This and That

Lincoln is doing very well in school! He received 100% on all his spelling tests so far this year. He is also doing really well in completing his homework every night. He does math, spelling, and reads for 20 minutes each day.

Marina also does homework when Lincoln does. She is learning colors, numbers, shapes, opposites, matching, letters, sounds, and more. She can now write her name and most of the letters. She spends lots of time finding letters, numbers, and shapes all around her. She is very smart! Here are some of her words.

Marina says that when she grows up, she wants to be a spy, a mom, and a big sister. I am thinking not in that order. Marina does practice spy missions (usually tickling missions) pretty oftern to get ready to be a spy. Lincoln wants to be a biologist.

Labor Day Fun

We spent Labor Day weekend with the Pauls in Morgan (near Salt Lake). The kids had a great time. They have perfected a 'robot' dance, which they were eager to show as many people as possible.

We also got to celebrate Lincoln's and Ryan's birthdays while we were there. Lincoln got a birthday cake that looked like Lincoln Lake, and that was perfect, since the kids also spent lots of time playing at the lake with their cousins.

2nd Grade, 7th Birthday, and a trip to Salt Lake

Lincoln started the 2nd grade on August 20. Here is Lincoln ready to go to the bus stop on his first day of school. This is Marina who was very excited for Lincoln's first day of school. She can't wait until next year when she gets to go to school too. Lincoln is in Mrs. Jensen's class, and he has kept a perfect homework record for the first two weeks - let's keep that up!

Lincoln celebrated his birthday with his friends the first Saturday after school started. He wanted a pirate themed birthday party, but said it could be eclectic since he also wanted a bounce house (thanks to grandpa and grandma Paul!). The kids jumped and jumped. Then they had a pirate treasure hunt, decorated cookies, and jumped some more! Lincoln got some very fun presents - Indiana Jones Legos, a Wii game, and and Iron Man toy. He also got a snow cone maker that he can't wait to try out.


The next week, we went to Salt Lake City together. Ryan and Kami attended a fundraiser for the Davis Reads program. Ken Burns was the speaker, and he previewed his new documentary about the national parks. It looks really good, and Ken Burns is a very articulate speaker. We really enjoyed the evening. Ryan then had to go back to work, but Kami, Lincoln and Marina stayed in SLC with Grandma Valene and Grandpa Bob.

Lincoln and Marina had a cousin born while they were in Maine - Ella - they got to meet her for the first time and they became as instant of friends as a 2 month old can make.

We had so much fun in Salt Lake! We got to play with grandma Valene (she's pretty fun!) and play at a place called Jungle Jims. Here are some photos of all the fun they had there.

We all got to go Ella's baby blessing and their other cousin, Kyle's birthday party.

Then as if we had not been having a ton of fun, we went to the zoo. Marina loved the Giraffes, the zebras, and the tigers. I don't think it was just that she likes stripes - they also had babies to look at. She loves babies (of any species). We had a great time!