Great for Savannah To Be Eight

Savannah turned 8 October first. She celebrated with her wonderful friends with a party on her birthday (that is rare in this household). She had a Fancy Nancy party. It was awesome. The girls were very fancy and the boys were very daper.

On October 10 (10-10-10)Savannah was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her family and friends were able to celebrate this special event in her life.

We gave her the traditional birthday quilt with all of the squares made from her clothes she wore while growing up. I love my fancy girl!

Sacramento Trip

At our school our fourth graders take a trip to our state capitol, Sacramento. We fly up on a Tuesday morning, early, early, and then fly back Thursday evening. It is three days of PACKED fun and site seeing. I loved this trip and hope I can go next year with Savannah. We require our kids to earn their money for it, so it is a trip they have to work hard for!

Here we are at the airport and then on the airplane.

Capitol building and a leaf that Nathan really wanted to bring home from Sutter's Fort.

Train Museum and some rocks that Nathan really wanted to buy!

No trip to Sacramento is complete without a visit to CANDYLAND!

We had a nice room with a view of the Capitol from our window. The next day we went to Sutter's Mill where we mined for gold. Nathan found a few flakes.

Above:Nathan started collecting pencil sharpeners from each place we stopped that sold them. Jelly Belly Factory and the Golden Gate Bridge.

My favorite part of the trip was the time we spent at Alcatraz. I loved the tour.

Cable Car Museum and no trip would be complete without fortune cookies!

The saddest part of the trip was when Nathan wanted to buy one of these and I wouldn't let him. I'm such a mean mother!

Alyssa's class presentation

Alyssa was asked to do a class presentation on Balance (having balance in a person's life). She did a great job. The teacher in my is so proud! She used tissue boxes as examples of things in a person's life that her or she would have to juggle or 'carry around.' Each student received one tissue box with something written on it, such as piano lessons, homework, chores, etc. Then they piled all of the boxes on one student. Great visual activity.

Black belt, here we come!

Alyssa and Nathan earned their red/black belt in September! So exciting. They have worked so hard and do so well. The next step is black belt!!

Savannah's Birthday

My Fancy Savannah loves Fancy Nancy and decided to have a Fancy Nancy party. She asked all of the children to come in their "fancy or dapper attire."

We read the first Fancy Nancy book so that everyone would understand the concept of being fancy rather than plain. Then we played Fancy Freeze Tag.

We had a fancy lunch with fancy toothpicks and remembered to eat "with pinkies up!" Nathan helped by serving petite fours. (That is a fancy word for little cakes.)

The children got even fancier with boas and jewls. The boys look so cute! After opening a present Savannah would hug the girl and shake the hand of the boy who gave her the gift. I love the expression on this little guy's face as he shakes her hand! "Cooties!"

Savannh has such wonderful friends. She planned out the party with lots of amazing games. We couldn't do them all becuase there were so many. Next time I'll have to make the party last longer!

Poet's Tea

Each year at the kids' school the third through fifth graders participate in Poet's Tea. This is one of my favorite events at school. They write or memorize poems and then recite them to the adoring parents. Then we all eat delicious treats; cookies, tea sandwiches, cookies, vegetable spreads, cookies, crackers, cookies, you get the idea.

This year was the first year it rained on us! Savannah recited a poem about rain, and five minutes later it started raining! We still had a great time.

Nighttime Visitor

This little lovely thing was waiting for us when we got home tonight.

Thank goodness it was outside!