Mormon Helping Hands

Saturday morning we woke up early and headed over to DePortlola road to paint the fence.  Mormon families all across the State of California were doing acts of service in their communities today.  So we thought it would be good to join in.  I thought it would be so hard to drag everyone out at 8am since we are not morning people but when we told them they got to paint a fence they were super excited.  Madison and Abby were all ready with their paint clothes.  Hailey was a little more reluctant to get out of bed until she saw her friend Rory there.  They had a great time together and loved being a head of everyone painting their own sections.  

 I was so proud of how hard they all work.  I honesty thought we would be there an hour and I would be fighting with kids the whole time.  But every single one of them were hard workers.  Blake was painting with some of the boys his age and Todd and I were by Abby and Madison the whole time.  They took great pride in their work.  Who knew a four year old was such a great painter!  Madison would use the roller and Abby would brush the posts.  Then Todd and I would quickly roll over it with a second coat or whoever was nearby. 

The whole group ended up painting almost a mile of fence on the walking trail.  The kids did it for three hours and painted at least 8 sections of the fence.

These can be some super helping hands when they want to be!  Time for washing off the paint in the sprinklers!

Hailey's Dance at the Luau

Here is Hailey's video of her quick performance at the school Luau.

Luau Party

 The school had a Luau party this spring.  The girls talked about it all week they were so excited!.  Blake was a a friends house and was as interested in going so we just took the girls. 

 When we got there they made their own candy lies.

  Hailey stood in a very long line to get her face painted.

      The Jackson Coyote even got dressed up for the event!

Two future coyotes.  Abby can't wait to have such a fun playground.

The DJ did a few dances with the kids.  Hailey was right in there. She came home from school that afternoon and told me she would be performing at the Luau.  Her friend had choreographed a dance and recess and coordinated colors of shirts to wear.  They went in and persuaded the Principle to let them perform and she said as long as it was ok with the DJ they could.  The the poor guy was hounded by the pack of girls all night until he let them perform and pick a song. 

 They did a good job for making it up at recess and not knowing what music they were going to dance to.
Todd and and I am not sure where she came from because we never would have volunteered to perform at a school event especially on such short notice.  Hailey and her friends loved every single minute of it though. 

Hawaiian Day at School

The girls were so excited to for Hawaiian Day at school.  They had so much fun picking out their clothes from each others' closets the night before.  They are such good friends at school.  Madison is loved by all of Hailey's friends.  They all love to make up hand jives or secret handshakes at recess.  Hailey and Madison come home and show me the new one of the day.  I wish they would play so well at home together too.  

Student of the Month

Congratulations to Madison on being Student of the Month for April!  She was recognized at Friday morning lineup in front of all the students and then right after with the parents in an awards assembly.

 She was presented the award for being such an exceptional student and example to her peers.  She has come a long way from not talking at all in Kindergarten to being a social butterfly in first grade.  Madison told me she was Student of the Month because she talks when she is supposed to, has never moved her clip and sits by the boy next to her because she know when to tell him to do his work and be quiet. 

This is what her teacher  Mrs. Williams had to say:

Dear Madison,
You are an outstanding student who does well in reading, writing, and math.  It has been amazing watching you become such an incredible reader!  I am very proud of your hard work.

In writing, you have improved so much.  I am very impressed by your spelling.  Each week you get better and better!  It is always so much fun to read your journal every day.

Thank you for being such a wonderful role model and helper to all the students in our class.

You are a SUPER STAR.

Mrs. Williams

Way to go Madison!  We are super proud of you also!

Springtime Gardeners

It was time for some new mulch in our planters after pulling all the weeds out.  So we borrowed our friend's truck to fill it up.  When Todd got back with the truck we solicited all the kids' help to unload it.  Noah ran down to his house and game back with his shovel and goggles!  He was ready to work!  It was pretty funny.  They are quite a crazy bunch of crazy helpers.  Abby ran in to get her glittered shoes to match he swimsuit as she worked.  They sure did help to get the job done though!  Thanks for all the help!

Blake is a blue belt!

Blake has mastered all of his green belt forms and test questions. 

Today he broke his boards to receive his blue belt.  Just two more before he receives his black belt.

 Way to go Blake we are super proud of you!

Blake's Arrow of Light Ceremony

Blake has officially passed off all of his Cub Scout Requirements to receive his Arrow of Light.  Our Stake does an amazing job celebrating the boys on their achievement.  They have done it like this for years had the Pulsipher's outdoor amphitheater.  Brother Pulsipher dresses like Akela and presents the boys with their Arrow of Light.

 They also have some "braves" or boy scouts come and talk to the boys about values the should have.

 Here are some of the boys throughout the stake to receive their arrows this springs.

The boys also give the Mom's an arrow pin for all they do to support them in their journey.

 Then the boys arrow is shot and they cross over the bridge into boy scouting.  The boys love this part. 

 Finally Akela talks about keeping your hands pure and doing good things as they become a man.

 Blake worked really hard and never missed a day of scouts.  He really did deserve his arrow.  I able to be one of his Den Leader for years and we really put effort into getting his badges.  He had a great cub scout group.  Thanks to all those who helped him along the way.  Grandma Di also came up to support Blake in getting his Arrow.  We are all very proud of him.

His friend Mason also received his arrow tonight.  They were both pretty excited about the arrows they received.

Learning About Pioneers at Riley's Farm

In Hailey's class they have been studying about how the pioneers have impacted our lives.  They have also been reading "The Little House on The Prairie".  For their field trip this spring they went to Riley's Farm and did the pioneer section.  There they showed the kids how our pioneers out west paved the way for us today.  I couldn't go because they only allowed two parents on this field trip but we let Hailey take on old camera with her.  She did a good job.  I was afraid I would have a memory card full of scenic stuff but she managed to get herself in there a few times.  She loved telling us about her day and showing the pictures.

                    We had a good laugh with this picture!  Never a dull moment with Hailey!

Hailey had a great time even thought we wouldn't let her take her ipod like everyone else. 

Some kids even had ipads, WOW!!!  She was glad she didn't have to live like the pioneers though.  She admitted being without her ipod was not the worst thing ever.

Activity Day Bags

Today we made bags at Activity Days.  Thank you Grandma Newbold for making the fabric into ruffles for us.  We had just the right time to design and assemble them!  They turned out adorable!

Little Twins

Whenever we go to Grandma Di's for dinner we always pack pajamas for the car ride home since they usually fall asleep.  Abby and Ruby always have such a good time together playing at Di's house.  They were so excited to have matching Belle pajamas one night.

Grandma Di's Egg Hunt

 Here are most of the cousins ready for the hunt.  I didn't realize until I uploaded the picture Grandma Di hiding behind the counter.  Too funny!!!  Hopefully they find all the hard boiled eggs that their uncles have hidden in the backyard.

 Trying to get them to take a picture with their eggs was almost impossible!   

 Counting Eggs to make sure there weren't any left behind.  The would not smell so good in the upcoming week.  Poor Blake by the time the night was done had to lay on the couch from eating too many eggs and spinning around with cousins.  He was so sick to his stomach.  Two weeks of playing hard during spring break and a day of eating eggs did him in.  I must say I did warn him.  He was asleep by the time we turned the corner.