ACE

Evan will be a Sophomore this fall.  School begins August 25th for him.

Evan has a mind for solving problems; can see how things work and can design original mechanisms.  He consistently scores very high on proficency exams; especially in math and science.

However, his study skills and habits are very poor resulting in low grades at school.  Very frustrating when you have an intelligent child.

A new school opens this fall and Evan is enrolled as a sophomore.  The school is located in Camarillo and the principal is a member of the church.  The school is called:

ACE (Architecture, Construction & Engineering) Charter High School. 

We met the teachers last week and toured the new facility.  It is very nice and the teachers seem really nice.  None of the teachers were recruited - they all applied for the positions that they are in and are considered the best in their area of study.  The class rooms have a limited number of students in them - keeping the classes smaller than other highschools.

Evan's focus will be in architecture and engineering.  He will learn all areas of construction in addition to his focus and required classes (English, Science, Math). 

We are really excited for this opportunity and know that Evan will do great.  Check out their website:

http://www.acecharterhigh.org/

AISLYN'S NEXT ADVENTURE

This is the first year that Aislyn gets to go to Girl's Camp.

She had everything packed on Monday.  She went to bed early last night and was up before Victor this morning.

Victor and Aislyn drove to the Stake Center to meet the rest of the girls at 5:45 a.m.  Girl's Camp is in Santa Barbara at Camp Whitney.

Aislyn is so excited.  I am excited for her.  I remember Girl's Camp and I always enjoyed it.  Because Aislyn knows so many girls in the stake she will be able to easily interact with the other wards.  She makes friends easily and values strong, loyal friendships.  She has been looking forward to Girl's Camp all summer.  The last exciting adventure before school starts August 30th.

This will be her last year in Middle School.  :)  All the fun and exciting things happen during 8th grade at Mesa Union.  I hope to be able to participate in some of her adventures like going to Washington DC in the Spring.

FAIR RESULTS

We still have a few competitions to go before the week is out...  I thought I would give you an idea of how the family did so far:

BLUE RIBBONS - 1ST PLACE
RED RIBBONS - 2ND PLACE
WHITE RIBBONS - 3RD PLACE

Allisa:  7 blue ribbons, 3 red ribbons, 7 white ribbons
Aislyn:  3 blue ribbons, 2 red ribbons, 1 white ribbon
Evan:  2 blue ribbons, 2 white ribbons
Alex:  3 blue ribbons

I had a variety of entries and received blue, red, white and honourable mentions.  Some entries I couldn't find so I will have to wait until the end of the fair :)

We couldn't find Evan's swedish weaving so we don't know how he did on that.

I still have tomatoes to enter; two more flower arrangments and cuttings from the yard.

Sunday is the last day of the fair.  We always go on the last day.  This year we have to watch our time because Aislyn also has her appointment with the Stake Patriarch :)

MORMON NITE AT DODGER STADIUM

I am so excited!  In about 5 hours we will be on the freeway to go to the Dodger game this evening.

Again, we will be sitting in the left field pavillion - the all you can eat side.  We are taking the family and a couple of friends.  Two other families we know will be there.

I love baseball!

AGRICULTURE ENTRIES

I really love the fair and I love entering items in the various categories.  Yeterday was the first entry date for produce.  After work I went home; grabbed my wicker basket; did a beeline for the garden; and began picking produce to enter.

I could enter items in either the Organic Grower category or the Home Gardener category.  I always choose the Home Gardener category.

I entered one of the zucchini's in the Longest Zucchini contest.  I think there was one that was a fraction longer than mine :(

I also entered the following:

In the Fruit & Pod Vegetable Division I entered:

Peppers, Chile, extra hot (5)
Peppers, Chile, hot (5) - there is someone who actually eats one of the peppers to check the hotness

In the Deciduous Fruits Division I entered:

Quince (5)

In Citrus Fruits Division I entered:

Tangerines (5)

Victor was very nice and drove me to the fair grounds; helped me carry the basket and waited patiently for me to complete the entry process.

Last year some of my entries were completely consumed by either judges or observers...

Any produce left over after the fair that is still in good condition is donated to Food Share.  I like that idea.

Next week I get to enter my tomatoes; eggs and present a harvest basket for judging :)  If my strawberries are ripe and can fill a whole pint basket I can enter those too.

Victor said that he would take them in for me since I have to be at work during the entry times.

I am so excited!

AUGUST

Just a some thoughts of encouragement:

"Your whole life comes alive when you have the courage to follow your dream, to create change and to do what is right over what is easy."

This is the second day of August.  It is a new day.  Let's start fresh and begin again.

I am excited because there is so much that I want to accomplish and it can be done if I just set my goals and work at them one step and one day at a time.

BAKING! BAKING! BAKING!!!

The kids spent Saturday baking for the fair. 

Allisa had a blast baking!  She was up early Saturday morning to get a jump start.  She even cleaned the kitchen before she started.  She was up at 6:30 this morning to finish up her projects.

She ended up taking the following items to the fair:

pumpkin pie
pecan pie
apple pie
french bread (used yeast for the first time)
lemon  squares
chocolate chip cookies

Aislyn tried some new things this year:

bran muffins (very tasty)
carmel sticky rolls (also used yeast for the first time)
carrot cake
zuchinni bread

Evan tried several new things:

lemon mirange pie
apple tart
biscotti

Alex made zuchinni bread again this year along with cherry pie; peach pie and lemon squares.

All items were cut and placed on paper plates and covered this morning before we transported them to the fair.

The volunteers at the fair know are children and are excited every time they see us.  As the kids advance in the age groups the volunteers are saddened that they have lost one child to the older age group; but are excited to get the next one.  Allisa brought in the rest of her pumpkin pie to share with the volunteers.  They really love her pies!  She won't be in that age group next year so they asked her to make an extra one for them when she bakes next year.

The fair opens this Wednesday; we will go to the fair grounds on Saturday to drop off my fresh flower arrangements and then we will return.  We are able to return to the fair on the days we bring entries without paying because we are stamped when we leave!!! :)  Such a deal!

I am excited for my kids.  Their baking skills are exceptionally high for their ages.  I will let you know how they do on Saturday!