Friday, March 30, 2012

Pinewood Derby 2012

As you may remember, my camera was broken by a certain boy last month.  This has made blogging difficult, as I usually blog off the pictures on my camera.  So grateful that Emily has been involved in most of the fun things we've done this past month so I can get her pictures.  However, March 29 was Cam's last Pinewood Derby (next year he'll be 11) and Emily had something else going on that night and wasn't able to come.  As the first cars were coming down the track, I asked one of the other moms if she'd send me her pictures.  She did...so now I can blog! Thanks, Mandi!

Cam decided early that he didn't want a car this year, he wanted a truck.  He drew out the design and Spencer and Dave started cutting the block of wood into the desired shape.  Somehow, the wood broke.  But Dave was kind enough to get a new kit, cut out the shape, and bring it to Cam a couple of days later.  Cam decided the color and painted it all.  He was pretty proud of his little turquoise truck and he even got 2nd place!  We'll take a picture of his truck next time Emily's around (hint, hint) so we can post a picture.  




We only have 5 scouts in our troop, Cam is the only Webelo, so we recently joined with another troop from our Stake.  Since the other troop had already done their Pinewood Derby and Blue & Gold Banquet, they decided to not have combined Pack Meeting for March.  Instead our scout leaders combined the Derby with the Blue & Gold Banquet for just our 5 scouts.  It made for a long(er) night but was so well put together.  They really put a lot of effort in to the details as they decorated with a cowboy theme and served Sloppy Joes, salad, and chips on Marie Callender tin trays.  After dinner & awards, the men moved the tables and chairs, the track was set up, and the races began!  I took just a minute to feel a little sad that this was Cam's last Pinewood Derby...until I remembered that next year will be Gavin's first Pinewood Derby.  During the races, Spence leaned over and said, "By the time it's Harrison's turn, we'll be professionals!  We'll know ALL the tricks!"  Ah, the life of parents with Boys!
I love how the dads are more serious about the competition than most of the boys.  Here are three of the five dads fixing alignment and tweaking things to make the cars go faster...

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Two Stars

Each month, our elementary school honors three students from each class in a Star Student Assembly...two awards are given from the teacher, one from the Principal.  In October, Cameron was awarded a Principal's Choice.  We were in Wyoming, attending the funeral of our dear friend so my mom and Mike had gone in our place.  Imagine how surprised I was when I received an e-mail from both Cam & Gavin's teachers March 20 (the day before the assembly) letting me know they were both going to be recognized.  I hurried to see what was on my schedule for the following day and realized I was supposed to teach piano lessons during the exact time of the assembly.  I now have 23 students so rearranging my lesson schedule is not easy.  Spencer had just gotten back from Portland and had appointments so he couldn't get away from work either.  I called Emily to see if maybe she could go to the assemblies. (They have 2 assemblies, one for the younger grades K-2, and one for the older grades 3-6, so we had to be in both.)  As I was asking her to represent me, I started thinking about how important it was that I go.  I mean, I'd missed the first one, and I'M THE MOM!  So I called my piano students and moved everything around.

They try to keep the Star Students a surprise so when we got to the school, we found a few chairs in the back and settled in.  I put the babies in their backpack leashes and felt like I was driving cattle.  A couple of minutes before the assembly started, Emily and Miley walked in.  We didn't know they were coming but Madi was so glad to see Mi-Mi and I was glad to see an extra set of hands.  Gavin saw us before the assembly started and his face lit up!  The boy loves to receive attention!  His certificate says, "This award is presented to Gavin Styer because he is always doing everything he has to do with a lot of integrity and seriousness."  It was given from his French teacher.



The first assembly only lasted 30-40 minutes, which means we had 20+ minutes before the next group of kids came in for their assembly.  Owen, Han, Madi, and Miley enjoyed running through the gym, chairs on the stage, halls, and eating ALL the snacks we had packed to help keep them quiet during the assemblies.  





 We settled back into our seats as the older students started filing in.  We were really trying to hide from Cam's class so he wouldn't see us.  Just before the assembly started, Miley took off in a mad dash for the door!  Emily had to chase after her and Cam saw us.  Oh well.  He was still surprised, as was I, when he received another Principal's award.  His reads, " This award is presented to Cameron Styer because he is always cooperative and cares about doing the right thing."




I hope my boys continue to do their best in school.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Graduation!

For the past 7 months, Spencer has been participating in PACE, a leadership course for his company.  Each month he would travel to Portland for 1-3 nights.  Between visits to Portland, he would be fulfilling a bunch of assignments, during and after work hours.  He had to sign a lot of new accounts, read a bunch of leadership books, and give numerous speeches.  (He goes to Toastmasters on a weekly basis too.) For Platt Employees, PACE is the way to go if you want to advance in your career.  But it was a LONG 7 months for Spencer's wife & kids and we were SO happy to see it end!  Spence even got his first real diploma!  We are proud of him for setting goals and accomplishing them to better himself and our family.  We love you!  And doesn't he look handsome in his suit!!!


