Creation Museum Here We Come.....Hopefully

All year Trent has been involved in the Crossing at the church.  The Crossing is basically a youth group for Trents age.  Paul and I are very impressed with the program and were very excited to see how Trent would grown in his biblical knowledge.  

The reason that we were so excited is because the whole program is based off of the Story Cloth.

There are 42 stories and they last 3-4 minutes each.  The children have to say them by memory in front of 3 adults in order to go to the Creation Museum.  If they are able to do this and pass they will get an invite to go.  Trent has been working on this all year and he is now hitting testing time.  Last week was the written test, this week was the review oral test and next week is the real oral test.  Trent is very nervous!  He doesn't know who he has to test in front of and that is killing him.  Not only has he been study but he has had to work fundraisers and save some money to go......

I know that he will hit it out of the park but pray that he doesn't let his nerves get to him!

Did You Know that I Have Great Kids???

Report Cards are in!!!  This is a big deal in my house because my kids work so hard on their school work.....

Let's start with Sydnee:

Language Arts   P (Proficient at Grade Level)

Mathematics   E (Exceeds Grade Level Proficiency)

Science   P

Social Studies   P

Characteristics of a Successful Learner, this includes 6 different categories; Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Trustworthiness, Citizenship.....she received an O (Outstanding)

She is reading at a 1st grade level on one of the state test however on the second state test she is right on track....WHATEVER!  We are happy!

Trent:

Language Arts   89%

Mathematics   87%

Science   90%

Social Studies   88%

Characteristics of a Successful Learner, this includes 6 different categories; Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Trustworthiness, Citizenship.....he received an S+ (Satisfactory) on every one!

Having all S+ in this is a huge thing for Trent.  We are very proud of him and he is very proud of himself.



!!!!Nana's Here!!!!

Over Spring break Nana came for a visit, the kids were very excited to see her!  Lots of board games were played, we walked to the school and we got to go horse back riding.  That may not sound like alot but everyone enjoyed the visit and it was the prefect among of activity.  Everyone was just focused on spending time with each other

After Nana left Trent got to have a sleep over with 3 other boys!  WHAT WAS I THINKING???

Trent and his bud was showing off their chocolate smiles...it was 10 in the morning....YES I let them have chocolate on Spring Break!



Sydnee has even more holes in her head!

Trents New Hair!

Trent decided that it was time to do something different with his hair....he wanted his hair to look like the lead singers of Hawk Nelson.  H.N is a Chirstian punk rock band who Trent has gotten to see and he loves their music.  So when he came to me and said this two things went through my head; first I was happy he is looking up to these guys but the second was well....this was how his hair looked when we saw them in concert....

 

Can you see why I was speakless?  And yes I am happy that Trent looks up to these guys.  They are loud and proud of their beliefs!  I want everyone to know that I am not opposed to this persay...remember Paul walked around with hair like this but my son was clean cut up until a year ago.  I was shocked that he wanted to take a leap like this.

We get onto the computer and start looking at pictures and to my relief this is what Trent was thinking:

He wanted the hair like the blonde guy.


BEFORE

AFTER

The back looks great this was a hurry Mom my hair looks fine picture.

What a handsome guy....I am such a MOM!

End of Season For Upwards

his last weekend was the closing weekend for Upwards.  Both of my kids were not very excited to see it come to an end.  Trents last game ended with a BANG!  They won by 37 points and every member of the team was able to score a basket.  Sydnee was not really focused while cheering for her last game, she was freakin out about her performance on Sunday.

At the rally on Sunday the Cheerleaders were going to go on stage and preform in front of everyone.  Now I can't remember if I posted this early in the season but the last time Sydnee got on stage and had to be in front of 500 people I ended up pulling her off because she was balling.  So not only does she have to go on stage, again, but they put her in the very front because the other girls watched her to stay on time.

This girl lost sleep, worried, complained and bagged not to have to do it and guess what.....she nailed it.  Drama Queen...wait did I just type that???

After the rally and performance there were bounce houses and food.

I wasn't sure if I should post this picture because Trent had a mouth full of food but lets be honest....Trent had like 4 corn dogs so he looked like this most of the time.

Trent hanging out with his team.

Trent eating again.....not much has changed



Yes you see this right....that is Trent pushing Sydnee into the mesh!

The Hammer

See the solid black hi-tops on the bottom of the picture....that is Trent.  The ball is in the middle of the 3 kids and obviously Trent wants it.

Trent is almost done with his 1st season of basketball and he is lovin it.  He has a nickname on his team....The Hammer.  He was given this name because of a few things; his high energy on the court, he is not afraid of the ball and his desire to get the ball.  His homework after the first game was to learn how to block without getting a foul.

