Spelling Bee 2018

Gabe and Selah participated in the Homeschool Spelling Bee again this year. This is their third year in the contest and they do better every year! 

Selah correctly spelled nice, paste, welcome, cheddar, crooked, slobbery, tonic, infraction, vegetation, and barrette. Her final word in the 9th round was paralysis. (Which she spelled pralisis.)

Gabe correctly spelled skim, clasp, platform, clipper, superb, receptions, sparsely, administration, callous, and conspiracy. Gabe also made it to the 9th round. His final word was incessant. He  "incessantly" stalled before spelling this word by asking for the definition, then a sentence, then the definition again followed by the sentence again, all the while scribbling on his forearm to visualize the spelling. He finally spelled it "incsennce".  

I was so impressed by all the spellers! We had 15 in all and they were amazing. Some other words spelled included piece de resistance, entrepreneurs, and fluorescent. The winning word was conundrum. 

Next year Gabe will age out of the competition...he is already studying for next year hoping that will be his year. Selah is hoping to bring home a trophy, too. 

Another New Smile

"Go forward with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart." -Gordon B. Henckley

Before brace

We are working on Gabe's new smile. He will wear braces for the next two years to pull his teeth together and correct his over-bite. He has such a big beautiful smile now and I can't wait to see his new, improved, big beautiful smile after the braces come off. 

With his new braces

They took a big of getting used to for him. He was sore for a few days, but now is doing well with his new braces. After already having Selah's first round of braces, too, we are making great friends with the doctors and office staff at the orthodontist! 

Welcome 2018!!

The Friday after Christmas we took the RV out to our local lake and RV park. It was COLD!!

So cold we actually got a little snow and freezing rain. 

Ok - it didn't snow that much - I added the snow to the picture, but it felt that cold to me!

It was warm in the RV, though. It was also warm by the fire - which we kept going the whole time. 

We also made some good hot soup and tea to keep us warm. 

On Saturday we all went to see the new Star Wars. We all enjoyed it! 

Sunday was New Year's Eve. 

We talked about our favorite parts of the past year. We had a really fun year! 

Then we played some fun Minute to Win it Games. This one was the ball drop. You had to drop ping pong balls in the cup behind you without looking. 

We had to fill in a clock face with candies using only straws. 

And we saw who could make the tallest cup stack in one minute. 

The hardest game was moving toothpicks to show 12:00 in digital time using a toothpick held in your mouth. WOW! This one took way more than a minute. 

We popped confetti poppers and waved good bye to 2017.

Cheers to new memories yet to be made in 2018! 

Christmas 2017

Christmas 2017 was amazing! I asked the kids their favorite and will share them with you. 

Gabe

Favorite gift: Lego Dimensions PS4 game

Favorite Christmas activity: Cookie Bake-off 

Selah

Favorite gift: Mermaid Tail Blanket

Favorite Christmas activity: the Parade of Lights

Mig

Favorite gift: Lego Demensions

Favorite Christmas activity: Playing Pie in the Face

Faith 

Favorite Gift: Handmade doll house from our neighbor

Favorite Christmas activity: The fireworks at the city's tree lighting ceremony and Pie in the Face