Friday, January 21, 2011

Dawson's 1st Spelling Bee


Dawson decided he wanted to enter the spelling bee this year. Since 3rd grade is the first year you can enter then we were new to all of this. They sent him home a few months ago with a book with a ton of words of all sorts of different origins. Some which you would never use. Since there were so many words we were a little unsure of what ones to practice but we did our best.
Before going to the school spelling bee Dawson had to win his class one first. He and another girl from our ward were the two moving on from his class. Dawson was having a hard time cause he felt bad. There was another girl in his class that really wanted to do it but missed a word on her class one which disqualified her from the school spelling bee. She was crying and really upset so Dawson felt bad and wanted to give her his spot. We told him that he was sweet for thinking of her but that he earned this and should still go for it.
So the big day finally arrived and he was nervous as could be. Jason and I went to watch him and I was so proud of him for even wanting to participate. There were 24 contestants ranging from 3rd grade to 5th grade. He made it through the first two rounds before getting out on the third round on the word Ferret. He ended up being 7th place out of the 24. I was so proud of him. He was totally sad when he got out and you could tell. But he was trying to be so strong. After it was over and I went up to hug him he just lost it. He just started crying and just wanted to go home. Jason and I talked to him for a few minutes telling him how proud we were of him and telling him that the fact he even tried was more then most of the students did. We told him that he should be so proud that he was even 7th when he was up against 5th graders. We did get him calmed down and he did go back to class. He is still planning that next year he wants to enter again. I am so glad that he didn't let this get him down and make him never want to do it again.

Dawson posing for the picture at the mic.
Dawson and his proud Mommy
Dawson and his Dad

So I have kind of a funny story about him getting out on the word ferret. Just yesterday he came home from school and was asking me if he could get a ferret. It was so random cause we have never been around them. We don't know anyone that owns them or anything. But we convinced him that he did not want on because of the story of the ferret biting off a babies fingers. So Dawson, Jason and I sort of found it funny that of all the words he could have gotten out on it was that. But just for memory purposes his attempt to spell it was Pharrot! I was 2nd place for my 5th grade spelling bee and I always wish I could remember what word I got out on.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Christmas with Dawson

Unfortunately this year Dawson was in Utah with Glenn for Christmas. It was so hard having him gone. I kept telling him that when he got home I was going to make him go to sleep and celebrate Christmas in the morning so he had to have that restless night from anticipation. He did not think that was fair at all. I was only joking with him cause I think I was just as excited to watch him open his gifts as he was to open them. However I did make him put on his Christmas jammies as soon as we got home from the airport just for fun.

Dawson with all of his presents from Santa
His first Lego set. Yes I know he is 9 but he hadn't had interest in them til recently
His annual bathtub toys
His new wii Monopoly game
He had been asking for this for a while now.
Look how cute he is. I just love him
Kyson was just as excited as Dawson he had to help.
Apparently Dawson left some paper on the last gift and Kyson wants it off
This was the most exciting gift of all
I definitely think he was most excited for this too. His reaction was priceless
His New (to him) laptop from Santa
Dawson with all of his Santa gifts

We did have Kennidee and Kyson wait to open the "family" gifts as well as their gift exchanges between the kids so that they had something to open with Dawson. Also since they were family gifts and the exchange gifts were from Dawson too we thought it would be fun for him to be able to see their excitement.

The boys got matching hats from Mom and Dad.
Dawson got Lego Harry Potter from Grandma Rinnie and Papa
His new minky/satin blanket from Grandma Lourenco
Kyson loved his Toy Story 3 toys from Dawson and Kennidee
Kennidee got a daybed from Dawson and Kyson for her American Girl doll that she got from Santa.
Sometimes they can get along. Those moments are definitely ones to cherish
Kyson can't just hug without tackling. I love that boy!
Kyson was excited to see what Dawson was getting
The kids opening the family gifts
Scene it and movies for the family.
All in all it was a good night. We were so glad to have Dawson home with us again. It is amazing how much you miss your kiddos when they are away. Nothing is harder then sending your little man on a plane by themselves. he had a good time though and was ready to be home. He was singing "It's the best day ever" all night til bedtime. We sure love him and glad he had such a great "late" Christmas.

New years Eve

For New Years Eve this year we decided to have a get together with a few good friends. We let the kids just run and do their thing while the adults enjoyed some fun time with Jason's new Christmas present......Xbox Kinect. It was so fun of course everything is much more fun with good friends and good food. We all made some good munchies to enjoy throughout the night! We really had a good time and I am glad we were able to get together. It just would not be New Years without having a get together.

Us cute and crazy girlies!!!

Breanna and Chad

Cori and Travis (Kinect is serious business)
Kellie and Dave boxing
Jason running some hurdles
This was me doing the long jump prior to breaking my toe. So sexy!!!
Breanna bowling for our team
Chad bowling for his team!
Cori being Cori!
Cute little Kennidee
Kyson wanted a picture of me and him.
Of course Dawson wanted one as well.
Cori taking sexy pictures of herself! Isn't she lovely???
Kyson of course wanted a picture of him with his woody doll
Kyson was taking pictures with the camera!
I am so grateful for the great friendships that we have made in the short time we have been here. It has definitely made the holidays more bearable.