His coach has been great about channeling his energy to good use and he has yet to make anyone bleed due to his "Hammer" like qualities. 



That butt in the air is Trents, he tends to lead with it when he has the ball.



This last Saturday was the toughest game his team had.  They came back from being 10 points under to have it end with a tied game of 24-24.  The Hammer was unleashed!  The other team had 2 very aggressive and large players who liked to try to push our little forward around.  Trents "love" of the game was a great quality to have!  He was there to help out his forward, although I will be honest I was waiting for someone to throw an elbow....

GO TRENT!!!!

My 29th Birthday....for the second time.....

I turned 29 for the second time at the beginning of the month but we celebrated it this last weekend.  Paul and I went to Abq for the night and went to see the Rockin Worship Roadshow.  I was super excited because we have not had a night away for a couple of years and I have yet to spend any real time anywhere in New Mexico other than Clovis so everything is new to me.



I know I know I don't look a day over 20 =)





The concert was GREAT!!!  Plus Abq has about 500,000 people in it so it had all of my stores!  At this point I am not sure which was better; the concert or the shopping.  I think I about had a heart attack walking into World Market.

Sydnee's Girl Weekend with a Fellow Oregonian!

In the middle of February Sydnee got a very visit from a friend.  Paul had a youth event over the weekend so Joe and Celina came to stay with while Joe was the guest speaker.  Sydnee and Celina have been friends forever (they are only 6 so that is a big deal.) 

Celina

Pastor Joe



Sydnee was so excited to have them coming she made signs for their bedroom doors.

We did a Jacuzzi tub night and painted toe nails.

We took her to Bahama Bucks....this is their baby size, wish I could say that I am that great of an Auntie for getting her the EXTRA LARGE....

Sydnee was very sad to she her go......





News! News! Read All About It! Trent Allen has been published!

http://www.cnjonline.com/articles/churches-46769-osorio-whiz.html

The above link is something that Trent is very excited about.  Our church is involved in a program called Wiz Kids.  Trent is set up with a couple of different people (depending on the subject) and he gets one on one tutoring for 3 hours a week.  The newspaper contact the church and asked if they would be willing to allow someone to come and interview 1 or 2 of the kids.  Zella, the director, thought of Trent.  She wanted someone who is excited about the program and loves life.

Check it out!  Trent is the second picture.

So Excited I Forgot to Take Pictures

If you based my life off this blog it would appear that we haven't done anything since getting over our Flu's.  WRONG!  I have just been bad about blogging and taking pictures.

One morning after Paul and I both got onto the scale we decided to join the local Y.  Now let me say that I was not excited about looking into the Y due to how ICKY the Y was in Salem.  That all changed after I spent 20 minutes at the Y here.  Everything is new, it is clean and the local hobo is not hanging out by the front door.  We are going M,W,F and both are feeling great.

Upwards is going very well.  Trents team has lost only one game and he seems to be learning alot.  Sydnee practices her cheers nightly and I am pretty sure that everyone in the house knows them by heart.

This last weekend we took a trip to Granny and Pawpo's.  It was just a short trip to touch base but everyone seemed to have a great time.  Paul was able to help Pawpo outside and trim up some trees while Granny and I sat inside looking at pictures from the past 3 months.  I must say that I love the fact that my children are getting a chance to know them.  Trent spent the drive there not speaking to Paul or I because we left Stella with family friends.  Now before you say "oh poor Stella" let me give you a little bit of information here.  She got to spend the weekend with another Boxer who likes to play,  sleep in a warm bed with another human and there is 6 in the family so there was always an open hand to pet her.  Sydnee went and picked "Rose" (yellow dandelions) with Pawpo for Granny.  She was very proud of herself for filling a whole bowl.

On Sunday we got snow again!  Yeah!!  It only lasted 24 hours but the kids got to make so angel ands about 10 cups of hot chocolate.  Paul and I enjoyed it because we had an excuse to have a fire going all day.



Have we fallen of the face of the Earth......

NO!!!  We have just all been on our death beds.

We are blaming Sydnee for the awful flu bug that was allowed into our house.  In true form Sydnee started throwing up Sunday night.  Paul was leaving for a conference at 5:00 am on Monday and I have NEVER done well cleaning up other peoples vomit.  In all honesty what ends up happening is Paul is cleaning up two piles instead of one.

It took Sydnee two days to kick the bug and we all thought we were free and clear, YEAH YES ROCK ON!!! Right?!?!?! WRONG!

