Reward Recognition (cont.) ')

Just a couple more special rewards we wanted to acknowledge.

Congratulations to Mikela who was given the Senate of Pennsylvania citizenship award. Chosen as one of two 5th graders with her good friend, Devan. We're so proud of you Mikela!

And Katey who was given the May student of the month award at Cochran Elementary for great achievement and citizenship!

We're thrilled! And deeply grateful for all the great supporters (i.e. grandparents, family, friends and teachers that have created the 'village' our children need to succeed!) Endless Gratitude to you all!

GREAT REWARDS!!!!!!!

CAUTION: Offensive content. Some parts of this post contain material that is extremely proud, even boasting. Please do not read further if offended by such entries.

The rewards of this spring seem almost too many to name! All that winter work was worth it and burst forth, like Mom's new and improved flower garden with beautiful BLOOMS! A quick list of REWARDING TIMES FOR US THIS SPRING!!!

- Mormon Helping Hands Project in Sunbury, PA - WHAT AN AWESOME, WINNING EXPERIENCE!

- Stake Conference! It is such a wonderful thing to be part of here!

- Isaac, Emily and Anna each earning the track team's Leadership award, along with Anna earning the "Most valuable player" for bringing in the most points for her team. She realized she always placed, only once in third, all other times in 1st or 2nd - made a lot of hard work worth it!

-Isaac was awarded, "Outstanding Offensive Lineman", and "Rising Star" "Andy" (ie.Tony) award for the Curtin Musical for progressing from a quiet, one-line actor in 7th to "a major leading role amazing audiences with his fabulous voice". Isaac also received the "excellence in painting award" from the WHSD Red Cross Club.

-Emily and Anna were awarded 1st place in the 7th grade science project and Isaac's project placed 3rd in 8th grade. Anna was shocked to get the "technology" award for her class (she and Em had been terrified about this subject, but both excelled!) And Emily and Anna were honored with the "Lamp of Learning" award - meaning they were 4th and 7th of the top ten 7th graders in their studies. We feel so lucky to have such great learners! (And their friends!) Emily won the art award (along with $15 bucks!)

- Orhcestra and Band competition at Hershey!!! I, as Mother, was SOOOOOOOOO PROUD and THRILLED to witness the Williamsport District Youth Symphony take first in their division and first overall!!!!! In fact their symphony earned 192 out of 200 points!!! Unheard of and such a JOY to HEAR!!! I am just so THRILLED with Mr. Radspinner and all the amazing student musicians and supportive parents around here. CONGRATULATIONS WYSE!!!! The band was a thrill to hear as well - what a GREAT experience! The band took first in their division and I LOVED listening to them. Emily and Anna play violin and Isaac plays sax and baritone.


- Mikela's awards were no less impressive! She did a BEAUTIFUL job with her proud 5th grade chorus and orchestra concert. Mom LOVED accompanying and the beautiful flowers her teacher rewarded Mom with too. But the proudest award of all was the achievement of her girl scout troop as each of the girls received the BRONZE AWARD!!!! It took two years of musical cultivation and service in the community, and 2 AMAZING girl scout leaders to earn this great achievement. Mikela did an extraordinary job (if I do say so myself ;) ) at her harp that evening. We feel so lucky that she could be part of such a great thing! (It's let her play her harp for many people as well.)

-Kate and Esther!!! I'll post the cute pic later but we just wanted to commend Katey and Esther on their very 1st gymnastics show. It was so FUN for us to watch them!! Good job Kate and Esther! Kate also came home today with news that she had won 1st in her class spelling bee then went on to win second in her grade!!! What an accomplishment!

Who would have thought that these hard-working, achieving kids would have come out of all that 4 under 4 chaos we experienced early in life ;) !!!! How we love these children - all 8! (We never did come out of chaos just so you know.)

P.S. In the midst of all these awards, Mikela shocked us all by arriving home on her BRAND NEW WIN - a BEAUTIFUL BIKE, HELMET and LOCK. She was thrilled!! So funny that she won it just after I had talked to her that morning about why she got so many great things out of life - cause she's such a GREAT GIRL (peacemaker, helpful, happy, kind!) Good for you, Mikela! May many more blessings come your way!

Belle's Brought to School!!!

That's right! Belle enjoyed her first school day last month! Thanks to two amazing teachers: Mrs. Rider-Dincher inspired creative thinking to allow such an event and Ms. Beatty who made it happen by setting up a round pen and trailering Belle down to the school for Emily's report. Ms. Beatty was the "Pro" onhand as Belle got really upset as the first group of kids headed back into school (she seriously looked like "hey, the show's not over - it hasn't even started yet and you're leaving!") Emily and Ms. Beatty and Belle handled the whole new adventure beautifully. Emily had been worried Belle wouldn't "go" in front of all the kids. When the time came we were a little concerned to put Em on for Belle was "going strong". Emily climbed on an rode Belle beautifully to finish the report. We believe Belle learned a lot from her first day at Curtin.

The CUTEST Brand new THREE year old!!! Zoie Grace!

Brithday Chicks! (I mean Esther, Emily and Anna!)

Five and Thirteen all in one weekend! We fit it all in somehow and headed swimming to finish the party off on Monday following! FUN!!

Birthday Bunnies!

