Parent teacher conference

The school had an outbreak of LICE! Now they all have to put their things in these black garbage bags "to keep bug off" as Dawson told me.



We went to Dawson's second annual student-lead parent teacher conference today! I have been amazed at the things these little kids are expected to do at their ages! They are reading and doing math problems that are more advanced than I'd ever challenge a 6 year-old with! Dawson's homeroom teacher's name is Mrs. Fuller. He was very good at being formal and on task for the conference. The student actually takes charge and does things that they are able to perform. Then I do some paperwork to let the teacher know about him and we left. It was a lot of fun and I am so proud of my big first grader! His math teacher, Mrs. Wilkerson told me that he is in the advanced math class and she isn't worried about him and his abilities (you can hear my "buttons pop" now, huh?!) He is, however a social butterfly. She said all she has to do is call his name and he "gets this look on his face" and stops. He IS my child! Easily guilted! Ha ha! I most appreciate that I know how to better help him at home. I'm just glad I don't home school--he'd enter public school in special ed! :)

Dawson & Mrs. Fuller

Dawson & Mrs. Wilkerson

Dawson made this turkey and it's hanging in his classroom! Good job, I'd say! :)

Campbell proudly sported the CUTE outfit grandma Sherri dressed Dawson and him in for the day. (Dawson decided to change his outfit at the last minute---I guess its the age!)

Campbell's Preschool Thanksgiving Party

I was asked to help with Campbell's Preschool Party. I was in charge of the snack and drink. Sounded good, right? Well, you first have to factor in few variables... I work full time and don't spend as much time at home as I wish I could. Also, I like to have a unique presentation whenever I can. And probably the biggest factor... Campbell is very shy and I wanted him to get some attention by having a "cool" treat for the party to help bring him out of his shell in class. I spent the whole day before trying to decide what to do. I looked on the internet during patient checks and charting at work. Then I got the perfect idea. I went to the store and bought the necessary supplies when my shift was over. I couldn't find what I was going to use so I had to improvise. I stayed up until midnight making 33 little turkeys and setting out everything for the next morning. Then we went to class and treat time came. They were a hit! Yay! Campbell loved it, he got some attention, I was recognized for having a unique idea and I was able to be involved in Campbell's class and see the things they do on a daily basis and how he interacts in a classroom setting.

Leo's place

The heavenly destination of my boys is the local playland/restaraunt called Leo's Place. They can eat and then go to the very large play place in a separate large room. There is also and arcade and laser tag area below the main level. It has climbing, sliding, bouncing, and balancing all encompassing fun! Outside this room are tables where moms can talk to other big people and watch through the windows, playing "where's my child now" as they talk. I didn't bring another big person with me today, so I got the priveledge of watching, playing and taking pictures. There were LOTS of kids. Poor Hayden kept getting trampled. Dawson did a great job of being his guardian, it was so cute! Campbell tried too, but he found it easier to tease and bug him instead. Go figure! I can honestly say we all had a great time!

We found the perfect gift for our kids this Christmas. Cheap, fun, many uses, one size fits everyone! A BOX!!! Happy holiday shopping everyone!!

Gingerbread under construction

Aunt Ginger gave us a gingerbread house kit for an early Christmas gift. We put it together for Family night and boy was it fun (and entertaining!) Gary was the engineer and foreman. He assessed the situation and ordered construction. Once framed, the shingles and siding was placed and secured. The finished product was breathtaking! Then came the fun part---eating it! We all loved doing this together. It was a fun activity! Thanks Aunt Ginger! :)

Thanksmas '07

The Williams' celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas in the same week. We all met at Uncle Mike and Aunt Ruth's house for the annual Thanksgiving feast. We did "gobble till we wobbled." We had a great time together and, of course, great food!