Thursday was my birthday so Paul and I had a date planned.  Everything was going great until.....you guessed it, I got sick.  About 40 minutes after I got sick we received a phone call that Trent was throwing up at Wiz Kids (a tutoring program).  My lovely husband made sure that I was not going to die and left to pick up Trent.  At about 2:30 am on Friday I thought Paul was going to drop Trent and I off on some random street corner, the poor guy was taking care of both us all night.  Trent and I were down and out until Monday.  

Paul however was not able to hold out.....late Sunday night it hit him.  He however rebounded way sooner than the rest of us and I will be honest with you, he blames it all on me!  I am the one that got him sick, not his prefect little girl who brought the bug into the house......

I am happy to report that we are all alive and actually feel healthy. PRAISE THE LORD!

Theodore Roosevelt

Trent has been working on a project for Social Studies called, "Living Museum." Basically they are given an important historical person and they are to dress up like them, give a speech and make up a backboard.  Trent was given Theodore Roosevelt.  We spent several hours working on his speech; between looking up facts, writing it and memorizing it.  Paul and I debated about what he should wear and sadly the backboard was the easiest thing about the project.



For those of you who do not remember Teddy had red hair. 



The day of Trent was VERY nervous.  The school had all of the 5th grade class put their backboards in the hallway and grades 3,4 and 6th were split into groups and walked around to everyone and listened to the 5th graders give there presentation.  So not only were they giving their speech to parents/teachers but also there peers.

It took half a can of Aquanet and gel to get Trents hair to look like that.  This boy needs a hair cut!

Teddy mustash may have been straight but it didn't have nearly as much personality as Trent's!  His outfit is based off of when Roosevelt was in office.

Trent did so well that he was given an A+ on this project!

!!!The Science Fair Results are In!!!

Mr. Kendall, Trent's teacher, is announcing the 5th grader winners.

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE

See that red ribbon on his board....that is a second place ribbon!  Yes, you saw it SECOND place for his category and grade.

Trent's Birthday

Oh My Gosh my baby boy is 11!!!  No stinkin way!  I feel so old saying this but time sure does fly.  He is turning into such a young man.

His birthday was pretty low key because he had talked his dad into letting him play SOCKs so nothing else mattered.  I would ask him what kind of decorations, cake or balloons he wanted and his response was always the same, "I don't care, we are playing SOCKs."

He had a great turn out and everyone really seemed to like the game.  It was a successful birthday!

UPWARDS HAS STARTED

This is Trent's first year playing basketball, he is super excited to play!  He isn't sure how to control his body or his energy so it can be very funny to watch.  They had their first game on Saturday and they won!

It took some elbow bending but we got Sydnee to sigh up for something.  We didn't care what she did (between basketball or cheer leading) but she was going to do something, she picked cheer leading.  She was being a stinker and when people where talking to her about it she would say "My Mommy made me do it."  We are now 2 weeks into and she is LOVING IT!

Currently ....

O.k I have see this around and thought it was fun.  Want to join along? Just copy and paste the questions and answer them on your blog. I'd love to see what you are currently up to.

Current Books: O.k so I have like 3 going but the only one I am reading regularly is 1 Peter in the bible.  I can hear the sarcastic thoughts already but seriously it is.  I will be honest and say that it is ONLY because I have been working very hard to stay on track with my daily devotionals.

Current Play list: Adele. I never get tired of her music and she's got an amazing voice.

Current Color: Red, red, red! I love red

Current Drink: Water.  Trying to shedded those extra "Christmas" pounds so I am cutting the empty calories.

Current Food: Food what is that?  Oh you mean all that firm green stuff (broccoli) that is in the crispy ligther green stuff (lettuce)....yeah I am over it! See reason above

Current Wish list: That my Aunt would come and just tell me what to do in my dinning room as far as my windows.  It is a very awkward space and I can not make up my mind!

Current Needs: Some may not see this as a need but SHOES!  I haven't actually be able to go shoe shopping in like 6 months and for a shoe addict like me that is just unacceptable.

Current Triumph: I'm really happy that I got back into a regular devotion schedule instead of hit and miss. Its been wonderful to have some quiet time with the Lord each morning.

Current Bane of my Existence: the 6:30 alarm! I AM NOT a morning person, but the world seems to be. Why can't school start at 10am instead of 8am? huh? why? it did in Oregon! is there any earthly reason not to let us night owls get some much needed rest? huh? sigh .... I know I'll never change this world, but if I could .....

Current Indulgence: a nap! see above ...

Current Mood: sleepy! (not really). Happy, content.  The most at peace that I have been in a long time.

