Thursday, March 24, 2011
Homework
Is it to teach a new concept to the student or to reinforce a idea that was taught during the day?
Should the student be able to do all the homework on his or her own?
Are parents supposed to help get it done?
How long is too long for the student to get the homework done?
If the student is taking too long to do the homework, should the teacher be told?
Or is homework sent just so the mom has a reason to be mad and yell from the end of school till bedtime?
I am so ready for summer!!!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
New Post
Since November, we have had a lovely, family filled Christmas. The Dad's parents came out in early December, along with his brother's family for a baptism. It was fun to watch the cousins, who don't get to see each other very often, play games and pretend all together. There was also lots of "Rock Band" thanks to Uncle Josh. My family had the annual brunch at my parents home. This year proved that no matter what, we can fit everyone in at a table somewhere in the house. I think we counted almost 50 people for brunch Christmas morning. There were people in the kitchen, Living room, and back bedroom, eating waffles, sausage, and my favorite, breakfast casserole. That was a really fun morning.
December also brought band concerts and student parties. I subbed four days that month. I thought I was doing pretty good with that. Then January brought sickness and I have been busy every since.
I think I subbed six days in January between teachers being sick and district meetings. February was even busier. I will have to get my calendar to check for sure, but I feel like I was gone from home at least two days a week. Included in those days of February was a big move for the Wells.
Maybe not a BIG move, but we did move two blocks over from my parents basement into our own rental. This house is in a perfect location for us. We didn't have to change wards. (This made the bishop happy, who is also our new neighbor). We didn't have to change schools, which made all the kids and mom happy. We are still close enough to the Elementary School that the kids can walk to and from school and we are closer to the Jr. High that Allah feels better about walking to and from school. This is also great because they can get there without incident when I am subbing. They beat me home most days.
This new house has been great for us. We have spread out and are loving it. Long lost toys that have been living in boxes for two years have been found. For a couple of days, these toys were scattered all over. Now we have found homes for them and are working on taking one out at a time. The best box the kids found were the board games. Since we didn't have TV or Internet for almost a week, they played Life, Monopoly, Uno, and more.
We have 5 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen large enough for our table, a family room, and a large storage room. The two middle girls are sharing a room while the oldest and the boy hot their own room. This was decided so there could be an office/craft room. While moving in the youngest, most opinionated child informed me that we needed a 6 bedroom house because she needed her own space. We told her she could have her own room when Allynn when to college. Kelsey seemed to be satisfied with that.
I will need to take some pictures for all to see. We are happy and healthy. Jason loves his job. I sub lots and look forward to summer.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
OH, Man
And of course the kids can't all be sick at the same time. That would be too nice to mom. That would mean she would only have to stay up all night one time and then sleep the next day while all the sick kids sleep. NOPE, not gonna happen.
Instead it starts with one. One child at 2 am who can't get the door open of the bedroom to get to the bathroom because she is still asleep and therefore throws up all over the door. She has forgotten her mother's words of "if you can't make it to the bathroom, throw up on your blanket". This is much easier to clean up than the carpet. The mom is alerted after Oldest daughter comes in yelling something about throw up.
After a shower and some clean up, this child now has a bucket (gallon ice cream buckets, the best) and is resting on the couch while the mom is cleaning up the rest of the mess in the carpet. Only now, 1st child is in the room next to the child with the trigger gag so he is now throwing up. (he did remember to throw up on the blanket, good boy). Now two are sick, but only one has the true bug causing the sick. The Dad is pretending to be asleep because his trigger gag is just as bad as the boy's.
By 4 am all children are clean. EVERY bed now has a bucket next to it, and all seem to be asleep. Except for the mom who now needs to wined down to be able to go to sleep to be able to get up in 3 hours.
This was Sunday Night.
This same thing happened again Monday and Tuesday night light Groundhog Day only they all had buckets this time and it was a different child.
I was SO happy that this last week was a short week. The kids all had Thursday and Friday off. I thought for sure we would all be able to rest on Thursday and be all better by Saturday. Well, the kids were all better, but then it was my turn to get it. Horrible, horrible.
Then The oldest who thought she was going to be better than the sick, could not hold out any longer. I think she got it the worst. She was probably tired from being the one to get the mom every time someone was sick.
The dad is the only one that did not get so sick he thought death would be better, but it is only Monday and who knows what 2 am tonight will bring.
As for me, I feel much better today. And all kids went to school.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Personal Revelation
We have been talking about the importance of having a strong work ethic. Our kids don't have a lot of chores and almost never have to do the dishes while we are here in Grandma's house. But the few jobs they do have, do not get done regularly. So, last night for FHE, The Dad shared a website with us call My Job Chart (http://www.myjobchart.com).
He was able to create individual job charts for the kids. When they are done with the job, they log in to their own chart and mark that they have completed it. They are really excited about it. The Dad was also able to create a reward system where each job has so many points assigned to it. When the kids accumulate enough points, they can cash them in at the Job Store.
Story:
One of the jobs on the chart is to have personal scripture study. I know they are probably not reading for a long time, but we are hoping this will get them in the habit of reading themselves in addition to family reading time.
