!!!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. 

New Years Eve

Trent loved New Years Eve!  We bought snacks, he had a friend stay over and he got free range of the house which means any gaming system he wanted to play.  Plus come to find out there are a ton of people in our neighborhood that light off fireworks so we got a great show at mid-night.

Sydnee and I had some much needed "girl" time.  She got to have a nice long bath in the jet tub and got a mini pedicure.  She picked out an aqua blue with a top coat of purple sparkles polish for her toes.  Her Auntie D would be proud.

Paul spent 24 hours at the church on New Years Eve.  He and 8 other adults had a lock in with about 50 students.  He had an activity planned at all times so he spent most of the night being sweaty and on a caffeine high.

I watched some movies and made sure that the boys didn't burn down the house.  So very exciting I know! =)

Trying out our new Scooters

For Christmas Nana and Grandpa got the kids new scooters.  Trent got one of those electric scooter and Sydnee's was hot pink (totally matches her personality).

See that black and blue dot in the upper right corner....I am pointing this out because Sydnee got so frustrated that her brother was zooming all over the place and wouldn't wait for her.  She did not understand why she didn't get an electric scooter, when I tried to explain to her that she needed to master this scooter frist she told me that if Trent could handle that scooter so could she.  Between you and me, Trent did have like 3 accidents in 24 hours....

I am zoomed in but this is Trent waiting very patiently for his sister.

Sydnee took a dive so she decided she would walk the last little bit.  Paul and I were not sure if she would ever touch the scooter again because she acted so put out by the whole experience but she has asked to go out everyday and ride so it has been a hit.  Trent is hardly ever home because he is out "riding."

Christmas

O.k so I am sorry that I have not blogged in FOREVER!  We have been busy plus I was having technical difficulty.  So here we go:

Nana and Grandpa were here for a week.  This was a great chance for everyone to show off our new town, church and school.  The kids were very excited to see them!  It took only about 20 minutes to show them our little town so we spent a lot of time playing cards and Monopoly by the fire.

The kids were very excited to show Nana and Grandpa this house.  I believe this family has every blow up Mickey Christmas decoration.  Plus there front window is a Mickey Christmas Village theme.  INSANE!

It didn't take Stella long to make friends with Nana and Grandpa, she was sure they came to visit her.

We all dressed up for the candlelight services at church.  Don't we clean up nice?

Ok lets face it.....this was their favorite part of the whole vacation.  Everyone was so blessed this Christmas with all of the family thinking of us even though we are so far away!

On Christmas morning we woke up with snow on the ground.  The Allen family has not had a white Christmas in a long time.

For Christmas dinner we had family friends over so our house was full.  Nana was a great help in the kitchen and we made enough food to feed a small army!

I do want to say that this year we missed our family and friends greatly.  Christmas wasn't the same without you....