Jace Turned 8!

So I am a little behind but here goes. Jace turned 8 on the 17th of January and that weekend we spent at the dunes near Yuma, AZ for a three day weekend. The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time.


Then he wanted a friend party so that was the same week with a few friends.




Then the following Saturday he was baptized and another party at our house following that. We are so proud of Jace wanting to be baptized and start scouts. He is just beaming!



There was a lot going on that week but it is over and he is thrilled to be 8! Happy Birthday Jace! We love you lots!

National Elementary Honor Society

About 2 weeks ago Caelin came home with a letter saying that she had been nominated for NEHS (National Elementary Honor Society). The initial requirements were they had to be in the 4th or 5th grade and have had a GPA of 3.8 or higher for the past three quarters. All total for 4th and 5th graders there were 75 nominees, of those 57 went through an application process along with a face to face interview. Some of the 75 just decided that NEHS was not for them. Caelin had to get a letter of recommendation which, Jen Bingham the Primary President was happy to do. She talked about Caelin always willing to help and having a positive attitude. She also talked about Caelin being an outstanding leader and example. Caelin asked Mrs. Tarra Noble fill out a NEHS Recommendation Form which she talked about Caelin being in class and excelling in all areas. Caelin was also an assistant coach with Mrs. Noble and she says that Caelin was an excellent leader and worked well with the players always encouraging them to do their best. These words from both were amazing for Caelin to hear, this whole process has been a huge boost for her.

Of those 57 that applied 40 were selected and last night was the Induction ceremony. Principal Graff (pictured below on the left) opened the ceremony saying that they took along time to decide whether or not to have a Sycamore Chapter of NEHS because of all the budget cut backs. Then went on to say that they decided that we should never pass up the opportunity to acknowledge the students that excel and make Sycamore the school that it is today. We also heard a guest speaker Assistant Superintendent Mr. John Carruth (pictured on the right below) and he talked to the kids about dreaming big and just because they are young they can still have big goals in life. He told them to have a "BHAG", a Big Hairy Amazing Goal". The whole evening was simply amazing.



They were called up one by one and shook hands with Principal Graff and given a certificate and then shook hands with Mr. Carruth and was given a NEHS pin. They would then walk over to where the parents were and the parents pinned them as a symbol of the support that is needed from parents for the students to get to where they are and beyond.


Mrs. Heather Stough and Mrs. Jennifer Ramirez (both pictured below) are the Sycamore Chapter Advisors, both are 4th grade teachers and volunteered for NEHS and you can tell that they both love and enjoy it.


At the very end they had a slide show of all the inductees with a statement of theirs. Caelin's said:

"I will use my NEHS experience to build my leadership skills".



Caelin we are so proud of you and your hard work. Congratulations and we love you!

One year Stats!

Calissa had her 1 year check yesterday and these are her stats;

Weight - 18 pounds 3 ounces (9%)
Height - 28.8 inches (39%)
Head - 45.3 cm (57%)

Her weight percentile was at 70% when she was 10 weeks and has slowly dropped to 9% over the past 9 1/2 months. Her height percentile was at 85% at 4 months and has slowly dropped, but not quite as much. Her head has always had been higher percentile even though I never thought she had a big head.

She is not quite walking but is very close. She knows how to voice her opinions and we all know it.

Here are a few pictures over the past year......


This is her the day she was born at Northwest Medical Center Women's Center. I can't get over the big eyes!


Her at just a couple of months old!


Her and big brother Jett posing for camera, I can't believe they were both looking!


This is one of her favorite pastimes, however my kitchen window is always spotted!




This is her today!!

Where oh where has the time gone?!

Calissa turned 1!

Today my baby is 1, I don't know where the past year has gone! She lights up the room when she comes in. She has a smile that makes me just want to squeeze and kiss her. Just today I had been gone for a couple of hours and when I came in the house I walked past her and didn't see her and just as I passed by her she says "HI". It was so cute. She is a momma's girl, but loves to cuddle with her daddy too.



She had the best time with the chocolate cake (like you can't see that from the picture). We would just laugh at her and she would just get sillier and sillier. It was worth the mess for all the giggles we heard.


She loved the presents and let Jett know it if he got to close to her stuff.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl! We love you and the special part of our family that you are! Our lives are so much brighter with you in it.

Family Photos!

We finally got a family photo with all six of us here are some picutres of all of us!








I really liked this one of "MY BOYS" the one of the girls did not turn out so well :(





It was hard to get all four together to smile and look at the camera at the same time but there were some good ones anyway!

Family Time!

Our first trip the dunes in near Yuma in quite sometime. The last time we were there Jett and Calissa were both sick the whole weekend. We had a good weekend except the never ending wind. We did get some riding in and the kids absolutely loved it. Jeff loved the new RZR in the dunes where I decided the big dunes were a bit too much for me and my stomach to handle.



The kids decided to try to make it to the top of this 75 foot tall sand hill. They made it up more than one time. Even Jett had to give it a try. Total over the weekend they went up and down the hill six or seven times at least. I tried and made it maybe half way and my legs didn't have anything left (I blame it on the diet) :)!



Yes they made it all the way up!












It really is an amazing place there is sand all around big hills, small hills.........








And plenty of room for the kids to play!!!

Why I Love Sycamore!

SPOOKY RUN 2010!!




We have always liked Sycamore and the kids love it too! Saturday morning was the 2nd annual Spooky Run. It was a 5K and a 1K run for everyone of all ages. Caelin and Jace ran the 5K and Caelin finished in 39 minutes and 22 seconds and Jace finished 39 minutes and 10 seconds. They had a fabulous time and were tired at the end but I was so impressed with how well they did. Jeff, Jett, Calissa and I used the RAZR and volunteered to keep an eye on the runners and we enjoyed that. I love these great fundraisers the school does. Way to go PTA!