Another School Year Coming to an End

It's always sad and happy when a school year ends.  Happy, because it means a brand new summer and NO SCHOOL!  (Although Abby is sad, she loves school.) 
Sad, because it means days of "I'm bored, Mom."  and "No t.v. until your chores are done" o.k. that one is all year 'round, but what I mean to say is that the kids are home and while it is fun to do things like swim, go to the park, etc., THEY'RE HOME.  Well, I have a few things that I'm planning to do with them, so I enjoy every day with them being home.  (Notice I didn't say every minute.  :)  Keepin' it real.
Any way, a few weeks ago, Abby came home with a book that she made of three reports she wrote about African American's.  
During the month a February, Abby's 1st grade class learned all about black Americans.  They all wrote letters to some of them in leadership of our Nation and Abby chose to write to Clarence Thomas and J.C. Watts.  In her letters to them she explained that her class was studying African American's and asked if they could send any information and a color photograph of themselves.  Well, they both wrote back and sent photos just as she had requested, (they even signed them), but Clarence Thomas went above and beyond.  He not only sent her a signed photo, but he also sent her a copy of a children's book called, "Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse, A Tail of the Supreme Court." (cute book) and wrote a sweet message in it just for her.  It read,
       "Abigail, Always do your best to be your best.  I hope you have a wonderful life.  Clarence Thomas"  She decided it would be nice to donate it to the school library. Then, her teacher got another copy of the book for Abby and photocopied the page that Clarence Thomas wrote on and put it in the book before she gave to Abby to take home.
Abby also wrote reports on two other people, Constance Baker Motley and Julia May Porter-Carson.  She did an awesome job and we are so proud of her.

Sorry these photos are a little blurry.

 This is the letter that Abby's teacher wrote to Justice Thomas thanking him for his thoughtful reply and book and everything he sent.

Here is Abby's class.  Yeah, class picture day would be on a day that I didn't have enough time that morning do a cute hair style. Oh well.

She loves her teacher and is doing really well in school.

On that note, Teacher Appreciation week was a couple weeks ago and my kids wanted to do something for their teachers to show that they were grateful for them.  So I went to the store, got some candy, plastic wrap, curling ribbon and table cloth weights and help the kids make candy lei's for their teachers.  Then, I printed out a picture from some thing school related. (Calvin and Elsa's was from the school carnival and Abby's was from a presentation that her class did for flag ceremony).  We Modge Podged them to the stars and I wanted to write something cute like, "You made me a star." or something like that, but they just wanted to write "Thanks for teaching me."  Oh well.  I guess, the message got out either way.

 Like the 'stache?

New Post for Elsa

Just wanted to tell everyone that Elsa has put a new post on her blog.  So go and check it out.  If you need permission to get there, just email us your email and we'll let you in.  Just go to her picture on the side of this blog and click on it. 
Have a nice day!

Piano Lessons.....Hooray!

I found a cool new product through my sister, Hannah.  It's called "Piano Marvel" and it's awesome!  Lately I've been entertaining the thought of teaching Abby piano, since Elsa is already taking lessons from a friend.
 Abby has wanted to learn and when I learned about "Piano Marvel" I decided to try it out.  I love it and so does Abby.  She loves to try to beat her score and, let me just say, that since she started week ago, she already knows what whole, half and quarter notes are and how many counts they get.  Piano Marvel has made it so fun to practice even the most daunting tasks.  An accompaniment plays with the notes to practice so it's like you're contributing to a beautiful and fun piece.  I remember when I was younger and taking lessons, I always had to do my scales.  It was so boring and I really did not like it. 
Piano Marvel makes playing scales so fun!  Both my girls practice with Piano Marvel and they love it.  I love it too because they can set their own goals and see their own progress...faster than traditional lessons.  Now don't get me wrong though.  Piano Marvel was not designed to replace those lessons, but rather to enhance them.  Piano teachers can use this as a tool to help their students learn 4-8 times faster.  I'm even brushing up on my skills too.  Let me say also that it's very addictive!  If you want to see it for yourselves here is a link to their website.   I became a distributor so I share this with everyone and so I could give discounts to anyone who wants their kids or themselves to learn piano.  Just enter the promo code "singer".  They also help with learning guitar, bass guitar and drums. 
Here is Abby and Elsa practicing.....

Our Easter

I'm a little behind.  I know it's already May and I'm just now getting to our Easter.  

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Well, we had a nice one.  The kids and I went to the "Grace Baptist's" Easter Extravaganza.  We were invited by our neighbor this year as well as last year.  The kids love it.  They got to hunt eggs, play games, jump on bouncers, and ride the little train they had.  Oh, yeah...and eat.  It was fun.  Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera so we didn't get pic.'s of it.  You can go here if you want to see the pic.'s from last year.  They're basically the same except the kids are a year older.  The Grace Baptist Church do a good job with this every year.  

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So here are some pic's of the kids dying eggs on Saturday right after we got home from the Extravaganza, and then hunting them on Easter Sunday.  Also the kids with their baskets.  Enjoy!

Look at that determination.

Elsa loved dying eggs.

Calvin was an old pro.

Some of our colored eggs....with the kids treasures in the background from their egg hunt earlier.

Everyone's baskets.

Abby got this "Tag" book, scripture marker, bookmark, and goodies.

Elsa got a lego set from "Prince of Persia", bookmark, scripture marker and goodies.

Calvin got to read the letter from the Easter Bunny this year.

Dallin got a nice, new, much needed because dang this kid grows fast white shirt.  

An aluminum wallet, a scripture marker and bookmark, and some goodies.

The girls really liked these life sized paper dolls.

Calvin loved his aluminum wallet, scripture marker, bookmark, and goodies.  He especially LOVES (as well as the rest of us), the "Book of Mormon Battles" card game that the family got.

It was a nice Easter now here is our Easter Egg hunt.