5th Grade Science Fair

Tuesday May 25th, 2010 The 5th Grade Science Fair at Highland Elementary School. Sydnee chose "Does Rust affect the Power of a Magnet?" She spent several weeks doing her research. Since we have had a very wet spring, pretty much everything that has been left outside had some form of rust on it. This made it easy for her to find items to use for her project. Her Hypothesis was that she thought rust would affect the power of attraction. That it would not be as strong. She concluded that she was wrong. Rust does not affect the power of a magnet. Only the north and south pole of the magnet affected its power of attraction. Each student had to make their posters at school with no at home help. She seemed pleased with her end result. Tonight when we enter the School, all 120 5th graders will have their displays set up in a circle around the room. They were told that the top 8 projects will be moved to the center table with either a ribbon or a medal placed on it. This is Christine Johnson, Sydnee's Teacher. She is a wonderful mentor. She has been so positive and encouraging for Sydnee this school year. I have really seen Sydnee blossom with confidence.
It was priceless! We entered the cafeteria where all of the projects were set up and Sydnee went over to where she had set hers up and it was not there. She then looked at the center table and saw hers there with a medal on it! She squeeled with excitement. It brought me to tears. I was so proud of her.

Sydnee had worked so hard on this project and had spent so much time doing all of the research and to see her finished display that she did all on her own, just flooded me with emotions of happiness for her. She gleamed all evening as parents and families came and honored all of the students and their efforts. It was a great evening!!! Great job Sydnee! I am so proud of you!

Happy 15th Birthday Cole!!

Happy 15th Birthday Cole!! This year for his birthday he chose to go riding at Mt. View MX Track. So for the past few weeks that is what he has been looking forward too! It's written in bold letters on the calendar! Saturday May 22nd, Cole Riding @ Mt. View MX Track 9am-4pm! The day came and so did the rain :( The Track closed due to too much rain!) It was a sad soggy day. I had been sick for a few days and still feeling not so great so I hadn't even gone shopping for his gift. For the past month he had been showing me exactly what he wanted online and bookmarking them on the computer. Well the computer had more than a few glitches over the past couple weeks and then got a severe virus that shut it down completely. So I did not even have that to go on. In my mind I figured I could run down to the Yamaha Sports Plaza down the street and find it there. Well, we went on saturday afternoon and nothing :( Strike 2) By now I am feeling like a pretty rotten Mom. His birthday is tomorrow on a Sunday which means over 3 hours of it spent at Church. (Real fun for a 15 year old) I mean don't get me wrong, church is a good thing but up to this point everything Cole had chosen for his Birthday has failed. Well I had at least found enough energy to make his favorite cake. White cake with Whipped Cream filling and Strawberries. He cut his own piece of cake....

At least he left 3/4 of it for the rest of us.
He chose pizza for dinner.

Saturday after striking out at the Yamaha store we came home and he went on the other computer and pulled up what he wanted. I ordered it for him. This is what he chose, new riding gear. It should arrive by next Thursday. only 4 days late. sorry Cole.

Monday came and to try to make up for my failures I picked him up at school and took him to Carl's Jr. for lunch.

He chose Carl's Jr. because their burgers are huge

And he Loves their real strawberry milkshakes!

It also had to be someplace close to the school. He only had 30 minutes for lunch.

After school I picked him up and we headed to the DMV. Yes, to take the test for his Driver's Permit. He had been looking forward to this for basically his whole life and wouldn't you know it his birthday was on a Sunday so he had to wait a whole other day to go. Well this is where it gets even worse... Cole panics when he has to wait to take a test. The DMV was busy and we had about a 45 minute wait for his number to be called. By this time I should have known to just wait and come back tomorrow. Well we get a lady in training to help us and help is the wrong word. She did not help at all. Jumping ahead... we had to come back the next day. Okay Day 2 at the DMV. The wait is just as long only this time we get a veteran lady that is not nice at all. Mean and nasty is what she was! Tells us all the things that the lady in training did wrong, and failed to inform us, and that he is still going to have to come back tomorrow. Cole passed his test 98% woo hoo... so today is day 3. After school today I am going to pick him up along with the required signed proof of enrollment paper from the schools office and he can finally receive his Driver's Permit that he should have gotten 2 days ago!

I tell ya, when it rains it pours! And by the way, it is still pouring outside!

Cole Happy Birthday. From the day you were born you have brought nothing but happiness to our family. You are a gift. You have so many talents and the ability to accomplish anything. I love you more than I have words to express.

