Field Day

Friday was Field Day at the elementary school. As a member of the PTVO, I was responsible for this event. I decided on the activities and made sure there was plenty of help. It was a long day, but a fun one. Kristi helped out with the tug-a-war station and with Corban. The older grades were participating in the Hershey Track Meet while we had Field Day for grades K - 2. The weather was perfect and I think everyone had a great time, participating in two hours of FUN exercise!

This year's field day stations included: Hoop Shoot, Shoe Kick-Off, Feed the Elephant (a sling-shot game), Big Ball Dodge, Parachute, Hula Hoop Relay, Can Bowl, Tug-a-War, Beanbag Balance, Hokey Pokey Dance, Popsicles/Simon Says, Whipple Ball Jump/Jump Rope, and Hopscotch. I am so thankful to all of the moms that came and helped with this event. My favorite station was the Hula Hoop Relay. It was a fun, active game and each child had a part to play as a member of a team. I think it would make a great game for a family reunion.

Hula Hoop Relay
(taken from BIG IDEAS for Little Budgets by John Bytheway & Brad Wilcox)
Divide the group into equal teams of about fifty (or less). Split each team in half and have them form two straight lines facing each other from opposite ends of the playing area. In the middle of the space between each team (about 50 feet), have someone hold up a hula hoop. As the race begins, the first person in one line runs through the hula hoop to the other line of people on his or her team. He or she grabs the hand of the first person in line, and the two of them run again through the hula hoop back to the first line, where one more person joins them. Then they run back to get a fourth person and so on, until their whole team is hand in hand and they all run through the hoop.

Field Trip to Stout Farm

The kindergarteners went on a field trip to the Stouts to see all of their farm animals. Cameron had this same field trip last year. The kids got to watch the little lambs being fed, and pet them. Elise's favorite part of the trip was touching the little lambs and also the horses.

We were invited to bring younger siblings to the field trip. After helping out in Cameron's class, I went home and picked up Corban and took him to the Stout's. He had a great time looking at all of the animals too.


There were horses, pigs, cows, lambs, and chickens to see. It was fun to see all of the animals and enjoy the springtime weather. Ahhhhhhh!!! Good times!

PROM 2010

Saturday was a busy and eventful day for Cari. She started out early and headed to Dixie State College to take the ACT. During the test, the fire alarm was pulled by a five year old (a teacher's child). She had to evacuate the building until the fire department gave the okay to reenter. After the test, she found a note on her car, letting her know it had been hit on the right rear-end. There was minimal damage done. Then, on the way home, her car broke down. It blew a radiator hose. We were thankful that it waited to break down AFTER her important test, and not before!


Soon after getting home, her PROM date, Wil Wixom, picked her up for their date. They went to Wal-Mart with another couple (Nathan Gowans and Calee Cottom). There, they went on a picture scavenger hunt throughout the store. They were given a list of items that they needed to find and take pictures of. After their game, they went to Nathan's house where they painted and decorated t-shirts. They ate dinner (pulled pork sandwiches, salad and fruit), and decorated cupcakes. They were full from eating dinner and never did eat the cupcakes!

Cari then returned home to get ready for the dance. She was thankful that they ate before getting dressed up, as she was protective of the dress she wore. I helped her with her up-do and make-up. By the time she was dressed, she looked like a princess!
Corban looked up at her and said, "You princess and cracker." I think he was trying to tell her that she looked like the princess on Barbie and the Nutcracker.


Wil picked up Cari and once again we struggled to pin on his boutonniere. UUUGGGHH!!! This time, his flower survived our poking and prodding. They headed to the dance which was at the Villa Gardens in St. George. They had a great time and I was thankful that her evening was so much better than her morning turned out to be!

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

Grandma and Papa Beutler headed our way Thursday afternoon and were kind enough to get us some baby chicks in Cedar City. They picked out fifteen little ones for us, and the kids LOVED having them arrive. For now they are living in a storage box, until they get bigger and stronger, warmed with a light.


Corban loves to make them "chirp." All will be relatively calm and then suddenly I'll hear them "chirp, chirp, chirp" all at once. Sure enough, Corban has thrown in a toy lizard, car or crayon for his little friends. He loves watching them, but JUST WATCHING is hard for a two year old.


Grandma Beutler taught us a trick to tell whether or not the chick is a hen or rooster. You hold it by one of its legs. If it just hangs there, it is a hen. If it tries to crawl up your arm, it's a rooster. We think we have two roosters in the bunch. Time will tell. Right now they all look the same.

Science Fair Time

Thursday was the elementary school's science fair. Kristi and Elise decided to participate with an entry. Both enjoyed doing their projects and using the Scientific Method. Kristi's question was, "What kind of cookie do people like most?" Elise wanted to know, "Which dish soap makes the most bubbles?" I had a good time encouraging them and helping them this go around. I like "simple" projects. The ones that take weeks to do sometimes try MY patience.


Kristi's Project Summary: I wanted to find out what kind of cookie people like best. It seemed like a fun thing to do and it would be interesting to many other people too. I talked to a couple bakery workers from different stores and interviewed over 100 people to find out what people's most favorite cookie is. Most people liked chocolate chip. The stores sell more cookies that have chocolate chips in them, than any other kind. Chocolate chip cookies are the best.

Elise's Project Summary: I wanted to know which soap made the most bubbles because it would be fun to do. I thought the green soap would make the most bubbles because it had more soap. I tested the soap by blending it with water for one minute. The soap that made the most bubbles was the orange one. All soaps are not the same, and I learned how to make soapy water.

The girls did a great job and both won third place for their grade level. They received a certificate and a plaque. I was a very pleased mom!

Easter

On Saturday night, while Mike and Trevon attended the Priesthood Session of General Conference, we colored hard-boiled eggs for Easter fun.

Sunday morning, the kids woke to find their Easter baskets hidden around the house. They enjoyed the goodies they found.

We spent four hours of our day watching General Conference. Two hours in the morning and then another two hours at the afternoon session. Many of the talks were about our Savior, Jesus Christ. It was a wonderful way to reflect on the true meaning of the Easter holiday. I am thankful for the many accounts that testify of Christ's resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-14; Luke 24:1-48; John 20:1-29; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 2 Peter 1:16-17). Great comfort and peace comes in knowing that the Savior lives and that through His Atonement, we will live again as well.
After Conference (which takes place the first weekend in April, and again the first weekend in October), we had an Easter Feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry jello salad, peas, corn, rolls, and green salad. We invited the missionaries over to share our dinner with us and enjoyed their company. Mike, Cameron, Corban and I went on a stroll around the neighborhood and got to see some brand new lambs that were just born this morning. It was a wonderful day! I sat down and seeing some yarn and crochet hooks, I started thinking about my grandma and the lessons she gave me as a child. I began to crochet - and ended up making this little flower. I think it would look great in one of my daughter's hair. Flowers remind me of the beauty of life and of Easter.

Coop Building

The boys in our family are serious about having chickens. Friday and Saturday they worked on building a chicken coop. As Saturday was General Conference, they could only work between sessions. They still have quite a bit to do before they're finished with it. I love watching and helping them work.


Corban's favorite part was playing in the dirt.