Current #1 Blessing: Being perfectly happy with life.

Current Outfit: Jeans, short sleeve youth shirt, zipper hoodie that Margaret got me in Vegas and my FAVORITE pair of slippers that my uncle got me for Christmas 2 years ago.  And yet I am still cold....

Current Excitement: My plans with my husband....we are actually getting a weekend away!  Can you believe it?!?!?!  Our 1st since Sydnee has been with us.

So how 'bout you? What are your 'currents'?

Our First Science Experiment gone Ar ye

Trent has been working very hard in school and he has been really focusing on 2 BIG projects that are due within a week of each other.  The 1st on was his science experiment; him and his dad decided to do a fluoride test on eggs.  Trent has been a journal daily, taking pictures and doing all kinds of school "paperwork" for this project.

There is a point in the project where one set of the eggs are suppose to get soft shell's and because they are eggs they stink.  There was no way I was going to have them in my house, Paul thought I was being a little ridiculous and they should be able to sit on the kitchen counter for 2 weeks.  Needless to say I won that conversation and they ended up in the garage.  Now when I was in my self fish state of not wanting to smell them I did not think of how cold it was in the garage.....

FAST FORWARD

( 2 weeks )

One set of eggs are white and very firm....

One set of eggs are brown and very firm....WHAT?!?!?! Wait a minute they are not suppose to be firm!

Apparently my garage is like a refridgerater and messed the experiment up.  Hopefully this will not effect his grade, we did try to play it off in the documentation as to why there was an error.  Will keep you posted.

The Joys of Life at the Age of 10

Trent has gone through a lot of changes over the last 6 months, new school, new church, new friends and new activities.  He has always handled things like such a big kid.  I have asked him how he is doing with all of these changes and I get a short answer, "I am fine Mom."  Now, I am a woman so I probably over think things just a little (don't tell Paul I admitted to that!) but in my head there is no way he is fine...

Last night I went into his room to check on him and this is what I found.  A happy young man in cozy Pj pants, in the middle of his bed, playing his DS and snuggling with HIS dog.  When he realized I was in there, after standing at the foot of his bed for 5 minutes, he said "I love it here." Yup maybe I need to leave the boy alone.....

Report Card Day

I am going to show everyone my humble side here.....I HAVE THE BEST KIDS EVER!

Both kids have been working very hard this school year and it has been a challenge going from one school district to another.  Plus when Paul and I moved we made it a priority to move into the best school district in this area but what that means is they have every high standards.

After about 5 minutes this was the best picture I could get.  His friends were waiting outside for him to go "Riding."

Language Arts                    91% (A)

       Mathematics                87%      (B)             

Characteristics of a Successful Learner     ALL SATISFACTORY

Science         95%  (A)

Social Studies           92% (A)

Mr. Kendall has also upgrade Trent's AR (this is the reading program that this school district uses) level.  He started the year with a range of 4.0  - 4.7, this means that he was reading beginning year 4th grade books, to 4.7 - 5.6.  He was very excited because this means he is at grade level!  Trent has made the Honor Roll at his school and despite that look in the picture he is on cloud 9 about it.

Language Arts          P

Mathematics           P

Characteristics of a Successful Learner  ALL SATISFACTORY

Science        P

Social Studies         P

For those of you who do not remember from my previous post P means proficient at grade level.  Sydnee is also reading AR books and her level is 0.8 - 1.4.  This means that she is reading low level 1st grade books.

Family Outing to Lubbock

This is what the drive is like all the way to Lubbock...every once in awhile we will come across a dairy farm.

After 6 months of being here (when I realized that we had already been here that long my jaw hit the ground) we went on our 1st real family outing to explore the town of Lubbock.  You are probably thinking, "Are you kidding me?  What have you guys been doing?"  To be honest when I realize that we hadn't done something like this yet I thought the same thing.  To our defense we have been settling, in getting use to all of the new things around us and Paul has been working, working , working, oh wait have I told you yet that he has been working?!?!?!  Lubbock is 88 miles from us and is considered that "Big Town."  It is about 50,000 people bigger than Salem so it is more what we are use to.  I will let you all in on a little secret here; our town (about 40,000 people) is considered the "Big Town" in this area.....SCARY!

This is what Sydnee did to keep herself entertained on the trip there....beautiful isn't she?

Trent wouldn't let Sydnee get a picture of him so here is a picture of him taking a picture of her.  He totally gets his stubbornness from his father. Hehehehe

When we got to Lubbock we drove around just to see what kind of stores they had.  then had some great chinese food and headed to the mall.