• Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    It was a busy week, but we had a lot of fun.  The girls came into work with me first thing in the morning for a little bit.  They helped unlock the doors, turn on lights, and get set up for the day before spending time working on their summer workbooks for some time before I took them into camp.  They did a Music & Technology camp in the morning and a Rube Goldberg creative experiments in the afternoon.  It was super neat seeing what cool creations they developed over the course of the week.

    I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.

    Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday –Thankful for an opportunity to spend some time chatting with the girls on the way to work and their help getting everything set up for the day.

    Tuesday – Thankful to have an chance to see and hear all the neat things the girls are learning and creating in their week at Summer Camp.

    Wednesday – Thankful for a dentist near home, that gets me in for an early appointment, and that I didn’t have any cavities or items that need to be done! Yay!

    Thursday – Thankful for the girls curious and inquisitive minds.  They are not afraid to ask questions so they can learn more from people in various areas.

    Friday – Thankful for some quiet one-on-one time with Jake.  It was nice to relax, catch up, chat, and spend some time together.  Grateful for his thoughts and for being a sounding board regarding my crazy ideas.  He brings peace, calm, and great insight to areas that am I trying to figure out.

    Saturday – Thankful for an opportunity to spend time my family!  We got a lot of accomplished, but also had fun together!

    Sunday – Thankful for the freedom to attend church, learn, and grow.  Grateful for a refreshing and much needed moments with my family.

    What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today.  It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day.

  • Karlie’s Science Fair Project! More = Less!

    Karlie Science Fair

    More = Less!

    Karlie did a fun Science Fair project this year for 5th grade!  It was fun and a great learning experience for her.  Her friends and classmates were fascinated by it.  We are proud of her hard work!

    The purpose of the experiment was to see if the changing the velocity movement through a pipe will cause the pressure to increase?  Bernoulli’s Principle says that when a fluid is traveling in a horizontal direction, as the velocity increases the pressure will decrease and vice versa. The principle shows when the pressure is at it’s lowest, and is at it’s highest.  Some of the things that use Bernoulli’s Principle are race cars, airplanes (Bernoulli’s Principle makes it possible to fly), and it helps a baseball player throw a curve ball. The fluids increase speed, when pushed through a narrower space, will cause internal pressure to decrease even though it is in a tighter space.  The external pressure increase at slower speeds.

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    Karlie presenting her Science Fair Project!  She did excellent!

  • Brina & Karlie’s 5th Grade Graduation Party & Celebration!

    5th Grade Graduation Party & Celebration

    Brina and Karlie with Mrs. Johnson at their Graduation Celebration Party!  Mrs. Johnson was Karlie’s homeroom teacher in 2nd Grade, taught Karlie in Gift & Talented Program from 3rd grade up, and was both girls STEM Club Coach for 2 years.  Excellent teacher!!!

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    Such a sweet Daddy spent a lot of time helping get ready for this big day including helping cut starfish, decorate, blow up balloons, and so much more.  Thankful to have a partner that pitches in and takes the time to celebrate with the kids!

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    Luau theme at the Grad Party!  The kids had a blast!

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    Karlie with her homeroom teacher Mr. Moore and her friend David!  Mr. Moore was an awesome teacher!

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    Brina hanging out with her friend at the party!

    P1640622cSweet Sisters!  Thankful for these two girls!

  • School: Karlie’s 5th Grade Awards! Good Job KARLIE!

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    Karlie’s 5th Grade Awards!

    Brina and Karlie had their 5th grade Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 27, 2016.  There is something both unique and special about having twins because they challenge and encourage each other in many areas of their lives.  Thankful for the girls love of learning.  It is great seeing them grow up into amazing young ladies!

    Jake and I knew the girls did really well this year, worked hard, and got decent grades, but we were still surprised at how well they did.  Thankful for all their hardwork regarding school.  It has obviously paid off and they have learned a lot throughout the year.   They did fantastic this year.  It was a tough year, but it was worth all their effort!

