Tea Time, Again:)

We had so much fun at our tea party last year that we just had to do it again. It was fabulous!

Savanna made this sign to welcome everyone to, "The Royal Tea Party."

Savanna sang a song to get us started.

We used our best manners and did our fanciest poses.

We had a yummy lunch and lots of treats.

And ended with a kids photo shoot since Tasha had all her props and fun stuff. The picture above and the pictures below (minus the one of McKell were taken by McKell, she set up the shots and took the pictures, overall she did a pretty good job.) Here is Olivia and Raegan - we missed you Haylie!

McKell loved to dress up in her tutu and this huge feathered hairpiece. Just her style!

Preslie, Lauren, Savanna, and Ava

Jace, Rylee, Jaden

Payton and Halle

We still didn't have everyone there because Haylie had a softball tournament. So, we will try to get 100% next year. I can't wait!

The End

It is sadly the end of elementary school for McKell. Her last day was packed full. Our school always does fun things to celebrate the outgoing 5th graders. First up they had a graduation ceremony - complete with paper hats. Each student got to tell their favorite elementary school memory and what they want to be when they grow up. McKell's favorite memory was when Mrs. Eames (her 4th grade teacher) would play funny music in class. McKell loved Mrs. Eames and still says that she is her favorite teacher ever. When she grows up she wants to be a dancer, surprise, surprise:)

Her and some friends danced in the 5th grade talent show. They choreographed the dance and picked the music and it was super cute. They did such a good job.

Not only did she dance for the talent show but she got to be one of the announcers. There were 2 boys and 2 girls in the 5th grade that got to do funny skits/introductions and announce the order of the show. McKell and Cambrie planned carefully, practiced hard, and thought of really funny stuff. They had to do a try out in front of their class and then the top students from each class tried out in front of a teacher. These 2 were super excited when they were chosen. It is for sure something that she will always remember from elementary school. And I am so glad she is not hesitant to be a little silly in front of people.

She has had such a great time in elementary school, but she is soooo ready to go to middle school. It is hard not to be excited for her, but I will miss going to school with her every day and looking for her on the playground. It will be different next year when I still go to teach at the elementary and she is at a different school. McKell has made tons of fun friends. Above, her and Meg eating popsicles.

Sydnee and Kendahl

Heather, Ashley, Emma, Berkley, Meg, McKell, Sophia

And again some more posing with boys - sooo not ready for that. However, I sure do love the boys her age that I have taught over the past few years. They are super cute.

Last Days . . .

I can't believe the year is winding down and school is officially over - TOMORROW! Lots of fun stuff has been happening. Here's a recap:

Lacrosse Party:

Braxton will rarely let me take any pictures of him but I snapped this at the end of the Lacrosse dinner as he and Ryan were leaving. This has been Braxton's first year and he has done such a great job.

NOVA Graduation:
McKell graduated from the NOVA program (similar to DARE.) This has been a fun part of 5th grade for her.

Fun Run:
All the fourth and fifth graders in our district participate in the Fun Run. McKell doesn't like to run and so we have been calling it the Un -Fun Run:) She is glad, glad, glad it is over!

5th Grade Honor Day:
Every year the PTA sponsors an activity for the fifth grade. Each year it is something different. When Braxton was in 5th grade, I went with his group to the Hogle Zoo. So, I took the day off and went with McKell and the 5th grade to the Clark Planetarium and the Living Planet Aquarium in Salt Lake City. Here are the girls on the bus.

The kids had a great time looking around the planetarium and we watched a fun 3D movie. We took tons of pictures - and now the girls are even letting the boys join in on the pictures. I don't know if I am ready for that yet. There were so many kids (McKell included) that brought cameras and they took pictures of EVERYTHING, every display, every fish, every spider - it was so funny.

The aquarium was McKell's favorite part of the day. McKell and Sydnee loved watching the penguins eat and jump around in and out of the water.

Touching the stingray was a big deal - McKell wanted to touch it but every time she did she would scream.
One last picture riding the frog at the aquarium. It was such a fun day and I am so glad that I went. Lots more activities tomorrow with the annual 5th grade talent show and graduation - McKell is dancing in the talent show and she is also one of the announcers. She is excited!

Easter

We spent Easter in Idaho at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We colored eggs. The two below are McKell's favorites.

We had a big family dinner on Easter Sunday. The kids played outside most of the day.

These two got a special Easter present - a real, live bunny. Everyone loved it!

Getting ready for the big Easter egg hunt. The big kids hid the eggs and the little kids went on the hunt. It was lots of fun and the kids got lots of money, candy, and prizes.

McKell on the hunt for some eggs.

All the grandkids that were there that day. I can't believe how fast these kids are growing up, time goes too fast! We had a great time - we always do when we are with family.

You Say It's Your Birthday

McKell turned eleven last Sunday. She picked to eat out at Texas Roadhouse on Saturday night. Grandma and Grandpa Pinnock were here and got to celebrate with us.

She decided that to have her birthday on Sunday is a little boring, but we had cupcakes and ice cream. She got to open 11 presents and loved having a big chocolate birthday milkshake, a new tradition that we stole from the Arfmann's (thanks).

Instead of a big party, I talked her into having a small get together with her closest friends. Monday after school we went for ice cream at Coldstone. They ate and talked and did a lot of laughing.

They decided to go outside and pose for some pictures. I have said it many, many times but McKell's friends are just so great. I get to teach them all at the school and they are so fun, kind, silly, and totally cute.

Eleven things about McKell: She has great fashion-sense, loves math, she is counting down the days left of elementary school, still loves to dance, is NOT a morning person, is dying to have a cell phone, loves to jump on the trampoline, likes to be in charge, loves cookies and cream Hershey bars, likes spending time with her cousins, loves to hear stories about when I was her age. Happy Birthday McKell.

Hollywood Vibe

It's that time of year again - dance competition season and McKell LOVES IT! And, who am I kidding, so do I:) In the middle of March she went to "Hollywood Vibe" her first dance convention in Ogden. She had a great time taking classes from the best. I got to go along and just loved it and thought it was such a great experience for her.

Here was most of our little group of 5th and 6th graders. This was after the first night. They were pretty worn out.

Back at it again the next day - just stretching getting ready to dance.

One of the highlights was taking class from Ade (from "So You Think You Can Dance") pictured above. They also had classes in tap, lyrical, ballet, jazz, and hip hop with the teachers pictured below.

And this last picture below is at the first competition of the season. It is her favorite competitive number this year, it is a dance with 6 girls to "Shake it Up." This dance got a platinum (the highest) that day. She has also decided that she doesn't like wearing her glasses to dance this year so it is harder for me to spot her on the floor. She is darling either way.

Meg, Emme, McKell

Jr. Prom

A few weeks ago, Braxton went to Jr. Prom:)

The answer. His date left this cute flower on his jeep one night.

The corsage. It was beautiful, complete with red feathers and silver ribbon. I loved it. I guess his date did too.

The tuxedo. He thought it was really cool to wear a tux and he looked so handsome.

The date. He went with Madi and they had a fabulous time. I am so glad he went, his high school years are coming to an end too quickly.