Num nums

Kent has the week off, so we took a quick jaunt to Los Hermanos for lunch.  It was Josh's first time, and he was such a good lunch buddy.  He loved the chips and salsa, dipping his chicken taquito in guacamole, and the yummy brisa de mora negra.  He is officially allowed back on our next lunch date.

Monster Science

Last week was parent/teacher conferences.  If the reports are good, the kids get to choose one book as a reward at the book fair.

Hayden chose "Monster Science" for his book.  It came with a little kit to make some "experiments".  He chose to first make the Frankenstein monster.  It is essentially jello with nasty food body parts inside of it.   He was incredibly excited about the results.   I wanted to puke each time I opened the fridge. 

Wimpy Winner

McKinley entered the Diary of a Wimpy Kid self portrait contest at the library.  We got the call on Friday that she was one of 2 winners!  The prize was the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book.  She is keeping the book secretly hidden, though, because she wants to give it to Sawyer for Christmas.

We love the library!

Tree Hunt

Now that we're back in Utah, we went on the annual Christmas tree hunt in the mountains.  We even had to get up at an unnaturally early hour like hunters do!

Josh wanted to be held during all the wandering and the older kids played around while Kent and I looked for a good tree.

After wandering around the mountains for quite a while, we finally found our tree!

It is now patiently waiting in our garage until Thanksgiving is over.

McKinley was happy that Zoe actually came to her and wanted to be held.

The boys just wanted to eat...

and eat!

Reflections

The Reflections theme this year was "Believe, Dream, Inspire".  McKinley was excited to make a project, and the other two were forced.

Sawyer painted a race car scene.  Here's his artist statement about his piece, "I dream to be a race car driver.  I want to be a race car driver because I get lots of money and a trophy to remind me when I'm 82."

Race Day

Hayden painted a picture of him as a scientist.  Here's what he wrote, "It's my dream to grow up and be a scientist.  I want to mix stuff and see what's good and share it with other people so they can be healthy and strong."

Science Day

McKinley made a 3D project of a boy 'fishing' for clouds.  She wrote, "My little brother, Hayden inspired me to make 'amongst the clouds' because he's always had a dream to go up and touch the sweet sensation of the clouds.  I made this piece because I believe that some day that dream will be fulfilled."

Amongst the clouds

McKinley was chosen as one of the winners for the 3D category in her school and her project is going on to regional.

Every participant got a certificate for a free Menchie's yogurt, so after the assembly we had our little treat.  It was yummy!

Happy Halloween

Hayden was a skeleton, McKinley a cat, and Sawyer was a Mizzou football player (but it was chilly so he covered up and looked like a regular boy).  

It was our first year in our new neighborhood, and it didn't disappoint.  In addition to the occasional full size candy bar, there were homemade scones, hot dogs, and a cash house!  Josh stayed with Kent, but McKinley took him to a few houses later on.  He was Batman minus the hood because he refused to wear it.

The night did not help my illness.

Ipod pictures :(

In character