Awards for 2018-19 School Year

 KayDee received Honors for getting a 3.9 GPA 

and Excellence in Math.

 Derrick received Honors for getting a 4.0 GPA 

and Exellence in Math

Sam was student of the month and recognized by the History department. She was acknowledged for being a great student and person in and out of the classroom.

She earned a 3.9 GPA this year as well.

Bowling

We were able to go bowling with Utah Online School as a field trip. Everyone bowled really well and had fun. I tried bowling right handed (I usually bowl left handed but my right arm is buffer) and got a strike! We will have to go again to beat our scores!
Dual school enrollment has really worked out for us. The kids enjoy going to some classes and like going their own pace at home. We get finished earlier and can plan for vacations easier. It's a good balance for us this year. I'm enjoying being home more and being in the car less.

First day of School 2017

We have changed things up this year. We decided to do a combo of Utah Online school and high school this year. We were hoping to give the kids a break from all the negative that comes with public school and still have them participate in a positive way. Basically we are using the school system to our advantage and so far it is working.
Samantha is in 10th grade and wanted to do only "fun" classes at school so she chose show choir, ballroom dance and seminary. Derrick is in 8th grade and had to do the classes that were at the same time to keep drive time to a minimum. He is taking keyboarding, choir and English. The rest of their classes will be done online. KayDee is in 6th grade and is only doing Utah Online because she is still in elementary school.
They really enjoy the online classes and are doing well adjusting to our new schedule. Since we chose to do school this way, the older kids are in school 2-3 days a week for only the morning. We have scoped out activities they each want to do, especially KayDee, so they can participate with other kids doing things they enjoy. We think it will work well, but if it doesn't we can go back to the old way.

End of School

We moved with a couple months left of school left. The kids adjusted well even though they miss many things from the old school

Derrick was immediately in a Shakespeare play and was able to perform with his class at the Shakespearean Festival

KayDee had her Kindergarten program

Samantha played the recorder with her class the last Wednesday of school at the flag ceremony. Her Grandma Laub and Uncle DJ and Aunt Whitney came to watch too. They did a great job!

School Carnival

The kids school has a carnival every year to help raise money for supplies and to fund programs for the school. The kids had fun in all the bounce houses and Samantha enjoyed the gladiator one. I tried to stand in line for the Water Walkers (you can see it in Samantha's picture) but the line really didn't move for the 45 minutes that I stood there. Kevin got in line for these bumper boats and the kids were able to do them before the carnival ended. We had a great time and love that our school tries to get the best stuff for our kids!

Picture Day

Derrick 2nd Grade

KayDee Kindergarten

Samantha 4th Grade

The night before we prepared so we wouldn't have so much to do. I put foam curlers in KayDee's hair so it would hold curl. I doused Samantha's hair with gel so we could get successful curls in the morning. I gave Derrick a hair cut so we wouldn't have to work too hard to make his hair look great. We picked out clothes for them to wear and set them out. Morning came and the kids got ready with lots of ease and my bathroom was more full than normal, including the counter. We managed to get Derrick's hair to spike with gel, hair spray and blow drying. Samantha's hair curled perfectly and we found a clip to match. KayDee's curls were more tight than expected but a cute hair band makes her look adorable. I was hoping those curls would relax a little for the school picture but they never did. We had 10 minutes before the bus came and so we went to the yard to take pictures so I don't have to buy them from the school.
I arrived at the school to help teachers and the photographers needed help so I helped in the afternoon and received a free package for KayDee. That makes me happy since I like the kids to have at least one picture taken from the school. I think it is exceptional when things work out that way.

First Day of School 2011

 Samantha and Derrick started their 4th and 2nd grade year. They are super excited to start a new year. We gathered their supply list for each of their classes and tried on new shoes. I wonder if they are mostly excited to get new books every night from the school library or see their friends at school.

KayDee started her first day of kindergarten a week after the older kids. Kindergartners have to be tested the first week of school. Clearly, she was very excited and has enjoyed riding the bus!

Rusty and Rosy

KayDee finished the Rusty and Rosy preschool program from Waterford Institute. She enjoyed learning to read with their online program she did 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week. She can read sight words and knows all the letter sounds, so she can sound out simple words. We are proud of her and are excited for her to start kindergarten!

Wildland

Do I look good in YELLOW? I took the Wildland Fire Fighter class in November and December. This was me before I showed up on the last day to do field testing. I did better than I thought I would and really enjoyed it. Kevin and I used this experience to practice supporting each other. Kevin did a great job taking care of me and all the stuff I couldn't do during the class. It worked out really great and now I can get my red card.