2 Baseball games, a birthday and a Field trip

Monday May 17th, Happy Birthday to my Father-in-law, Don! We owe you a special day!

Gresham played Central Catholic at Sckavone Field in Milwaukie. It was a great game. Unfortunately Gresham couldn't hold on to win the game. final score 12-14. Cole scooped a ball in right field and through the runner out at first base. sweetness! Made the team cupcakes for their last game of the season
Wednesday May 19th, 2010 Cannon Beach Field trip with Maddy's 6th grade class. I got to go on a field trip with Madelynn. Thanks to my parents for managing the other kids so I could be at the school by 7:15am.

My group: Maddy P.,Maddy H. Delaney, Maddy L. Maddie S. Brooke & Maddie H.
Yes, 5 Maddy's a Delaney and a Brooke

They only had one bus to squeeze 50 students and 15 adults on. So one of the Teachers drove and 4 of us chaparones rode with her. The drive to the coast was beautiful. The sky was blue, the temperature mild and winds calm.

As we got closer to the coast.. it got grayer and more gloomy. but that did not stop the girls from having FUN!!!

We went to observe the low tides at Haystack rock.

us at

Haystack rock.

Maddy touching an anemone that is out of water.

It pretty much rained on us the entire time. We were all soaked. On the way back the bus stopped at Camp 18 . The students got to get out and look around the gift shop and dry off a bit.

Time to head back

We got back to the school about an hour early so we picked up ice-cream sandwiches for all of the kids. The weather got worse as we got back home. Heavy winds had knocked down power lines. The school lost power. Getting home took extra long because the power was out at the intersection also. We were so exhausted.

Thursday May 20th, 2010. The time has come to say good bye to Grandma & Grandpa Merrill. We feel very blessed and fortunate that they were able to come and be a part of our daily activites for the last 10 days. 5 baseball games, 6 softball games, 1 track meet and a birthday.

Heavy rain, wind and Hail escorted us to the Airport.

The hail came down so hard and fast that it was piling up on the windshield

Meanwhile...

G-ma & G-pa enjoyed the ride. Because they know that 100+ degree weather is waiting for them when they land back in Arizona. Thanks again for sharing ten days with our family! We love you!

Sydnee Rock's Eleven!

Tuesday May 18th, Sydnee Brooke is Eleven! Happy Birthday Sydnee! She has been looking forward to this day for basically whole year. So excited that her Grandma & Grandpa Merrill are here to share it with her.Since Cole had a baseball game yesterday and another one tonight. I took Sydnee out of school at lunch time and took her to Quizno's.
Then we went shopping. She decided to try on some high heels in her size! She sweetly made the comment "How do you even walk in these things?"

She got a new comforter for her bed. and matching sheets.

Syd with Grandma Merrill

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa for the card and $$

Thanks Grandpa Lindhorst for the card and more $$$

For dinner Sydnee picked Red Robin!

Sista's

The crew!!!

Hey, Cole is actually looking at the camera and smiling! Happy Day!!!
The best part about going to Red Robin! They sang Happy Birthday to Syd and she got an Ice-cream sundae and balloons!

Happy Birthday Sydnee. I love you soooo much! Best wishes for the next 365 days!

Vancouver 12U Tournament May 15-16th, 2010

After 2 long warm days at the softball complex.. Riptide took First Place in their bracket. Saturday we were at the park from 7am till after 7pm. Played 4 games. lost the first one by 1 run. Won the second game 14-2, won the 3rd game 11-4, and lost the 4th game in an international tie breaker by 1 run. Then Sunday came back and won both games to win first place.We all expected Grandpa to snooze during the games...
Even Presley could not hold out after 10 hours...
But Grandma??? What? Grandma sleeping too?

Nice smiles Steve and Presley!

Maddy's nice leap into home plate

A whole lot going on in between games on saturday. Grandpa this is when you are suppose to nap. hint hint!!

Maddy played catcher for a few innings in a couple of the games.

Syd really enjoyed getting to run the score board.

Grandma using her umbrella to shade herself from the sun.

She was sitting in front of us and opened her umbrella... none of us could see the game so she had to go sit on the other bleachers. :) say cheese!

Sunday after softball games... we came home and barbequed and had a bonfire. It was a gorgeous evening.

The moon was so pretty!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for enduring a long 2 day tournament. 6 softball games in the warm sun. We had a great time and were so glad to have you there with us.