Joe's Orchestra Performance

At the beginning of 5th grade Joe told us that he wanted to take Guitar lessons.....I told him that if he shows interest in a instrument and really practices and plays it that we would think about the lessons.

So about two weeks into the 5th grade he comes home and tells Clint and I that he has decided to play
the bass in Orchestra. We supported his interest and he reminded us of the deal - play and practice an instrument
and get guitar lessons. Little did we know that the Bass will NOT fit into our car - to take it back and forth to school we have to roll the window in the car down and let it stick out....When he brought it home the first time it looked like a giant body bag laying in the living room ~ I asked Joe if we have to feed it too!

Needless to say - he has dedicated two days a week after school to practice his Bass and this evening he was able
to show off his playing. He did an outstanding job ...I was really impressed. Here are some pictures of him below.
Click on the image for a larger view.

Joe's 5th Grade Performance

Jessup Elementary has each grades musical performances throughout the school year so
not every performance has to be during Christmastime. This year the 5th Grade class' musical
was solving a mystery - the thieves were their teachers....It had to do with the freedoms we have
as Americans and it was WONDERFUL.

We were very proud of Joe - he had lots of great parts. He had singing parts, a solo narrator part,
he played the hand bells and did two dances. It was packed full of great entertainment and of course I
thought Joe was the best!

Here are some pictures of him below - Click on the collage for a closer look.

My Grandmother's Surgery

For all who knew, and those who didn't, my Grandmother had been informed that she had a large brain aneurysm on the left side of her brain. She went in for surgery on Thursday morning of last week. Her surgery went well - it took a little longer than expected due to the hardening of the outer part of the aneurysm. But, overall it was a successful surgery.

She was in ICU until yesterday and came home from Casper today. They could not get her blood pressure stabilized enough to have her in a regular room. She has a large scar but it is in the hairline so it is not very noticeable. (Women are very sensitive to that) Thankfully, yesterday she was able to move to a normal room and today she moved to Life Care Center for transitional care (here in Cheyenne) so they can continue to help her work on her strength and monitor her progress. As soon as she is stable and can use her walker "all" of the time while she is mobile she should be able to go home.

The bad news is that in addition to the one on the left they also found one on the right side of her brain. So they will need to, in approx. 6 weeks, go into the other side of her head and fix that one too. They also have found one in her stomach which will need to be surgically repaired as well. Needless to say, it is extremely hard on her and stressful for everyone else. Please keep her and those around her in your thoughts and prayers to get through this stressful and critical time.

Veteran's Day Assembly

Jessup Elementary had a Veteran's Day Assembly today at school honoring the Veteran's who serve and have served for the United States of America.

Joe, being a Boy Scout at Jessup, was selected to be a part of the flag ceremony.

Thank you to all the Men and Women who fight for our freedom!

God Bless America

School Pictures

Here are the kids' school pictures:
Joe 5th Grade ~ Hailey 5th Grade ~ Alexis 2nd Grade

Pumpkin Decorating Contest

(Be sure to read to the bottom - it is pretty funny)

Each year Jessup Elementary has a pumpkin decorating contest. Grades K-3 and 4-6 are grouped together. Out of those groups there is a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner, and one Grand Prize winner.

For the past 3 Years - Alexis has been the Grand Prize Winner! After winning each year I tell Alexis ~ It is pretty hard to top the Ladybug Pumpkin or the Hamburger Pumpkin. (That was her K and 1st grade decorated pumpkin winners) So today I find out that she won the Grand prize again. We created a bubble gum machine. We started about a week ahead of time because Alexis had to first paint the pumpkin white and then we had to glue buttons on it so I knew that it would take a while. Anyway, she is the reigning champ 3 years straight! And yes, I told her again tonight "Alexis, I don't know that we will be able to win grand prize next year"

Joseph also decorated a pumpkin - this year he created a baby girl pumpkin and named her Josephine :0) Joseph also placed in the contest - I am not sure if it was 1st, 2nd or 3rd. I will find out tomorrow. I must say that his was REALLY cute.

Here are some pictures of the pumpkins - (Joe posed with his pumpkin but Alexis had just thrown a HUGE fit because she wanted her hair curled before school and I didn't have time so her eyes were red from crying. She said that she didn't want to be in a picture looking like that - for all who know Alexis and her stubbornness - I am sure you are not shocked by her attitude)

Joe and "Josephine" - Alexis' Bubble Gum Machine

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!

This evening our Church had a Halloween Carnival for the kids.
They ate dinner together and then participated in games galore!

Alexis - Cheerleader
Hailey - Devil
Joe - Crazy Purple Guy
Celina (My Goddaughter) - A Dancer from Dancing with the Stars
(Click on the collage below to get a closer look)