Jeffrey field trip

We had a fun field trip day yesterday with Jeffrey's 1st grade. We were gone from 8 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. We visited a few fun things in Jackson Hole. The first place we went, (upper left picture) was a fish hatchery. We all walked on the little bridges that over look the fish. I was amazed that all these 1st graders were able to walk across a metal bridge that was the width of your foot across!!
Then, we went down the road to the National Museum of Wildlife Art. That was a really neat place because all of their sculptures and paintings and activities were about wild animals. At the end, they could dress up in animal skins and put on an impromptu play. They enjoyed that. Jeffrey chose to be a bald eagle. He really enjoyed looking at the pictures and sculptures, and actually surprised me at how much he understood. The next picture was at the fish hatchery on the buck-n-rail fence where a herd of buffalo were there. The last stop was a hot springs. There were little tropical looking fish in there that you could wade in and try to catch. We couldn't catch them, but a few kids did. We were quited pooped on the bus ride home! We lucked out with super great weather.

My little Ethan

This little Ethan is awesome. He has learned to read, and has just soaked up all the learning I can hand him. He reminds me of Halee and how quickly they pick things up. I used an online program called Headsprout when I was running my preschool. When we moved, I purchased the rights, and Ethan has just blossomed. He wants to do an "episode" every day and does about 5-6 episodes at a sitting. I have been very impressed with the program and how it's laid out. It is a very successful one, and he is reading the little books that come with the program and the books that I print off the website. He really does love it, and it becoming quite the reader. Way to go Ethan!

The chickens

Grandpa's little chicks are growing into chickens. They are venturing out into their little yard. It's fun to watch them,and the boys love sitting and watching them. The dog loves watching them too! =) Pictured here on the left, is Dallin (2) and Jeffrey (6) and the dog Abby. To the right is Jeffrey and the dog Abby still watching.

Spring has finally sprung!!

The weather has been so beautiful here!!! Most of the snow on the ground has melted, except in the mountains, so the boys have loved being outside. We were able to move the slide to play, and Ethan's favorite rock pile was uncovered. We even found some balls that were lost under the snow!! There are some green sprigs of grass coming through, and it's great to be outside.

Junior cheerleaders

Halee had a chance to do a junior cheer camp last week. It was from Tuesday to Thursday, and then they perform at the high school basketball game at half time. I was amazed at how quickly these girls caught on to the dance. The song was so fast, and they for the most part, stayed with it. How cute it was to see little kindergarten girls do their little routine, then Halee's group. They do a lot of fun things here at these schools.It was a fundraiser for the high school cheerleaders, and she loved it! They got a tshirt and pom poms out of it. She did great and caught on quickly. The timing was great because there was a lot of family at the house for the weekend that all came to see her perform. Even the two aunts that don't get out much came! Chereon, the older sister and her family and brother Marc and his family from Utah were there. I think we filled up a whole side of the bleachers!! We are having fun being around a lot of family to share in these fun little things that the kids get to do. (She is in the middle of the screen in a hot pink shirt and a ponytail. In between another hot pink shirt and a green one.)

Jeffrey's Honors Day

This isn't the best picture, because my camera died at just the wrong moment!! But, finally Jeffrey had read enough books to get 100 points and earn his "honors" where he walks the plank in front of everyone. This is a hard thing to accomplish as each book he read was worth 1/2 point. So, I guess that makes 200 books he read to get here. Wow, how far he has come since being here. He is now reading chapter books, doing whatever math is presented him, and loving science. He's a great kid, and I love seeing him with a much better feeling about himself. Way to go Jeff!!!

Puppet show

This is what I like to see!! Last week was Spring Break, and I hate to see a day go to waste by the X-box or tv or Wii. I unplugged them all one day and told them to use their creative minds. They came up with a puppet show, a carnival and even made a little movie complete with dress ups. They made these sock puppet dinosaurs, with a little supervision, but they came up with a story on the fly while I recorded it on film. They loved it, and watched their "movie" over and over again, and laughed every time. They still talk about it, and I have decided to drastically reduce the amount of time they have in front of the tv and video games. They were already limited, but now that the weather is finally getting nice ( with the exception of today, it snowed again), I can send them outside more. I love to see their little brain working and creating.

who's driving?

Here's Dallin. He is following in the footsteps of his big brothers. They love to be eye level with their train or car whatever they happen to be pushing at the time. This made me chuckle to walk in and see who he had driving the car. First, a tree from the train table. Then, the emperor and Darth Maul were taking a spin. How funny that boys come programmed to like building and pretending, and girls are born with the desire to mother. How fun!!

Sadness or Gladness?

We have been so excited this week. The kids have had spring break, although there wasn't anywhere we could go with the snow still around. But, at the end of the week, my parents were going to make the trip up here. We were going to meet them in Salt Lake,and play for the weekend. My mom is turning 70 on Sunday. I can't even believe that, because I still think of her as young. But, due to the American Airline cancellations, they won't make it. So, sad because our plans have been wiped away, I'm still trying to explain it to the sad kids that think it's not fair. But, I am glad that the airline is taking such precautions and checking every plane for electrical landing gear problems. I wouldn't want anything horrible to have happened. So, after being glued to the internet, and having an automated call phone every 15 minutes with updates about the flight, I've given up, and comes to terms that it would be better in May anyway. Then, the snow would be melted, the mud dried up and a much more beautiful country to show them. Blah, I don't like when things have to change some times..

New friends!

Grandpa Johnson ordered some new furry friends! Baby chicks came in the mail in a shoe box sized carton. That was amazing. There was 1 fatality when the box was opened. They are so cute and furry. The kids have been so excited watching them. There are lots and lots of peeps and scratching. It makes me think of when I was a kid we always had chickens. I had a good friend whose grandparents had a farm, and we would get baby chicks, baby ducks and rabbits from them. I grew up around lots of kid of animals, and want our kids to have the same experience. They couldn't help but be city kids up until now, so this has been very good for them to be outside and in the country.