Our little Native American

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We are looking forward to spending it with Scott's family (those who can make it) at our house. Our kids have the entire week off next week. I am looking forward to having them around.

Meili's kindergarten teacher came out to the car today after school because she said that she had to tell me something...yikes...
She said that the quote of the week is, "practice makes perfect" and that they were discussing this and the fact that no one is perfect. She said that Meili raised her hand and said, "My dad is perfect. He knows the scriptures really well, knows bugs and everything else."
She thought it was pretty cute. I have to agree.

Well...do you notice a pattern...post lots, then not, post lots, then not. I do think I have a valid reason this time. Somewhere in the move we lost
one box. In this box were camera chargers and plugs, Dave Ramsey's book, my favorite white Eddie Bauer coat (I hoped it was at the dry cleaners...maybe it went to DI with Scott's suits - would serve me right)...it must have been the last little items because none of them should have been together. I'm posting photos from my camera although most are on Mckenzie's (and Kim's camera with our Hawaii photos) and I may have to order a new charger for her camera before posting...so, I may not post for another 6 months or so...??? I'm posting what I have (to make my mother happy and I'll get to the rest when I find the charger)
Not sure why I took this picture of Mckenzie...but, I did and isn't she cute :) and so nice :) The move has been a bit of a struggle for her. Luckily, she did not have to change schools so her friends have helped a ton. With time and a good attitude she will find her spot in YW and find ways she can serve there. She is dancing a ton this semester. We counted the classes she has each week and the number came to 13. She is on the school ballroom team and has this class each day, takes a ballet class at school each day, takes a ballet class at the college and has been in an "extra" in The Trey Macintyre Project and will be a party girl in the Nutcracker in a few weeks. She is also squeezing in violin and did really well in her classes. brag, brag, brag...how can I not...I have my challenges but she is not one of them...I will treasure and enjoy her :)


Davis just lost his top teeth. Luckily, the bottom teeth are almost up - he is missing 2 molars (thanks cavities), two on the bottom and the two up top...whew... you know what Christmas song I'm teasing him with.




Also, since Davis is now 8, he is an "official" scout. He earned his Bobcat a couple of months ago. He has been a "blueberry scout" for the past 3 years while I've been Reese's scout leader. They had zucinni boat races at pack meeting. Davis just made it into the "100% club" at school. He was the first in his class to do so. When you get in you have to get a 100% on the Greek and Latin test (spelling too). He is now exempt from taking the tests. Way to go Davo!!! He also played football this fall. He did a great job. One benefit to being small is speed and Davis has it :) He dressed up as a karate kid/ninja for halloween.




























Traditions...don't you love them. Each halloween we make sugar cookies (with orange flavor) and decorate them with candy corn and licorice- this is something I have fond memories doing with my family. We make lots of cookies and deliver them. We love doing this. We found a "new" pumpkin patch a mile down the road. The kids each picked a pumpkin and then we carved them right before halloween.
Lili loves to express her love to me. She says many, many times a day, "mommy, I love you". She has now added the little heart made from her fingers to help her express this to me. I've had a great time with her since I decided to keep her out of preschool and enjoy her myself. She is a chatty little girl and oh, so sweet. She dressed up as a monkey - she loves monkeys and bananas. This cute little costume has a banana in the pocket (thanks Lora and Mady)

Reese enjoyed playing football this year. He lucked out and got on a team with lots of boys his age from our ward. They are all really nice to him and he enjoys them all. He has started planting hints of wanting to go to school with them but then I remind him of all of the great friends he has at school and he stops. He did really well at parent teacher conference time. He has a great teacher and is enjoying the "banker" job in his class. Each weekend he brings home a group of kids ledgers and copies them to his own copy and checks to make sure the math was done correctly. He is the proud owner of his desk at school and is looking forward to purchasing classmates so he can collect rent from them. He is working on the cello and piano and he dressed up as a mad scientist (he wanted to be Einstein but I was too cheap to purchase the stuff...I hate buying halloween garb - it is not my favorite holiday). He is a peacemaker.

I wish I had a good picture of Meili (Lili is always begging to have her picture taken unlike the others). She started kindergarten this year. She is doing really well which is a relief to me. Her teacher is great and is very structured. I miss having her around 1/2 of the day but she really thrives having something to do...her own thing. She has lost two teeth and has another one just dangling. She won't let anyone pull them out....she likes them to fall out on their own. She is really starting to take off with reading - it is so fun to see her see the world in a whole new way. All she wants for Christmas are fake fingernails. She is such a funny girl...loves the girlie things. Love her to pieces.

Peace xoxo,
Melanie