Happy Groundhog day!

This is what we made for Groundhog Day! -Chocolate pudding, crushed oreos, vanilla waffers, frosting, mini chocolate chips, and peanut ears. :)

Mr. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow :( six more weeks of winter.

We have a February birthday coming

This was at the school on the board.

Trenton takes first in region

Trenton takes first in region!

This has been a long hard year in wrestling. Trenton has been going to a conditinoning class and then wrestling until five o'clock every night and was feeling exhausted. He was running on empty most days and toward the end wanted to just be done / have his life back he said. Christian and I kept trying to encourage him to finish strong. Trenton was not convinced it was worth it. After a few encouraging Roxberry drinks after practice he ended up going to regions and winning. We are so proud of Trenton for not just finishing but finishing strong. We love you Trent and the great job you have done.

Maron gives a report at school on Nathaneal Greene

Maron had to prepare a report on Nathaneal Greene and present it to her class.

Maron dressed up like Nathaneal Greene white hair and all.
Report-
Nathanael Green
Nathanael Greene was born in July 27, 1742 in Warwick Rhode Island. Nathanael was born to the parents Nathanael Greene and Mary Motts (Greene). Nathanael Green was born with a bad limp but managed to get through life with it. Nathanael was trained by his father in blacksmithing and Milling work. Nathanael was also doing Military science and mathematics at a young age.
In July of 1774 Nathanael married Catherine Littlefield. During their life they had 6 children. In 1775 he went to fight in the Revolutionary War. He was one of the most trusted Generals. He help to free the state of Georgia from British occupation. Nathanael gave all of his money and even his Rhode Island home to support the war.
After the War the state of Georgia gave him a plantation called Mulberry. He lived there with his family until 1786. On June 19, 1786 when Nathanael went to visit his friend at his rice farm in Mulberry Grove, Savannah Georgia. When the hotness of the sun was exposed to Nathanael he became very ill. A few days later Nathanael died of sun stroke.
Nathanael is remembered today by many monuments, schools, and he is also on an Egregio which is very similar to our penny. Nathanael was very honest, trustworthy, courageous, brave, and dependable. He was an amazing person. Nathanael plays a very important role in American history.

10 min. blurb to the class.

Hello my name is Nathanael Greene .I was born in 1742 in Warwick ,Rhode Island .I was trained by my father in blacksmithing and milling .I also studied military science and mathematics .In 1770 my father died and my family and I moved to a near by town in Rhode island I was then elected Deputy to the Rhode island general assembly In 1774 I married Catherine Littlefield. In 1775 I went off to fight in the revolutionary war. During the War I helped free Georgia from the British. I used all of my money and even sold my Rhode Island home to support the war. After we won the War. The state of Georgia gave me a plantation named Mulburry. My wife and I had six children and lived with them until the year of 1786 when I went to visit my friends rice farm .as I was visiting outside with him I was exposed to the hot sun. After I had left I became very ill and a few days past I died on July 19 of sun stroke at the age of 44. .I am remembered today by many memorials ,schools ,and coins .

Landon gets an answered after asking a girl to a dance

Landon is going to the Winter Walce dance in february.

This note came with a plate of cookies cut in the shape of the word "YES".

Happy 45th Birthday my sweet love

Sunday- we waited until Sunday to have cake and the traditional pork chops.

The camera snapped just after Christian blew the candles out (a little blurry).



Christian leading all of us in singing "Happy Birthday" to him.

Saturday

Happy Birthday Christian We love you!

Christians cereal choice and gifts-tool box, kefir drink (favorite drink), Reeses (one of his favorite candies) and a guitar book (not pictured)

This is no ordinary cake. I only make this cake once in a while. I got this recipe from a friend when we lived in California. It is a chocolate truffle cake and it is so yummy. Christian always asks for it so I thought I'd make it for his birthday. It takes a couple of days to make but well worth the wait :)


45 Things We Love About You

1. Your a good Sweetheart. (Amber)

2. There's those things we both have in common and love

(gardening, chickens/bee's, herbs, family, traditions, good books, food, treats, etc...) (Amber)

