I did it!

I finally figured out how to post the slide show. I was doing it right all along, but for whatever reason, it just wouldn't work. When I did it again, showing Michael every step of the way... It worked. I get so CRAZY when things work that way!

Chuck E Cheese

Last night was our school's fundraising event at Chuck E Chees. I love going there to eat (NOT)! Michael was very excited to go and play with his children! He is such a great dad!!! Here are some miscellaneous pictures.

Pinewood Derby

This year was Stephen's LAST Pinewood Derby! As a mom, I am so happy about that!
Now, having said that...
Every year Stephen makes a Pinewood Derby car, his goal is to "make the coolest car"... He is never overly disappointed when his car is not the fastest.
This year he designed a "pencil". He did most of the work himself, but did not want to use the table saw because he didn't want to put his fingers that close to the "fast blade". He did the rest of it himself!!!



In years past, he made a mouse, an hourglass shaped car, and a skateboard.

Daisy Investiture

Brooklynn is a Daisy, Girl Scout.  She loves Scouts.  Stacey and I are her GS leader and we are having so much fun!  Here are pictures of her Investiture (becoming a scout) Ceremony.

Science Olympiad ~ Catapult

The second event she competed in was where they had to build and test a catapult. They "fired" it and collected the data so they could figure out how to hit specific targets during the competition. They did well with this event and even won a 6th place medal! She was so excited!!! As soon as she got the award, she sat down and sent me a text. She was so excited!

Science Olympiad ~ Robot Competition

Makayla competed with the Pierce Middle School Science Olympiad Team this year. She competed in 3 events. The first one she did ~ she had to build a robot that would move from point A; around the playing field, collecting coins, legos, golf balls, etc. and place them in a specific container; and then end at point B. Michael coached this event and Makayla and Kevin were the students who "helped" build the robot and figured out how to control it.

Piano Recital

Stephen and Makayla have been taking piano lessons for quite a while.  Their first recital with "Sister Dangerfield" was in February.  We did the recital in the chapel at the church so the kids could perform on a grand piano.  

Makayla is progressing quite quickly because she is also in band.

Stephen ~ for quite a while did not like piano.  Then this school year we have a friend (Megan) who comes to our house daily and loves to practice the piano.  Stephen decided Megan was not going to pass him in the book, so he has started practicing and is doing very well!!!

FREEZE IN

On January 31 and February 1, Makayla went on a Girl Scout Freeze In Activity.  She had to go to training on two different days to learn to build a fire, lash, use a pocket knife, pack to stay warm and plan the menu for the weekend.

The plan for the weekend was to hike in about 1/2 a mile; locate a place to build a shelter; build the shelter they were to sleep in; build a fire to keep warm, dry their wet mittens, and cook their food. 

When they got there, the girls broke off into their groups of 4 girls and 1 leader and began their weekend...  They had to hike to their destination in snow up to their knees and when they got there, in order to build their shelter, they had to shovel out the snow where they were going to sleep and then search through the snow to find the logs they were going to use to build it.  

Makayla started the fire for their group and was so proud of herself because she started it "with one match".  

I was extremely impressed with Makayla.  She worked throughout the whole weekend with out "wimping out" or complaining.  Her leader said she was a joy to have and one of the hardest workers he had ever seen!  

In this slide show, it shows the shelter her group built, her backpack (and how huge it was), one of the meals she made, some of her friends and at the end the "WE MADE IT" breakfast.

 

Okay...

Okay, so I am going to try this again.  About a month ago, I tried to post a slide show and I had the whole post typed and the slide show created.  It took soooo long to upload that I hit the "refresh" button and it erased everything I did, so I got frustrated and haven't blogged since then.  I am going to try again and then add what we have done since then.  Hold on, it's gonna be a long read!!!