Science Fair -- Jaiden (age 12 -- 7th Grade)

Jaiden participated in the Regional Science Fair at SUU today!!

 

Jaiden: Science Olympiad

Saturday morning Emily and Jaiden left at 5:30 a.m. for the Science Olympiad at SUU.  Jaiden and Emily were partners and the three events they competed in were: Road Scholars (about maps) which included a lot of Math, Reach for the Stars (about Astronomy), and competing in towers. They had to made a tower out of sticks that followed very specific guidelines and then they tested them to see how much weight each of the them could hold.

Jaiden and Emily had been really stressed about this events for weeks. Jaiden came home feeling pretty discouraged. She said that it was really difficult and that she and Emily didn't win any medals. Their school team did very well though and won third place in region, qualifying for State.

Jaiden got home just in time for women's conference. This was the first time that Jenna got to come. The talks were really good! I need to listen to them again though, because I felt distracted after such a busy weekend.

Our RS had brought in custard and Italian ice from Zeppes for just our ward in the Young Women's room. They did this in lieu of throwing a big RS Birthday Party. It was nice because usually we all go out to Zeppes after the women's conference anyway and so this year Zeppes was brought to us! When we got home there was a nice dinner of Chinese food waiting for us. I have the best husband ever!  

 

Dramatic Arts Festival

Jaiden competed with her school at the Dramatic Arts Festival today at Tonaquint. She performed "My New Philosophy" from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" with Isaac Anderson. They got a perfect score in both their rounds and were one of the three finalists chosen for their category of Musical Theater and so they got to perform for everyone. I was able to go and watch the finals -- they did great!!

Here is the VIDEO of her number (not from today, but from her play last Fall)  

Stake Dance

Jared had a work meeting and then worked all day. Rick and I teamed up interpreting for the day.  Saturday night Rick and Grandma and the kids played Settlers of Catan while I did computer work. Janelle was really excited about going to her first Stake dance now that her friends were finally old enough to go with her. But her friends wanted to leave after only an hour and Janelle felt like they didn't give it enough of a chance. Janika went out on a date to dinner, to a wedding reception, and to see the new "Beauty and the Beast." She loved the movie and enjoyed the evening. 

 

All Abilities Park (Spring Break)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We all went to Thunder Junction -- the new all abilities park (except for Jared). Rick met us there since a guy was coming to give us a bid on our roof. Rick is really worried about our roof and thinks we need to replace it as soon as possible, but we are concerned that it will cost thousands of dollars and we just don't have the funds right now. We have asked around to several neighbors who recently had their roofs done and are getting a few bids before deciding what to do.

The kids had fun at the park -- except for Josh who was moping around and complaining that he didn't feel well. Rick took him home early and the rest of us rode the little train that goes around the park. Rick and I teamed for some interpreting work tonight and really enjoyed it! 
 
Jared worked tonight. Jaiden and Janelle went to Ivins Reservoir with the Purdys and Carter Leonard, and then came over to our house for games (until 11:00 p.m.) Josh was invited to get-together at a friend's house. The parents took them all out to eat at the Pizza and Pasta Factory and then they played gamed until 9:00. So the only ones home were Grandma, Janika, and Jenna and so they brought her out to eat at Arctic Circle.

Hiking -- Spring Break

This morning I went walking in the morning and then brought the kids hiking on a little trail that overlooks the city. We had fun hiking and taking pictures. We then went to Walmart to buy soccer cleats for Josh and Jenna. We also got some shoes for the three youngest. Janika and Grandma arrived from Ogden shortly after we got home. We are excited to be able to spend some time with them!

Children's Museum (Spring Break)

We met the Williams at the Children's Museum today and they had a great time! The older kids ran around getting clues for a scavenger hunt. They then unscrambled the letters and turned in their paper to get a treat. Allison and I ran into another friend there and the three of us just gabbed the entire time -- which is why all of the pictures on the blog are only from the first room (the new dinosaur room) because then I got distracted. We then met the Williams at Chick-fil-a for lunch and the kids had fun playing on the playground.

The kids and I ran over to Costco to order Jaiden some new glasses. Her glasses broke on Sunday. They were getting pretty old anyway and it actually worked out well because it forced her to finally learn how to use her contacts. It helped that it was Spring Break and so she had plenty of time to get them in and out without feeling stressed and rushed (like most school mornings) and after a few days she felt comfortable taking them in and out. It's about time!!  Her new glasses should be ready in about a week.

Tonight Jared went to work and the rest of us watched a movie from Redbox -- "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children." It was a little weird, but we liked it. All four of the Williams children had come over for a movie party last night watching "Storks," and so they invited Jenna over to watch "Lady and the Tramp" at their house tonight (we thought Miss Peregrine's might be too creepy for them) but Emily and Bradley came over to watch it.