January - Lexi's Science Fair Project

Back in September, Lexi was selected to be in the early morning advanced science club.

As part of that club, the kids had to participate in a science fair.

(This was the first year that our school wasn't making the fifth graders participate.)

Sean and Lexi decided on her project and got all the supplies.

They started on it the week after my surgery.

They bought some grown lights and set them up in the kids' bathroom.

They grew grass.

Then they conducted an experiment to see if plants, or in this case grass, help stop erosion.

First they poured a cup of water on the on the tray with just soil.

It started eroding immediately.

After pouring a cup of water on the grass several times, it didn't erode at all.

The roots held the soil in place.

After they conducted the experiment, Sean and Lexi made her board.

Lexi's project advanced to the district fair.

She had to present her project to three different judges.

I'm sure she did great. Parents weren't allowed in the room.

That night we found out that Lexi was advancing onto the state competition!

Lexi was so excited and so proud of her ribbon.

In March she'll go up to the University of Utah and compete.

January - Lexi's Biz Town Field Trip

The fifth graders at our elementary school participate in the coolest thing, Biz Town.

They prepare for months to go to Biz Town.

Biz Town is a miniature city that the kids get to run.

The kids had to learn about different jobs and pick their top three choices.

Then they had to do job interviews.

Then they were selected for a job and had to receive training before the field trip.

Lexi was choosen to be a medical technologist at Merit Medical.

I had planned to go on the field trip with her but due to my foot surgery, wasn't able too.

But I had several friends that texted me pictures of Lexi through out the day.

Here' Lexi all dressed up for her big day.

Here's Lexi with her friend Brylee. Brylee was the mayor of Biz Town.

She ran and had to give a speech and get elected 

and did lots of training and had to give speeches at Biz Town.

Some of Lexi's other friends were tellers at a bank and worked for Delta airlines.

Here's Lexi on one of her breaks.

Her friends all lucked out and got to take their breaks at the same time.

They met up at the Maverik and got drinks and treats together.

Each kid was given a certain amount of money to spend on the field trip.

They could spend it however they wanted but had to keep track of it in their check book.

Here's a "medical" supply Lexi made at work.



And here's Lexi's check book.







Lexi had a fun field trip although her feet hurt by the end of the day.
And she realized that she didn't want to be a medical technologist when she grows up.

August 2018 - Back to School

Before school started we had our annual Back to School Feast on Sunday.

The kids dressed up all on their own.

Doesn't Eli look so handsome?!

The kids dressed up way in advance so they were fancy for lunch that day. 

They ate Top Ramen and listened to Andre Reau. One of my dad's favorites.

They danced.

Eli fell asleep.

Then it was finally time for dinner.

The girls made everyone crowns.

Ruby changed into something more comfortable for dinner.

We ate steak and funeral potatoes.

Before school started we took pictures in the kids' graduation shirts on Monday.

Ruby wanted to get her picture taken too.

So she put on her Hogwarts shirt.

On Monday night we headed to school for the Open House.

We met Lexi and Avery's teachers and saw their classrooms.

Avery has two of her best friends in her class. She was so excited.

Lexi was very excited about her teachers bulletin board.

I love this quote. It's painted on one of the school hallways.

That night we laid out all their supplies before bed.

And Tuesday morning the girls had their first day.

Our principal apply for an got a grant for our school.

For the next four years, every student gets free breakfast and lunch.

My girls wanted to go to breakfast the first day, 

so I dropped them off and didn't go to their classrooms with them.

I was a little sad about it.

And I didn't get pictures of them with their teachers.

...

After school Lexi walked out with her best friends. They're so cute all together.

This year we started walking to school in the mornings. 

Every morning we'd meet the Carpenters on this corner and walk with them.

That Friday was Eli's kindergarten open house. 

Here he is with his best friend Camdon.

They were both picked to be in the all day kindergarten class.

They are both "model students."

The following week Eli started school. He was so excited.

He actually missed the first day of kindergarten because he was sick.

The Norovirus went through our family fast and hard.

All three of my older kids missed school the first two weeks.

He wanted to bring an apple to his teacher Mrs. Fivas.

I went with Eli to breakfast and then walked him to class that first day.

Are he and Camdon so cute walking to class together holding hands?

The first few weeks of school my kids are so much more willing to let me take their picture.

So I take advantage of it and take lots of pictures before they go to school.

I took this picture on a day that Avery was staying home sick.