Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk

I got to walk with Maren and her friends around Laurel, about three miles, for awareness about being strong with no drugs.  I bumped into Aliza and her friend Megan, and Karissa and Randon.  It was a good morning. 

Nerd Day

 Not bad for quickly putting together a nerd for the day.

Love this girl.

Maren's School Project

Maren had to do a project related to a book she was reading.  She was reading Peter Pan and decided she wanted to make a boat.  She first wanted to make one out of clay.  That would have been a lot of clay because she wanted it big.  I suggested using popsicle sticks, which she tired but lost interest when the glue wasn't sticking quick enough.  Then Sam suggested making a boat cake.  He found some ideas on the internet, and I found the easiest one.  Maren and I made the cake and cut it out last night.  We tried to frost it, but was too crummy, so we froze it over night, then decorated it this morning before school.  

I took her to school and stayed to listened to her present her project and explain why she chose the boat, then tell about the story.  She was very detailed and she kept the kids interest.  It took her about 25 min to tell the story.  It was cute.  The kids sure enjoyed eating it later that day.

After I left the school, I ran over to the track field to help out in concessions.  This was my first time helping out and had fun.  It was busy at times and ran out of food half way through lunch.  The meet went until 6:00 that night, but we had to close concessions because we all had to be somewhere.  Aliza actually called me around 3:00 wanting me to pick her up because she was sick.  I'm glad I was able to help out and hope I can do it more next year.

Field Trip with Maren

This was a very interesting field trip, and would have been maybe a great one, except for being out in the sun all day with no shade, and while walking 3/4 of a mile to get to the Clark's Fork River we were attacked by ticks.  I guess they must have just hatched because a few days earlier they weren't around.  Anyway, I didn't find any on myself or Maren, but there were several kids that had up to 28 on them.  Mrs Anderson even found one crawling in her bra. Yuck.  The kids were finding micro invertebrates which are larvae that hatch into different types of insects that grow under the rocks in the river.  Like I said, very interesting.

After we got back from that, we did eat lunch in the shade, everyone was still a little shaken up with the ticks, and some were still finding some on themselves.  I thought it would be a good time to leave, but the workers took us to the next phase of the field trip and had the kids dig holes and plant some trees.  Now it is afternoon, it is hot and there is no shade.  Kids are still finding ticks on themselves.  Some have been so traumatized that they won't go out in the tall grass.  Maren did get brave and went out and dug a couple of holes with her friend Josie.  The trees were pretty small, hopefully they will grow. 

Our class was the first of the 4th graders to go.  There was supposed to be a class each day go for the next week and a half.  After todays experience, we were the only class that went.  The school cancelled the rest of the field trips due to ticks.  I was so glad when that part of the day was over.  I was hot and tired.

Aliza Playing Basketball

This is the only picture of Aliza doing anything basketball.  I only took video of her playing.  She did such a great job, stealing the ball, getting up the court, and eventually she felt comfortable shooting the ball.  I loved watching her play.  

End of Year Band Concert

Can you tell school is almost out?  A little crazy kids.

They did a fabulous job.  Aliza had a solo. She sounded superb.  I hope they all keep it up with their instruments.  They are very talented.

Kyla, Jackson, Paige, Aliza

Sleeping Homeless

A week before graduation and Sammy is sleeping in a cardboard box for NHS (National Honors Society).  They were supposed to ask for donations in support of the homeless (Jackson, Aliza, and Maren even donated their own hard earned money), then go to the football field and sleep in a cardboard box to have a sense of what they go through.  Sammy made his cardboard home out of a bunch of little boxes we had and duck tape.  He made it just long enough for him to sleep in and tall enough for him not to be too claustrophobic.  I thought it was a cold night, but he said he slept just fine.  The kids had to get up in the morning and go to school without showering or changing clothes, they had to experience the whole homeless ordeal. He had a blast.  I guess if it was for real, he wouldn't have so much fun.  Then again, maybe he would.

Jackson and Track

Since Jackson hasn't been doing gymnastics, he has been able to participate in many more sports.  He decided to try out track as well.  He was very good and came in second in many of the runs, like the mile, 400, 800 .  He did well in the hurdle jumps....... 

Running.... 

in fact, his coach asked the question why he wasn't doing cross country running in the fall.  He said because of football, and she asked again, so why aren't you doing cross country?

He and his group of boys did very well in passing the baton as well.

He did the 4 x 2 and the 4 x 4

Jared Craig, Carver Thomson, and Jackson

running.......

He also enjoyed the poll vault....

running.....

and hurdles again.

I loved watching my boy participate in track.  It was mostly during the day while kids were at school and Sam was at work, so I would go and watch by myself.

