Year 8!

A full week has passed since Noah began grade 8 and so far so good. I still can't believe our only boy is in his last year of middle school. This is insane and I can't seem to wrap my head around it. Just yesterday he was graduating kindergarten and next fall he will be in high school! I need to stop blinking!! I hope that he will make this year count and that he will enjoy and have fun with it. So far he enjoys his classes. French has become his favorite language and is happy to have had the same teacher for three years. He has gym last period which he loves because when winter hits at least the temps will somewhat go down in the middle of the day. He is taking advantage of recess because once your in high school they are gone! He has gotten better at packing lunches and appreciates the little things in life. All I want for this kid is to have a great school year. To do his best in his classes. To be a good influence. To To be kind to others and respect his teachers. The world is changing every second and its up to him to make the world better. With our help in being good examples he has an excellent chance of being one happy kid in spite of any obstacles that will come his way! 

A Lewis Legend with an Old Soul.

The minute this child was born I knew she was going to bring a lot of solace, obedience, strength, peace, and motivation to our family. I felt it while I was carrying her in my belly, and saw it in her eyes the second she was born. 

When she was three she began making herself peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and helped herself to the fridge for a glass of water. She was the glue at that time that saved our marriage, the motivator to want to get to the temple to be sealed to my family, and till this day holds a firm position in the home as the peacemaker. For five straight years she had Sierra all to herself, and at times I literally felt as if I had twins. I can see why Sierra considers her 'her best friend.' She matured faster than lightening, and caught up to Sierra in everything that she did. She, and Sierra were always compassionate, and thoughtful in letting me have time to myself while they played "house", tea party, or "library". I never heard any bickering from them. Although I did spend a lot of quality time with them, there were some instances in which they solely entertained themselves without any shenanigans or caused me any stress (they saved that for their teenage years...haha!). She began reading large chapter books at the age of seven, and is a very good listener. She is benevolent, understands people, does not judge others, is trustworthy, and is always willing to help someone in need. She's smart, and is beautiful inside and out. She is an extremely rare individual, and one of the most mature 14 year olds I know...most mature than some of the 18+ year olds I know. 

She is what I call an "old soul."

This past week she was recently nominated not by a teacher, but by the principal of her school as his Lewis Legend. Apparently she was to be nominated by another teacher who shall remain nameless, but Principal Otten said "no, she's my Lewis legend." I was amazed and in awe when he picked her. I wasn't too surprised, but I know why he picked her, and I'm so glad that he did. He obviously saw all the qualities, and things that I see in her as a mother. He couldn't have described her anymore better than I would have, and everything he said about her is right on cue.

"Alex Jorgensen is an obvious choice for a Lewis Legend because she embodies what it means to b a Lewis Indian. She is kind and always ready to assist someone in need. Her participation in the St. Baldrick's Foundation event put everyone on notice of how caring and compassionate she is. Alex is also an outstanding academic student as her grades have been in the 90's all year. She was even honored by the local American Legion Post for her award-winning essay writing. 

It is my pleasure to nominate Alexandra Jorgensen as my 2014 Lewis Legend."

~Mr. Ted Otten, Principal of Lewis Middle School

I am so blessed to have this girl in my life, and just like her sister anyone who knows her is blessed to have her as a friend, and student. I look forward to many more accomplishments of what Lexie can do as she enters high school this fall, and this is just the beginning of what is to come.

**Some of her major accomplishments can be read here, here, here, and here.

three years of middle school drama productions.

Seeing my children's accomplishments brings me great joy. Especially when it's doing something they love. I was never involved in any drama productions in middle school & my attempt to be in a drama class my throughout high school was a joke...on my part. I believe I was a better dancer than an actress, hence being a part of the drill team the following year. Nonetheless those experiences taught me quite a bit. It helped me build more confidence within myself & helped me carry myself through all the hardships that I was experiencing at that time in my life.

This past weekend was Lexie's third & final drama production of her middle school career. She played Goldilocks in "Princess Who?" It was a cute play & everyone did such a great job. 

As each year goes by I am amazed at her level of maturity because when I saw her in her very first play "Frog & Toad" as a second grader, I swear her level of maturity was that of a fifth grader. We had been living in North Carolina & she was the only second grader in her class who had a singing part. She even had more lines than any of her classmates. She has always been so mature for her age & that is something that I've always been impressed by. 

^^^ Lexie in Frog & Toad, circa- 2007 ^^^

^^^ Lexie as a mole in frog & toad, circa-2007 ^^^

And now she's an eighth grade student who has the maturity of a "mature" 18 year old! 

^^^ Goldilocks ^^^

The entire cast gave a stellar performance this past weekend & I can't believe she has six more weeks of middle school left. She has enjoyed being a part of the drama productions for the past three years. You can view the past drama productions here (A walk in the Woods), and here (Spell of Sleeping Beauty).

Since this is their last year, the eighth graders had the opportunity to give a little 'speech of gratitude' at the end of the play. 

Everything that she does never disappoints & my proud mama moments just keep piling up. I look forward to many more of her accomplishments in the near future. Not sure where the time goes, but it sure flies super fast, and it's hard to believe that in just four years we're going to have another high school graduate in the house. Yikes!