Big Minute

 We had a very exciting minute here at our home... two teeth came were lost within one minute of each other - and without tears or a collision involved.  I do think some competition was involved.

Bubble Wrap

 I spend my days with lots of bubble wrap.

Splint Off!

 Howard got his split removed earlier this week and we are thrilled!  No boxing for the rest of the summer, but the bone is healing wonderfully and he does not require for it to be immobilized any longer.

After fishing every day in Michigan, that split was getting gnarly... we washed it repeatedly but the smell of fish was still there.

Having a seven-year-old boy is not for the faint of heart.

Nine Years Five Months

 All of my girls have to wait until age ten to get their ears pierced... but yesterday was a very big day.

After nine years and five months, my oldest got her ears pierced.

We had a very special day with three cousins and three Mountain Miller girls all getting hair cuts, and hair styles, and manicures and pedicures.  This is an adorable salon specifically catered to little girls.  My kids have been there one time before in 2018 (so five years ago), and then they got to go yesterday.

It would be very special for Tracey to get her ears pierced on her tenth birthday... but it was also VERY special for her to get her ears pierced yesterday surrounded by her sisters, her mama, her memaw, and three of her favorite cousins.  Hopefully she will remember that for the rest of her life.

Of course Caroline and Lee Lee were all ready to get their ears pierced too... so new tradition -- they have to ten, or the trip to St. Louis that is most close to their tenth birthday, and we will go back to that same Sweet and Sassy salon with their cousins.

It really was an incredibly special day with the girls.

First Break

 Well, Howard has his first broken bone -- his pinky knuckle (fifth metatarsal to be exact).

I only know the story second-hand from Howard, Caroline, and a friend of theirs, but it seems that Howard was invited to punch a punching bag as hard as he could... which he did.

This was a punching bag hanging in a neighbor's garage, and I guess an 8th grader told Howard and his friend that they could punch it as hard as they could.

We found out a few days later that the punching bag is full of hard sand and is un-punchable, and the 8th grader knew that no one is supposed to punch this bag.  So that is helping us connect the dots a little more as to how Howard fractured his knuckle by punching a punching bag.

He has been seen by the Rangely clinic and referred to an orthopedic surgeon who is a hand specialist out of Steamboat.  We will see hopefully see him later this week -- it is the last week of school so it is a hard time to make a doctor's appointment, but we also can't push it off.

Howard's one tough cookie, and has not really slowed down at all even with the injury.  It is on his right hand (of course), and so far he has been most upset about the fact that he won't be able to throw during a Field Day Event.

Prayers appreciated for fast and complete healing.

Late to Early

 We went from a late night dance recital on Friday night to a very early morning wrestling match in Parachute (2 hours away) on Saturday morning.  The good news is that all children were asleep by 6:45pm, and we have crammed as much as possible into these few days with Grammie and Papa.

Howard took 3rd in his bracket, and wrestled REALLY well during this tournament.  He has learned a tremendous amount this season.

Arbor Day...

All she wants for Arbor Day are her two front teeth.

 

Bicycle Gang

 These eight neighborhood kids had a regular Bike Gang yesterday.  They were circling the neighborhood having a ball.

Crazy

 Call me crazy, but as Tracey was reading a story to Howard and Caroline, it really looked like the bear is looking over their shoulder and also enjoying the story.

Next Generation?

 Leading up to spring break, we knew Tracey was working hard on a writing assignment, but it wasn't a home project, so we didn't know that much about it.

Then, the last day before Spring Break, she comes home with her essay and tells us that she was given the prompt of "What can be done to improve our school?" and she spent the last few weeks formulating her response, which she then presented to the entire third grade and the principal.  She was one of three students recognized for doing so well on this project and received the "Best Arguments Award".

We may just have a future educator in our home.

Her Essay in case you can't read it from the pictures:

Dear Mrs. Cantrell and third grade,

My name is Tracey.  I'm a third grade student at Parkview.  I love hands on projects, working hard, and try my best to follow directions.  During my time at Parkview I notice that there are some things we can make better.

I notice home work is either boring or easy for most of the class.  I believe that we need to have more projects for home work rather than regular boring home work.

First, projects develop the child's ability to work with his or hers peers, bilding teamwork and group skills.  For example, in 1st grade, there was a boy in my class who I realy didn't like.  My teacher put me and the boy in my class in my same group with another girl for a project.  When we were done with the project we became better friends.

Next, projects allow the teacher to learn more about the child as a person.

Last, projects help the teacher communicate in progressive and meaningfull ways with the child or a group of children on a range of issues.

We must have projects for home work!  It is the only way to get more kids to do homework.  Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Tracey Ann Miller

Be-Dazzled

 Our kids have been very into crafting lately - with hot glue.  The more sparkles, popsicle sticks and strings of hot glue, the better.

Caroline be-dazzled her blue light glasses.

She now keeps them at school and proudly wears them every day as she's on the computer.

Hogwarts Night!

 The kids' school had a fundraiser last weekend where their school became the school from Harry Potter.  I'll be honest, it was a tad confusing for a family with absolutely no experience with Harry Potter... but it was entertaining and incredibly impressive... and now all our children want Harry Potter to be our next read-aloud bedtime story.

Here are some pictures:

Camo Day!

 Yesterday was Camo Day at school... and it quickly became my favorite dress up day we have had so far in Rangely.

Since it was Tracey's birthday, she did not wear camo -- but she would have been camouflaged in a garden.

Long Story Short

 Yesterday we threw Tracey a surprise birthday party, and it was SO much fun and we had a great turnout, and she really was surprised, and I think a great time was had by all.  The location was SO much, and her best friend from Rifle and her family even came up for the party, and spent the night at our house afterwards.  Seriously, the best day of her life so far.

And here are a few pictures of the fun times...

And here is the only picture I have of the actual surprise when the door opened and 23 people yelled surprise.

Homecoming Monday

 Homecoming Monday

Elementary - Dress up like a character/famous person

Jr/Sr High - Dress up like Adam Sandler

Tracey - Evie from Descendants

Howard - Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Caroline - Jojo Siwa, the singer

Lee Lee - Fancy Nancy, the cartoon

Hunter - Spidey, the cartoon

Brady - Paw Patrol - the cartoon

Mama - Pippi Longstocking

Daddy - a Rangely Panther