Student of the Month

Jamie and Laura were both recognized for Student of the Month for November for the value "Gratitude". I wasn't able to go because I had surgery 2 days before, but I snagged this picture from the school newsletter. Laura's right in the middle and you can tell she's not as excited as she would have been if her mom was taking the picture :( I don't have a picture of Jamie, but she got it for 2 classes. Congrats, girls!!! Great job!!!!!!!

Piano Recital

I've been teaching piano to my kids for the past several years, although not very consistent. Well, now I'm teaching 4 nieces and a nephew, plus my kids, and it's been fun and nice to keep my kids consistent! They had a recital and they did great!

Kelcie

Laura

Jamie

Are you ready for Christmas?

It's the day after Thanksgiving - time to put up the Christmas Tree!!!

Putting lights on our pre lit tree.........hmmmm.

Cute little santas!

Ethan's turn to put the star on the tree!

See the garland in the background? Lafe and the kids did that for me! There's one on the mantel, too and they look so pretty!

Florida - Friday

Our last day in Florida, we decided to go visit Blue Spring State Park. Lafe's brother told us to go because you can see the Manitees as they swim up the springs in the winter to stay warm.

At the Spring (just because their "springs" are bigger than our rivers!)

If you look under the hanging moss, there was a mama and baby manatee. So fun to watch them! We started talking to a guy who had just gotten out of the water, and found out that for about 2 weeks, the swimming season and Manitee season overlap and you're allowed to swim with the Manitees!!!!! We checked it out, rented snorkel gear, and went for it! We still can't believe we did that! ( I know nobody there would ever see me again, so I was ok :) ). It was amazing! They swim right up to you - so friendly! In fact, it was sometimes overwhelming to see that huge animal come right for you! We weren't allowed to touch them, but we definitely could have! They're so cute and friendly! We had such a great time swimming with them.

And, we happened to have swimsuits with us because we were headed to Daytona Beach afterwards......but, it was COLD! The water wasn't bad and we would have gotten used to it, but the air and wind - BRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! So, we got in to our knees and loved playing around with the tide coming in. I love waves in the ocean - it's so addicting to see how high they're going to go next....

Then, we decided to drive home a different way and maybe hit another beach. Well, we were getting close to Cape Canaveral, so we tried to find the Space Center. We missed - we found the RESTRICTED area and we're glad we didn't get arrested or anything, but then we were getting done so we just went back to Orlando. Great day! So fun to be able to visit more places than just Orlando!

Florida - Thursday

On Thursday, Lafe was done with the conference, so now we could PLAY!!! We, of course, HAD to go to Universal Studios to see the Harry Potter stuff!!!

Jurassic Park area, just past Harry Potter

Hogsmeade!!! You come up to it and it's amazing how realistic it looks! So AWESOME!!!!!!

Our first roller coaster - the Fighting Dragons, I think. OK, these aren't Disneyland Rides, folks! So many more TWISTS and TURNS and UPSIDE DOWNs!!! THere were two different roller coasters intertwined with each other. SO MUCH FUN!!!!! But, alas, I get motion sickness, and EVERY ride warned you about it. Of course the rides made me sick. Luckily, we found some Dramamine, and after 20 minutes, I was good to go for the rest of the day!

Inside the Castle - recognize the entrance to Dumbledore's office?

THe sorting hat. They made the rides so fun because there were stories being told as you wait in line and it all connects to the ride you're about to go on.

The Castle - REALLY COOL!!!!!!

HI!

Train to Hogwarts!

Hagrid's Hut - this is actually in line for the Dragon Roller Coaster - I think we rode that one 4 or 5 times!

Ron's Car - same ride.

LUNCH! We ate at the 3 Broomsticks - they are so efficient there - amazing how they got us all through that line! And, just so you know, the Butter Beer is really that good!!!!!!

Comic Area of Universal

After a long day of walking around the park (probably at least 3 times through the WHOLE thing!), we stopped for dinner at Bubba Gumps! It was yummy and such a fun environment! Everything was Forrest Gump and the waitress even quizzed you before you could leave. Yummmmmmmmm!

Florida - Monday - Wednesday!

