Huge accomplishments!

Rob won best Teacher on the planet!  It's a contest done through the radio station Planet 94.1  This is the letter from the parent that nominated him:

     Mr. Wilkes is amazing the the kids.  This is the first year that my son is excited to go to school.  He struggled in the past few years.  He has lots of energy and would constantly get in trouble for having a wandering imagination.  Not this year!  Mr. Wilkes used his energy as a teaching method.  For example, they were studying the middle ages, he took the kids outside and worked like the middle ages.  My son came home so muddy, but with the biggest smile on his face, telling me all about the middle ages and the work and the feast that they used to have (Mr. Wilkes brought in a feast for the kids too.)  it is so heart warming to see this kid so exited to learn.  Grades?  Well, report cards just came out.  He went from a straight C level report to all A's except for one B and on C.  To me and my kid...mr. Wilkes at GWA is THE BEST TEACHER ON THE PLANET!


Our other big accomplishment is....ASHLEY EARNED HER MEDALLION!  I'm so proud of her for this.  She worked so hard.  I didn't get a good picture of her face in with the medallion so...

Here is the medallion

 and here is Ashley on the same day

Thanksgiving!!!

We spent Thanksgiving in Wickenburg, AZ!  I grew up spending almost every Thanksgiving in Wickenburg so I love that the kids get the same experience.  There is very little use of electronics since Grandma and Grandpa Wilkes live where there's not great access to internet so the kids play with the dogs, the dirt, and the  cousins.  They had so much fun!

What better ice breaker is there for teens than hanging out in Grandpa's Mustang

 Cole and Sage helping with Thanksgiving dinner

 Bonding on the swings

 Family time in "the barn"

 Lots of football fans make for a great time at Thanksgiving!

 My favorite age group...the teen table!

 Almost time!

 The kids table!

 A few minutes into the meal and Noah is out.  

 Just one of the many reasons they're my favorite age group

 Hunter, Ashley, Wyatt, and Karina took off for some late night Black Friday shopping in Surprise!

 Not just cousins...buddies

 Down time by the fire

 Aunt Becca took some of the older kids out for a "night on the town". 

 In Wickenburg this is about it. 

 Last few minutes before arriving home in St. George!!!

The drive was more difficult for some than others

Halloween!

The week prior to Halloween was Red Ribbon week.

  This is Luke dressed up on career day as a scientist 

 Sage on crazy hair day

 Carving pumpkins at Darren's house

 Ashley and adorable Zombie at Thriller

 Rob dressed up as Robin Hood since his class was reading 

about Robin Hood in school.  They loved it!

 Luke is Hawkeye from Avengers

 Vintage Sage

 Gypsy Ashley

 Slenderman Noah

 Noah and his best friend Nathan at the Trunk or Treat

 Morgan, Ashley, and Emily!  

 Cole won the Chili cookoff!!!
He's such a great cook so I'm not surprised.  We're so proud of him!

Back to School

I was excited for school to start because I love to be on a schedule but I HATE all the homework the kids have to do.  This year Rob is Sage's teacher so everyone is really excited about that.

This is Ashley and her friend Sarah at the Cross Country camp just before school started.

 Sage and Luke are helping make decorations for Rob's classroom.  Ashley and I went with Rob every day for 2 weeks to work on the classroom.  

 First day of school!