Monday, March 12, 2012

Cousins!

Ryan and No'el took a mini vacation March 8-10.  They left their three girls with Emily.  We were excited because we didn't have school that Friday so we were able to play with cousins!  Emily does such a great job of "babysitting."  If I had been babysitting the girls, we would have just gone on with our routine and maybe squeeze in a couple fun things.  Not Em!  She planned numerous outings and had things to do to keep the girls entertained.  On Thursday night, she called and asked if any of the boys wanted to go with them to the mall.  Gavin and Owen were playing at friends' houses but Cam was happy to be invited.  The girls each had a little money and were given permission to spend it on whatever they wanted.  While Abbie was busy looking for clothes, Cam took Jette up and down the elevator and kept her happy. 



  I think Abbie ended up buying a shirt.  Avery decided to buy a "Best Friends" necklace that actually said "Sisters Forever."  She loves Gavin and got it in her mind that he'd like half of the necklace.  Em tried to tell her boys don't really wear necklaces but she thought Gavin would like it, just because they are Best Friends.  And he would have.  But she realized when they got home that maybe it wasn't the best gift for a boy...

On Friday, we planned to go to a bounce house.  There had been an online coupon for half price admission and Emily had bought one.  I was supposed to have bought enough for my boys too but when I finally remembered to sit down and do it, they were sold out!  So once we arrived at the bounce house and realized it was going to cost me $44 for my boys, we quickly changed plans.  Instead we went to Temple Square.  We went and saw the Christus and then headed to the Children's History Exhibit, part of the Family History Museum.  It was FREE and so much fun!  

 We had found 2-hour parking and thought that sounded like enough time.  We easily could have stayed 2 more hours.  The kids were so entertained, all 9 of them!  We even saw cousin, Amber and her girls there.   When we finally pried the kids away, we went to get lunch at Wendy's.  We planned to go to an indoor swimming facility too but on our way home, the girls decided they were exhausted and needed a nap!  So we decided to save that activity for another visit.







We weren't able to do anything with the girls on Saturday...Cameron had plans with his dad & Grandpa Styer to work on his Pine Wood Derby car, I had to work, and Spence & I had tickets to Guster that evening so we had a babysitter coming.  But Sunday was Jeff's birthday and his brothers, James (and wife Jillian) and Mark (and "friend") came to celebrate with him.  After church, we met them all at the Ampitheater/park.  Madi & Han were napping so Spence stayed home with them.  It was windy and chilly but the kids loved being together again.




Ryan and No'el got back that evening.  The boys were sad to see their cousins head back to Idaho.  I think Emily was a tiny bit relieved though!

Monday, March 5, 2012

We have Arrived!

18-months-old = Nursery... WE MADE IT!


Harrison and Madison will officially be 18-months old on Wednesday.  We have been taking them to nursery for a couple of months but staying with them the entire 2 hours.  It has been fun to watch them play with other kids, eat snacks, and sing songs, but we are ready for a little freedom.  Sunday, Spencer said he would take them in to nursery and leave as soon as they were comfortable.  (They have a really hard time if I walk out of the room.)  So he did.  And they stayed.  Harrison was tired and mostly sat on one of the leaders laps.  Madi played and had a good time.  We are so grateful for our Nursery Leaders.




Sunday, March 4, 2012

Camera Dump

I asked Cameron to take a few pictures of the twins before we went to church today.  After he was finished he set it on the kitchen table.  Owen picked up the camera and decided to swing it around.  It dropped on the floor.  It won't work now.  My handy husband is going to attempt to fix it but just in case he can't, I downloaded all the pictures and was surprised at what I found:












Do you get the impression that Gavin likes to have his picture taken?

The Lost (Lost) Tooth

Gavin finally lost his first tooth!  He's been working on getting it out for a while now.  He was getting pretty jealous of his friends that were losing their teeth.  He had his dad try to pull it out a few times but Spencer would tell him it just wasn't ready yet.  Then he asked the dentist and the dentist said it wasn't ready yet either.  Friday, March 2, he came up from downstairs with a big, huge grin on his face and said, "I pulled out my tooth all by myself!"  It didn't even bleed.  I told him to get it ready for the Tooth Fairy so he walked into the kitchen to get a paper towel (just in case his mouth suddenly started to bleed.)  All of a sudden, he started whining, "Mom, I lost my lost tooth!"  So I went in to the kitchen to help find it.  We looked all around and swept the kitchen floor but still couldn't find that tiny thing.  So instead of leaving a tooth for the Tooth Fairy, Gavin wrote the following note:

Dear Tooth Fairy,
I lost my tooth
But I dropped it and I think
it is under the oven.
Sincerely,
Gavin

The Tooth Fairy accepted his offering. :)