One day I had to work at the office and the track meet was in Laurel so I told Jackson to text or call about 5 or 10 min. before he would participate in an event.  I would get there just in time.  I loved it.

He doesn't know if he'll do track next year, he really wants to focus on Lacrosse. I guess we will see.

Till next year.....

MARCH MADNESS

Along with the March Madness of College Basketball, we had a little March Madness of our own.

Sammy had a great year in Debate.  He and his partner Evan took 1st and 2nd in every meet.  When it came to State, they were disqualified because they broke a rule that most of them, not even the coaches knew about.  I was sick about it, but Sammy said that he knew they were going to take 1st and thats all that counts for him.  This is thenyear end banquet for the Speech Drama and Debate team.  I'm glad Sammy decided to participate in Debate.  I think he really enjoyed it.

Aliza and Maren participated in a 6 week volleyball thing.  They practiced one day, then the next they played games..... for two hours.... it was fun to watch them get better each week.  I think the schools are doing this so when they get to 7th grade, they have an idea about the game of volleyball.

For part of Jackson's Family Life merit badge, he had to be in charge of a family project.  He chose to take down the play set that has been on it's side for three months.  It was nice to have every one help out. We didn't get the chain saw to work for a while, so Jackson and Sammy took a baseball bat to some of it.

We celebrated Sam's b-day, along with Sedley's. 

Isn't he so handsome?  

If you notice the candles.  There are 4 and 2.... 42 years old :)

It seems like we haven't had a lot of our own Beehive class activities, but the ones we do are a blast.  This week we decided to have a purple party.  We ate and drank everything purple, then we took turns reading stories about people that has had or has integrity.  It was great to hear about these wonderful people.

Aliza stayed after school everyday for two weeks to practice a play that the middle school put on through Venture Theater.  They sang songs and had a great message.  "You don't have to be bored when you don't have technology..."

The Beehives were in charge this month for the combined YW.  We sculptured ice-cream into temples.  

That's where they are going to be married some day:)

Aliza, Paige, Alisha

Davie, Lexi, Maren

Kyla,  Savanna, Mallory

There you have it, our crazy month of March, and we aren't even done yet....

Basketball and Jackson

Since Jackson has not been in Gymnastics, he has had more opportunities to be in different sports. Jackson hasn't played a whole lot of team basketball, but he went out for the 7th grade team. There ended up being 24 kids wanting to play, so they made two teams. A couple of other schools had two teams as well, which was fun.

I was out of town for his first and last game, but I loved all the in between ones. I had so many people tell me that Jackson was a great player for not ever playing before.

He had practice every morning at 6:15, and Kenny would work with him and give him some pointers in some evenings at the gym.

This game below was a little close for us. We were sitting on the floor against the wall behind the basketball hoop. The ball came our way a few times :)

They won most of their games and lost a couple only by one or two points. These other schools better watch out in the next 5 years, because we have some great players.

Love you Jackson. Can't wait to see what your next adventure will be.

October Happenings

October flew by faster than September. So much has happened in October. I was called (actually the end of September) to be the 2nd counselor in the Young Women's, so that means every Wednesday activities plus some. I have enjoyed it so far. Every 1st Wednesday is a combined activity with the Young Men. This month we went to a corn maze. There were a lot of kids there (for our ward anyway). I think we had about 35 there all together.

The first picture below I took while we were waiting in line to get in. Patrick and some other kids were in there, but also, if you look real close, just to the left of Patrick's shoulder shining bright is the Billings Temple. I thought it looked much bigger in real life. When we finally found our way out, we played on a bunch of slides and toys that were there. It's funny that in some of the photos you can see the straw flying around in the air. The last two pictures below are of Jackson sliding and Paige sliding down.

Jackson also had games every week. He played very well, and got better and better each week. I so enjoyed watching him. In the picture below, you can see him handing off (or pretending to hand off) the ball. He then passed it for someone to catch. In his last game, he was in as safety and caught an interception at the other teams 10 yard line and ran all the way down the field, zig zagging through everyone. He was about to go over the goal line, when someone grabbed the back of his collar and yanked him down. He sat down hard and was 1 foot from making a goal. It was amazing. Of-coarse a flag was thrown, and we ended up making a touchdown the next couple of plays, but Jackson was bummed he didn't make the touchdown.

Jackson and his neighbor friends saved this poor duck from a dog killing it. The dog had already killed two ducks and had this one in it's mouth. It was hurt and couldn't fly, so they kept it here to heal. A few days later they let it go. I think it's doing fine now.