A few days later, we all met at Denney's Restaurant in Idaho Falls for lunch. Grandpa Parley gave each family a generous sum from Grandma Williams' estate. The siblings gave Grandma Janet and Grandpa Parley a framed Greg Olson print for their newly remodeled living area. Aunt Ginger and Caitlyn were also with us at both celebrations---it was so great to see them!

We then went to Grandma and Grandpa Munns' and everyone had abandoned ship. We were able to visit with them briefly before going home to get tired, sick kids some meds and shut-eye! We definately consider our families as some of our greatest blessings!

"Festivus"

We had the priveledge of going to Festival of Trees to kick of the holiday season. It was great seeing the trees and having goodies and Santa around to officially get ready for Christmas. I am so excited and hope to try even harder to focus on what really matters for Christmas. Being broke is really a motivator for being humble at this time of year! :) Jamie and her school choir performed a few numbers. It was neat to see her and her group sing. The boys did a scavenger hunt with Grandma Sherri and got treats from the donated goodie tables. Mom had it after about 2.3 minutes and we went home. My favorite part was the upside down trees! What a fun idea!

Animal at large!

Since its getting so cold and Jasmine is old and Sadie is small, we prepared for winter by getting indoor enclosures and shampooing the smelly dogs. After the first night indoors, Jasmine loved it! She was shy at first, but quickly remembered what it was like to be pampered. We discovered that she moves slower, doesn't hear as well as we remembered and her eyes are cloudy, so she doesn't see as well, either. We put them both on the back porch for the day before going to work the next morning. When Gary came home, the back gate had been left open, either by a meter reader or the wind blew it open. Sadie was running around the front yard, but Jasmine was no where to be found. We left the gate open that night because she has always been able to find her way back home after she has her fix of wandering. When she wasn't home the next morning, we made calls, checked the pound and made fliers. When the kids were home from school, they and Gary went around the neighborhood to ascertain sightings of her as well as post the fliers around the vicinity. She is still at large, but we hope to find her soon. We have been praying she will find her way home and that she will be safe and warm. It wouldn't, however be such a bad thing for her if she was able to be put out of her misery. We miss her (even mom does!) a lot. To be continued...

UPDATE!!! On November 24th, at 9:56 a.m. a call came from a man who found Jasmine hurt, and lying in a canal. They took her to a vetrinary hospital for care. We went to claim her and we were reunited. After agreeing to X-rays, we found she had a broken back right femur. We now face the decision to pay for a repair or to put her to sleep. We are glad our prayers were answered and we can spend time with her.

UPDATE #2: November 26th, Gary gave the permission for euthenasia. Jasmine was laid to rest in our backyard. It's been an emotional few weeks. We're sad and miss her. When we were explaining what we were going to do, Gary asked the boys, "Don't you think Keagan would want to play with Jasmine?" They both agreed that he would like her. We've had many discussions about heaven and resurrection. There have been some amazing teaching experiences and more to come, I'm sure!

Halloween

St. Hallow's Eve was fun! We had 3 safe trick-or-treating experiences this year! We went to Grandma Sherri's ward trunk-or-treat (or is it "trunker treating?) then to Melaleuca with some friends and then to Uncle Mike's house in Rexburg for their neighborhood bash! We went through the spook alley put on by Uncle Mike called, "The Haunted Garage!" It wasn't scary at all, because they KNEW the parents didn't want to be scared! It was pretty cool and even funny! Oh, and school parties were fun, too! The boys got to pick whatever dress-up costume they wanted for each event. Usually a new outfit each time! Hayden however screamed when any costume was put on him, with the exception of the Superman/Batman combo cape! He didn't really want to be festive this year! Better luck next year!!

Warming up!

Hayden has finally started to warm up! Instead of being permanently attached to mom's leg, he's started to venture out into the world of OTHERS! He's not too sure of Grandpa Kevin yet because he doesn't like it when he scares him, but I believe he's slowly being won over! AND!!! Biggest news of the YEAR... he doesn't cry when we drop him off at nursery! Yaaaaaay!