    All there teachers were excellent and encouraged them to learn a lot while making learning fun for the students!  Their Homeroom Teachers, Gifted & Talented Teacher, Reading Teacher, and STEM Club Coaches, Library Leader, Chorus Director, Safety Patrol Leader, Beta Club Leader, the Administration Leadership Team and more  were all good about communicating with the parents which is always key in helping the kids be successful.   Thankful for all the teachers and all energy they put into our kids this school year.

    We are VERY PROUD of the hard work Karlie put forward this year and the amount she was able to accomplish throughout her 5th grade year!  The girls have the biggest class in the school so it is a huge honor to get these awards.  Way to go kiddo!!!

    Karlie received the following 18 Award Certificates, 13 Award Medals, 3 Award Pins, 2 Trophies, & 4 Specialty Awards:

    • 1 – Highest Math Achievement Awards (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Highest Social Studies Achievement Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Highest Reading Achievement Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Highest Science Achievement Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Highest Language Arts Achievement Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – “A” Honor Roll Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Jet Toy Challenge Competition Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal – Brina’s Team went to Regional Competition)
    • 1 – 5th Grade Elementary School Diploma (It’s official that she has graduated up to 6th grade – Middle School. Received 1 Award Certificate, 1 Award Medal, & 1 Stuffed Bear)
    • 1 – Helping Hands & Beta Club Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal – for doing Community Service Projects throughout the school year)
    • 1 – Chorus Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal – participated in Community Chorus Events & Activities throughout the year)
    • 1 – Academic Excellence Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Library Assistant & Book Worm Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Adorable Book Worm)
    • 1 – President’s Education Awards for Outstanding Academic Excellence (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Pin)
    • 1 – Safety Patrol Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Pin)
    • 1 – 1st Place Accelerated Reading Award & Trophy (Received 1 Award Certificate, 1 Award Medal, & 1 Trophy – Karlie broke her schools record in highest AR Points!!!)
    • 1 – Children’s Book Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – STEM Club Award (STEM Club Team – went to state) (Received 1 Award Certificate, 1 Award Pin, & STEM Organizer for next school year)
    • 1 – Gift & Talented “GT” Gift Award (Received a Karlie’s Characteristic Gift Award from GT Teacher and Classmates
    • 1 – All A’s All Years in Elementary School Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Trophy)

    Karlie and Brina together received  34 Award Certificates + 25 Award Medals + 6 Award Pins + 3 Trophies + 1 Cash Prize + 7 Specialty Awards at their 5th Grade Awards Ceremony!

    Love these girls! XOXO

  • School: Brina’s 5th Grade Awards! Way to GO BRINA!

    Karlie & Brina's 5th Grade Awards

    Brina’s 5th Grade Awards!

    Brina and Karlie had their 5th grade Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 27, 2016.  Jake and I knew the girls did really well this year, worked hard, and got decent grades, but we were still surprised at how well they did.  Thankful for all their hardwork regarding school.  It has obviously paid off and they have learned a lot throughout the year.  They both had awesome teachers which is always beneficial for the kids too.

    We did not even save seats for the girls (we didn’t realize that they would need to sit with us after graduation), but it didn’t matter because they barely even sat down before they were called back up on stage to receive their next award.  They did fantastic this year.  It was a tough year, but it was worth all their effort!

    All there teachers were excellent and encouraged them to learn a lot while making learning fun for the students!  Their Homeroom Teachers, Gifted & Talented Teacher, Reading Teacher, and STEM Club Coaches, Library Leader, Chorus Director, Safety Patrol Leader, Beta Club Leader, the Administration Leadership Team and more  were all good about communicating with the parents which is always key in helping the kids be successful.   Thankful for all the teachers and all energy they put into our kids this school year.

    We are VERY PROUD of the hard work Brina put forward this year and the amount she was able to accomplish throughout her 5th grade year!  The girls have the biggest class in the school so it is a huge honor to get these awards.  Way to go chickie-a-dee!!!

