It's been a somber week... filled with sadness, hope and reflection.

A classmate of Ainsley's passed away this week... along with his family... so sad... so tragic.  The heartbreaking news has affected not only the people who knew them well but those who didn't.  Here is a link to more of the story if interested.

http://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/four-family-members-found-deceased-in-pocatello-home-carbon-monoxide/article_2ff16700-9dbd-11e3-bfe0-001a4bcf887a.html

While we weren't close to the Parrish family... we shared a common bond... we celebrated classroom parties together, school plays and classroom functions, we watched our kiddos enter Kindergarten together and then leave for Middle School.

It has been hard to find the goodness in this tragedy... We know that God does have a plan for us and although we don't know the logistics of it all it's hard to make sense of the why right now.  But this week the community as a whole came together... Ainsley and classmates learned how to mourn and grieve... the schools learned how to handle the tragedy the correct way and we as a family did a lot of reflecting... and learned that the greatest gift we have is each other and the moments we share together are precious.

Sorry for the somber note... but since this blog is for me I wanted to share how life is right now and to remind us all how precious time really is.

Ainsley had her 2nd trimester choir performance last night...

Her determination to keep trying out for a solo finally paid off!  She was super excited... super nervous and really glad that she got to sing with a Gate City friend...

Couple weeks ago Ainsley started complaining about getting headaches in her math and english classes... I thought to be on the safe side I'd take her in to have her eyes checked... sure enough her prescription had changed again... which means new glasses!  Evidently it's cheaper to get new glasses than it is to just have the lenses replaced!?!

Her new glasses came in today... so cute.. a little more roundish frame which is brown and then the inside is an aqua color!  First thing she says, "Wow I can't believe how bright and vivid the colors are... and how clear everything is."

Today 30 of these went off to 4th grade...

Ainsley was pretty bummed that in 6th grade there is no valentine's to exchange... no afternoon party with games... no cupcakes and candy to have... luckily we a few leftover cupcakes for her!

This one thinks she's part cat... currently she loves to stand/sit or lay on the back of the sofa... too funny!

In other news... we are currently into the muddy season in the backyard... so NOT loving this!

Monday was Mustache Monday at Walker's school...

I even got into Mustache Monday at school...

Today was Scout Sunday at Church and Walker was awarded his Parvuli Dei medal at church.

This is a special award that is given to cub scouts who are of catholic faith and have done the requirements of the activity booklet. The book is done with a parent and gives the scout the awareness of how important their faith is through special activities.  Last summer Walker and I worked on it a little bit every day and finished just before Labor day... it was definitely a labor of love! Just 2 scouts earned this accomplishment this year. So we were very proud of his accomplishment today at mass.

His medal is a little hard to see so here is a close up...

She was home sick today...

Fever and sore throat... she's currently big on instagram and asked friends to post the homework since she wasn't going to be at school.

A friend replied, "Are you sick?"  She then asks me... "What should I reply??"  I said, "Aren't you sick?"  She says, "Well yeah but I'm not throwing up!"  Ha... funny how they think that being home sick should mean throwing up!!

She has been loving the fact that she can now sit in the front seat of the jeep... so stinkin' cute she is!!

Basketball is back to consuming our Saturdays... this time it's Walker's turn.  He had an awesome first game yesterday...

He had a few jump balls and was constantly on the move even though he was a tired kiddo!  He is off to a good start... just need to build up his confidence on dribbling to the basket to make a shot.

Last night was Walker's Pinewood Derby race... it is always one of the most stressful parts of Cub Scouts.  It was a crazy week leading up to it but somehow we showed up with a completed car even though it was iffy at times!

It's hard being the older scouts because they have to wait until the end to race...

Finally it was time for the Webelos to race... Walker put his "creeper" (from Minecraft) derby car in slot number 2...

After some much loud yelling of "GO!!" the race was off...

They ran multiple times in each lane and just about every time the green Creeper came in first... and so the other scouts started chanting, "Creeper... Creeper!" Fun times.

In the end when the points were tallied up Walker got FIRST place!!

He will now go to the District Pinewood Derby race in April...