*Squeal* I SOOO don't mean to brag... but I am in shock! My first full time semester... and an Algebra class that was complete torture... and DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

I earned two A's and two A-'s!! WOOT WOOT!!
All that discipline and really hard work DOES pay off!!
:) It's a wonderful day!! :)

1st Piano Recital 2012

Cameron and Emma started piano lessons this fall with our good friend Annie Mead as their teacher. She has been a fantastic teacher.

(And she's one of the sweetest people we know.)

For the kids first recital she organized it at the local Retirement Home.

All the kids learned two Christmas songs to play for the cute old grandmas and grandpas.

Cameron played

"O Little Town of Bethlehem" &

"We Wish You A Merry Christmas"

They sang along with the kids and clapped and smiled...

It was a really sweet experience.

Em waiting her turn...

Emma played

"Silent Night"

& then she got to perform a song she wrote herself (by ear)

She named it "Wanted"

I tried really hard to upload the video of her playing it, but it won't work.

We are excited for her to learn notes so she can write it down. :)

After the kids all performed their songs, they sang a few songs for the sweet people and shared cookies with them.

 

We are so proud of the both of them.

They both practice daily (sometimes multiple times a day)

and both really have a talent for it.

And we feel so blessed for them to have such a fantastic teacher!!

Sunday Fun - Legos Style

I was awoken from a

December Sunday Afternoon Nap

by the sound of the boys Lego's tote being  dumped out in my bedroom....

When I went to investigate, I found my oldest "boy" was knee deep in the adventures

Jestin pulled out his Lego trucks from his own teenage/childhood years to show his boys and the quest to improve them began! 

Oh how his boys love their super cool Dad and his toys! 

Happy Sunday Afternoon!

5th Grade Economics Fair

Cam had to come up with a craft to sell at the Economics Fair last week.

Thanks to Pintrest we found one he really liked! 

Emma & Caleb joined in the assembly line... 

We "antiqued" the edges 

And used green apple Tic Tacs 

Super fun Cam! 

Emmy giving advice :) 

The finished product... 

He sold his whole basket of 24 and had a great time! 

Here's the link to the template if you want to make some yourself ;)

Grinch Pills

After what happened today...

:'( I just want to go check my babies out of school today and hold them as close as I can... My heart is just breaking :'(



(an Elementary School back east had an entire classroom of 1st graders gunned down by a mentally ill male)

Thought for Today

"Occasionally we hold back some of our grief, bitterness, sorrow, or complaint, because we don't want to appear ungrateful or to accuse, or bother the Lord. In the midst of these thoughts, if we listen carefully, we may hear the voice of the spirit whisper, "The Lord already knows what is in your heart. You do not need to try and conceal it. Lay it at His feet." The Spirit will help us make the distinction between pouring out our souls to the Lord and murmuring or complaining to Him."
~~ S. Michael Wilcox, from his "Daughters of God" book

2012 Gratitude Tree

This year we used my Great Grandma's Mirror as the background for our Gratitude Tree.

This is one of the kids favorite Thanksgiving Traditons.

Some of the things they are thankful for are truly priceless! :)