The Color Run

 

Woohoo!  The Color Run!! I was so excited this year to run the Color Run with Ethan.  He worked so hard and was ready to run the three miles with me.  The only thing we hadn't counted on was RAIN!  it was pouring and freezing!  We were sure a mess when we got done.  Ethan's shoes had holes in them and he was not happy!  Here we are all clean, before we started:

 

 

And then, after 3.1 miles in the rain and colored powder and foot deep puddles.  I had a great time, but Ethan said he didn't and that he won't do it again.  I hope he changes his mind.  I'm thinking of making this an annual family tradition.  I'm thinking he would like it a lot better dry.  I'm so proud of him for working so hard and sticking to it, even in less than ideal conditions.

Volcano

Lovely Aunt Bethany gave Ethan a magic mountain kit that you can make a volcano out of.  Well, you can bet Ethan was all over that!  He and Bryce built and painted it and got it ready for some erupting.

And there it goes!  Ethan loves this kind of stuff.  He can't get enough science.  Thanks Bethany!

School Pictures 2012

I'm pretty sure this is the last year we will do school pictures. The only thing I want is the picture CD and they charge a ton for it. And I'm not sure they're trying very hard anymore. I mean, come on....

Ethan-Third Grade

 

 

Caitlin-First Grade

 

 

Avery-Kindergarten

Those were apparently the best smiles to be gotten that day. 

Now, I agree that my kids are beautiful and great, but I think my photographer standards are higher than they used to be.  How did they make such cute kids look so awkward?  I guess that's the real magic of school pictures. 

Student of the Month

Congratulations to Ethan for being the Student of the Month for September!  We're so proud of this sweet, hard worker!

Crazy Hair Day

It's Crazy Hair Day.  Ethan did his own.  He says he's two-faced.  I think Caitlin's a who and Avery's Cyndi Lauper.  Girls just wanna have fun, yo!

Mustache Monday

I'm not usually a big fan of school spirit week, but I can get behind Mustache Monday.  Little effort, big reward.  Avery chose to go with the paper variety this time.

Bobcat Bear

Ethan passed off his Bobcat at the beginning of the summer and has been waiting patiently for another pack meeting, so that he could claim his badge.  It finally came and it's official!  Bobcat status achieved!  He's a little wet, because they made the new bobcats bob for apples before getting their badge.  So funny!  Ethan ate almost the whole apple before he got it to come up out of the water!  What a great kid!

Glasses

 Dun, dun, dun....

Well, we knew the time would come.  And soon.  Bryce and I were both in second grade when we got glasses.  So, we knew it was probably time for our third grader to get checked out.  And sure enough....

Dun, dun, dun...

Ethan needed glasses!

Here they are checking out the frames.  Every one of my kids wanted some glasses with their whole hearts.

 

And here is the new and improved Ethan!  He's loving being able to see better and is taking such good care of his glasses.

 

One of the best parts of getting glasses is being able to have them sold and fit by Grandpa Dopp!  We loved to visit him at his store and watch him bend the glasses to the right shape for Ethan.  Thanks Grandpa!

Raingutter Regatta

Ethan is seriously loving Cub Scouts!  He loved getting ready for the Raingutter Regatta. He had so much fun making his boat with Dad and Uncle Devin.  They sure made it look fancy and Ethan's boat was dubbed Green Lightning by the leaders.

Here he is, concentrating so hard on blowing that boat down the canal.  His second run he blew super hard, so hard that he capsized.  He's like the wind....  He did a really good job and had tons of fun. 

Ethan with his spoils: his award and ice cream!  Great job Ethan!

Back to School

It's that time again! 

I'm always happy...
and sad...
and excited...
and stressed out.

BACK TO SCHOOL!!

This year Ethan is in 3rd grade!  Ack!  Really?!  Dang, I'm old.  He has Mrs. Barber and a ton of friends in his class.  It looks like he's going to have a fun year!

Caitlin's in 1st grade and has Mrs. McKeon.  She is super excited to go back to school!

And little Miss Avery is our brand new Kindergartener!  She is definitely ready to go to school with the big kids.  She'll have so much fun.  She was so happy to get Mrs. Marquez, who was Caitlin's teacher last year.  They are already good friends.  Her 5th birthday is the second day of school, so she'll have a fun week!

This morning they let the kindergarteners go straight to their classrooms.  Here is Avery with her first ever school work.

Unfortunately they made the older kids wait in line outside.  It was crazy hot, even at 9am.  Gag.  Poor kids!

Well, we're back to school and I only have two kids at home with me now.  One is watching cartoons and one is asleep.  I think I might be able to handle this...

