The Rock Cycle

 Shantel is loving 2nd grade.  Her school has an award each year called the Prestigious Panther.  To receive this you must complete so many academic goals per year.  One of Shantel's goals she decided is the Great Brain, which is just a report she presents to the class.  Her topics were really lame so I told her to skip it this year and we would work on all the other many projects she could choose from.

Well Shantel was set on doing a great brain again this year.  The topics to choose from were:

      Continents

      The Rock Cycle

      Local Plant or Animal

My dear sweet girl chose rocks...yes rocks.  I tried to talk her into Antarctica, or an animal, but without me knowing and further discussion, my independent girl turned in ROCKS to her teacher.

I have to admit I was a little angry at first , knowing I would probably end up doing most of the work, but we had a fun time coming up with what we were going to do.  I did some research on the rock cycle and found this nifty little ditty.  We decided we would print it up, pass it out and sing it as a class.  We went to the craft store and found this great paper that made Shantel think of rocks and pasted the tune on it.  We also thought it would be fun to glue a rock to it....after all the report is on rocks.

Well, I guess the thing nowadays is to bring a treat for every school even, or you are just not cool.  So popROCKS it was.  A huge hit with the class!

We went to the library and found some books. I was determined to make Shantel do most of the work for HER project.  So I wrote some questions down that maybe she should share with the class and made her hunt through the books for the answers.  I put it all together for her (just so it would flow) and Walla we were done.

She was so excited to get up in front of her class. I though for sure she would be more nervous than she was.  But, she was a "ROCK" star and presented it like a champ.

I am so proud of her for wanting to do such a project.  She is a great little student. 

BaCk To sChOoL!

It is that time of year again.  The days are getting shorter, the air a little cooler and the house a little more quiet!  It's back to school time!  This is the first year that all 3 will be gone to school (at least for some part of the week)  We eased into all 3 of the kids going to school this year.  Shantel was the first to go. A week later Kallie, and the week after Keegan.  it was a nice way to start the year.

Shantel our BIG 2nd Grader!

Shantel was so excited to start 2nd grade this year.  Although she didn't get the teacher she was hoping for and got the "mean" Miss Rasmusson, she loved her first day and said her teacher was actually nice. Imagine that, I guess a lesson for her to NOT judge! She was separated from one of her friends since Kindergarten, but kept another and is meeting new people everyday.  This will be good for her.

When asked what she wants to learn this year she told me science, because it sounded interesting.  Let's see what this year will bring.

Kindergarten here comes Kallie!

Kallie was super excited to start school like her big sister.  She talked about it all summer and asked everyday when Kindergarten started.  When Shantel went to school without her, she was very sad to learn that she still had ONE MORE week to wait.  We went to Kindergarten testing that first week, so Kallie didn't feel too bad and we had lots of 'homework" for her to do and bring back that first week.  And believe it or not...she was excited to do homework.  Let's hope that lasts!

My girls off to their school together!

Keeg our lil Preschooler!

Keegan was beyond excited to go to school like his sisters.  He asked more often than Kallie when he got to go to see Miss Chris.  And everyday off that he has he asks if he gets to go to school that day.  I am so lucky to have kids that like school and want to go.  Let's hope this lasts. I can't believe my baby is all grown up and in school (even if it only 2 mornings a week).  He is going to grow so much this year.

I know what you are all thinking...YEAH you get a few hours a week all by yourself...WRONG.  Of course Keegan would be in school the mornings after I work.  I work all night get the kids off to school then lay down for my few hour nap. It is Gary that gets the real break (yes from all of us) what a lucky guy.  I guess next year will be my turn...oh wait just in time to add another bundle of joy to my day.  I guess the real ME time will come in another 4 years.  But at least I can handle one!

March 21, 2011

We are excited to Announce that coming March 21, 2011 (if not sooner) Baby W. will join our family!

Yes, it is some what of a shock that we are once again going to welcome a little Waldron into this family. Although we had been discussing it for some time, we didn't think it would happen quite yet. We found out July 24th...what a great holiday celebration, but decided to wait until after our first Doctor appointment to share the big news.

We have decided that after 8 years with a wonderful doctor we would switch to the fantastic Dr. Ponder (who yes, delivers at my work). I wanted this to be a special celebration and share it with my wonderful friends I work with...Not to mention get spoiled in the process! There is comfort knowing I will be in great hands with people who really care.

Here is me with my lil baby bump already (12 weeks), yup couldn't really hide it much longer.

We shared the joyous news to family and close friends for my BIG birthday bash..I won't mention it was my 30th Birthday Bash. (oooops!) Happy Birthday to me! What a better time of celebrating life than to announce a new member to the family.

