Miranda, Miranda, where do I begin? Miranda had been planning her Dog themed birthday party for almost a year. She made personalized invitations inside these cute little dog bags and gave them to all her friends. We did some Dog themed games and did dog face painting and made dog pillows.
Miranda had a blast in Disneyland. She is a thrill-seeker! She loves going as fast and high as possible! One of her favorite things was the Disney animation studio, where a real Disney animator shows you how to draw a character on a large sketch pad. Miranda begged to do this twice. As soon as we got home from our vacation, she checked out EVERY library book on drawing cartoons. (Did you know they have a new book for drawing all the characters for all of the recent animated Disney movies?) Miranda's drawing skills improved a lot this year. I was amazed at how many hours she would sit in her room practicing.
Miranda has really seemed to blossom at school this year. She is doing really well and seems to have matured in how she looks at school. She really goes to the next level- often checking out books on things they have learned at school so that she can learn more. She LOVES to research! Her favorite subject in school is social studies. She loves learning about people from the past and people around the world.
With Heidi's wedding, we got to see more cousins this summer. Miranda is amazingly wonderful with smaller kids and genuinely enjoys spending time with them making them happy. She latched on to Maddie right away, and has also done the same with her smaller Swanson cousins in Utah. I can see her becoming a favorite babysitter in our ward.
Miranda has grown about a foot in the past year. She's now 4'9". No wonder she's so tired in the morning and is constantly hungry! (Miranda: "Mom! Can I have something to eat?" Me: "Are you serious? We literally stopped eating dinner one minute ago!)
Miranda is incredibly creative (like Larry), and is always able to make something fun instead of being bored. Here she is with a jet pack.
During the summer, Miranda would often rally Lindsey and Kara into dancing, a tea party in the bathroom, playing school, or other games. They are always waiting for Miranda to come home to see what they'll do next.
Miranda was so excited for school to start this year. She seems to enjoy almost everything about school and loves to learn. She also has several good friends that she makes little gifts for, talks on the phone with, or has come over to the house. She is a great friend.
Some of Miranda's favorite things: TWIX bars, drawing, animal books, salmon!, listening to books on tape, starting new projects, making gifts and giving them away, creating something new out of the recycling bin, planning for holidays and vacations, drinking hot chocolate, playing with friends, and her favorite stuffed animal Dachshund named Diamond!
Derek started out the year by being baptized on 1-1-11. He was really excited to be eight to be baptized and start cub scouts. He has really enjoyed learning new things and just being there with his friends.
Derek has continued to enjoy chess and do well. He made it to state two years in a row as an individual, and has also played in the team competitions at State. More than anything, Derek likes playing with Larry and talking stategy with him. (I don't understand half of what they're saying, but they really get going and barely pause to breathe!)
As I was looking through photos, I noticed a definate theme of goofy faces!
Derek really enjoyed his first Pinewood Derby last Spring. With some help from a friend, Larry and Derek put together a pretty awesome car that placed 1st and 2nd in most of the rounds of play. It also got awarded, "Highest Metachlorine Count" by the judges because of the Star Wars guys glued to the top.
Derek really enjoyed Legoland and Disneyland. He and Larry loved looking at the Star Wars Lego exhibits at Legoland. At Disneyland, he especially liked the Buzz Lightyear ride, Woody Ride, and Indiana Jones ride.
Derek enjoyed being out of school. He played with Legos, played games, did a fencing camp for a week, cub camp for a week, and read a lot! He and Spencer would also do a lot of little bike rides. Shortly after school started up again, Derek's teacher recommended that he skip a grade. After more testing and evaluation, Derek moved up to 4th grade in October. It has been a tricky transition for him, but he is settling in.
Before Christmas, Derek and Spencer (but mostly Derek), decided that they wanted to get a Lego Mindstorm (a programmable robot) that costs about $250 for Christmas. Although it was on the top of their lists, I encouraged them to start saving just in case they didn't get it. This picture shows Derek opening Grandma Dickinson's gift of cash! He was so thrilled!
We celebrated Christmas in Utah. Derek's favorite toy was probably his Woody's Roundup electronic game for the TV. Although he didn't get the Mindstorm, in January he was able to get it after selling some Lego sets, and pooling his money with Spencer's. Derek loves to program his robot. It walks, shoots balls at people, talks, plays the Harry Potter theme song, and dances.
Some of Derek's favorites are: Grandma's spaghetti, Ninjago, Clone wars books and cartoons, Pirateer, french fries, mint candy, wearing jeans, LegoTV, chess, soccer, the color scarlet, making faces, playing video games, playing with friends, pretzels, making up new words to songs, mummifying himself in a blanket on the heat vent, staying up late, striped shirts, playing chess with Larry, Harry Potter books, board games with mom or dad, and long showers.
