MAYLIN2007

In the fall there are a lot of celebrations going on. I am not a huge fan of Halloween. Sorry, I know it is an extremely popular holiday, but I have never been a big fan of being scared, of walking around in the cold getting candy, and then I was also trick or treating in the era where you took your candy to the ER where they would x-ray it to make sure there wasn't a razor blade in your candy. Do you remember that period? There has to be other 80's people out there. I remember only going to people's houses I knew and then we still had to inspect all the candy. My kids have it easier. They seem to know more people around them than I did as a child. But still, it is not my favorite. But, there are other great celebrations this time of year! At my kids' school, they don't celebrate Halloween either. They celebrate the Harvest and all the wonderful things and blessings that time of year brings. They do service activities all week at school and have treats and play...

I am sure that Alex will kill me for posting these ballroom dance pictures, but I couldn't resist! I think they are so cute. He is a really good dance (this is his 2nd year of ballroom) and the girls love to dance with him because he is one of the few boys in the class that is taller than the girls. I showed these pictures to his football coach and Alex wasn't happy. I told him I thought it showed how well rounded he was. He doesn't look thrilled because it is hard having mom come to one of your classes, let alone take pictures! Doing the cha-cha. I love the side of Alex that is creative, sweet and kind. I also love his other side - competitive, hard playing, rough and tumble! Here he is in football. I keep telling him that his ballroom class is helping his footwork for football. He isn't buying it. I even cited the NFL players who have won Dancing with the Stars.  He is the one of the end with the black arms and gloves. He is number 11...

I was lucky enough to drive a load of kids for the second grade science field trip. They went to BYU's science center to look around and have a presentation in the planetarium. I had to laugh about the car ride. On the way there, all the kids told knock knock jokes that did not make sense at all. That was pretty funny, but to hear how the kids would laugh as if they actually did make sense was the BEST. On the way home, they told scary stories. Most of those didn't make sense either, but they all loved it. The science center was pretty cool. Here is Maylin and the other 3 kids I had in my car. She is annoyed at me in these pictures because I took another girl's picture before hers. Oh! To be 7. We learned a lot about the sun and the different planets. The kids loved the moving screen and the awesome stars. Here we are down in the science center checking out all the cool displays. Lunch break! She loved all the hands on displays. My fav...

Mom, here is the link you need. http://austinmission.blogspot.com/ In September we went to a Chinese Moon Festival Celebration! Yes, it has taken me that long to post about it. I was waiting for another full moon....just kidding. It was held at the Dobson's home. The Brown's were there and a family named the Matheney's we met years and years ago right before we went to China. We hadn't seen them since then so it was nice to catch up! Actually, to re-remember each other again! We met lots of nice people too. Maylin made lots of new friends. For dinner, we all made our own dumplings. At first, Maylin would not have anything to do with it. In fact, she turned her nose up at it all. After Kenzie, got involved then Maylin took off. We couldn't get her to stop making dumplings! She made tons and got pretty good at the pleating. They were delicious to eat! Maylin loved them! She said, "I really don't care for Chinese food, but these are amazing!" Funny. ...

At our school, the kids have a memorization a week. This past week Maylin's class memorized the "Creation Poem." I happened to be in class one day as they practiced it as a group. When they pass it off, they do it individually to the teacher. Maylin was so cute! I couldn't believe how grown up and smart she is! I remember when Alex had this teacher and did this poem. Oh! How they grow. She is so dang wonderful!