Proud Mama

Everyone knows that I have chicken scratch for hand writing. My mom has told me before in a loving way that I write like a kindergartner. Where mine is not pretty, Bob's is worse.

So we were very surprised when Abe came home with his first spelling test written in cursive. When he handed it to me I was shocked.

Abe holds his pencil in a crazy way. In pre-school his handwriting was almost non-existent by 1st grade it had improved but I never thought he would have lovely penmanship. By 2nd grade I could tell you it was nice and you could tell he took his time writing it nicely.

This year his 3rd grade teacher is a 67 year old man, who finds cursive to be very important. Old School. Abe has taken to cursive like a cat to milk. He says that it takes forever but he likes it. I won't lie.....I am so proud.

If only my handwriting was that nice.

If only his brother's was that nice.

If only it stays that way....

When I hung his test up on the fridge I told him how proud I was and Tucker dropped his head and started to sulk...

When Abe walked out of the room I told him"You can't be the best at everything. We all have our strengths and our weakness, and if it bothers you that bad, try harder when you are writing."

I didn't add, "although it didn't help me much."

Those years in jr.high I would practice the cutesy style over and over, it never worked out that well for me.

Back to Tucker.

He did come home from school yesterday with a grin from one ear to the other because he finished his RAD reading. As it turns out he was the first to finish in the whole school. He won a dog tag that said I am a RAD reader, a book, a certificate, and his picture as the screen saver on the Library computers. His name has been put in a drawing for a boom box at the end of the year.

Proud.

That's what I am.

See what I mean about strengths and weaknesses.

p.s. Abe spelled Cried wrong....guess his 67 year old teacher missed that because he was so blown away by his handwriting:)

My New Yorker's

This family is our Santa Clara family, our Santa Clara family from New York.

We moved in 2 weeks after them. They moved into Mormon central and seemed to totally adapt to it. So much they didn't take promotions and just stayed here.

Jen is the name on all of my kids emergency contact lists. She's who I call when I'm in labor to come over at 2am to stay with my kids. Geena and Nick are my other kids. They are the most polite and kind kids I know.

I love this family.

We pretty much have an open door policy except if Jen's blinds are closed, because that means they are still sleeping....sometimes at 11am.

Jen let's me boss her around sometimes and vise versa, truly she is like my sister. Steve is just Steve.....It was a pleasure to take their pictures.

Nick (11) has an old soul and a tiny bit of old gossipy lady in him.

All my kids think he is their best friend.

Geena (7) is 3 year older than Gwyn, and is truly Gwynnie's best friend.

Geena is happy and cheerful and always kind.

Don't these kids have the best brown eyes?

I love my New Yorkers....

p.s. Hope you like them!

The Layton Family

Love my self some red heads!

Is Sara not so BEAUTIFUL!

The Welch Family

Could they be a better looking family?

I'm going to Jackson.....

Okay, we went to Jackson...

Jackson Hole that is.

Over Conference weekend we had a little family reunion with some of my family. Jackson Hole is one of my favorite places. Ever. We have been going since I was a little girl.

We almost always stay out a Teton village.

The Ladies in our family planned projects for our stay. We all had crafts for the kids and then at night we had our own projects. My craft for the kids was a nature gathering. We searched for all kinds of leaves, sticks, flowers, and rocks. I had bought dark plain shirts for the kids and they laid out the things they had gathered on top of the shirts. Then we sprayed them with bleach and watched nature leave it's imprints. It was REALLY fun. (Thanks farmgirl for the idea) These are the pictures from the gathering.

This was the only day of fall we got, by the next morning we were covered in snow.

Princess G

Tuck

So, I actually didn't take that many pictures because we were SO involved in projects and activities that I am skipping to day 4 in our trip.

Yellow Stone and Old Faithful

It was literally a winter wonderland. The most beautiful drive. This is my mom and my kids getting ready to walk over and see old faithful herself.

This is my dad and my son...his look alike.

Abe is the only child who is built just like my dad and grandpa. His legs reach his shoulders...just like my dad and they walk similar.

The whole gang minus Paige and Nate.

The pregnant woman was starving and off to forage for food.

We had packed a lunch so we snuck into some little restaurant and ate next to Nate and Paige.

(notice our corona box our lunch is in)

Waiting for Old Faithful.
My older boys were fully intrigued by this natural wonder. So was their dad.

We all had our hot cocoa while we waited.

The soon to be parents....

This is Dustin...I like to call him Dustina, or just Tina for short.

I love him. I'm real glad he is my brother-in-law.

I mean otherwise how could I have such adorable nieces.

Gwyn borrowing Daddy's glasses.

Nannie

This Little Triptych is classic!

See my dad.

I take that first picture of him while he is unaware.

This look is his "Williams sneer" this is a very common expression on his face.

Then it turns into, "hey there's a camera, I better smile"

Then it turns into, "ahh, you caught me making the Williams sneer."

We ventured into the Old Faithful lodge and it was Awesome. I would love to come and stay a few days here.

Our last full day in Jackson we went into town and shopped. Really I miss the shopping that use to be in Jackson. JCREW, Benetton, Gap, and so many more. Now it's all souvenir shops, but what can you do.

Traditional family picture in front of the Antler Arch.

The kids in front of a Buffalo. We saw many real buffalo.

Abe being silly

Gwyn really kissing the Buffalo...echhhh!

We had a great time. Thanks mom and dad for making this possible. To my sisters, I love you. I had so much fun crafting together, giggling, drinking herb tea, sitting by the fire. Getting our husband to play Rummy and Snorta with us. It's never enough is it?

p.s. I love you Jackson Hole, and miss you just writing this post. Can't wait to see you next year.