First Day of School

 2013-2014 School Year
August 26, 2013 

This year the kids go to school all at different times so I wasn't able to take a picture of all three of them together.

Taylor is 15 years old and entering into his Sophomore year.  His class schedule it Band, English Honors, World History, Advanced Math Honors, Spanish 1 and Physics.  He is on the J.V. Football team playing receiver and tight end. Seminary starts at 6:30 a.m. and this is when the picture was taken.

 Ellie is 13 years old and is a BIG 8th grader.  Ellie is student Body President and is taking a early morning A.P. Algebra class  They call it 0 period and it's at 7:00 a.m.   Ellie will be starting Volleyball next week and is on her 5th year of playing the violin.

 Our little Matthew!  Matthew is 6 years old going into First Grade.  He is in a K/1 class which we love because he is able to be with our favorite teacher, Mrs. Dempsey AGAIN!  Today, the first day of school he said, "Mom, this is going to be easy".  That warmed my heart and it does help that his best friend Mason Eccles his in his class.  Whats great about the K/1 combo is the Kindergarten's go home at 11:40 a.m. and the first graders get Mrs. Dempsey all to themselves.  Matthew is playing soccer and Grant is his coach.

 Matthew was so excited for his "cool" shoes.  Taylor and Matthew went shopping and found them.

 Mia had to get a picture also.  She is 2 years old almost 3 (in three weeks), and also had her outfit laid out for the first day of school.  Mia gets to hang out with mom all day and loves playing with her baby dolls and princesses.

 On our way to school.  It has been tradition that the first week of school I drive them but after that we either ride our bikes or the bus picks them up at 7:45 a.m. 

 Matthew and our favorite teacher "Mrs. Dempsey"

 Ellie and her friends.  Maxi dresses are in!  

Courney Akers, Lily Wedin, Taylor Santerre, Ellie Miskin,

Emma Sannar and Kathryn Sanchez.

 Matthew and Mason playing on the playground

 Mia and Kambelle saying good bye to their brothers.  Kambelle did not want to be in the picture.

2013-2014 Theme Dinner

Our Family Theme Dinner

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

The Family Proclamation 

The Table Setting

 Our Theme for the year!

 Each Individual Place Setting and their own name and a Tiara for the girls and a crown for the Boys.

 Our Beautiful Princesses

Our Handsome Kings

 Our Family

 We ended the dinner off with the Candy Bar game, Brownies, Spray cream, Mint and Cookies and Cream Ice Cream.   The First day of school is tomorrow. 

Introducing the "New" Secretary of Manzanita School

Ellianna Miskin

Get the "Real Deal" vote Ellie for Secretary

Ellie is running for Secretary for Manzanita's student body.

Her slogan was:

Get the "Real Deal"

Vote Ellie for Secretary

These posters were all over the school.

Ellie just finished her speech a couple of minutes ago.  Grandma and I were able to attend and we think she did a FANTASTIC job.

Wrestling match in Gridley 3-15-12

This was to date, the fastest wrestling match Taylor has ever had :)  Was it worth the two hour wait? Well yes, of course it was!

Ellie's Violin Recital

Ellie has been playing violin for about a year in half.  It has now been one full year that she has been playing with the Suzuki group in Yuba City and Marysville.  She has a group class and individual class every week and seems to still really enjoy it.  Ellie just had a recital and did really well.

TOUCH DOWN

Gridley Titans youth football league has gone undefeated in the season.  We won our first division game against Yreka 12-32.  Taylor helped in the winning by scoring a touchdown and recovering a fumble.  It was a great game to watch!  It was freezing, windy and raining most of the game.  But we were there watching and enjoying every second of it.  Taylor had some fans come and watch..Thanks Connie Quist (Sunday school teacher) and Bishop Tolman and his boys for coming to watch Taylor play.  He won't forget the support.  Also, this was the first time I think I have ever seen Grant shiver.  Boy, it was COLD

Taylor one of four (captains)

 Getting ready for the National Anthem

 You can see the down pour

Video of Taylor scoring his touchdown

The team getting together after the game

October 31, 2011 HALLOWEEN DAY

This is it...The last year Taylor will be dressing up for Halloween at Manzanita school :(  Halloween is big at our school.  This year Taylor was a old man, Ellie was a 1920 Swim suit model, Matthew was Bam-Bam and little Mia was Pebbles.  Taylor won the costume contest with a few others in the 8th grade class.  My mom is awesome, she loves to help out with the kids costumes and most of the stress is put on her.  THANKS MOM!!!

Our little Bam Bam

 Bam Bam and Pebbles.  Pebbles would not stay in any pictures

 Right before the Manzanita Halloween Parade

 Taylor's class walking around the gym

 Mr. Roberts asking Taylor, "Are you trying to look like me?"

 Taylor winning!

 Ellie during the parade

 I told you...never staying in one place

 Taylor would not cooperate in the picture taking..This may be one of the best pictures I got of him

 My cute family

Halloween Festivites

Every year we go to Grandma and Grandpa's (my parents) house and decorate sugar cookies.  We had a blast this year.  Matthew was really into decorating the best cookie EVER (plus the cookie with the most frosting).  Ellie worked diligently on hers most of the evening and Taylor mostly watched T.V. (but we did get him to come over and decorate a few).  This year my parents invited the Duesslers over to join in on the fun.  They are moving soon and we will miss them tons.

We had a contest of the best looking cookies and I believe Matthew got 1st, I got second and Taylor got 3rd.

Ellie's first basketball game

We were so proud of Ellie today!  Ellie had her first basketball game and she scored four out of the seven points made in the game.   Not only did she scored but she got a ton of rebounds, blocked out and stole some balls.  It was fun to watch her and her team.  The lost 7 to 17 but it was a great start. 

 She was always ready for the ball

 I am not the best photographer because I forget to look out of the lens because I want to watch the play with my own eyes.  But Ellie made this shot, I just forgot to get her in the picture.

Halloween Party "2011"

Thank you Tiffani and Brad for hosting a wonderful Halloween Party!  We had a extraordinary time.  Not only was the food wonderful, the company and all of the games were even better.

 The Girls

 Ellie bobbing of apples

 A little wet, but she got it!

 NICE

 Matthew, giving it a try

 Still trying

 Matthew kept taking bites of the apple as he was dipping his head.  He finally got one out with the help of his sister.  He did enjoy the apple.

SPIDERMAN!  This costume was Taylor's when he was Matthew's age.  Taylor wore it everywhere, to bed, under his clothes and daily wear.  It's still going strong with just a few holes in it!

 Carving Pumpkins

 I guess Taylor is at the end of the era.  He ate the yummy food but didn't play the games.  Although, Tiff tried and tried to get him to.  Next time I think we aren't going to let him eat until he plays the games.  I think he had 12 pieces of Tri-tip.  His excuse was that he was so tired and sore from his football game.

 Ellie's pumpkin is on the left and Matthew's is on the right

 The jail bird host, Tiffani