Thanksgiving Weekend

We were lucky enough to get outta town for four days over Thanksgiving weekend. We only had Mom, Dad, Courtney and my family for the dinner (and Katie via Google Hangout) but it was still nice. Plus, there were leftovers galore! We had a fun time eating (THANK YOU MOM AND DAD!), shopping (THANK YOU JOJO!), playing outside, playing the Kinect (THANK YOU, COURTNEY!), watching movies, getting a tutoring session (THANK YOU, PROFESSOR JACKMAN!) and attending a baby shower (THANK YOU MANDY, JUDY AND AUBREY!) All in all, it was a great weekend and I was not in a hurry to get back to real life.

Amelia and Cooper all ready for some turkey. Only Cooper had a PB&J, Go-gurt and fruit snacks.

At the Blackfoot Lake bed. We needed a little exercise after all the food.

The kids loved rolling down the big hill at the lake.

Cooper did not want to take part in our family portrait.

But he was okay with the family wrestling.

Cooper having a deep conversation with Nana. Using gestures and everything.

Amelia relaxing at Nana's. 

P.S. Mandy, can you send me the recipe for the hot chocolate, please, please, please?

Weekend fun and Thankgiving Program

Last weekend we went to Blackfoot so Amelia and I could attend the Boise Temple re-dedication. It was a little long for her, but I think she's happy she went. We had a good time playing with cousins and family. Here are a few pictures:

Amelia and Lynnli had their first fight, over a doll named Lynnli (it was Amelia's).

Lynnli won.

Amelia was not a good sport, even when I explained it would only be for a little while.

Cooper kept Lynnli and Matthew entertained. (Notice Lynnli's tight grip on the doll?)

I also had Cooper's Thankgiving Program today. I'll post the video, so if you can't open it, please let me know and I'll email it to you. You really need to see it!  First a picture of Cooper the Pilgrim:

 

Now the videos:

More Fun in the Snow

Yesterday we had a morning snow storm that left us with about two to three inches. After school, Amelia and Cooper begged to go out and play in it. This is the first year they've really wanted to, and its been nice. They spent over an hour making snowmen. Here are some pictures:

In other news, I'm taking my second math test tomorrow morning. I'll update the results after its graded!

I PASSED!! Barely, but I did. On to test number 3..........

A week later.....

Has it only been a week? Seriously?! I don't believe I have ever had a week be quite so long. Amazing what that extra hour of daylight savings can do, isn't it? It can make time drag like its never dragged before. Anyway, a lot has happened this week. For those of you on pins and needles about my "MATH DRAMA", I decided my GPA scholarship was more important and dropped the course. I took the first of three tests and passed. Hooray!! I'm studying for the second one, and doing alright. I'm hoping to take (and pass) it by late next week, so I can spend the remainder of the three weeks cramming for the third and final test. Wish me luck, pray for a miracle and keep your fingers crossed at all times.

Amelia and Cooper are coming down off of the Halloween candy high and the daylight savings mess. They've settled into school (especially Cooper) and we're plugging along. Here are a few pictures. They are all of Cooper, because Amelia has uploaded hers onto her own blog, and didn't want to "bore" anyone with posting them twice.

Cooper regularly cracks me up. When I tell him good job, or he's done something right, he has started to give me a thumbs up, wink one eye, and click his tongue.

 

We went shopping for new pants for Cooper. He made sure they looked awesome from every angle.

 

Cooper with his friends from church, Captain America and another Thor.

Cooper's "boom goggles". They allow him to shoot fire out of his eyes.

Since I don't have any pictures posted of Amelia, I will post an "Amelia-ism". I was dropping her off at school this morning, and she jumped out of the car. There were about five kids playing around and two boys immediately ran up to her and started talking to her. As I watched, she flipped her ponytail behind her shoulder in a flirtatious manner and smiled at them. As I was gawking, she and the boy (one had left ) turned back to look at me. She waved, and as the boy turned away, she gave me a "go!" motion with her hand, turned back to the boy with a smile and walked with him into the school.

I am in T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

Hocus Pocus

Last weekend we went to a "Hocus Pocus Celebration" here in Rexburg. It was held just a few blocks from our home, so it was nice to have it so close. The weather was still pretty chilly, but not as cold as it has been. (By the way, tomorrow is set to be mid 60s, and all the snow has melted). Amelia donned her little red riding hood and "tappy" shoes, and Cooper morphed into Thor, completed with his thunder-bringing hammer.