    Brina received the following 16 Award Certificates, 12 Award Medals, 3 Award Pins, 1 Trophy, 1 Cash Prize, &  3 Specialty Awards:

    • 1 – Highest Math Achievement Awards (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Highest Social Studies Achievement Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Highest Reading Achievement Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Highest Language Arts Achievement Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – “A” Honor Roll Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Jet Toy Challenge Competition Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal – Brina’s Team went to Regional Competition)
    • 1 – School Science Fair Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Regional Science Fair 1st Place Grand Prize SCPC Winner (Received 1 Award Certificate, 1 Award Medal, 1 Grand Prize Trophy, & a Cash Prize)
    • 1 – 5th Grade Elementary School Diploma (It’s official that she has graduated up to 6th grade – Middle School. Received 1 Award Certificate, 1 Award Medal, & 1 Stuffed Bear)
    • 1 – Helping Hands & Beta Club Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal – for doing Community Service Projects throughout the school year)
    • 1 – Chorus Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal – participated in Community Chorus Events & Activities throughout the year)
    • 1 – Academic Excellence Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Medal)
    • 1 – Library Assistant & Book Worm Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Adorable Book Worm)
    • 1 – President’s Education Awards for Outstanding Academic Achievement (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Pin)
    • 1 – Safety Patrol Award (Received 1 Award Certificate & 1 Award Pin)
    • 1 – STEM Club Award (STEM Club Team – went to state) (Received 1 Award Certificate, 1 Award Pin, & STEM Organizer for next school year)

    Brina and Karlie together received  34 Award Certificates + 25 Award Medals + 6 Award Pins + 3 Trophies + 1 Cash Prize + 7 Specialty Awards at their 5th Grade Awards Ceremony!

    Love these girls! XOXO

  • Brina & Karlie’s Awards Ceremony! Congratulations Girls!

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     Brina and Karlie with Ms. Osbey.  They loved spending time in the library as Library Assistants helping her!

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     Proud of these two girls!

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    Karlie receiving her Accelerated Reading Trophy! 🙂  She broke the school record in AR points!  Loves her books!  Way to go KARLIE!!!

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    Fifth Grade Awards Ceremony!

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    Hanging out with friends between Graduation and the Awards Ceremony

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    Safety Patrol!

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     Brina’s fantastic Homeroom Teacher this year Mrs. Husso!  She was an amazing teacher and Brina learned a ton in her class!

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     Brina’s reading teacher for the past several years Mrs. Whitmire!  She is AWESOME and has helped Brina so much with improving her reading skills!  Wish we could take us with Brina to Middle School!!!

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    Karlie & Brina – 5th Grade 2016 Class Graduation & Awards Ceremony!  Proud of these girls!

    Karlie & Brina 5th Grade Awards Ceremony

    Both Karlie & Brina were the Highest Student in Social Studies for their home class!

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    Karlie & Brina were the highest student in READING for their home class!  WooHoo Brina, she has learned so much over the past few years even with handling dyslexia.  Proud of both of our girls!

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    Karlie highest student in Science for her home class!

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    Jet Toy Competition!  Both Karlie and Brina’s individual teams went on to compete in the Regional Jet Toy Competition this year!

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    Brina won her class Science Fair and went on to win 1st Place Grand Prize in our Regional Science Fair competition!  Very proud of Brina and all her hardwork!  We calculated that she made over 400 cupcakes throughout her Science experiment!  Way to go BRINA!!!

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    Award for Academic Excellence!

  • Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    It was a week packed full of a lot of emotions.  With the girls wrapping up at a school they have been attending the past 7 years it has been quite a stepping stone for us.  We are grateful to all the teachers and administration at Crosswell Elementary for the amount of time, energy, and attention they have invested in our girls education.  They have made a positive and lasting impression on our kids.  Wish we could take some of the amazing teachers with us to Middle school.  We are excited to see what Middle School will bring and know that the kids will probably adjust quicker and better than at least their Mom because with them moving up a school their growing up seems more real.  Love my girls and very proud of what they have accomplished over the past year!     There was so much to be thankful for last week.

    I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.  Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday –Thankful to have the laundry room renovation started and that we were still able to get the laundry done so none of us have to run around wearing dirty clothes!

