Love These Hoodlums!

Mr. Smartypants

Ezra love school. Like, really REEEEEEEALLY LOVES SCHOOL. This winter he was paired up in class and worked on making an invention - any invention - and then presented them to the parents. His invention was The Dust Blocker and was created to keep dust out of your eyes. Nobody likes dust in their eyes, it's a global problem! The second picture is him demonstrating how it works, built with a paper plate, painters tape, and a recycled sour cream container. 

Because he was so in love with the invention process, every night he came home and made something new. For example, these old socks now turned into sandals that are functional enough to wear outdoors. He used a file folder for the sole and duct tape to complete the construction process.

His bedroom walls are lined with posters that he has created at school. Most of these talk about the formation of different types of rocks, the water cycle, land formations, difference bodies of water, different layers of soil, and various strategies that he's learned in math.

This is another invention where he lists the supplies needed to build his invention and steps to create it. I believe this was some sort of bug catcher.

This is his homemade laptop, complete with charging station.

A scroll

And lastly, Ezra created 6 different games constructed of cardboard, styrofoam, duct tape, cups, nerf balls, army men, and imagination. We spent all night playing these games as a family for part of our FHE.

 

Christmas Performances

This Christmas season Lance was very selective of what he chose to perform in because he just doesn't have the time, and he's sorely missed at home. He opted to do the Messiah in CDA which was just so lovely, it's one of our must-attend Christmas concerts every year. 

This is his quartet singing a few Christmas songs at our ward Christmas brunch, they did a great job!

 

Cora Turns 11!

Happy birthday, darling girl! Because Cora's two best friends are really into Taylor Swift, naturally Cora loves her as well so this year she received a Taylor Swift cake. Cora is still so fiesty but sweet at the same time. When she's at school she works SO HARD and is really enjoying being the oldest grade at the school in 5th. She loves reading and often does that in her spare time, reading her favorite books over and over again. She's very girly and quick to laugh at the boys. She loves helping me cook in the kitchen and loves dancing. This year Charity was able to be here for her birthday and Cora loves when extra girls are in the house. We love you Cora!!

 

Cora-Isms

Cora is growing and changing more than the boys, she's just so grown up all of a sudden. A friend sent this picture to me, it's of the school assembly where Cora was holding hands with her bff Presley who has cerebral palsy and needs assistance to stand and walk. Cora is such a compassionate and sweet friend to Presley, it is so sweet watching them interact.

Picture day!

I got this love note passed to me during sacrament meeting, it made my day. 

 

Halloween

Halloween was fun this year as I decided it was time to dress up again. Cora was a person getting abducted from an alien and also a cat, Ezra was a police officer, and Kimball wore his gilly suit.

Look at Kimball's haul! I bet it weighed at least 15 pounds, I couldn't believe it.

These are the two friends Kimball went trick or treating with.

And Lance had on a mask and stayed in this casket all night long scaring trick or treaters. It was a huge neighborhood hit!