3. You exercise and take care of yourself - And your a good example to us in this. (Amber)

4. He helps me with homework (Jenson, Madison)

5. He fixes stuff (Jenson)

6. He helps me with gymnastics and takes me to open gym (Maron)

7. I love when you make breakfast in the morning. (Madison)

8. I love when you will take me out to eat after work (Madison)

9. When we don't know how to put something together you help us. (Jenson)

10. You take and pick me up from work. (Madison)

11. Your a good listener and share your wisdom. (Amber)

12. I love when you hold me (Gavon)

13. I love the job that you do (Jordon)

14. I love when you let us play on your phone (Gavon)

15. I love when you give us blessings (Amber)

16. Your Buff (Landon)

17. Your Smart (Landon)

18. Takes me out on dates out to eat or to the temple. I love spending time with you. (Amber)

19. He's funny (Maron)

20. Hard worker (Landon)

21. Takes me shooting (Trenton)

22. Makes yummy food/cookies (Maron, Amber)

23. He's kind (Maron)

24. Always serving (Landon)

25. Takes me to wrestling and stays to watch my matches ( Trenton)

26. When you chase us around the house and when you do scrumpchy boy (Jenson, Jordon, and Gavon)

27. Never complains (Landon)

28. Best massages (Family)

29. Patient (Amber)

30. Great friend (Amber)

31. When you take us to friends houses or when we can have friends over. (Jenson)

32. He's my "Courtney" (Maron)

33. Thoughtful (Maron)

34. You play basketball with me (Brooklon)

35. Help us achieve our goals (Amber)

36. Gives great hugs (Amber)

37. Handsome (Amber)

38. He's awesome ( Brooklon )

39. Great coach (Brooklon)

40. Good sport (Maron)

41. Great beautician (Amber)

42. I love Dad (Jordon)

43. Gavon says he wants to be just like Dad- so he could bust people and send them to their room. :)

44. Giving (Amber)

45. You love us (Family)

Jenson loses another tooth

Jenson loses another tooth/motivation for pulling teeth (for Jenson)=spacers? The dentist told Jenson he would have to have braces when he's older BUT.... if he pulled out four teeth on top and four on bottom he could have spacers. He has a friend who has spacers and he thinks it is so cool . Jenson wants spacers like his friend. I think we have one or two more to go to achieve the four and top and four on bottom. I just hope he still likes it when they put spacers in.

The Penguins

I don't have to save every piece of artwork anymore and I love it. I get to take a picture and then it will be a part of our blog book that is printed/our family journal/photo album.

The Penquin by Rozanne Williams Artwork by Jordon Wray

Jordon is Student of The Month

Student of The Month

Jordon came home the other day just beaming. He got recognized for Student of the Month by working hard in his new class and making friends. Jordon really has done a great job in his new class. I'm so proud of him. ----There were a couple of things going on with Jordon and his teacher this last year that were concerning to Christian and I. We decided in december after talking with the principle a couple of times and my brother Shawn who is a principle also that it may be in Jordons best interest to move classes. I was nervous about making the change that it may make things harder for Jordon. We pondered and prayed and felt like it would be okay. I'm still in awe at how smooth the transition was for Jordon and at how much happier he is. I am so thankful for his new teacher Mrs. Lyons, she has done a wonderful job making Jordon feel a part. I'm thankful that we listened to our heart / the spirit and followed through and I'm thankful Jordon is his happy self again. He is a wonderful, sweet boy and I'm so proud of his courage.

Happy 4 Birthday Gavon

The pictures are a little out of order because I typed most of this this morning and decided to add some more pictures of the cake etc. later.

I had the best intentions of making a "Jessie" cake from Toy Story (that's what Gavon wanted) but I picked Christian up from the airport and we had two parent teacher conferences soon after and just didn't have enough time.

We had thirty minutes between conferences and decided we had better just buy one from the grocery store (I hate buying them.)

I think he loved it just the same.

I bought some of the cake topper decorations of Woody and Buzz Lightyear since that's what he loves right now and added them on to the top.





This is what happens when you can't sleep because you are so excited for your birthday. He's actually sitting up and asleep. (It's kinda of hard to tell but this is him sitting up last night while sleeping--.)

And..... this is what happens when you get up so early after not being able to sleep at night because your are so excited.

He played with his little guys all day. Madison bought him a little pack of squinkies to add to his.

Christian called him this morning from California to wish him a happy birthday and to tell him he would be home soon to celebrate and eat cake with him.

This is where the post this morning starts :)

Happy Birthday Gavon Andrew Wray!

Grandma Wrays present arrives a day early.
"Can we open it Mom?"

It's no fun having to wait having this package stare at you all day. (I'm the worst at waiting :)) I say go for it!

K'Nex

Look what we made, an airplane.
Jenson, Jordon and Gavon played all afternoon together building different things. (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Wray)

(Thank you Grandma Brooks for the $- He's trying to decide what he needs/wants)

Gavon was so excited last night for his birthday to come. He sang "Happy Birthday" to himself and reminded everyone that it was his birthday. ( I think he understands birthdays better this year and has been so excited. It's been fun to watch him).
This morning at about 6:30 I was in the living room with Madison and Landon and we could hear him talking. I thought he was talking in his sleep but he was actually waking the brothers up with "It's my birthday, It's my birthday."

Gavon loves carrying little figure "guys" around. For Christmas he got some of those "Squinkies" with different characters and has not put them down since. He carries them in a little bag everywhere and pulls them out to play with them. Christian and I saw these little characters at the Disney store about a month or so ago and thought Gavon would love them.

We found some Disney "Cars" characters too at Costco.

He's got them all lined up.

Jenson and Jordon helped Gavon pick out his "Birthday Cereal" last night at the grocery store.

"Coco Puffs" .....we don't usually buy fancy cereal unless it's your birthday and you pick it out. Gavon said this morning that he loved this cereal because it turned your milk into chocolate milk :).

Gavon loves balloons.

My big four year old. He had a little bit of a time getting those fingers to do that. He was use to three fingers.

Our fun balloon birthday wreath.

and birthday flag. -----We'll show the cake later since it has not been made yet. Christian gets home from California today and as soon as we pick him up from the airport we will start on Gavons request for a cake. (Refer to the top if you missed the cake saga)

4 Things we love about Gavon

1. He's our baby boy-He's loveable, kissable, squeezable. He's fun size.

2. He says the sweetest things-The other day I said "I love you Gavon" and he said "I know because I'm your sugar pie." :)

3. He has those big brown sweet eyes.

4. He's kind and sharing

AND.....He loves primary, his brothers, and Erwin (Madisons kitten)