Friday, April 29

Washington D.C.

The 6th grade class of Covenant school has gone to D.C. for the last 13 years ( i think). This year was no different. Along with all the curriculum and the homework and the projects, the kids and parents have to fund raise all year long to make enough money to go. It always seems like it will never get here and we will never raise the money, but April 25th finally arrived, we raised MORE money then we needed, and off we went! We had to get up at 4am to take a 6am flight out of Jackson, but we all made it, and by 1pm we had already checked into our hotel and were on top of the Old Post office tower taking in the view!

Then it was on to Ford's Theater.


Next was the International Spy Museum, a big favorite among the kids.
Kaitlynn really got into and wore this hat the rest of the trip.
Hard Rock Cafe for dinner!! Because we had extra funds, the trip coordinator said this dinner would be her treat, so the kids could order whatever they wanted to. We had 11 kids on the trip. Ten kids ordered cheeseburgers. 1 child ordered a big steak. Any guesses who that was?

We did a LOT of walking. We also saw so many statues and eventually we quit taking pictures in front of them.

With her great friend, Nettie Taylor.
With both teacher, me and Mrs. Nettie.

Earlier in the year I had the class memorize the entire Gettysburg Address. They recited here in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Mount Vernon was a great place. We enjoyed a lot there.

Yes, Kaitlynn is really tall.
She took the Oath of Office! (Not that I would ever want her to be President though).
Arlington Cemetery was special.


With Mrs. Nettie and Sierra

We walked here. A long, long, long walk. We were so tired and hot I don't think we appreciated the memorial at that moment.
We got to go into ABC studios where they were broadcasting the 6pm news live. Then they had a tornado warning (we can't seem to escape those no matter where we go) so we could not eat on the roof as planned, but we did get some DC Cupcakes! (Kaitlynn likes that show).
We toured the Capitol Building.


Went to the Air and Space Museum.
The Natural History Museum.(and several other museums that I don't have pictures of on here. One of my favorites was the Holocaust Museum. I would like to go back there when I have a longer period of time to read things).
Then we had up front seats to the Washington nationals vs. the Mets. The boys LOVED it, but even the girls had a good time. Kaitlynn caught the shirt thrown by the Mascot and the boys were jealous! Sometimes being 5'9" can be a good thing!
We made it on the big screen!
They look like they are having fun!
The Newseum was high on list of personal favorites. I would go back there too. Here is the ONLY full group shot we got on the entire trip.
This is why I liked the Newseum. Every winning photograph with a back-story and interviews with the photographers. It was fantastic!
They even got to do their own newscast!
SO many more pictures, but not room for them all here. I put most of the ones of Kaitlynn on here. The previously mentioned 6th grade book has many others, and I will get that link posted when it is time. Everything must be chronological! :)

It really was a special time for everyone. I loved experiencing it with Kaitlynn and the rest of my class. I really fell for those kids this year. It is amazing how much you can pack into 5 days!

It was worth all the fund-raising! Thank you all so much for all of your who helped us out. The trip was a true blessing!

Sunday, April 24

Easter

Easter Sunday Morning! How blessed I am with my family and my church. I am so thankful to worship with these sweet people each week under an AMAZING pastor!

Yes, meet the REAL Smiths!
A little calmer here...
4 bright and happy kids on Easter morning!
Collin - age 14
Christopher - age 8
Kaebrie - age 6
Kaitlynn - age 12


Thursday, April 21

PIG DAY!

It has been 14 years since the last Official Pig Day took place in Poway, California. I was VERY excited to start the tradition again! After a unit on human body systems, we again dedicated a whole morning to dissecting fetal pigs. The rules were the same, everyone has to dress in pink or pig attire and we had a big PIG PARTY after. I bought them all snouts and we got going! The rest of the pictures are all in the end of the year 6th grade book that we made for graduation gifts, I will post a link to that book when I get there in chronological order.
Here they are, 14 baby pigs that one of the mothers GAVE me! I was so excited.
Everyone examined the outside of the piglet first.
Class PIG picture!
Yes, I did dress as Miss Piggy. Don't ask me why. I regret it already.
Let the cutting begin!
ORGANS!!!
The mandatory double tongue picture.
Piglet head on a stick anyone?

After it was over. Yes, a few of the boys have fingers in their snouts. That is 12 year old boys for you.
We finished with a big PIG party. We ate "pig"-a-roni pizza, pigs-in-a-blanket, pork rinds, pig juice and a great pig cake that even had a bleeding strawberry heart. It was a fun and memorable day I hope they never forget.
This is Benjamin with Kaebrie, her best kindergarten buddy!