McKay's Belt Advancement

I know these posts may get old to you, but I am proud of my karate kids! McKay just advanced to a new belt and into an advanced class. Way to go!

McKay tested by himself at a new studio. It was quite intimidating, but his instructor said he did great!

McKay receiving his new belt in class.

The old belt is on his head, and his new belt is where it should be. Both belts are green, but they are changing things up in karate class. There are new colors and order of belts and new moves that they are learning. The boys have done well with the changes.

Dance Festival 2010

This year's dance festival was a complete success and very fun to watch. Jaxon, second grade, danced to the "Monster Mash". He got way into it and had a good time struttin' his monster self. His costume was quite cool. He wore some torn up jeans and a torn up shirt. He even had monster hands that he borrowed from his Grandma Haacke.

Because McKay, fourth grade, studied Utah history and his grade went on the pioneer trek, his class did some pioneer dancing. He had to hold hands with girls during the dance, but I opted to not include those pictures to save him from embarrassment. He did a great job and was a very serious dancer.

Roar For Orem High

I graduated from Orem High School class of 1993. Jeremy graduated from the same school class of 1991. They have torn down our old school and replaced it with a new one. Yes, my school was old, but I had many fond memories of those halls. The school held an open house to give people the opportunity to walk the halls one more time. Jeremy and I went to the open house and wandered the halls hand in hand (only because we could--since we didn't do it while we attended high school....well, we didn't know each other then).

The Orem High School fight song. Sadly, I never learned the whole thing. I knew the first line and then the last line. I added a lot of dadadas in the middle.

The auditorium. I performed many choir concerts here as did Jeremy. I also attended many band concerts and plays that friends performed in.

The choir room. This is where I hung out most of my Senior year. I was a choir geek. I have a lot of fun memories in this room. One being that we would turn the lights and sing "Go Ye Now In Peace". I have no idea how this tradition started, but they are still doing it today. There were a bunch of people crammed into the choir room the night of the open house and we did it for one last time. It was fun to be there and sing it with Jeremy.

The brick wall in the choir room where the REAL choir geeks were awarded with a brick to paint. They got to paint the brick how ever they would like to leave their legacy. I didn't get a brick...and I wasn't sad about it. It was fun to recognize names on the brick wall though.

The student lounge. I didn't do much hanging out here, but I remember my friend Kenny walking through it backwards one day because it was "Backwards Day". He walked backwards all day. He was a character.

My dad taught and coached at Orem High for several years before Mountain View was built. This was his class room. My dad was there the night of the open house, but I missed getting his picture in front of his old door.

The old gym. This is where I had PE my sophomore year. This is also the gym where Jeremy had inter mural basketball games. Apparently there are some good stories linked to this gym and Jeremy playing ball. He told me one on the night of an open house where a kid's dad got super mad at him and pulled him out of the game because the kid lost his temper. I think the kid tried to push Jeremy around some because Jeremy was having a good game.

The plans for the new high school. It looks like it will be pretty nice. It is set to be complete this and ready to go for this fall.


Good-bye my dear old school. You helped mold me into who I am today. Thank you.

Pre-School Graduation

Joshua graduated from preschool this year and is all set for kindergarten! He learned so much and loved going to school with his friends.

Here is Josh with all of his preschool buddies on graduation day. From left to right is Kaden, Jared, Josh, Dylan, and Ethan.

Josh saying his part for the program. He talked about learning lots of songs at school and loving to sing them.

Josh and his teacher Ms. Sherri. She is a great teacher and we love her! It was a great school year and Josh is all set for kindergarten!

Tooth Fairy Price Tag

Josh recently lost a tooth. He came to me that day and asked me how to write "5 dollars". I had no idea that he was putting it on his tooth as a price tag for the tooth fairy. I guess he figured that since his brother received five dollars for the tooth that he had pulled at the dentist, that it was worth trying to get five bucks for his tooth as well. The tooth fairy wasn't so generous and Josh received the usual $1.00. Josh was pleased none the less. What will he come up with next?

Pioneer Handcart Trek

McKay studied Utah History in 4th grade this last year. At the end of the year, the entire 4th grade went on a handcart trek to a hallow not too far from our house. They trekked about three miles from the school to the hallow and back to the school pulling handcarts. McKay dressed up for the occasion wearing western attire topped with an appropriate hat. (I put both away for when Jaxon is in 4th grade.)
Here is McKay in the hallow with someone from his "family" that he pulled the carts with. Doesn't McKay look tough?

Jeremy traveled with McKay and the handcart company (per McKay's request). Kayden, Josh and I showed up at lunch time to help with serving lunch. Kayden followed Jeremy and McKay all around the hallow.

McKay getting his lunch of stew, corn bread, and peach cobbler. After lunch they played pioneer games, made butter and did other pioneer activities. McKay enjoyed the pioneer experience.

Josh loved wandering the hallow picking all the dandelions. He had quite the bouquet by the end of the afternoon.

Obviously Josh loved smelling the dandelions as well. He had a nice yellow stain under his nose. Love that kid.

The Golden Rule Opera

Jaxon's second grade class wrote and performed an opera this year. It was called "The Golden Rule". There were robbers, spies, robbers and chipmunks (go figure). Apparently, the robbers were trying to steal the chipmunks and the cops and spies were trying to stop them. Then somehow the chipmunks and robbers teamed up against the cops and spies. Somehow in the end they all ended up as friends because they treated each other how they wanted to be treated. It lasted about 5 minutes and was completely entertaining.

Jaxon was a cop.....if you couldn't tell.

Here Jaxon is with other cops singing their hearts out. Their class even got to paint the scenery.