Last Day of MCS 2016

The 3 younger kids finished out the school year today. I do like having them all in the same school. Justice has one more year and then heads to high school. How do they keep growing so fast!!!?

Liberty had finals all the next week so she didn't finish until June 8th. Of course, she makes it alot harder to catch a picture of her these days. So here's the school sign to commemorate her finishing her Freshman year! ;)

Victoria's Lewis & Clark Play

The 4th Grade at MCS put on a play about the Lewis & Clark Expedition. It was full of music and historical info. They all sounded great!

Victoria played Napoleon Bonaparte. She only had a tiny speaking part but she did sing a solo. We were so impressed!

Here's the beginning of Victoria's solo:

And because it was too long- here's the end of her solo: She did an AMAZING job! What a brave kid!

Voted Citizen of the Year

Victoria had an assembly today at school. She was voted Citizen of the Year in her class. They only pick one girl & one boy from each class in their 4th grade year so it was quote the honor.

Here's what her classmates said about her:

She also received an award for participating in the Dear Author Contest. (That's the one that she won $150 for her school library and a Kindle Fire. See the post here and here) Super Proud of her!

Spiderella Starring Glory

Glory's class put on a little play today. Glory was one of the Narrators along with Evey. They all did a great job! It was extra special since it was her birthday.

Great to be Eight!!!!

Glory had a very special birthday! She's turning EIGHT! She has been so excited! She asked for a special breakfast that HAD to include strawberries! They are her favorite!!!

She danced with excitement for all her presents!

For dinner, she had chicken, corn on cob, potatoes & gravy, and margaritas (virgin-style!) and .... strawberries!!!!

We made her cupcakes and sang to her.

One of her presents, was face paint! They had a grand time painting everyone's faces for our movie night! She loves the movie- The Book of Life!

During the day, she took cookies to her class and performed in her class play! Fun day for sure! Here's her with Shannon & Kovi.

Remembering When I was seven...

When I was seven....
I loved Friends
My favorite color is Purple
I love Playing
I love Swimming
I learned to ride a bike
I rode my 1st plane
I went to Hawaii
I swam in the Ocean
I joined Activity Days a few days early
I had a pet bunny (but he was dead)
I learned to Ski
I adore Cricket (Davis' dog)
I visited Fairmont
I participated in VBS
I love our cotton candy machine
I visited the Seattle Gum Wall
I like to be Silly!

Love you, Baby! XOXO Glad you're a part of our family!

Lettering in Band

Liberty lettered in Band this year. We are way proud of her!! She did several events with band above & beyond her regular class in order to receive this award. This picture is of the Freshman students that lettered this 2015-16 school year.

Here is some her best Band Buddies! Marz & Ann

Adays Talent Show

A few of the Activity day girls

Victoria has really enjoyed her Activity Days this past school year.
Today was the last activity until the fall but was also Glory's 1st time. They were putting on a talent show to end their year. Glory wanted to be brave and do something for the talent show.
She showed them all the String tricks she has been learning. Good job, Sis!

 Victoria showed off her violin talent. Awesome!

Way proud of my girls and their talents. Can't wait to see the fun they have in the fall.

Memorial Day BBQ

 We had a few families over for a Memorial Day BBQ.

They did some Stick Pulling, football on the tramp, and a game of basketball. 

Good time with family & friends.

S'mores at the Andersons

 The Anderons had us and the Paynes over tonight for S'mores over their firepit. Yum!

The kids had a blast playing together.

It sprinkled a little bit. Nothing to ruin the fun but enough to create a gorgeous double rainbow. Love it!

The adults enjoyed a few competitive games of Cornhole. I definitely have to get one of those for our backyard.

And some of the kids enjoyed a little karate chopping some firewood. Fun times!

P.S. This happened to be the last time that our 3 little families got together before the Paynes moved. We have done so much over the past 3 years together- it's sad to see this part of our lives come to an end. ;(

Painting Projects

Before we have family come next week- there are a couple painting projects I wanted to get done.

Victoria helped me paint the bar to match our kitchen cupboards. It's been plain white for 2 years now. The builder said he'd do it but we were tired of waiting. We painted it cream and then used a stain pen to make the lines dark. I love it!!!

It's a subtle difference but we love it!

My helper

Stained lines

I also wanted a little blue in our family room. I could never find the right accents that were the right blue- so I painted the wall instead. Here's when I was almost done. We really like it!

Fast forward to mid-June and I've been helping my cute friend Kris paint her house. They bought this 1900s home and are fixing it up. It's got so much character. It'll be so cute when they're done. We painting it creams and yellows and light green. They are all her colors and she's super happy!

Oh how I love a fresh coat of paint!!!!

We also did a few fun crafty projects. I made this sign for our powder room. Love how it turned out!

And the girls got into some painting action as well.

Glory's Fieldtrip to the WILD

I got to join Glory for the last part of her fieldtrip today. Her class went to Montana Wild. They learned about birds and fish. Then they walk around Spring Meadow Lake for lunch at the pavilion.

Glory with Gabbi, Eva & Evey

It started to rain as they walked to the bus. It was fun they came all prepared. So cute!

http://www.helenamt.com/content/city/helena/listing/montana-wild/

Victoria Orchestra Concert

Back in October of last year- Victoria had the opportunity to sign up for a Beginning Orchestra class offered after school by Siggy's Little Music Shop. She got to try out the different instruments with Mr. Sigafoos. She decided on the Violin. She's worked hard this year (not as hard as she could though- we really have to work on a practicing schedule in our family. We stink at that! ;)

Tonight, they had their 1st Annual Orchestra Concert. What a fun night!

Victoria has some of her best friends (Sofie & Clara) in Orchestra with her. Plus our cute little neighbor Maia. {P.S. I dropped off some church shoes to Victoria but she decided to stay in her gym shoes. Silly girl!}

Here's a little sample:

Hot Cross Buns with their whole Orchestra:

Trio with her friends performing Frère Jacques:

(can't upload it- I'll condense it)

Victoria's Solo of the Can Can:

End of the Rainbow

We have had quite a bit of rain lately. Everything's chilly & soggy! But there are positive side effects to the weather.

We are the end of the Rainbow:

Can you see the Double Rainbow?:

If I had a Million Dollars...

Every year, Brett brings home the playing pieces for the Albertsons Monopoly. Victoria LOVES it and takes her job of filling in the game board very seriously!!! As you can see- we almost won a lot of things. The key word being "almost" LOL!!!! Keep trying, Sis! One of these years- you'll make us rich!

Freshman Band Concert

Last band concert as a Freshman. Great job, Liberty!!! Her friend, Ann did a solo on the Piano. She's amazing! They did some really fun songs this time. It's been a fun band year!

Yankee Doodle:

Pirates of the Caribbean:
(can't get it loaded. Bummer! let me try & condense)

Star War (Ann & Liberty finally got off the bells ;):