Pet

This weekend I went through Luke's school folder and came across this gem. I love, love, love children's writing. It must be the teacher in me. Luke is especially good at expressing his voice in his writing. He is also very perceptive and  persuasive and knows what he needs to say to me to get what he wants. Oh man,  I really don't want a lizard, but this is sure hard to resist.

In case you don't read "2nd Grader" here is what is says:
Dear Mom,
Pleeeease can I  have a lizard when we move, pleeeease? I'd pay for half of the lizard and I would buy the food (most of the time). I would keep my room clean (most of the time) but I promise to keep its cage clean. I also want it to be a boy, so that it would be my brother. Besides, I think I already named it (but it matters what color it is). I want a yellow and black one like Dallin's, please. They're really cool and interesting. I could even learn more about them and they are interesting when I am bored.
Love,
Awesome Kid Luke

Zachary Taylor #12

The 5th Graders have been working on a huge project to study presidents. Allie loved each step of it. They did research, made posters, made trivia boxes, wrote reports, a made timelines, gave speeches, made busts out of clay and yesterday they dressed up and presented their projects to the school. They even had a taste testing party where they tasted the presidents' favorite foods. Allie got to study Zachary Taylor-#12. Did you know that he never voted? Even for himself. He was so busy in the army he never voted.



Allie said the funniest thing while we were trimming and superglueing her wig look more like Zachary Taylor. It wasn't going as planning and she got a little upset. I tried to calm her down and thought she was upset because she was nervous that she looked silly. But she was worried about being authentic. She said, "But Mom! I look like James Monroe!" Haha! I told her most people wouldn't know what James Monroe looked like so she would probably be okay.

Allie's speech that she gave (in character!) 

ATTENTION!

 Soldiers, welcome to the U.S. Army. Let me introduce myself. I am Zachary Taylor, brigadier general and the 12^th president of the United States of America.

    I was one of the few presidents born in a log cabin. Shortly after my birth, my mother and father, my 5 siblings and I moved from Virginia to Kentucky. Many years later, in 1809, I married Margret Mackall Smith. During our 40+ years of marriage, we had 6 kids.

    I only had two jobs before I became commander in chief of our country. I was a farmer and a soldier. As a war hero, I got so much mail, I told the postmaster to just return all letters marked “postage due.” During my life as a soldier, I also earned the nickname, “Old Rough and Ready.” I earned this name because I was always ready to go into battle.

      My faithful horse, Old Whitey, served by my side for many years. When I was elected, I kept him on the White House lawn. But all the pesky tourists tormented him by plucking his tail hairs for souvenirs. Finally, I built a stable for him, so he could escape the plucking. During my presidency, I did not accomplish many things. Maybe it was because I was better at being a soldier. Perhaps it was my short term.  My main accomplishment was signing a treaty with Great Britain to smooth out our relationship. Nevertheless, I devoted myself to the interest of the people.  

I did not last long as president. On July 9^th, 1850, I died of a heat stroke and food poisoning. I had only served 16 months.  Before I died I said, “I have always done my duty. I am ready to die. My only regret is for the friends I leave behind me. SOLIDERS DISMISSED!

Basketball Highlights

Luke is in the middle of his basketball season. Here are some recent "highlights" of his season so far. (He is #2 on the gray team)


Rebounding



Shooting




Luke is pretty good at playing defense and blocking shots


This pass was cool. They were all running down the court and Luke's  guy was down under the basket. Luke passed it to him and he made it. It looked like a real play.


Here is some video of all the action:

This one is of Luke receiving a pass and then shooting a basket.

Here is one of Luke making a block

Snow

A little bit ago we got some snow. The kids were hoping for enough to cancel school and close our neighborhood street for sledding, but we just got a little. We had a snowball fight and built a mini snowman. Kate really wanted to build a frosty. We put him in the shade and he stayed around for a couple of days after.







And you've gotta love snow pants and jacket for all of that snow we had.(I so wish I had pulled on that bamboo)

Perks

Allie has learned that there are some perks to having to share a room with your little sister who is too afraid of monsters to sleep in her own room. I found this video on the Flip we gave the kids for Christmas.

Sunbeam

So Kate's a Sunbeam now! (that's the 4yr old class at church) That means that she gets to go to Primary with the big kids at church and she thinks that is pretty cool. She's pretty excited about it and has lots of little friends in her class. She tells us all the time that she is not a baby and she wants to be "big like Allie and Lukie"


So I would say that we no longer have anyone in nursery, but that is not true. Michael was just called to work in the nursery so we still have someone in there. But all three kids are now in Primary!