Visit with Uncle Nealie

Uncle Nealie came at the end of May for a short evening visit. Emily was very excited to have him over for dinner! He also got the pleasure of listening to Em practice her violin (haha!) and tucking her in at bedtime. It was nice to have him here!

Closing Ceremonies

Emily finished another year of Caravans. (A scouting program through the Nazarene Church.) This was her 5th year in the program. She was asked to carry in one of the candles and tell what it represented. The above pictures of the opening ceremony (with candle) and a picture of her Caravan class w/ leaders Becky and Terry Mayer.

The below pictures are of Emily talking about her favorite badge this year and receiving her perfect attendance medal.

Trout in the Classroom

The last 2 years, I have been participating in a program called "Trout in the Classroom." In January, my class received 100 rainbow trout eggs that we watched hatch and grow in a tank in our room. Michael Kellett (seen catching the trout for release) has been our classroom biologist and spent time teaching the students about different types of trout, culverts, and helping fish habitats. In April, we released our fish into the Boise River. This year we had an 84% survival rate (down from 93% last year...still a great % though!). These pics are of the tank and some of the kids that met us on the COLD (there were snow flakes!) Saturday morning of the release into the river.

Powder Puff Derby

Emily entered the Girl Scout Powder Puff Derby again this year. (It is run by the Boy Scouts.)She decided on a purple car this time and with help from Kevin and Tada, her car ran over 61 miles per hour! She won 3 out of 5 races and had a good time watching everyone.

Spring Break

Hello everyone! Okay, so I have been slipping on keeping up to date on the blog. My goal for Spring Break was to get some pictures up and update everyone on what is going on in our lives!

Things are finally starting to calm down around here. Basketball is over and Emily is almost finished with selling Girl Scout cookies. She still has 2 months left in Caravans (church scouting program) and is taking violin lessons once a week though. Spring Break has been nice with nowhere we have to be!

We weren't entirely free during the break though. As teachers, Kevin and I had to spend some time getting report cards done and I took Emily to the dentist and eye doctor since it is too hard to get to these during the school day. (No cavities for Em, but she needed stronger new glasses...she chose purple Sponge Bob glasses.)

Emily got to spend Easter with her dad, but has enjoyed Easter baskets from us, Nana and Papa, and as well as Grandma and Tada. I think that this kid is spoiled!!! We went to a park nearby and flew her kite yesterday and she has been playing with the neighborhood girls for several hours already.

Kevin announced this evening that our Spring Break is officially over, but I am still in denial! I will enjoy the last 2 days at home in preparation for the final quarter of school. I will do my best to take a lot more pictures and keep the blog updated with our lives! Hope everyone can keep us updated with what is going on in your lives as well!

Basketball

Emily is in her 3rd year participating in the "Upward" basketball/cheerleading program at our church. The first year she was a cheerleader, but last year and this year she has played basketball. She is a "Bobcat" this year with a 6 win, 2 loss record. She has really begun to excel this year and is learning the rules of the game. It is a great program because not only do they teach the rules of the game, but also good sportmanship, teamwork, and the Bible. (They start each game with a prayer, there is a testimony at half time, and kids are encouraged to learn scriptures and have a devotional time during practices.) Emily said that she wants to play again next year.

Ski Night

Discovery Ski Night up at Bogus Basin was another fun time to spend with some of our 4th and 5th graders. We went up on Friday, Feb. 8th. We were able to take Emily up with us this year. Unfortunatly, the weather was terrible! The wind was blowing frozen ice into our faces and our clothes were coated with ice once we headed back to the car at the end of the night. It was still fun to ski with many of Kevin's students and he had a chance to catch up on all the students' gossip!

As for Emily...after an hour lesson (only her 2nd time skiing!) she finished up the night on a black diamond! I told her to go slowly and weave across the bowl, but she went straight down the middle about a hundred miles an hour! Em had a GREAT wipeout about halfway down, but once she got her skis and poles back together, she went right down the middle again and waited for me at the bottom! This is a blurry, but cute pick of Emily once we were done for the night.