Kelsey seems to be the most excited about the job chart. She always wants to log in to check off her jobs. She may be excited because her jobs consist of brushing her hair, getting dressed, making her bed, saying her prayers, and reading scriptures. She is excited to do all these things BY-HER-SELF. Even reading the scriptures. She has been carrying around a Bible and opening it to read whenever.
This afternoon, she came to me with Hosea chapter 11 open. She pointed to the words then proceeded to tell me...
"Mom, it says here that you need to give me markers to make a puppet with this brown bag."
I figured I should give her the markers to make the puppet since she did receive personal revelation from the scriptures. Who am I to tell her that is not right?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
New School Year
Sydney has started the 5th grade this year. She says she likes to be in school, but doesn't really like school. She enjoys being social. She has started playing the flute this year, and seems to be really enjoying it. Last night she asked if she could bring the flute to school. I thought maybe she had a show and tell and wanted to play for her class. Nope... she wanted to be able to play at recess. We talked about it and decided that was probably not the best place to practice. I am glad she has an interest. She is still pretty good with math and is working hard on her reading. Now if we could just get her to organize herself...I guess we just work on one thing at a time.
Austin has started the 3rd grade. When did the baby boy start growing up? He was baptized this year and started Cub Scouts. (I need to post picture of him in is uniform.) He also likes school and has really been doing a good job of getting home to get his homework done quickly. He is also quick to get his 25 minutes of reading done before dinner. I am sure the motivation for that is his desire to play flag football. He started that two weeks ago, and the rule is that he has to have his homework done before 5 o'clock in order to go to football. This has been a great incentive. Now I need to find the next sport that will continue this great work since football ends at Halloween.
Kelsey is pretty mad she is not going to school. She talks about turning 5 and how that will change her life over night because she will get to go to school. I keep reminding her that she will still have to wait until the next school year to start in August. I think it is sinking in. We register her for Kindergarten on March 10th. WOW! That is coming fast.
Another change this school year... THE DAD GOT A NEW JOB!!! WOOO HOOOO!!! He is so happy. He was working for Integra Telecom in the customer service department for almost 2 years. He said it was not a hard job and that the people he worked with were great (for the most part), but he did not feel challenged. He has been applying to anything and everything for the past year here in UT and networking to meet new people since it seems that job come from the people you know. Well, thank goodness we know Dave!!! Yes, my cousin Dave. An opening came available at ProPay and Dave told The Dad about it. He applied. He got the job. The Dad is so happy when he comes home from work. But he says his brain is so tired. He is learning new things. Then this week they put him "on call". Even though he is tied pretty tight to his new Black Berry, he is excoted to have the responsibility.
I am home with the Kelsey and watching my cousin Jeremy's little boy. He is 15 months old and plays very nicely by himself or with Kelsey (if she will let him). I am also subbing again this year. I have already been once and will go again this Friday. Julie is kind enough to watch the little kids for me while I am out on those days.
It is nice to have the chaos of summer over, but we have now fallen into a new chaos of practices, homework, appointments, and more.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Eight is GREAT!!
He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 5. We had a great time with friends and family. He was also excited to be baptized on the same day as one of his friends from Primary.
So far behind
Monday, September 20, 2010
School is back in Session
Sydney: Yes
Mom: When?
Sydney: While you went to Costco.
Mom: Who did you read to?
Sydne: Kelsey
Mom: The same Kelsey that went with me to Costco?
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Girls Camp
We started with packing her bag to make sure she had enough clothes and washed what she needed and wanted to take. We discovered that she only owns one pair of long pants. So we went to DI and got three more pairs of pants. All for the great price of $22.00. I like getting deals and on things she will wear!
Then we headed over to Wal-Mart to get good bug spray and the last of the bathroom stuff she needed. We ended up with that plus a new backpack and a 2 liter water bladder that goes in it. I think she will be glad to have so much water. She was worried because she heard on the news about a girl that died last week at Girls Camp of heat stroke. So water was an issue for my dear 1st year daughter.
We also got a new camera that will fit in my pocket when we go do fun family things. The one I had before was big and bulky and the compartment door for the batteries was broken. I am letting Allynn take it with her. She is very excited. She wanted to know if she needed to bring an extra SD Card. Her dad reassured her that the card she had would hold 1000 pictures. I think she will be covered. And thank goodness for digital photos so we don't have to develop EVERY THING she takes a picture of.
We had a chat about keeping track of her stuff and practiced rolling up the sleeping bag so it would fit back into the stuff bag. She thought I was crazy, but I feel better now that I saw her do it.
Everything has her name on it. (She wouldn't let me write it in her underwear.)
I am sure she will do just fine. It is the mom that may have a hard, long week.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Summer fun
Austin is in Reading Camp ( a fun way to say summer school). He is loving it. He goes to school from 9 to noon and then has the rest of the day to do whatever he wants, after his room is clean, clothes are put away, and anything else I can think of that he should do to help out.
