Math Olympiad!

The fifth grade had a math competition where they took a series of tests and Matthew ended up tying for third place! He definitely has his dad's math brains! We are so proud of you Matt!

Mountain Man Rendeveax

Every year the fourth grade does a Mountain Man Rendeveax complete with all kinds of activities like...

(Matthew and his cousin Nathan)

...the hatchet toss,

(Matthew and a "real" mountain man.)

...the gunny sack race,

...the tug of war,

(Matthew and Mom)

... and of course the pie eating contest.

(Nathan Ward, Matthew Shields, Tanner Brain)

and the first place winner is...MATTHEW SHIELDS!!!

(Thomas Hall, Cole Popp, Tanner Brain, Matthew Shields,

Seth Pike, Jackson Halpin, Nathan Ward)

And no rendeveax would be complete without a pony ride!

Book of Mormon Challenge...WE DID IT!!!

Wow...we actually did it! President Hinckley challenged the church to finish the Book of Mormon before the end of the year, and we thought it would be a nice tribute to Joseph Smith (who we learned so much about on our trip back East to some of the church history sights) to finish it on his birthday. The kids were all a little late for school so we could read the last chapter of Moroni and say a prayer together. The morning got off to a little rough start and I had my doubts about President Hinckley's promise about love increasing in our homes, but as soon as Lauren started to play Joseph Smith's First Prayer on the piano, the Spirit filled our home and we had a sweet experience as we finished the final chapter. As promised we went to dinner at The Roof (a restaurant in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building) to celebrate the occasion. Grandma and Grandpa Shields came with us.

Santa Claus!

Every year we have the funnest Christmas parties. This year we had the Haslam party early because it was the Shields year for Christmas Eve. The kids always love Santa!

A Christmas Carol

Jacob was well cast as Jacob Marley in the fourth grade play of the Christmas Carol. Jacob and Daniel Ehlert as Ebenezer.

Spencer the Elf and Jake

Mitchel Kirkham, Derek Wankier and Jake.

Basketball Matthew

Matt's first year playing basketball, what a team!

Fall, Firsts and Fun

With fall came homecoming and Lauren's first date. I thought she looked beautiful!
...and Halloween is alway fun! This year we had a Fairy Godmother, a Green Bionicle and of course no Halloween would be complete without a mummy with a little blood.

Sarah

Jake

Matthew

Jake without the mask.