Another year at prestige

Sammy reading
Sammy being a narrator for "The ugly duckling"

Sammy supposed to be watching "the Boy who cried wolf"
Sammy and Mrs.Anderson. I love this teacher.

So Sammy is my 3rd child with Mrs. Anderson. Had we been here when Kenzie was in 2nd grade she would have had all 4 of my kiddos. I absolutely love this lady.I love how she teaches and obviously cares for these kids. I love that she does the pledge of Allegiance every day with her class and teaches them songs as well. Good songs like this land is you land and 50 nifty and other good songs. I love that she lets me know whats going on with my kids.I love that starting with Nelson's class 4 years ago she has started to taking them to prestige every month and has the kids sing a song for the older people there and put on plays for them. She also has each of them bring a book and sit down and read to someone there as well. What a great thing for these kids to experience and it brings joys to the people at prestige as well.
I was super excited that with my work schedule I was able to go when they went on the 13th. I was feeling bad because I went to almost all of both Nelson and Cali's trips to prestige and haven't been to one of Sammy's yet. So I decided not go for a run and went and watched Sammy instead. And i am so glad I was able to go this month. He Was one of the narrators For the play "the ugly duckling". He Did so good. he read his part clearly and knew when he was supposed to come in . I am super proud of him. And so grateful that he is with a fabulous teacher this year.

Sammy goes to the dentist

Sammy in the waiting area at his dentist. This is a little ride. He lays on the chair and watches the screen which shows one of three roller coaster rides. As he watches the chair moves to simulate the movement of the ride.
Yup he is having fun

Ok so anyone who knows me well. Knows I have issues with dentists. My dentist also knows this and thank goodness does not take it personally. Well I have been very careful not to take my kids with me when I go because i don't want them to have my issues/ fears of them. Well that being said i guess 1 out of my 4 had to end up with some sort of issues anyway. The three older kids have the attitude of lets get this done. Not really any problems with the dentist just no great love for them but they don't moan and groan about going. Sammy on the other hand was freaking out before he even got in the chair. He had a toothache so we went to go get it fixed and wasn't happy with that idea either. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when he wasn't overly happy to go get his teeth cleaned that getting a tooth ache was going to be a problem for him.
When the dentist just wanted to look in Sammy's mouth Sammy didn't want to open up but did so very reluctantly and not very big at all. When the dentist pulled out the needle to numb his gums Sammy clamped his mouth so tightly shut nothing was going in there. We called Ken to see if he could come and convince him to open his mouth. Nope that wasn't going to work either. That boy decided having a toothache was better then having it taken care of. Silly boy. So
Dr. Boatman referred him to a pediatric dentist in hopes he would have better luck with Sammy because as he pointed out, while he was looking at me, that it only takes one bad experience to scar him for life as far as dentists go. So to the pediatric dentist Ken took Sammy . Now this dentist Sammy didn't have a problem with. When Ken took Him Sammy cooperated and allowed the dentist to fix his tooth. So when I went back at the beginning of this month I could see why Sammy was content here.
In the waiting room it is like a miniature arcade for the kids. In the exam rooms the walls are painted in fun space or other fun scenes. On the ceiling there is a tv for the kids to watch while the dentist is doing his thing. They put earphones on him so he can't hear what is being said and sunglasses on him as well. But they don't use the scary language either that you hear in most dentist like cavity, drill, crown and other things. They use words like sugar bugs and in Sammy's case a silver hat and magic air. Yup he had to use nitrous oxide to help with getting his teeth fixed. Sammy sat there had his mouth opened and fully cooperated.When he was done he was given a token to get a prize out of one of 4-5 big gumball machines that had bouncy balls and other little toys. While i couldn't really watch what was going on and the smells were enough to drive me crazy I was happy Sammy came out smiling. And All I could think of was too bad they don't have something like this I could go to(lol) or at least could have gone to when I was a child because then maybe I wouldn't have my issues. Hopefully Sammy will grow out of his issues so he won't always need the "magic air" but right now I am glad we found a way to get his mouth taken care of.

Nelson goes back to school

Nelson on his first morning back. In his uniform isn't he handsome.


So how did we start the new year. on the 3rd I went to Paragon Collegiate Academy and got Nelson signed up for school. The homeschooling thing is so not working with me working so it is time for him to go back. and with this school there is smaller class sizes and I felt this would be much more beneficial for him then sending him to a class that has 30+ kids in it. I was given a list of things we need to get for him. Can i just say it was uber weird going "back to school" shopping in January. We needed to get everything from backpack to lunch box to pencils and all other school supplies. As well as clothes. however that was nice because he has to wear a uniform so it was just certain things he needed. It was very strange but good.
On the 4th was his first day back at public school in two and a half years. To say the least I was nervous about doing this. I so don't want him to back slide into old habits. However He was very excited about this. And Very much wanting to go back to school.I am sure it helped him adjust easier when he found out the a couple of the kids from his former class at Kynoch are now in his class of 16. Yup there are 16 6th graders in the whole school.And so far I would have to say i am right. He seems to be doing well in this school. And he seems to be happy to be back around people again. So here we are at new beginnings again and hoping for the best. Good Luck Nelson i know you can do it.

end of 2011

A couple days after Christmas

Nelson got creative with the many Christmas legos and decided to make handcuffs. And lucky Sammy got to be the prisoner.

However he really didn't seem to mind


Christmas

Legos

legos

legos


legos
No legos, oops wait legos batman for the wii Wait where are the legos. Oh there was something else nerf guns. Let the wars begin.

And of course Cali is happiest in Pink!


Christmas Eve
I can't believe where this girl can fall asleep. This so doesn't look comfortable but what do I know. This Is the calmest for both Dottie and Cali.


McKenzie's 14th b-day
How did this happen now she is able to go to dances. Hello whole new world again


McKenzie's murder Mystery dinner turned into just 3 great friends hanging out for her 14th b-day. And they had a blast. Yay for great friends!!!!

Halloween
Jedi Nelson
Bad wolf Cali and Red riding hood Kenzie
Watch out Red riding hood here comes the big bad wolf. :)
The Big, Pink ,Bad wolf
Jedi Sammy


Home school group end of year party


Home school soccer team Nelson warming up for the first game.
Go Nelson!!!!
Nelson Head butting the ball!!!


So 2011 went by so incredibly fast it is so hard to believe. This family has been busy and chaotic at the best of times but it has been an incredibly good year. All 6 of us have kept busy and overall been healthy this year and for this I am extremely grateful.
Ken stays busy with his work and his calling as the ward executive secretary.
I have of course have been busy being mom to 4 very active kids. I have been homeschooling Nelson for the last 2 1/2 years, but change is in the works for that. I am still in yw which is also very time consuming but well worth the effort. I have been taking piano lessons for a little more then a year now and am loving it. And In october I was able to get a job with a company called Children's hope where I transport foster children. So obviously I am being kept on toes.
McKenzie turned 14 this year which means dances of which she has already gone to her first dance and loved it. it also means she wants to go to efy next year but we will see how that goes. She is enjoying high school. She loved going to her first hs football games this year. She has matured a lot this year and has been become a huge help to me.
Nelson is 11 now. He is loving scouts and not loving school. He is ready to go back into the public school system. He had a blast playing soccer & baseball this year.
Cali is now 9 and in 4th grade. She loves school and does well with it. She also had a lot fun playing softball this year.
Sammy is 7 years old and is all boy. He loves to climb and rough house and play video games. he isn't enjoying school as much as Cali but still enjoys it somewhat I think. He also enjoyed baseball season playing t-ball.
So that's us in a nutshell. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and has a wonderful 2012.