Allynn is in Summer band. She is learning how to play the trombone. She decided she wanted to be part of the marching band and realized it is too hard to march with the cello. He seems to be having a good time. She goes to band every morning from 10 to 11. Then she comes home to make sure she has her jobs done and then got to hang out with her friends. This hanging out does not always mean she leaves the house. I find a lot of this hanging out time is done on facebook where the small group can chat with each other without leaving the house.
Sydney is not in any extra activities this summer. She is happy to watch TV while the others are out. But once they get home she is ready to be out doing something else. She just had her 10th birthday and got a nice new bike. She feels like she has new freedom. She rides her bike over to her friends houses to see if they can play instead of calling them on the phone. Then if they can't she just rides back home. She is having a good time.
Kelsey does not seem to have changed her routine much at all except for refusing any kind of nap at all in the early afternoon. Now she goes and goes until she crashes somewhere. And most days manages to keep moving until she is forced to go to bed at 10 when the other kids are going to bed. (Even then only because I am going to bed and I dread what they were all conspire to do while I am sleeping.)
As for family fun, we have been...
Baptized Austin
Visited with family
picnicked at Vivian Park
swimming at the rec. pool
cleaning out drawers
moving boxes
getting ready for Peter and Whitney
watching Cake Boss, West Wing, and Gilmore Girls
Camping at Maple Dell
and Camping at Utah Lake
We have more camping planned. I also found some free bowling passes at fatcats. And I am sure there will be more swimming.
I feel much more busy!!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
IHOP
I love those moments when things click and make more sense. :oP
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Coming Attractions
I have so many things to blog about, I just don't know where to start. Maybe once school is out, I won't be so busy.
Girls Basketball
Allynn and the Cello
Soccer
Swimming
Spring Break
Zion Concert
Mother's Day
Bathroom floor
Job anxiety
School coming to an end
Stay tuned.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Spring Storms
Kelsey on the other hand does not seem to enjoy the storms too much. She happened to be upstairs when a huge clap of thunder rang out. She came running down the stairs to seek comfort.
Mom: "Kelsey, what's wrong?"
Kelsey: "I am scared and shaking like a little leaf."
Mom: "Why?"
Kelsey: "Because if I get struck by lightning, I will get sent back to the future."
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
OH WAIT!!! I would have to be blind!
We had just finished dinner and we were talking about my parents trip to California for the weekend. My mom had gone to the library to get a stack of books on CD for the drive. Then we were talking about what libraries have better selections.
I was thinking in my head that if they weren't so expensive, I would probably go buy the book I wanted.
Then out loud I said "Maybe if I go get my ears checked and I have to get a hearing aide, I could get a discount on audio books online." Those around me agreed for a moment. Then my brilliant mom said, " If you were blind you could get them for free." We then all looked at each other and started laughing because it dawned on us that if I can't hear, then why would I want to get the audio book.
It is not as funny now that I have written it all down. But my dad had a good laugh at my expense.
My response was "Is that a basketball team?" Which leads me into my next funny story.
Last Friday we were sitting at dinner - everyone was still there at the table. We started talking about the weekend and what was going on. I remembered that the Academy Awards would be on Sunday. I said to everyone at the table "Oh ya, the Oscars will be on and I want to watch that." Without skipping a beat Austin asks, "What is that? It is a basketball team?"
We all laughed and told him what it was. I don't think he got it. But it was funny.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Today is Purple
She got an all Purple outfit.How the time has flown by.
We had a fun filled day planned. I subbed in the morning, so Kelsey went to Aunt Julie's house. Then I picked her up for lunch with Grandma and Aunt Jan (the other birthday girl). Kelsey was so excited... When I scooped her out of her bed to get ready for the day at 6:15 am, before her eyes were open she asked, "Is it my party?"
ALL DAY BIG GIRL!!
All ready for the day
On the way home after lunch.We asked her what she wanted for dinner - - she said, "Cake". so we had cake and taco soup for dessert. It was a very fun and Purple day!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Snowmobiling



ALLYNN
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
14 years
During the last 14 years we have...
Gone to San Jose State University in San Jose
Had a daughter
Moved to Hollister, Ca
Made good friends
Moved to Singapore
Traveled around the Pacific Rim
Gone to Disneyland
Moved back to Hollister, CA
Had another daughter
Worked for ISCS/Sun Microsystems
Made good friends
Gone to Disneyland
Worked for McWhorter's
Worked for Dishnetwork
Had a son
Moved to American Fork, Ut
Worked for DirecTV
Moved to Reno, NV
Made more good friends
Gone to Disneyland
Gone back to school
Had another daughter
Gone Snowmobiling in West Yellowstone
Worked for Microsoft
Gone Camping with family
Watched lots of kids
Worked for Integra Telecom
Moved back to American Fork, UT
Gone camping in West Yellowstone, MT
Two graduations from University of Phoenix
Gone to Hoover Dam
Gone to Grand Canyon
Gone Snowmobiling with family
And just yesterday took kids and Husband cross country skiing for the first time.
We are already talking about more adventures we would like to have this year. We love eachother and are having a great time together.





