Back to School

I can't believe another school year has begun. This year we have kids at three different schools!

Ashley and Madison are both in Primary School.

Ashley is in 2nd grade this year.

Madison is now in 1st grade.

Welsey is in 4th grade at the Elementary School.

Allen is embarking on the adventure known as Middle school, in 6th grade.

They are all so excited to be back at school! We are so happy with the teachers they have and their choice in friends. This is going to be another amazing year:)

As for mom and dad...Chad returns to school the end of the month, and Aubrey will be Substitute teaching again as well as spending time with PTO for all three schools. Nothing slows down around the Pena home.

Merry Christmas!

If you didn't get your card yet, its on its way...if it doesn't come, let me know:)

Happy Halloween

Direct from Alice in Wonderland...I Present to you-

Allen-as the Mad Hatter (yes everyone got this one right)

Wesley-as the Caterpillar "Who are yoooou?"

Ashley-as the Queen of Hearts "Off with their heads!"

and Madison- as Alice!

Hope you had as much fun last night as we did!

(Thank you Grammy for our amazing costumes!)

"Summer Fun"

Allen, Wesley and Ashley with their Summer Fun teachers.

Allen and his Summer Friend-J.J.

This summer we found the most amazing summer school program for the kids. They were separated into groups not by age, or grade, but so that there was an assortment of each in every group. The groups rotated through each of five teachers everyday of the week.
Mrs McGruder taught Computers. Ms Lee taught cooking. Mrs Martinez taught us about our bodies. Ms Morelos directed our Reader's Theater. Mrs Uttergaurd taught us exercise.
They had a blast and are excited to go again next summer. Madison is especially excited since she will be old enough to go next summer!

Cub Scout Day Camp

Last year Allen's Cub Scout pack went to Mount Lemmon for their day camp. Camp Lawton is an established BSA camp so there is lots to do! (Not to mention it is about 20+ degrees cooler than here in Tucson) So of course when it was time to sign up for camp again that is where the boys wanted to go. The snag...everyone else decided they wanted to go too! We weren't able to register in time for the two day camp, but the BSA decided with the demand that they would offer a one day camp and try to squeeze as much into it as possible. So the Cubs still had a blast!

Last Day of School

Wesley was so blessed to have the same teacher in kinder and first grades. I would say we are going to miss her, but Ashley will have Mrs Feerick for Kindergarten!

Allen also had an awesome teacher this year. Mrs Miller cared so much about the students and their progression throughout the year. We were so sad when she was on the list of teachers let go with the budget cuts.... She will always hold a special place in our hearts!

Pinewood Derby!

Allen loves Cub Scouts! He is now a Bear and enjoys earning awards and attending the Den and Pack Meetings. I think I can safely say that The Pinewood Derby is his favorite part of the year. He designed his car months in advance and was so excited to get his kit! Chad really let him do most of the work this year and you could tell Allen was proud of the result!

Happy 9th Birthday Allen!

Do I really have a nine year old? The answer, sadly, is yes.... I can't believe that nine years have passed since I brought that little boy home. He wasn't very little then, and he is still a solid brick wall. Allen is strong willed, but has a tender heart. He is very focused on choosing good friends and making good choices. (I'm not saying he always does, but it is a big concern for him). He loves Lego's, his bike and video games. He excels at school in all areas and even enjoys it! He loves scouts and is excited to advance to the rank of Bear. We Love you, Allen, Happy Birthday!

The Christmas Tree Nazi....

( NOTE: Not a personal account, but I didn't want my

children to write a version of this in the future!)

"My mother is The Christmas Tree Nazi. Where most families decorate the Christmas tree as a family, my mom does not like anybody decorating the tree other than herself. As a kid I would decorate the Christmas tree and then my mother would say:
"Oh Baby that looks nice. You did a wonderful job. But you know if you just move this piece here and this piece there...."
And before you know it the whole tree would be rearranged as mom saw fit. It was disheartening. My poor little feelings would be hurt. Now I don't even try to decorate the tree. I have learned that there is no hope that I will ever decorate another Christmas tree as long as I am at home with my mother. It's just not possible.
We (well my mom) just managed to decorate the tree tonight even though the tree has been up for a couple of weeks. And what can I say, she stayed true to form. She put the kids to be, begin to decorate the tree, and didn't ask for my help until she needed me to fill in some holes on the side and the back of the tree. You know the areas where no one is going to look.
Yep. That's my mom. The Christmas Tree Nazi."

I read this and decided that I needed to relinquish my throne. The kids are having a blast, and they definitely have some of my obsessive tendencies. Our tree is looking better than it ever has!

Halloween

We're off to see the Wizard!

Allen was a perfect Tin Man. Wesley was a great Scarecrow. Madison was made for the Role of the Cowerdly Lion, and Ashley pulled off Dorthy like no one else!

First stop Mrs Feerick's house.

On to the heart of the trick or treating with Deni as Glenda the Good witch, Blair as the Wicked witch of the west, and Chad, Pam, and I as the Lollipop Guild. Madison and Deni really got into the candy collection this year - running from house to house, sampling the goods, it was a blast!

The Kids looked AWESOME. I know I'm going to miss the themed Halloweens but I promised the kids they could pick anything they wanted next year and that they didn't have to have a theme.

The end of the night...one more picture before the sugar feast!

What time is it?...SUMMERTIME!

It wouldn't be summertime at the Pena house without swimming lessons!




The kids look forward to their pool time and it is a great
bargaining chip if their chores aren't getting done!

Sonoran Desert Museum

Wesley's joke last week was..." are all the animals tired since it's the snorin desert museum?" -insert bent over giggles here. So, with that we decided to spend the morning checking on the "sleeping" animals, and make good use of our family pass! Saguaro Cactus blossoms

Ashley with the fish.

(She totally fell off right after we took the picture!)

Wesley got a little tired so Allen

volunteered to push him in the stroller!

The blessed backpack!

Madison just being so stinkin' cute!

Cub Scout Day Camp

Chad - with the honor of Cub master - was able to go with Allen

to Day camp on Mount Lemmon! The Boys went to Camp Lawton for some serious

Indiana Jones Adventures! I'm not privy to all of the details,

(boy stuff) but I do know they had a blast!

Sister Schafer, Nathan, Allen, and Chad W. painting monkeys!

Slowly but surely...

And number 3 is out!
Allen (like his mother was) has been slow to loose his baby teeth. While so many children in his classes have the classic gaping smile, Allen has now only lost three teeth! The dentist is thrilled about this, especially since he takes such good care of his baby teeth, but Allen is a little sad. Look at that grin though! You gotta love it!

The Last Day of School!

Wesley's last day as a Kindergartener...it was one crazy day!

Wesley and our favorite Kinder teacher- Mrs. Feerick!

Allen and Ms. Anderson - Goodbye 2nd grade!What would we have done without Ms Anderson?

Allen is a Wolf!

Allen has been so excited...Last weekend he finished the last requirement

(cleaning the stake center) to earn his Wolf for Cub Scouts!

One of his good friends, Nathan is a little bit older than Allen and

got his Wolf a while back. This has been a major motivator for

him as they like to do things together!

Yeah Allen!