Pioneer Trek!

Twenty four years ago next month when I was fifteen years old I was able to experience a Pioneer Trek with my Stake in Colorado.

I remember loving the entire experience! The trekking, the lack of food, killing the turkey that we ate for dinner, our solo time, and the testimony meeting. I have often talked about this Trek with my family and husband. When our Stake decided to invite all the youth 12 and up for our Trek I was thrilled for Morgan! Since she was still busy with school she didn't get that excited for Trek! But when she got her dress from grandma (Thanks Margene for making it!) she couldn't wait to wear it!

Last Wednesday morning all the youth in our Stake were dropped off at the church. There we 400 kids all dressed like pioneers!The next day Jon and I were asked to come to the Trek and help with the Hoe Down! We were both very excited. I was anxious to see Morgan and talk to her about her experience. After a three hour drive we arrived at the site. We saw lots of tents, handcarts, and hundreds of tired pioneers! Day two was a HARD day of trekking. Everyone I spoke to told us that. When we finally found Morgan she was also tired and dirty. I was a little nervous about how the kids would respond to a Hoe Down considering that they were exhausted! Not everyone participated but many of the kids had a great time doing some fun line dances!

Even I had a great time dancing with all those young kids!

I was glad that I was able to experience a small portion of Trek with Morgan! Here we are with all the Jackson Pioneers!Morgan came home on Saturday and could not stop talking about her experience. At church yesterday she said that many of the beehives including herself want to go on another Trek! She loved it! I'm so grateful to those who spent countless hours to make this such a wonderful experience for our Youth! It was a HUGE success!

Fabulous Fifth Grade!

Mason's Fabulous Fifth Grade year is now officially finished! He is now done with Harmony and is moving onto Middle School. This morning he told me that he didn't want fifth grade to end! I asked him why he liked fifth grade so much and he told me that he loved his teacher:

He thinks Mrs. Tendler is the best 5th grade teacher in the whole wide world. We were both very excited when he got her since she is a fellow BYU alumni! She helped Mason in so many area's this year, especially reading! She challenged her class to set a goal for the number of reading minutes they wanted to accomplish each trimester. Her goal for them was 3000 minutes each trimester, Mason's goal was much higher. Yesterday during the class awards presentation he received the award in his class for reading the most minutes of the entire class all year!!! He read 14,308 pages in fifth grade! I attribute this new found love of reading to his fabulous fifth grade teacher! Mrs. Tendler would give out a homework hero award weekly to the students that completed/turned in their homework on time. Mason had a homework hero award every single week and got a certificate yesterday with only four other students for achieving this!

This picture is of him with some of his homework hero awards that I saved throughout the year. Mrs. Tendler had such a great relationship with her class. A final note she wrote to Mason said "You are a wonderful young man with many great qualities. Keep in touch and I want to hear when you get your Eagle Scout award, go to BYU, serve a mission, get married in the temple, and play in the NBA!" How awesome is she!!!

Mason also said he will miss his great classmates and friends!

In this picture three of the boys have been with him at Harmony since Kindergarten! His BFF Drake Mulder started out with him in Miss Thompson's Kindergarten class!

And finally he told me that he will miss going to Recess!

I took this picture of him and Drake today on the swings, which is rare because he usually was on the bball court. Mason told me that he wanted to do everything on the playground for one last time! I told him enjoy this last Recess because you are now growing up! Mason's had some great memories as a Harmony Husky! He has had some amazing teachers and great friends that have helped create these memories that will last forever!

Preschool Program!

Just a few short months ago, ten to be exact, I dropped my baby off at preschool! As I left that first day I was in tears!!! I couldn't believe that she was actually old enough to go to school. Every time I would drop her off I loved seeing her with her big backpack and I finally got a decent picture of her!

Last Thursday was her end of the year program. This was only the second program that she participated in all year since we were out of town at Christmas time. We were all very excited and anxious to see how she would do with a large audience! B, B, and Mas were on the front row cheering her on! She sang:

She did actions as she sang:

And she even got some microphone time:

We're proud of her since she barely would talk to her teachers at the beginning of the year! She grew to really love school, her teachers, and her friends! She had two great teachers Miss Michelle:

And Miss Keli:She successfully completed the Honey Bee Class and will only have one more year of Preschool until she goes to Kindergarten!?! Crazy!!!