Emily and Anna's 13th b-day wish list included : clothes, make-up, and a goat. A goat? Mom wasn't ready for anything else that chewed stuff up (one dog is enough) so when their friend Stephanie called a asked if she could give them bunnies, Mom's consented after considering that they are contained, quiet and fairly small animals. The great part is Mom knew they'd appease the girls wish for something "LIVE"(...to go along with all the other 15 living pets around here - oh, yes, we didn't tell you Daddy bought the children 6 new chicks to go along with the "farm". Mom's just really glad the "farm" finally moved out of the kitchen and up to the barn as the animals grew strong enough to tackle cool weather this week. They're all adorable and thriving.

Off and Runnin!

(This pics taken just after Isaac took first on the mile!)

Isaac convinced the girls to join him in track this season. Wow! They are all doing well. First meet: Isaac came in 1st in mile (by a mile!) and 800, 2nd in shotput; Anna came in 1st in 800, 2nd in mile by 2 seconds, and Emily and Anna were on the same team for the 4X4 race and came in 2nd! Wow! (Did I already say that?)

Anna says herself she didn't realize how competitive she is until she started track this season. She can't STAND to have someone in front of her. Emily's always just seconds behind her and, in their first practice race, impulsively called out, "Anna, wait for me!" Needless to say, Anna didn't wait. We all watch amazed as tiny Anna takes on all the tall 7th,8th, and 9th graders and leads the way on the track, Emily's never far behind her though!

Way to go, Kids!

Emily and Anna's 13 year old do!

Mom's early birthday gift to her oldest girls, initiated and carried out through the powers of Aunt Kristi who lined up the appointment then took the girls to it! Isn't it cute?! (says proud Mom) Just in time for 13!
WHOA.
This pic is Emily and Anna at the Flat Iron Salon near our home with cousin, Baby Camden. THANKS FOR BEING "The FUN AUNT", Kristi!

and ALL THAT JAZZ!

We enjoyed Williamsport's district Jazz concert the other night. Here's Isaac's solo (he's the first sax to play).
P.S. He hee! I just listened to it - and without great speakers u sure miss out on the great quality of the band music! Forgive it all sounding like little squeaks - it was awesome live! ;)

We LOVE Conference!

General Conference only comes twice a year, which makes it all the more appreciated! I love it more every year (it's getting awfully comfy watching it from BYUTV at home!). Mike pulled out the table, conference packets off lds.org and we were off to feasting on 4 great sessions from home. Mike, Isaac, and Calton enjoyed the the Priesthood session at the church. We felt SO UPLIFTED AND BLESSED by the WORD! Here's a funny family pic of the weekend.

They Are Finally Here! Broadway pics!

Hey Everyone! Sorry this took so long to post, but here are some pics from the Wizard of Oz that Anna, Emily, and Mikela and our cousin Marisa were in last November.

To tell who's who in costume refer to the Winkie picture (the wicked witches soldiers) you'll see: Emily, Mikela, Anna, Marisa from left to right. Mikela was the smallest winkie and DARLING when she saluted to the wicked witch as she was "kickin" her off the stage. Anna and Emily were trying so hard to keep the smiles off their faces in order to look the part of dreary, serious winkies and Marisa was all character - way to be serious, Mis!- (we got the CD Friday, we'll copy and send on soon!). As Munchkin's the girls are wearing purple and Marisa's the "lullaby league dancer" on the right. The Munchkin scene was so vivid, bright, lively, FUNNY and ENTERTAINING! We couldn't believe how much the girls had learned in such a short time. They were GREAT in action and character; they couldn't resist laughing out loud to themselves when dancing onto the stage with the broadway crew, they couldn't believe how MUNCHKIN land looked and sounded either! Great memory!

Kate had the Happiest Birthday!!!

Kate demonstrated the "age of accountability" by being completely accountable for the makings of her own birthday party. From dreaming it up to making it happen (she wrote every invite herself, planned every game and the craft, and prayed the rain away -though she had some help here- to make games and riding possible after a day of great rainshowers). Kate proved she'd do well in "event-planning" as well as demonstrating once again the great LOVE she has for her FAMILY and FRIENDS. She really made us all very HAPPY on her birthday!!!

(Though Kate was the instigator of all the fun she really wants to say THANK YOU to the many helpers she had in putting together and cleaning up the party! THANKS!!!)

We LOVE you Kate! We think it's GREAT you are EIGHT! We are all looking forward to your baptism next weekend and can't believe how lucky we are that so much family (G&G Hoffman, Olsen's, G&G Cooper, Maxwells, Laws - and maybe Kara!) will be here for it!!! Wow. What a special day that will be. LOVE, Mom and Dad

See you later Alligator!

Mikela, Kate, Esther Beth, Zoie Grace, Clara and I made a great escape to REPTILELAND! EstherBethie had worked hard to earn coupons and chose REPTILELAND for her reward! It was rewarding to ALL of us! SO MUCH FUN!

All tuckered out!

Zoie Grace couldn't make it through scriptures! (Happens frequently with someone or the other ;).

Clara takes the Cake!

Clara 'got her cake and ate it too!' Way to go, Clara!

Clara's #1

Officially! Here's sharin'!

"Be our Guest" in viewing Isaac as Gaston!

 

It was really great for all of us to see Isaac in this new role! It was especially enjoyable for us to have Emily and Anna performing right along with him in this middle school rendition of "Beauty and the Beast". (The girls were GREAT at filling us in on all the rehearsals - we'd have never have known one thing if it were left to Isaac to share the details ;). ) There are many, many pics at curtinmusical.shutterfly.com if anyone has time to pick out I, E, and A there.

Kari - we loved the video on your blog! he hee! Thanks!