The Middle School had a Red Ribbon week. One day was crazy hair day. Aliza put her hair in lots of pig tails and Jackson put one pig tail in his. Wednesday they walked around Laurel for "Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk" something to do with walking away from drugs. I was able to help pass out pizza and fruit for lunch for those who participated. Friday was retro day. The kids dressed up 80's style. I don't know how exact it was, but close enough right?

Sunday, the 30th, we were invited to Joleen's annual pumpkin carving party. This is our second year coming. Last year we brought the missionaries, so we thought we would invited these ones too. They had fun. Joleen's daughter, Jennifer, was a big help with Maren, which was nice for Sam and I. We didn't have to get our hands slimy.

Finally, Halloween. Jackson borrowed Aunt Dana's Lovell cheerleader's outfit, and bought a black long haired wig, which he cut and put in a pony tail (doesn't make sense to me), but I dropped him off at his friend Carver's house and a group of them walked around the neighborhood.

Aliza was a cowgirl, which in Montana I don't get. Don't a lot a people dress like this with out it being Halloween?

A few days before Halloween, the other Pollock kids and these two girls decided what to be. Karissa had a clown wig, so Maren decided to be a clown. I'm glad we found this clown costume for only $8.00. We even bought her a clown horn, but she forgot to take it with her.

Sammy wanted to be Sub Zero. He didn't go trick or treating, but on Saturday at the Trunk or Treat he dressed up as the Priests in the ward put on a Haunted House in the primary room. I think they had fun doing that. A few days before he showed me a picture of what he wanted me to make, and so I bought some cheep sheets, and made this outfit on Saturday. Crazy I know. I glued it all together, no sewing involved. Once he put it on, we had to pin a couple of places. Can't see a thing can you.

Amy picked the girls and I up, and we headed out. We started in our neighborhood. The kids ran from house to house, which, if you've been in our area, the homes are not so close together. We then proceeded to another neighborhood, and the kids ran to each house as well, for two hours. I think they got some exercise that night.

Kyla, Maren, Randon, Paige, Aliza

Other things we did this month:

• Jackson got invisilign instead of braces.
• Maren started dance lessons on Tuesday nights.
• Aliza started playing basketball.
• I started helping out in Maren's class two days a week.
• Sammy started Debate again.
• Did baptisms at the temple with the youth. It's been a long time since I've done that.
• Organizing areas in the house.....still have lots to do.
• Sam and Jackson hunting the last two weekends. (of course haven't shot anything yet)

Happy Halloween!

This Halloween has been nice and somewhat relaxing.  The weather worked well, always a plus.  The kids had their outfits picked out for weeks, and it didn't take too much to get the stuff. 

 After the Trunk or Treat at the church, Amy, Kristie Anderson, and I took the kids to Walmart for a little more trick or treating and some craft stations.  They had a fun time.  

This picture was taken in a dark tunnel at Walmart.  I think it turned out pretty cool.  Randon was scared by The Grim Reaper in the tunnel and instead of screaming or crying, he laughed uncontrollably for about 5 min.  It was hilarious.

Since Aliza got her glasses, she knew exactly what she wanted to be for Halloween: a Lawyer.(Because I guess that is what makes the look of a Lawyer?)  Last week for Activities Day, it was fun time with moms.  We all dressed up and decorated cupcakes.  We both dressed up as lawyers.  I bought some $1.00 reading glasses, and found some suit type jackets at Goodwill.  We took briefcases and even made up cards.  

Pollock and Pollock

"We know it all, even if we don't"

Maren decided to be a witch, which was fun.  We already had the dress from when Aliza was one a few years ago.  We just purchased some tights and a hat.  It was great.  I so enjoyed going to her school parade and class party.  In one of the pictures below, you can see she is looking for me.  In the top picture, she found me and did a big wave.

Since Halloween is on a Sunday this year, we had the Trunk or Treat on Saturday.  It was a fun time, and I loved seeing all the kids dressed up, especially my nursery kids.  They are so cute.  I dressed up as a black cat.... ears, tail and the whiskers.  Those nursery kids looked at me and I could tell they knew me, but weren't quite sure how.  It was funny.  

Jackson was going to be a Vampire; we had all the stuff and everything, but when it came down to it, he already had his football uniform on from an earlier game (which he won!), so he decided to go as a football player-himself I guess :).  Sammy was gone for a debate meet ALL day, wow, he didn't get home in time, but he did go to a party last week and dressed up as some guy from the Lord of the Rings.  Same costume as last year.  He wanted to use his sword again.  Not a lot of opportunities for a good sword.

Clint, Amy and family are coming over this evening because they live on a street with lots of trick or treaters.  It will be a little quieter here.

Till next year.  Hope you all have a great Halloween!