greenlee again. She is such a great friend to all and is a big help to her teacher. The other day she told me about a boy that throws tantrums when he has to do anything and she felt bad for him. She asked her teacher if she could change seats and sit next to him so she could be his special helper. I love that she sees a need and fills it in her class. During recess she loves spinning on the bars. When I was in fourth and fifth grade that is where you would find me also. Her poor hands are full of blisters, but she does not care and has a great time. She is really excited to start writing her novel for NANOWRIMO in a couple of months.

I can't believe that Hailey is old enough to be in Kindergarten. I want to keep her home forever but that is not possible. I was really worried about her going to school and being a tattle tell or being really shy. At our school picnic/open house her teacher, Mrs. Weber, came up to me and said, "Hailey can run my class." The first thing I though is "OH NO! What did she do?" Apparently it is a good thing. She loves to help the other students and whenever someone needs to go to the office, Hailey is always right there to help. Her favorite part of school is riding the bus to and from school. On the first day I had to control myself to not drive behind the bus to make sure it made it to school with her on it. :) She waved at me out the window and was so excited! I cried, but it did not last long since I realized I would have a couple of hours of peace in the home to get things done.

We look forward to this school year and seeing how our children are able to excel in different subjects. I know that it will be a great.