Gingerbread houses

We all went and made gingerbread houses at the church for Activity Days. Here is a photo of the houses. The kids enjoyed eating the candy. The Whites were working on the perfect house and we just stood back and threw candy at our, whatever didn't stick the kids got to eat. Or something like that. The next day I found that a tornado(or hammer) hit our house and it was a pile of crumbs on the kitchen table. All of the candy had disappeared and all I can think is that it was reduced to crumbled rubble by the said tornado the kids said must have hit the kitchen table. No one would admit to knowing anything else about what happened to the house.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving morning working on Gunnar's room. I then fixed my mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables and we all went the the Connetts' for dinner. We all had a great time eating and talking. After dinner and dessert (which was a huge amount of pretty much any item you wanted), we went to Walmart to check out the sales for the next day. We were able to get a few items already on sale so it was a good trip. We also found out where the items we wanted the next day would be located. When we got back to the Connetts' David had taken two of the kids home and so Bonnie and I went to the basement and talked Shawn and Eric into letting us play Rock Band. I played the drums and Bonnie sung. We sounded great, if I say so myself. I think I would really like a real drum set now. We sounded so great that several people asked us to try to keep it down. I think it was so they could hear better without the disruption from the speakers. A great Thanksgiving, THANKS!!

School Conferences and Piano Conferences

We hit all the kids teachers yesterday and were gone at conferences from 4-8pm. A long night of listening about our kids. Most good and some not so good. We found out that JT is doing great and is Thankful for the Army, as most boys are in the class with all of their elaborate war strategies they play in free time.
Cenneidigh is tiring to grow up to fast and is worried about makeup, being thin, spending time with her friends at school. Great at math.
Ezekiel is not proofreading his items at school and needs to work on raising his hand to talk. He is also is really enjoying his new high potential teacher. He is doing great in his accelerated math.
Gunnar was next with the conferences in the gym where all the teachers were seated at desks with lines at each desk of waiting parents. We talked with each of his teachers and the common themes were; great kid, talks too much, very respectful but loud, could be doing better then he is, has great potential. Sounds like Gunnar.
Qatar's conferences were similar to the high school. All the teachers were in the gyms and we walked around and waited to see each one. David and I split up and David stood in one line and waited while I was able to see three other teachers. Common theme for Qatar were; great kid, very respectful, likes to talk, unorganized, so sweet, nothing much like Gunnar but both are great kids. Qatar's choir teacher thinks he is doing great, but was extrmely impressed by Gunnars performance in the play and his voice improvement.
Then piano conference today. Qatar was first and he needs to stop memorizing and pay more attention to the notes and rhythm. He is picking up the piano fast.
Ezekiel needs to curve his fingers. He plays with stiff fingers and needs to curve them or she does not want anyone to know she is the teacher. But, he is otherwise learning very fast and doing great.
Gunnar needs to practice not just play. He said he can play most things and yes he can, but playing a piece perfect does not make it pleasant to listen too. He needs to practice the passion and feeling of the songs. He has so many things on his plate and maybe he needs to be more selective to become really good at any of them. He needs to be more attentive at lessons.
More good then bad, but also more potential then they are all living up too.

Conferences

School conferences tonight. We start at the elementary at 4pm then to Ellis for an hour then the high school by 6pm and back to Ellis for any missed teachers. I figure we will be home around 9 or so. Remember this when you want a baby, they grow up and you have to see their teachers and explain why your beautiful child is not perfect in school.

Someone at church asked me how JT does in school, (he has a hard time sitting still in Primary) I said that last year he did great and I would find out on Monday from his new teacher. JT's teacher in kindergarten loved how JT would hum when he worked on math and things. She said she always knew he was happy. JT does not like to sit or be quiet. He is the loudest singer in Primary and I just have to keep telling him to sit down and be quiet the rest of the time. I have taken him to David at times to keep from killing him myself.

Twilight good kiss!

It was a good kiss. WOW!!! It was very sensual in the book, but very sensual and sexual in the movie. We saw the 4:20pm show. The 7pm was sold out. Very passionate kiss. It should win MTV best kiss award. "Remember who you are." The best Mormon line of the movie. My favorite line was, "Isn't it enough just to have a long life with me?" Maybe it was the look he gave her or the way he said it, but it was a good line.

Twilight tonight and Grandparents Day

Yea, I am going to see Twilight tonight. Yea. I really did like the books. I did enjoy The Host just a bit more. If you have yet to read it you really should.

Cenneidigh has Grandparents day at school today and since her Grandparents are all far away she decided to invite Bonnie. AKA Evil Grandma. The whole thing starts at 11:30 am and goes to 1pm. They have lunch together and then the class has a program for the grandparentst to see and they even get name tags the kids worked hard to make. I hope it is a good experience for both Cenneidigh and Bonnie.

I guess I am going!

Amanda was kind enough to volunteer for the job of babysitter for three days so I can go on the field trip with Qatar. We will leave Monday the 8th at 8:30am, I will be able to get the other kids off to school that day. We will return at 2:40 pm on Wednesday so I will be home when they get back from school that day. I have my neighbor Sarah dropping off and picking up the kids those days and even someones else child I already volunteered to pick up. Sarah is such a great friend and help. Qatar's teacher tells me it will be a great experience and lots of fun, even Qatar is excited I am going. It will definitely be an experience, the jury is out on what kind of experience until we return. There will be rock climbing, tree rope courses and nightly programs on the environment. Food is cafeteria style, but you are to eat what you take and they weigh the food that is thrown away and try for a zero waste trip, that will be interesting with 7th graders. We need snow gear and long underwear. I will have to buy the long underwear, I have the boots, snow pants, jacket, gloves, hats and warm socks. I think I will buy Qatar and I more warm socks and long underwear. It will be an experience!!

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