Missing Teeth

I love this boy and his gappy smile! His teeth are falling out way faster than they are coming in. And seriously, whoever our tooth fairy is better get on the ball. She is always late. I mean come on, how hard is it to remember to stick some money under a pillow?

A Full Day

At dinner last night, we were sitting around discussing the days activities, and I was overwhelmed with a filling of gratitude for the experiences my children are having.  We are so blessed to live in a time and place where they have so many opportunities.

The day started with promotion at the Mateo Academy where Anna, Alahna, and Robert are learning martial arts and self defense. (William will start in the fall.) They all were promoted to white belt second degree and Robert was surprised that he earned student of the month for February. Later in the day when we talked about it he said, "What does student of the month mean, anyway." :)

After promotion, Robert had his first t-ball game and Anna went with the youth group from church to take an introduction to scuba diving class. Listening to her talk about her experience had us all cracking up at the dinner table. She takes after her Grandma Jane and is a great storyteller.

At most martial arts studios white belts are given upon beginning the program. At the Mateo Academy Sifu makes his students earn it.

brain malfunctions

So... I was just reading through some of my more recent postings and noticing all of the spelling and grammar errors.  Sorry about that, my brain isn't really working properly these days.

Mormon Battalion

I am still trying to get all caught up and I think I am just about there. (And sorry these posts have not been in any kind-of order.) We went down to San Diego in February to watch BYU men's volleyball. While we were there we went to the new Mormon Battalion museum. If you ever get the chance to go....take it. It was wonderful!

Cougar Heads

David took each of the girls to a BYU basket-ball game and out to eat for a fun daddy-daughter date. This has become a sort of tradition that the girls look forward to every year and Robert can't wait to be old enough to go to one too. (He has to be able to sit still for a little bit longer first!) This year they wore there hats from Aunt Crystal.

Another Field Trip

The CA Science Center had an exhibit about the Islamic contributions to science in the middle ages. It was fascinating. After this year, I have a whole new perspective on the "dark ages". Yes, those years are called dark for a reason, but maybe they weren't as dark as the history text books make them out to be. And some things that I was taught in school are simply not true. For example, did you know that most people in the medieval period knew the earth was round? Yup, Christopher Columbus was never worried about falling off the edge of the world, regardless of what your 2nd grade teacher told you.

We saw a full replica of the elephant clock invented by al-Jazari.

 And while we were there the girls rode on the high wire bike, 43 feet above the bottom floor!

Anna, of course, was fearless! Crystal, do you remember the cow ride in OK?

Alahna wasn't going to go until she saw Anna having so much fun. She was a little less fearless, but still made it all the way across!

Hufflepuffs Rock

Our Hufflepuffs are awesome, winning the house cup two components in a row.  So yes, that means we finished "Tales of the Bards" and next week will finish "Revolutions of the Renaissance Men". This year is just flying way to quickly!

At the end of "Tales of the Bards", or Year 4 at Quercus Alba, Robert was awarded an Ivory Acorn Award for his achievement in reading. He has really taken off and will read a Magic Tree House book in one day. Alahna was also awarded an Ivory Acorn for excellence in everything, but especially foreign languages. That kid has a gift. She is the youngest in our Latin class by a couple of years, but is right up there at the top of the class. And she doesn't even have to try! She hears it and it just sticks in her head. And for French, let's just say that when I have a question she's the one I'm asking.