We had a fun time looking at the pumpkins, riding the horse-drawn hay ride, eating donut holes and cider (okay, just I drank it), getting our face painted (okay, just Amelia), listening to the storyteller, and gathering candy from all the businesses up and down the street. I don't have a lot of pictures because the camera my sweet parents lent me after mine mysteriously fell into water ran out of batteries, and I didn't have extra on hand. Here the few pictures from our fun afternoon out:

Ready to bring the thunder and run from wolves.

We found a Thor pumpkin, so had to get Coop's picture by it.

Outside one of the businesses. Even though it was cool, Cooper's "soft" muscles and Amelia's warm cape kept them toasty. I was freezing, however.

The storyteller.....creepy, huh? I wish I could've recorded her cackle, it was sinister. She was so realistic I almost threw water on her to see if she'd melt, and I occasionally checked the sky for flying monkeys.

Whew, not as creepy.

We also carved our jack-o'-lanterns on Friday. The kids did really well and knew exactly what they wanted. However, for the third year running, Cooper would NOT clean the guts out of his pumpkin, "'cuz its disgusting!" Amelia gave him a hard time about it, but I saw her gingerly spooning out her pumpkin's innards, careful not to touch any of the slimy seeds or pulp!

Amelia carved it!

Cooper by his pumpkin. All evening Amelia and I heard over and over, "I'm the youngest in our family, but I got the biggest pumpkin!"

All lit up. Mine is missing a huge black spider on its head to frighten it. Cooper and Amelia took it and try to hide it in different places to scare each other. Maybe I should put a math book or my latest homework, instead? They are positively terrifying.

Let It Snow..................and It Did!

We've had a lot going on this week. It's Red Ribbon Week at school, so the kids have different dress up days, I've been researching the best option math-wise for me, and we had our first snow! Here are a few pictures of our week:

Cooper's new shirt and tie. They are size 6-7, because at 5 1/2, he's closer to 6 than 5 now.

Dress like a pirate day.

It also happened to snow that day......5 1/2 inches.

Cooper was lying on his stomach, slowly army-crawling through the snow. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "Plowing through the snow with my arms." 

A front view of the plowing.

Amelia decided to join him.

This is the snowman Amelia was trying to make. The snow wasn't cooperating. As I was pulling Cooper in the sled I could hear Amelia talking to her snowman. I asked her what she named him, and she said, "I named him Arnold, but I call him Harold." I laughed so hard I couldn't pull Cooper anymore. Amelia didn't see the humor, and kept adding snow to Arnold/Harold. Hope he doesn't have an identity crisis.

The demise of Arnold/Harold.

 I wish next week was a bit slower, but with Halloween on Wednesday, I doubt it will be! Look forward to a post with school parades, Hocus Pocus celebration and trunk or treating!

Advice Please, My 5 Faithful Readers

I have reached the midterm of my classes for this semester. I'm sure you are all aware of my math difficulties. I am not doing bad, but neither am I doing well. After speaking with my professor, it is unlikely that I will be able to pull my C- to a B in the next five weeks unless I receive a 90% or above on my remaining tests. (I'll give you a moment to control your wild laughter).

Why do I need a B, you ask? This class was fulfilling a requirement for one the three tests I must pass by December 15th. Therefore, if I continue in my class, I will not only receive a grade that will plummet my 3.8 GPA to a 3.4 (not high enough for a academic scholarship) but I will have to take and pass the dreaded third test anyway.

HOWEVER, if I withdraw from my class, my credits for the semester will drop below the "progressive rate" that BYUI requires, and regardless of my straight A's and one B-, I will be put on Academic Warning. Academic Warning will not affect my GPA, my progression toward my degree, or my financial aid. The only downside is its like using my "get out of jail free" card early in the game. If, during the remaining course of my illustrious college career, I withdraw or fail another class, or my GPA drops below 2.0, I run the risk of being put straight on Academic Probation. Here are my options:

1. I withdraw from Intermediate Algebra by November 5. There will be no penalty with my financial aid, my GPA will remain in its glorious state, and I can put all my previous class time, tutoring, and effort into studying like mad to pass the third test----by only the required 70%. BUT, I will be on Academic Warning for the Winter semester, and use up my "free" card, so to speak, with two math classes left to pass (only with a C-, though). Also, I will feel like a failure.

2. I can continue with my Algebra class, try to increase my tutoring and understanding, pray for a miracle, and run the risk of not succeeding in the class, ruining my GPA, having no hair left due to stress and having to take the test anyway.

3. Shut all my books, cry for an hour straight, eat junk food while I watch TV until I weigh 545 pounds and must be removed from my house by a crane.

Any thoughts?