End of the Year CRAZINESS!

The end of the school year has approached once again and so has the CRAZINESS that comes with it! Over the past month I have attended many extra events with my children!

Morgan finished up her second season with the Pacific Middle School Dance Team. She had a fun pajama party banquet and awards night with the team, parents, and coaches.

Here Morgan is with her dance team coach Sarah Daley. We adore her and are excited for next year!

Mason participated in track again for his third year at Harmony. He was hesitant about competing this year. Both Jon and I encouraged him and told him that it's OK if you don't place first. (This was part of his discouragement last year!) We were all very excited to attend the meet since it was a beautiful day. The girls and I arrived on time and met Jon at the Stadium along with many friends from our neighborhood and ward! We cheered Mason on as Harmony placed third in the Tug-of-War. This would be the last event I saw him compete in!!! I was CRUSHED when I had to leave at 6 pm to go and teach my class! They told us that the entire meet would only last until 6 pm. I should have known that all fifth grade events would be last and that the relay is ALWAYS last! But no! I missed him place FIRST in the 100 meter dash!

I started to cry when I saw this picture! He had a great time and took third place in the Relay and Hurdles!

Last week I went Bowling with Brooklyn on the Second Grade Field Trip. I think this is the best field trip of them all! I had so much fun with Brooklyn and her friends! They each got to bowl two games. It's a good thing there were bumpers on the lanes because there was some crazy bowling going on!

Brooklyn, Lauren, Jackson, and Christian had a great time together.

I have now been on Four Kindergarten field trips to the Oregon Zoo! They have all been fun but this year the weather was amazing! Last week I took the bumpy bus ride to the Zoo (I rode in the last seat on the bus!) When we got there the teachers gave us free reign on the Zoo and we just took off! It was so fun and EASY since it was just me, Brinley and her BFF since she was born Kennedy Lake!

(Kennedy and Brinley often talk about how they have been friends since they were born! Stacey and I tell them that because I was there videoing the birth of Kenna and Brinley was also there because she was in my tummy!) We were able to see the entire zoo since my group was so small, eat lunch when we wanted and enjoy a sunny day together!

There are other things I did not include in this crazy month like three music performances, Pride Night, Honor Roll Assembly, Art Show Recognition and Hawaiian Day! I had to write a daily list for the next 10 days because it includes many more activities like pre-school graduation program, End of the year Carnival, three field days, Marimba Concert, Fifth Grade Graduation and Move-Up day! Whew! I will be excited for Summer Vacation! Right?

My Cavalier!

For the past couple years Mason has loved LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers! He has the poster of him and a sign that I bought last summer at the NBA Store while I was in New York City hanging in his room!

Mason also has LeBron's Jersey, t-shirt and a Cleveland Cavaliers hoodie also purchased at the NBA store! (I think I spent the most money at this store last summer even more here than at the American Girl Store! It was an awesome store!!!)

I just recently got him this Cleveland Cav's pillow case to add ANOTHER pillow to his bed!

Mason just recently finished up his Basketball Season. He has been playing straight since November! After being extremely disappointed with his coach last fall, Jon decided to step up and coach his team. Jon and I contacted several of Mason's friends and previous teammates. We put together a Rockin team and the Cavaliers had a great season (that was their name! Imagine that??) I was very proud of Jon and his coaching abilities! This was his first time and he did great!

I think both the team and Jon learned a lot this season! The girls, myself, grandma, grandpa, and all the parents loved to go to his games on Friday night! We watched him dribble:

Pass the ball:Drive in for Layups:

Shoot Fouls:

And score many, many baskets!

Sadly both the Cleavland Cavaliers season is over and so is Mason's season! We are proud of him and his accomplishments and are looking forward to another great year next fall! (Pictures compliments of Jalynn Jackson Hansen! Thanks Linny I love them all!)