Hallabloo

 Andi convinced her brothers to play Hallabloo with them.  We have had this game since Livvy was little.  It was kind of funny watching these big kids playing this game but it was fun to watch how much fun they were having together. 

Ice Cream and Dinos

 It was a minimal day on Friday, which mean that the kids only do a half-day of school.  So I let them skip and we went to the Dinosaur museum and then went out for ice cream afterward.  It was a fun day with these 2.  Garrett still had M-Tech.

Robots

 

We had a robot day on Thursday.  

Kindergarten used codeapillars and coded the story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

1st Grade: Code a story using fairy tales like Three little pigs, Little Red Hen, Tortoise, and the Hare,  and Goldilock. 

2nd Grade:  Used the Markers to code designs

3rd and 4th Grade: Had strips of paper to make their own maze and see if they could earn a "Hoot Card" by successfully working together to code the bee through the maze that they built.  A hoot card is a school-wide behavior reward system.   They can turn in their hoot card for a drawing to win a prize.   

These are fun but crazy days.  

Shen Yun

 Jennifer took me to Shen Yun, it had beautiful dancing to show some of China's Culture.  This was her birthday gift to me.  It was such a great show, very colorful, very entertaining. 

Talking to Livvy

 

Andi and Livvy have such fun talking to each other on Mondays.  

Field Trip to the Aquarium

 I went on the field trip with Andi and her class to the Aquarium.  I had a group of 5 kids that I was in charge of.  It was a fun day of trying to keep up with 5 energetic children.  They were all so excited to be there. 

Andi's Second Grade Class.

Ethan, Andi, Olivia, June, and Logan

Ethan was the one who wanted to run from exhibit to exhibit.

Logan wanted to read every sign at every exhibit.

June was afraid of all the animals like the sharks, and alligators.

Olivia would wander away from the group.

Andi was just so happy to be there with her friends. 

It was super hard to try and keep all of them together.  Glad I only had 5 to keep track of. 

Day 3 of Celebrations

 On my actual birthday, Jeremy hung up a Happy birthday sign and Andi added to the sign.  It was super cute. 

I made myself a gluten-free chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting in the middle and chocolate frosting on top.  I only ate a few bites but boy was it good. 

It was a nice birthday. 

Day 2 of celebrations: Red Butte Gardens

 Jeremy and I went to the Red Butte Gardens and walked around the gardens.  IT was nice but I imagine this place is beautiful when everything is in bloom.  We were one of only a very few people at the Gardens.  I think we only saw 3 other people while we were there.  It was a brisk cold day and it felt so good to be up in nature and spend time with each other. 

Happy Birthday to me

Jere and I went to Salt Lake and spent the evening up there.  We went to a fancy restaurant for dinner.   

We went to a Van Gogh Exhibit that showed movement in all of his  as you are watching the show.

My friend at school brought me flowers for my birthday.  

Going to Miss Nikki Bravo Doolittle

My sister-in-law, Nikki,  passed away on Sunday.  She married my brother 10 years ago  She had 3 kids when they married and we were so happy to get another niece and two nephews.  My brother loved her and loved her kids as his own.  

She had an embolism that went to her heart and the ER could not save her.   I am saddened to lose a sister, I am sad that my brother no longer has a wife, and the kids no longer have a mother on this earth.  I pray for their peace and comfort.   She will be missed and forever have a piece of our hearts.   

This past summer while we were back there we did a lot of fun things with her and the kids.  We went to the lake, we went rock climbing, we went bowling, we had a s'more cookout, bbq for Father's day, and even went hiking together and the day before we left we went to their house and shot off fireworks for the 4th of July.   Andi and I went to WV for Thanksgiving and had a lot of fun with Nikki and Thomas and the kids at Thanksgiving dinner.  I am so grateful I had that opportunity to go back and spend that time with her.  

Her Funeral will be on Feb. 25.