Creative me, decided instead of just telling them, I would decorate in baby decorations for my party to see just how long it would take for people to notice. Although most looked at the decorations and read the "Welcome Baby" sign..they thought, "hummm, did they run out of birthday decor" or "maybe she is just trying to feel young" and thought nothing of it. Well it wasn't until Grammy (my mom) read it and started crying that it was officially out to the family!
SURPRISE!!!

Everyone was shocked to know that we had kept such a secret for so long. I am officially 12 weeks with a very active and very beautiful baby W.!

profile pictures

The head is right in the middle of both pictures, with the body to the right

(for those of you not savvy on ultrasound pictures)

And NO..that is not the sex of the baby! haha

Summer Time Fun!

There is nothing better than a good water fight in the middle of summer on a hot day. We had cousin Ella over one afternoon to play outside and have some fun.

These Girls don't mess around. Can you guess who is older...haha NOT the taller one!

Kallie and Keegan thought squirting me was pretty darn funny too!

Besides water guns we had sprinkler toys and a pool...yes I know, it is VERY small, but the kids had fun in it and that is all that counts right?

Keegan didn't like the water to spray to big (it was cold) so every time he took a turn he made me go turn the water down. Shantel loved to jump through/over the water.

The kids had a great time putting the slide in the pool and sliding into the water. Sometimes they even got a little crazy and put the sprinkler to spray on the slide, that way they would go faster.

love the actions shots!and like I said..I know the pool was small...but we had a lot of fun with it!

Camp Waldron

Gary has had this tent for about 20 years and we have finally put it to use! We never got a chance to get away for the summer so we decided to do a "stay-cation" in our very own back yard. We pitched the tent (let me tell you, after sitting around for 20 years unused...not the easiest task) and had a BBQ. The kids thought it was the greatest thing.

You can't tell by their faces, but they were excited to go "camping".

After we set up "camp" we had a little BBQ on the charcoal grill. The fire was still raging after dinner so we decided to make s'mores!

Roasting marshmallows over the fire...just as good as the real deal!

Is started to rain very early in the morning so we had to pack up camp and take it indoors. We pulled out the sofa bed, brought the munchkins in and they were fast asleep..and nice and dry!

Beautiful Utah!

So after the big MDA Harley Ride to Wendover the past few year, many of you know that Gary has been itching for his own bike. Well we were lucky enough to be able to purchase one this summer! It has been a lot of fun to ride...the few times I have :) And I have discovered a whole new side to Utah!

Alpine Loop

As close as we are to the mountains, I am surprised we do not do more. One Sunday morning we got up early and headed to breakfast up in Heber. (Thanks to Grammy for having a sleepover with the kids) What a great ride up. After breakfast we decided we really didn't have anywhere to be so why not take the long way home over the Alpine Loop. What a beautiful ride that was. It is such an amazing experience on the back of a bike...you feel so close to nature.

A view from the back of the bike heading up the loop!

Gar and I at the top of the loop.
Mount Timpanogas....breathtaking

Oh I might mention...we did the ride with my dad..here we are...I'm one tough motorcycle mama!

We had such an amazing time we are planning to do it again this fall when all the leaves start changing colors.


Silver Lake
So our next trip up the canyon did NOT include the new ride. We wanted to take the kids up for a "hike" around Silver Lake. It is a small lake and a perfect "hike" for little legs. Just when the kids were bored and tired...we were done! The weather was perfect and the scenery breathtaking.

A fun part about the walk is that there are info signs posted along the way to learn about different things. Like the grasslands, or the different types of flowers or how the water we see up there, makes it to our house within 24 hours. Shantel learned lots of interesting facts.

The kids had such a great time outdoors and experiencing different things. We definitely need to get out and do more.

The BIG 5 year old!

I can't believe my baby girl is 5 already. Where does the time go? Seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital. She has been such a joy and it has been amazing to watch her grow. She is our spunky "free-spirited" child. And is by far the girly one of the two. Kallie loves dresses and pretty bows in her hair along with princesses, dancing and anything pink! She was my biggest baby weighing 8 lbs 1 oz and a surprise with a head of brown hair.

Kallie 1 day old!

Ever since Toy Story 3 has come out Kallie has been playing with Keegans Buzz and Woody dolls nonstop. She plays Toy Story with Keegan and all our other toys. The only thing we have been missing is Jessie. Kallie has been begging for a Jessie doll for her birthday. Shantel, being the sweetest older sister told us, that was the gift she was getting Kallie. Boy Kallie was so excited to open it. She has carried Jessie around everywhere and has NOT put her down. Her other favorite toy she got was Mrs. Potato Head. We have a Mr., but you know "they had to get married."

The 3 musketeers!

As you can see from the pictures, we spent the afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese.

I know, I swore I would never go again, but the kids really wanted to go. So we gave in and took just the family for a "delicious" pizza lunch with fantastic games! I guess it wasn't that bad of a trip this time.

What is a birthday without cake? Of course there was cake...chocolate cake!

And if you can't tell...YES it was very yummy!