Joshua's Birthday

Happy 14th birthday to our big guy!  The day before each kids birthday I always make a big deal of it being their last day of a certain age. Well these three pictured below have always been my "rocketship" since they were 3,2,1. Well last night was their last night being 13,12,11 and they were gracious enough to humor me and recreate this photo. Love them!!  : )

 

Joshua started his birthday celebrations by going on a morning hike with his sister then we took him out to lunch and of course a free Dutch Bros. coffee and then he ended the night with youth group. The big celebration will come on Thursday night when he gets to head to Six Flags for a turn around trip with youth.

 

Joshua is becoming an amazing young man and I am so blessed to be his mom!!

 

Super Saturday

What is Super Saturday? Glad you asked. LOL. Today Anastasia was invited to participate in a business panel representing Saladmaster and how we use Send Out Cards to show appreciation to our customers. Proud mama moment....she rocked it and did an amazing job! Anastasia was the youngest entrepreneur there. She had the opportunity to share about our Saladmaster business with all those in attendance. I am so grateful she gets these opportunities to share with others and help her business grow. This girl is going places!!

Volleyball

It's time for another season of EVAC Volleyball. This time it's Savannah's turn and she is playing on the junior high team. She is doing great and has really improved her skills during the season. I love watching her play! My hashtag is #number5isstillmyfavorite.  She has over 16 games and 2 tournaments so it is definitely keeping us busy. I am so thankful for everyone who comes and helps to cheer her and her team on. Let's go Eagles!!

 

 

 

First Lego League

     First Lego League (FLL) meetings started back and this is Joshua's last year he is able to participate; it ages out at 14.  The theme this year is Hydro Dynamics so obviously all about water.

Directly from the website: www.firstlegoleague.org

"On your mark, get set, flow! Drink in the 2017/2018 HYDRO DYNAMICS^SM season and learn all about water – how we find, transport, use, or dispose of it. In the 2017/2018 FIRST^® LEGO^® League Challenge, students age 9 to 16* from 80 countries will make a splash with HYDRO DYNAMICS. What might become possible when we understand what happens to our water?
FIRST LEGO League challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers. During the HYDRO DYNAMICS^SM season, teams will choose and solve a real-world problem in the Project. They will also build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO^® MINDSTORMS^® technology to solve a set of missions in the Robot Game. Throughout their experience, teams will operate under the FIRST LEGO League signature set of Core Values, celebrating discovery, teamwork, and Gracious Professionalism^®."

So the boys meet every Tuesday afternoon to work on their robot and projects. This particular Tuesday they had a field trip and we were able to tag along. We visited a Chandler Water Distribution Facility.  It was a great field trip and very informative. I think one of the most fascinating facts was learning that here in Arizona we still use the same canal systems that the Native Americans developed and used.

First Day of Co-op

 

 

         This is our 5th year participating in Light of the Valley Educators (L.O.V.E) Co-op.  There are 28 families and over close to 80 kids. WOW! I think we are the size of some charter schools. LOL We have some many talented moms offering so many great classes this year! I am teaching Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace for Jr. High/High School this year.  My kids are all taking a variety of classes. They are all studying Arizona History. Then Joshua is taking Dave Ramsey and World Religions; Savannah is taking Dave Ramsey and Outdoor Skills; Alexa is taking Handicrafts and Fine Arts; Natasha is taking Handicrafts and Outdoor Skills; and Jadon is taking Dissection and Feathered Friends. They really like their classes! Jocelyn and Bryson are joining us in Co-op this year as well and are excited about their classes and making friends.   

 

It's my Birthday....

Today is my birthday and while I was lamenting, wishing I was back in Montana, where we celebrated last year, it still turned out to be a very nice day with my family. I always make a big deal out of my kids when it is their last day being a certain age. Well Alexa came into my room and wanted to take a selfie with me and then this is what she posted:  #lovethatgirl

I woke up to some WONDERful goodies and a fabulous cake made by Anastasia. It was a really nice day! We went to church, out to lunch, then Anastasia took me for a coffee. We drove around Saguaro Lake and found some wild horses and then went out to dinner 

with Jutem and Jim. No cooking for me! Here's to another year! Thank you Lord for all your blessings!