School Open House

Every year the school hosts an Open House for parents to come and see a lot of the work their kids have been doing over the past few months.  This year it was just last week... April 17th!  They have a general meeting at the beginning and then the classrooms are open for parents to explore.  During the general meeting, Lexi got to perform with Vintage Voices!  She's in the school chorus group this school year and mostly loves it.  She doesn't prefer the performances, but doesn't seem to mind getting up early to be there once and sometimes twice a week at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m.  They only did one number and then we headed outside to wait for the classrooms to open.  While we were out there, we got some Kona Ice {aka. SUPER OVERPRICED snowcones} and shared them with friends!  Ella bought her own, Lexi bought her own, and Braeden... who is my most GENEROUS child bought one for himself, his best friend, Kimber, and her little brother Tavin!  And I didn't have to ask him to do it, either.  He never ceases to amaze me!  It was a good, but crowded and busy night.  We didn't even eat dinner until after 8 p.m.  Sheesh.  But it was also nice because Damian got to come for a while and go to their classrooms with them!

This is Tammy {also a great friend of mine... the chorus director, Ella's preschool teacher, and soon-to-be Lexi's Activity Days leader... again, plus her teacher at church... this woman is A-mazing!} talking to the chorus kids after their performance!  She had them wear red, white and blue to honor those affected by the horrific events that had just taken place in Boston just 2 days prior.  And believe it or not... see that jacket she's wearing??  Yep!  She ran the marathon!  She was fortunate and crossed the line about 20 mins. prior to the bomb detonations.  Scary, but she was safe.  Her story is just miraculous.  And if you ever have the chance to ask her about it, you should.  Her testimony of the power of prayer, priesthood, the kindness and generosity of the human race, and the love of the Lord will strengthen yours!

Lexi and a group of her silly friends!  {I don't know a couple of them, but... from her going clockwise around the table:  Lexi, Olivia, Adie, Ashley behind Kayla (who is right behind Olivia,) Cassidy, Carly, Kassandra, ?, ?, and Ella with her hands covering her!}

Lexi is one of the best piggy-back ride givers... so I'm told by Adie!

For as much as Braeden doesn't really like art and crafts, he certainly is fairly particular about most of the stuff he does.  This was one of the very best ones there... and I'm amazed!

Science for their class included the life cycle of a meal worm.  Here he is digging for his real one!  Ewww!

True... they were all allowed to have these icky things in class!  But they did have to keep the lids shut most of the time!  ;o)

And keeping with the theme of bugs, but adding poetry of sorts to it!  I love this!  Well... most of it!

Braeden and Mrs. Robertson!  We just love her! 

His writing was actually 3 pages LONG!  Wow!  Mrs. Robertson has done wonders at getting him to really lengthen his stride... in many areas!

Braeden showing Damian some of his stuff!

Lexi is reminiscing about her time in this very classroom with this very teacher!  She loved it so much that she often comes back during recess to volunteer and help in the classroom!  :o)

Moving on to Lexi's class.  She is trying to put together a series of wires and batteries to get a lightbulb to shine!  And she's not wearing the safety goggles... shame.

They spend a LOT of time studying California history, geography, etc.  On the plate is a 3d model of the topography of California.

After a few minutes Damian gets impatient and checks to make sure the bulb is good... 

And she's back to work!  It did finally work!

And this bulb is good, but he cheated and skipped a few steps... and a few wires!

Unlike Braeden, Lexi LOVES art.  She is very meticulous and very good at making her work the very best she can.  My kids amaze me all the time.  They are soooooo much more talented than I am.

Lexi and Mrs. Shorack!  Yep!  Her Kindergarten teacher is now her 4th grade teacher!  And we are soooo happy about that!  She's an amazing teacher who really works hard and is very knowledgable! 10 years prior to this school year she was teaching 4th grade, and then she moved to Kindergarten where we got to enjoy her for both Lexi and Braeden, and is now back in 4th grade!

And Ella... well, she starts Kindergarten in GUAM!  Yikes!  But I'm sure it will be just as fantastic there!  Hopefully!  Right now she can't imagine her life without Tammy as her teacher, but just like with Braeden who didn't want to leave her, it will pass and she will enjoy school wherever she is and with whoever she gets as a teacher!