Science Family Night

The elementary school had a family night and they did science projects.

Samantha writing with invisible ink (lemon juice and then you heat it to make it show up)

Derrick was being held up by Samantha's one finger. Fun balancing trick!

KayDee was stabbing potatoes with straws. Straws are stronger than we thought!

The one they liked the most was a candle they put underwater and it still burned. They used a mirror box and the kids were so amazed.

Fall Carnival

The elementary school has a carnival every year to fund raise and this year they had a lot of stuff to do! For $5 a person we got a simple dinner and were able to do all the activites which included rock climbing wall, blow up slides and mazes, dunk tank, kiddie games and even a swing ride. We were exhausted by the time the sun went down.Samantha was dunked-twice!Derrick liked racing in the blow up maze.

KayDee liked the train. (We don't know that girl but it made it so she could ride faster! The line was long!)

Kindergarten

Derrick is so excited to be in Kindergarten. He has even been invited to a birthday party from one of his classmates and is super excited about it! He comes home and tells us which letters he learns and reads the books to us that he has made. I've passed his classroom after helping in Sam's class and seen him smiling and enjoying himself each time, and he was giving a "play by play" on how to put his paper away one time. THAT'S MY BOY! KayDee is horribly jealous but has started taking ownership of being three and not old enough to go to school yet. Samantha remembers all the same kindergarten things and loves that he is doing what she did.
Once again, I took this picture to save us $$$. He picked his out and I love his eyes and ears in this one!

2nd Grade

Samantha is so BIG! We love her so much. She is the life of the party at our house! She loves to read to her brother and sister all the fairy books she brings home from school. She isn't too into the spelling sorts but does them anyways and math is easy when we practice. I love reading all the explanations she writes on her papers she brings home that show her sparkling personality. Kevin just smiles when she tries to explain what is happening in the next Jewel Fairy book. It is really fun to have a second grader at out house!
I did end up taking her picture so we could save A LOT of money! She picked this one out of the many.

First Day of School

Samantha is in 2nd grade now and so grown up. Derrick just started kindergarten and so we have two kids growing up so fast. KayDee insists she is all grown up and can go too.
Samantha started school on Thursday and Derrick started on Friday. Derrick has had to go through the disappointment that school is only half day. We tried to explain that to him before school started but he didn't understand until it was happening. Now he goes happily and without the same conversation that he goes to school after lunch and he rides the bus home with Sam.
KayDee is still getting used to the idea that she is not going and for the past couple of days has finally not pouted when we drop Derrick off. I have never seen our KayDee pout so much so this is a new experience.
Both kids have already had teacher changes. Derrick's teacher changed because his other teacher started "Reading Recovery". Samantha's changed because there was a down syndrome girl coming into her class since her class had more Aid help. Her class was too large and so she was moved to another to even out numbers and also have more of a challenge (which she needs). She is super happy since her best friend is in her new class!
Everything always works out and hopefully we are done with dramatic changes...

Aesop's Fables

The first grade put on the program Aesop's Fables and Samantha had two parts. She did really well and we could understand her. She was a lion in Androcles and the Lion and also part of AEIOU.

BYU Graduate

I completely surprised my brother by driving up to his BYU graduation. I didn't tell anyone I was coming and I left my kids, thankfully, with Rachel and Sam was with a friend. It was so peaceful to drive all by myself, without having to tell children to wait or be quiet.
When I got there I was wondering if my plan was so brilliant because I couldn't find my family to sit by them. I just sat next to a girl who I chatted with during the long procession. I ran down to take pictures in the "picture area" and waited a long time while they announced the names out of order from the program.

Then Jake finally came, and I saw him hugging people a few feet away from me and so I hurried and said hi to him when he passed me with huge surprise and darted after my sister and dad. I then surprised them when I caught up to them, and continued the surprise when we sat by my mom. I planned to go home that night but they were going to dinner to celebrate and I joined them, Ben and Chari also joined us. I left early the next morning. I am glad I went and my plan was successful!

1st Grade

So Sam is finally at school all day and loving it. The favorites are, of course, hot lunch, and being busy all day long with her friends in her class. For some reason this year she is insisting on being called Samantha at school, but she isn't bothered by the other nicknames we call her at home. She has even told other kids all the names she goes by: Sam, Sammy, Sammy Jo, Samantha, Babe and of course Froggy (that was when she was a baby). She is doing so well and even tested another grade higher for reading so that pleases us, especially since she reads to Derrick and KayDee.

I am thrilled she is in 1st grade too. Kindergarten is a lot of work for a mom! Derrick will be there next year...