Kid Update

Lillian enjoying her popsicle after the panther prowl

  About a month ago the girls had their annual "Panther Prowl" fundraiser at school and did a great job. They both ran more than 20 laps and seemed to have a fun time. Emma and I were able to go cheer them on as they ran.  I get a little emotional being on a school campus on days like that.  I love seeing the hope and energy of the children and love the innocence they can have.  It seems to me most of the parents and teachers on campus are, in general, people who love children and are investing in the future.  It just feels good to be a part of that, and I feel fortunate that I can go support them since I am a stay at a home mom.

Jocelyn with some friends after the panther prowl

 On our day off of school for veterans day we went to the kids museum with another family and the kids had fun playing all day instead of schooling!  We also had another random Friday off of school for parent teacher conferences so it was great to be able to have some friends over and just let the kids play rather than having to tackle homework and routines.  Jared and I were able to attend parent teacher conferences and all of them went really smooth.  We are blessed to be able to have our children learning and working hard!

Having neighbors over to build marble towers on the day off school

These girls requested face art during the playdate with the leftover Halloween face pen

At the Discovery museum with friends

Boys in the garden at the discovery museum

 Jocelyn has continued to do well with piano lessons and as a reward for passing off a song her piano teacher (AKA her aunt Maren) brought over her accordian to play a duet.  It sounded great!

Piano and Accordian duet

Losing her two front teeth right in time for Christmas

 Lillian's big news of the month was the much anticipated loss of her 2nd front tooth.  It had been dangling for days even with Jared giving it some pretty good tugs every night.  At the end of one afternoon she said most of her class at school was chanting "pull it out" much to the teacher's dismay!  It finally fell out one night at dinner!!  She and her friend have been practicing singing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" non-stop!  She also went on a field trip to Natural Bridges to see the Monarch Sanctuary and had a really fun time visiting the beach, visitors center and viewing the swarms of butterflies.

Lillian on her Natural Bridges Field Trip

 The three older kids also participated in the fall performance for Music Art and Drama at the Presbyterian church with our neighbors and some of their friends.  They did a great job and were very excited to sing all the songs they had learned.  They also participated in our own church's Primary Program last month.  My class did fairly well sitting on the stand and per usual, I got emotional during some of the songs because the kids sang about the Savior so beautifully.  Jocelyn, Lillian and Jonas all memorized their speaking parts and the girls were even asked to illustrate the cover of the program.  It was positive all the way around! 

MAD performance

3 Kids at the MAD Friday performance

The girls cover for the Primary Program

 Jonas also had his Pumpkin Run Fundraiser at school on Halloween day so you can imagine the chaos!  He did well and had fun with his classmates.  Jonas had an especially exciting week because his birthday and a class field trip fell on the same week with Halloween.  Luckily my mom came to town to help hold down the fort so I could attend the field trip with Jonas. Lillian had a field trip the same exact day so luckily one of my friends was her chaperone and sent me pictures throughout the day!  Jonas's field trip was actually quite an experience.  Their funding must be coming somewhere different than the girl's school because they had chartered buses with as many parents as they wanted.  Not only did the Walt Disney Museum feed us lunch and have special science shows in the auditorium, but they closed the museum for everyone except our school!  We had a great day.

Jonas TK class at the Pumpkin Run

Jonas before his Pumpkin Run

Jonas and I on his field trip at the Walt Disney Museum

Emma has been very much into wearing capes and being "super" lately.  She is very skilled at dodging cameras as she speeds around the house, so here is the best I came up with:

Emma Flying through the house wearing her favorite cape

 She has been very much into hearing stories like "The three little pigs", "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Goldilocks and the three Bears" told to her before bedtime (and throughout the day). So we have told those stories frontwards and backwards for the past month.  She also loves scissors and tape so it was no mystery about who the culprit was when I found this on the chair the other day.  She is generally pretty good about just cutting paper and special items that she asks permission on, but it takes effort to keep her supplied with materials!

Emma at it again

 I taught Emma's preschool in October and had fun with this cute bunch of girls.  They are pretty young so having low expectations and keeping everyone engaged in hands-on activities has been key!  Here we read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and took turns being the caterpillar and the butterfly.  We also took a walk in the cul de sac to discover some sights and sounds of fall.  Emma has been pretty dramatic lately and will not hide her feelings...For instance, if you've asked her to stop doing something or if one of the older kids hurts her feelings (by telling her not to scribble on their HW, etc.) She'll start whimpering. I'll try to distract her by saying "Emma, want to hold your baby or go jump on the trampoline?" to which she'll respond "I'm too sad right now!" with the most heartbreaking facial expression to match.  It is funny/cute right now but Jared is always quick to remind me that it will not be cute in a year or 2...

Teaching Emma's preschool

Emma's preschool going on neighborhood walk

 

 Emma is also in that awkward stage where she should be napping every day but doesn't for various reasons so we have been encountering situations like this...She was supposed to be finishing her lunch while I finished some work and when she was being too quiet I came in to the kitchen to see this:

 Or during a costco trip she fell asleep on the way there and spent the whole shopping trip like this, only waking up on the way home.  Poor thing. The life of a 4th child when the whole day doesn't revolve around your nap schedule!




 The younger three kids and I did a home depot kids craft at the beginning of the month, and they also humored Emma and dressed up in Little Red Riding Hood costumes they put together from things around the house (and costume bins)

Acting out Little Red Riding Hood