Back To School To Prove To Dad That I'm Not a Fool

Danny is the big man on campus, the elementary school campus that is.  He started 5th grade this year with Mrs. Jackson. 

Rachel's coming around the bend, just one year behind Danny and has Ms. Adams for her 4th grade teacher.



Our first grader, Aaron, has Ms. Mott (a BYU grad). I think he'll be in good hands. 

Here's the triumverate of awesomeness!

Jean has taken it upon herself to pre-school Seth a couple of hours a week, while Ruby will go 'unschooled'.  I really like Seth's teacher.  As Napoleon Dynamite would say, "Lucky!"

Aaron joined the swim team

We couldn't get enough of the Olympics and Michael Phelps this summer.  We loved watching all of it.  The boys even watched the swimming and taught themselves how to do flip turns in our pool.  Aaron did great learning the strokes at swimming lessons this summer and has a natural talent at it so he decided to try out for the swim team at the YMCA and he made it!  We were so proud of him.  The team practices four days a week so it was a real commitment. Aaron did great.  It was fun to watch him progress and work hard.  He just did it for the month of August because it's just too busy during school for us to be able to make it to practice every day after school.  He's hoping to start back up on the team next summer.

Summer goals and the Luxor

This year for the reward for the kids completing their summer goals, they all decided they wanted to stay at the Luxor.  Here's a run-down of the kids goals for the summer:

Danny:
Play-shoot baskets for 15 minutes or swim 4 laps
Pray-Read scriptures every day
Learn-
Serve-Do something nice every day

Rachel:
Play-Practice tennis once a week
Pray-Finish memorizing the Articles of Faith or read scriptures every day
Learn-
Serve-Babysit the little ones for mom for 10 minutes a day

Aaron:
Play-shoot 50 baskets or swim 4 laps every day
Pray-
Learn-It started out as ready Harry Potter and he got about 1/3 of the way through and we switched it to just read a book every day
Serve-do something nice for someone every day 

So we stayed over-night at the Luxor.  We had a fabulous time.  We checked in and walked all around the big pyramid.  We had pizza for dinner, then went swimming in their fun pool.  Then we came back the and kids had a great time in the hot tub in our room.  Then we watched the Lorax.

The next morning we got up and swam again and then we went to the Pawn Shop from the Discovery show "Pawn Stars". The kids thought that was amazing.  Aaron kept saying he couldn't believe we were really there.  It was pretty crowded and we had to wait in a line just to get in the store, but it was fun.

Beach Weekend

We had a great weekend at the beach in August.  We left Thursday night and stayed at Ryan and Venessa's for the weekend.  Everyone was there except for Dustin. Friday we went to Santa Monica.  It was crowded, but the weather was perfect.  Everyone had such a great time. Ryan brought three boogie boards and Danny, Rachel and Aaron were in heaven.  They picked it up really fast. Seth and Ruby loved the waves too.  Seth got really brave this time and had fun jumping in some big waves. And, of coarse, the sand is always so entertaining.  We also walked the pier and rode on the ferris wheel and a roller coaster, then we ate some fish and shrimp.

Saturday we went to Carpinteria.  That one was really fun too and not as crowded.  It had some fun platforms to swim out to. And the kids boogie boarded like crazy. And it was so fun to have everyone there.  The weather was perfect that weekend.  It was warm and sunny the whole time. What a great weekend!

Rachel is 9

Rachel chose to go to the beach for her birthday this year.  So we celebrated there mostly, but we had a little family party on her real birthday too.  Venessa made her a cake and then Rachel picked a fruit mousse she found on pinterest for at home.  She got some girl lego sets, jolly ranchers, earrings and an earring case. We sure love our sweet Rachel!

What makes you happy: My mom and playing the piano
Favorite food: sherbet, shrimp
Favorite thing to do: spend time with family
Favorite TV show: Martha Speaks
What are you really good at: piano

Favorite Movie: The Lorax
Favorite color:  turquoise
Favorite song: A Child's Prayer
Best friend: Savannah
What do you and your mom do together: swimming, tennis
What do you and your dad do together: tennis
Favorite sport: tennis
Favorite place to go: Legoland

Favorite animal: dolphin

Favorite Book: The Fortune Wookie (whatever she is currently reading)

What do you want me to be when you grow up: Dolphin trainer