Christmas Card Photos Fall 2018

Nate's Axolotl

When it was Christmas time, you searched different pets that you might want.  You found a unique animal called an axolotl and decided that you wanted one really badly.  You got one for Christmas.

 You did a really good job of taking care of the axolotl.  I think you were a little disappointed that you couldn't hold the axolotl and you didn't like changing the water, but you were excited to have such a cool pet.  The axolotl that you got had a special gene in it that made it so that it glowed under black light.  You got your aquarium set up so that you could turn on the light at night and watch the axolotl glow.

Unfortunately, while we were out of town, the temperature in the room got too hot for the axolotl and it died. 

A Girl and her Dad

Ellie has a special relationship with her Dad.  She can make him happy and soothe him more than anyone else.  She also knows how to get anything and everything she could ever want from him.  He knows this, but doesn't mind.  It's great that they get along so well.

Michael's 9th Grade

Michael started 9th grade at a brand new high school this year-Grand Oaks.  It is an amazing school- they have so many great features and the technology is so advanced.  He was immediately busy with marching band, and he also was involved in theatre tech. 

It was great, because of the amount of time that the marching band kids spent together practicing, they formed some really great friendships in band.

 He also went to the math bowl competition in February.

Nate's 5th Grade

Nate had a great 5th grade year!  It was his first year at a new school- he moved over to Cox Intermediate School, which has 5th and 6th grades.  He got to change classes every day, he got a locker, and he got to start band.At the beginning of the year, they had a special project where they learned manners and had a Thanksgiving feast in which they go to practice their new manners.

 He also was on Lego robotics, and he got to participate in Scimathelon.  It was a competition on a Saturday where they went and competed against other schools in math.

 He got himself involved in all of these things by himself, and I am super proud of him for being a self starter.

 He also rode his bike to school every day.  There is a bus available for him to ride, but he doesn't like the atmosphere on the bus, so he chose to ride his bike.  He's such a great kid!

Ellie's BFF's

Ellie always has lots of friends.  She has no trouble making friends- she has a group of friends in all of her activities- cheerleading, A&T team, church, theatre- and I love that about her.  Her best friend though is always Ava.  Ava moved into our ward from England sometime before school started 2018.  Pretty quickly the two became friends.  It was also funny that they look so much alike.  They often have other friends around- Darby was a good friend with them until she moved to Idaho in August 2019.  Unfortunately, Ava is a grade above Ellie, but they were born in the same year so at church they do things together. I'm so glad she has such a good friend.

Marley

Marley is always present in our lives.  She is my constant shadow.  The kids love her.  They love having her around and hugging on her and her unconditional love for all of them.  She's kind of the best dog ever.  She doesn't chew on things.  She doesn't eat things off the counter, even though her nose is right at counter height.  She mostly just lays around ALL THE TIME.  She doesn't shed.  The only hard thing about her is that her hair needs to be trimmed a lot.  We do it ourselves, and as a consequence she often looks not so great. She still loves us though.

She likes to sleep right next to me on the floor of the bedroom.  That's where we put her bed because that's where she lays anyway.