    Tuesday – Thankful for the opportunity to spend some time with the girls after school that didn’t include doing a bunch of homework.  We even had a few extra minutes to do a rapid quick clean up around the house and read some more of our books together.  LOVE catching both of the girls reading independently on their own during free time (for those who know our family you know that for one of our kids this is a really big deal)!

    Wednesday – Thankful for time after work to spend with other Mom’s at school prepping for the kids 5th grade Graduation Celebration Party.   We were able to get a lot accomplished and organized during our time together.

    Thursday – Thankful for Brina’s hard work on her “Cupcakes on the Rise” Science Fair Project because we were able to see her accept a 1st Place Trophy, Medals, Certificate, and Cash Prize (we had no idea there was a cash prize as well) for the Regional Science Fair!  Very proud of our Brina Bee!

    Friday – Thankful for an opportunity to watch the girls Graduation and Awards Ceremony!  They did fantastic and both kids received numerous awards, medals, pins, certificates, trophies and other cool awards for all that they had accomplished throughout this year.  Also, Karlie received a trophy for getting all A’s her entire Elementary School years.  Super proud of these kids and the effort they put into their learning.  Praying they continue to have the love of learning as they get older!

    What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today.  It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!

  • CONGRATULATIONS Brina & Karlie! 5th Grade Graduation Ceremony!

    Proud of our girls!

    We are so proud of our girls!  They did it!  Both girls successfully completed all of their elementary school classes.  It is hard to believe that they are now heading into middle school.  They went to Crosswell for 7 years!  Thankful for all the great teachers and administration that invested all their time and energy into our girls.  They have grown and learned a lot of about life, friends, and increased their knowledge.

    Congratulations Brina & Karlie!

    Today was a big celebration for all they have accomplished in their schooling.  It came with a lot of emotions for me as their Mom.  I was thrilled and happy while at the same time sad knowing that my babies are growing up very quickly.  I want to hold onto and treasure these precious moments because these past few years have gone by way too fast.

      Brina getting her diploma from Mr. Holliday!

    We look forward to seeing them continue to grow.  They are sweet girls who have grown up so much.  It will be neat to see them transition into Middle School.  Love our girls!

      Karlie getting her diploma from Mr. Holliday!

    My girls are not babies anymore!

  • Volunteering at School

    Bridgette Hendrich Hayes's photo.
    Crazy day volunteering at school, watching both girls speak in front of their classmates, teachers, and parents – they did awesome! After running errands, sharing a surprise with someone who has been a blessing to our family, and various other activities I was able to finally sit down, eat a late lunch, and soak in the beautiful sunny Fall view from our back deck. Thankful for the colorful landscape!
  • Travel & Vacation: Cozy Cow Dairy (Windsor, CO)

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     Cozy Cow Dairy

    On one of our trips to Colorado my cousin Renelle introduced us to Cozy Cow Dairy in Windsor, CO.  It was a hot summer day and we were heading back to her house when we made a slight detour to the Cozy Cow Dairy.  The girls LOVED it!  Not only did they have amazing fresh chocolate milk, ice cream, cheeses, and more they had a farm animal petting zoo.

    Before even going into the store we had to go by and say “hi” to each of the farm animals.  They had some precious little ones so they girls thought it was so neat.  After petting the animals and washing our hands we enjoyed some fresh chocolate milk and ice cream.  It was DELICIOUS!!!  It hit the spot on the hot summer day too.  After our special treat we headed back outside to pet the farm animals once more before heading back to Renelle’s house.  If you are in the Windsor area this is a great place to spot, cool down, and get a treat.  The kids will probably enjoy the farm animals too!

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    Cozy Cow Dairy – “In the moo’d for something good?”

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     Black and white baby goat

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     Baby brown calf – he was so soft and small to touch

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    The girls loved this one.  They said it looked like it had a crazy hear day, but it was as soft as a teddy bear!

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     Fresh milk, ice cream, cheeses, and more at Cozy Cow Dairy!

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!