But I sure miss those sweeties when they're gone.

Last Day

Ethan and Caitlin were all too ready for the end of the school year.  They are looking forward to a fun, relaxing summer.  Mwah ha hah, says I. 

On the first day of school this year.

On the last day!  Getting bigger everyday!

Ethan's Baptism

I don't think I have words to say what I feel about this boy.  I am so proud of the decision that he made to be baptized and I am so proud of the boy that he is.  Ethan is the sweetest, most helpful and obedient child I know.  I don't know how many times I've said "I'm not sure I'd have had 5 kids if I hadn't had Ethan first."  He continuously makes my life easier and tries so hard to do what is right.

Ethan was so excited to turn 8 and be baptized.  The Bishop told me that his baptism interview was quicker than he thought it was going to be because Ethan already knew all the answers.  He is a good listener and is so smart.  I had been so worried that I had not prepared him enough for baptism.  Thank goodness for primary teachers and others who have helped him to realize the importance of this sacred covenant.  And for a bright and earnest little boy who wants to do what the Lord expects of him.

Ethan was baptized at the same time as his little friend, Nixon.  He asked Grandma Dopp to lead the music, Grandpa Allred to say the closing prayer, Mom to give a talk on baptism, and Dad to baptize and confirm him.  And Ethan played his cello for the special musical number, When I Am Baptized, while the primary children sang.  He played so well and I am so proud of him!

We had lots of friends and family come.  Ethan even had some friends from school come.  We had a family luncheon at our house afterward and had a great time.  It was a beautiful, windy day. 

 What a great example this boy is to his siblings.  How blessed we are to be his parents.  And how grateful I am to have the power of the priesthood in my home.  I see Ethan watching his dad's example, and hope that he will also honor that priesthood when the time comes.  What a beautiful and special day!  And what a special son!

Wolfman Bear

One of the best things about turning 8 is getting to go to Cub Scouts.  I know absolutely nothing about scouts, but we're excited to figure it out and have fun!  Ethan had a great time at his first activity.  Shooting marbles and Nerf guns.  What could be better?

Happy Birthday Ethan!

He did it!  Ethan made it to 8!   He has been waiting for this for a long time.  Lots of exciting things happen when you turn 8.  Ethan can't wait to be baptized and start Cub Scouts!  And, in our family, when you turn 8 you get to stay up until 8pm!  (The rest of the kids go down at 7, I know you're all jealous.) 

Ethan loves sharing his birthday with St. Patrick's Day.  Everything needs to be green for his birthday.  Green waffles, green cake, green shirt.  What?  Green shirt is two sizes too small?  That's okay.  It's his favorite (Thanks Crystal!)

Ethan even got his very own brand new scriptures.  In green. 

And he got a hailstorm for his birthday party the next day.  Crazy Arizona weather.  Last year it was 91 degrees on his birthday and this year it was almost snowing. 

Happy Birthday Ethan!  We love you and are so proud of the boy you've become. 

Jog-A-Thon

I love the school jog-a-thon!  I think it is so nice that they encourage the kids to do physical activity, especially since they don't have a ton of PE time.  I love watching my kids run in circles.  :)

Caitlin with the kindergarteners.

Caitlin ran 8 laps!  Great job Caitlin!

Ethan with the 2nd graders.

Ethan ran 12 laps, beating his last year record.  Way to go, Ethan!

I love my kids' school.  I am so thankful for all the great experiences they've had there.  And I love being there and being a part of it.  I feel like I miss out on a lot of who they're becoming.  It's so fun to see them in action!

Jingle Jog

I love my kids' school. They do a lot of fun activities. They do a Jog-a-thon in the spring, but this is the first year that they've done the Jingle Jog. They got to wear jingle bells and run around the back of the school. Each grade had a half hour to run around as many times as they could. Parents could run, too, but we didn't. Yeah, poor sports. I probably should have. It was freezing, it would have warmed me up. I was so glad that Bryce had started his Christmas vacation and was able to come. He usually misses all the school stuff.

This is Caitlin with the Kindergarteners, getting ready to start.

And Caitlin running, she ran 3 laps.

 And the 2nd graders at the starting line.  They were much more into it than Kindergarten.  You can't even see Ethan in this picture.  He was back with the girls.

And Ethan running his 6 laps.

I was glad that they could do this.  I know they don't get as much active time as they should.  I would love for my kids to be in good physical shape.  I was always one of the slowest when we had to run the mile in school.  I've got to make sure I don't pass that trait down.

Repeat after me:  Exercise is good.  Exercise is good....