For the last several years, Lafe has tried to get his CME at home to be less expensive, but it was not a Pediatric focus and therefore not very good AT ALL!!! And, because of the osteopathic credit mess, we have to find an Osteopathic Conference. Well, we were both done with this situation, so we told ourselves we were just going this year! It just happened to be in FLORIDA!!!!!!!!! Woo-hoo! Never been to Florida! The first 3 days, Lafe had classes, so I HAD to just hang out at the Hotel :) and crossstitch, read, etc. But, we snuck in a few things.

I had an idea for Primary that involved finding a recordable button - I found one at Build-a-Bear. So, the mall nearby happened to have one, and we went to get it. BUT, did you know that they have Trick-or-Treating at the Mall there? MADHOUSE!!!!!! I don't like Halloween and I wasn't one bit sad I was missing it this year! But, they also had the M&M store!!!!! You should have heard the squeal when I saw the billboard on the way there! EEEEeeeek!!! Surrounding by M&M stuff? Too bad it was WAY EXPENSIVE. Probably better. But, we got cool pictures!

Wonderworks Museum - really cool building!!! We never went inside, but the building was just so cool. We walked past this every day.

Same building, different angle.

Tuesday, Lafe was done a little earlier, so we went to the Orlando Temple. It was so nice to go to a normal neighborhood and be able to go to the Temple. It's beautiful and it was so neat.

From behind after our session.

Halloween 2011

So, I NEVER buy costumes unless we really can't make it, or it's 90% off the next day. But, Pinching Pennies came through this year with a deal I couldn't pass up! So.......

Talin was an astronaut, and Kelcie was a ladybug.....
and, Laura was a Lego (she made this ALL BY HERSELF!!!), Jamie was a PJ girl, Ethan was a Hunter, and Erin was a Farmer girl. On their way to Trunk-or-Treat.......

Laura's Birthday - the rest of the story!

We went to the State Fair!!!!! Lafe has wanted to go for years, but it's not my favorite thing (too much money, dirty, cheap stuff, greasy food, you know.....). But, he made a great case this year and since she couldn't get her ears pierce on her birthday, we had to do something fun! It happened to be a day where if you donated canned food you could get in free! So, we raided the pantry and all got in free! Then, Lafe found out that if the kids write a little about 3 books that they read, they could get 3 free rides! THEN, when we got there, we found out that we hit a day where all the rides were 2 tickets - way cheaper than normal! So, we had a blast! Our only problem was that most of the rides Talin couldn't do, and most of the rides go in circles which makes half the family sick.

I've always wanted to do the big slide!!! It was REALLY fun!!!

Laura and Talin on the Rocket Ride

Dinner

We counted this as Laura's birthday cake - curly fries!!!

We all got to play one game, and I actually won something on Skee-ball! Which Talin promptly tried to claim (drove Erin CRAZY!). We had a fun night! I think we all really enjoyed the vendors, too! That was my favorite part.

Laura's Birthday - 10 years old!

Laura turned 10!!! Wow! We made her wait until after school to "open" her presents because the older 2 leave SO EARLY!! So, after school she found a car that said "Follow the String..."

A new Desk!!! She wanted one so bad, but we weren't sure how it would fit in their room and we couldn't find one like the other 2 girls' desks. But, we finally found the perfect one and she was VERY excited!
She also got a gift card to get her ears pierced - which would have been that day except she can't play soccer with earrings in and we wouldn't want to have to take them out. So, when the season is over....
Two books - the sequel in the series she's reading and another one that just looked fun. Talin gave her his Curious George - ah! There's more to her birthday, but I have to get those pictures off Lafe's phone....

Fall Break

For Fall Break this year, we decided to go to Lafe's parents' cabin. We went up the first night with our Teacher's Quorum from church so they could have a campout. I think they had a good time - they're good kids. The second night, Lafe's parents had offered to feed the missionaries in the ward up there, so we did Hobo Dinners over the fire with S'mores, of course! I don't think the missionaries get that much :)

Making S'mores

Grandpa, Ethan, missionaries, Erin, Aunt Cathy, and Kelcie

Lafe's Uncle's cabin is right next door, and they had put up a swing - the kids LOVED it and spent most of their time there. Erin pushing Talin

Grandma on her porch swing - once spot for cell phones to work.

We had a fun time relaxing and enjoying the mountains.

Concerts

In October, we had a few concerts that I have to catch up on......

Erin is in Choir this year! I think she's enjoying it. It was really fun to watch her sing and she said it was fun.

Jamie also had an Orchestra Concert......

and Choir Concert! They did a great job!