Moove and Groove Concert

The girl's school held a winter performance called The Moove and Groove Concert.  Both Ashlee and Mikayla had speaking parts in the performance and both did a great job.

Here are some pictures (sorry for the quality our camera doesn't do great dark pictures).

Ashlee top row 4th one from left
Mikayla bottom row third one in from left

Mikayla saying her speaking part

Mikayla and Allison dancing the peppermint twist.

Ashlee saying her speaking part. 

Alyssa and Jadyn (Ashlee's friends)singing solo the song "I Believe I Can Fly"

Blanket

The girls and I made this blanket for part of Grandpa Blain's Christmas gift.

Ward Christmas Party

Tonight was our ward Christmas Party.  My neice is in a Japanese Music Band at her school called Tyko.  Her school came and performed for our ward Christmas party so my brother and his kids came along to watch her play.  She did very well.  I am suprised how much noise comes out of those drums. 

Hailee 3rd one from left.

Hailee in the center

Mikayla, Landon, Dylan, Ashlee and Hailee with Santa.

Turlock Christmas Parade

Ashlee, Allison, Mikayla, Alyssa & Landon

Tonight we went to the Turlock Christmas Parade.  My Mom came with my nephews and niece.  Ashlee invited her friend Alyssa and Mikayla invited her friend Allison.  The parade was nice and long.  It lasted about an hour and a half.  The floats were big and most of them were full of lights.  The kids sat along the street and got candy canes, candy, toothbrushes, coupons, etc from the parade participants.  There was one float that had a real camel walking behind it.  All the kids wanted to know where they got the camel.  John told them they got it at Wal Mart in the pet department.  After the parade we took the girls and their friends to Home Town Buffet for dinner, since Chili's was packed.  Sorry the pictures are not great. Our camera is slow and by the time it took the picture the float would be moving past, or the lights would glare in the picture.  And the camel picture didn't come out.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgivng at Danny and Teresa's home in Catheys Valley.  Everything was great.  We enjoy the time we get to spend with family.

The kids opening their pies.   Their pies had special prizes in them for them.

The beautifully decorated table.

 Every year they have some sort of competition.  This year the competition was Ladder Ball. 

Mikayla

Preston

Ashlee

John

Heidi

Libby

 And the winners were: First Place: Sam   Second Place: Libby

Sam won a Costco Gift Card and Movie Tickets.  I won Jamba Juice Gift Cards. 

Thank you for a wonderful day.  Everything was great.

Turkey Cookies

The girls made some Turkey Cookies this morning for a little Thanksgiving treat.

California State Testing Awards

This morning Ashlee was recognized at a school assembly for her high achievements on the California State Test (STAR) that she took in the spring.  She received two awards. One for scoring Advanced in English Language Arts and another for scoring Advanced on the Math portion of the test.  She had a 33 point gain on both portions of the test in comparison to the prior year.  She received two certificates and a medal.

Their school is also ranked as one of the top 10 schools in the state and the 2nd highest school in the county. 

Ashlee with her medal.