Last Week

They learned about "Individual Confidence" at Joy School. They got to paint their hands and then use their fingers to paint their craft! They were very happy with the end product! (or doing the process since we've never painted with our fingers at home!)
Here is Ak with her and our Storyhour teachers craft about bears. (:

Ak helping during singing time at Music Makers - can you guess our theme is "Weather"?

At Cradle School we made butter - here is Ak taking a turn shaking it! Neither of my kids tried the end product - sorry.

Play-dough is always a favorite!

Z with his duck to add to Ms. Deb's barn on the wall.

Ak with hers.

Fun week!

Grandma's Birthday

Grandma loves to roller skate (has owned her own pair for YEARS) and in the past on her birthday has invited us to roller rinks - but during this last year she has dreamed of expanding camp Grandma to include her own personal "rink" and has recently acquired some kids skates to have on hand (just like when I was a kid in our garage!) So for her 72nd birthday she invited us over to try out the place and the skates! (and no distractions of inflatables) (: The kids were excited to go to her birthday party! And they skated better than I expected - especially B. Perhaps this floor was less slick than at the roller rink where none of them seemed to be able to stand alone very long. (: Z used a stoller mostly for balance.
Grandpa even got on some skates!
Grandma provided sub sandwiches! YUM!

And we brought her pumpkin muffins and sang! And skated some more!

Then grandpa took them on a ride and grandma played hide-n-seek before we left. We had a great time - thank you for inviting us over! We love you Grandma!!!

P.S. Here are two videos - sorry I cut off my parents heads - and sorry if I stood in a bad spot for filiming but the sun was behind me and it seemed to be the best for lighting. (:

Warmer Weather

We have had a few days of NICE spring weather! (: (no guarentee that winter is completly gone yet with this region's history!) (: The kids got to play at a friends and had a great time in the sun!

Now, for those that know me, know I love cold weather - so this change in season just means that summer is near and I have to try not to complain!!! I wish 65 degrees and sunny was what summer was - to me, 4 months of that would be heavenly!!!

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess

Last week was Dr. Suess's Birthday - they celebrated at school. (: Made green eggs and ham one day and this is what B came home looking like another day. Ak wanted to get in the mood.
Z went a little overboard on the accessories with B's help.

After taking the pictures with the Dr. Suess hats - and since dress up had begun: B wanted me to take a picture of her with her butterfly wings:

Then she instructed me to hold the camera upside down and take a picture of her so it would look like she was a bat hanging from the ceiling. (: Not sure we got that look, but creative, huh? (:

2nd try w/ Joy School

I wasn't supposed to teach again this week - but due to sickness in another's family - Joy School was at my house again. Ak did much better in participating and not disappearing. (: Busy with their crafts. (: While the oldest kid in our class (on the right) drew faces on his doll - Z went for the solid color design. (: We talked about our Families today.

Here's Ak with her "share bag" showing the class some things that start with the letter X. (sorry no real Xray machine around here to stick in her bag) (:

5 of our 6 kids with their paper doll families!

Good job Ak staying with the class! Hope she continues to feel comfortable in this trasition period.

Grandpa's Birthday Party!

My Dad turned 73 this week!!! Luckily he only gave us 2 days notice with his invitation because when my kids heard about his plan - they could only think about his party!!! (: He invited us to go eat with him . . . his friend Eduard and our local family were all able to come.Cousins all eating together. (:
(Lest you think this is our restaurant of choice - it isn't but it's the closest to where we were all meeting from 3 different directions.)

My brother's family brought him his favorite: LEMON cake!

Z painted him a picture.

A few months ago a friend showed him the above painting and had my kids paint one similar . . . I was impressed back then. But I was impressed now too because Z just pulled the idea out of his head with no promptings to remember that activity. (:

Then we went roller skating!!!!!!!!!!

Here are the pro's who taught me helping Z.

Ak was nervous, but she tried. I started skating when I was that young!!!

B was the best out of the 3, but she really needs a lot more practice!!!!!!!!

My kids all tried - but they didn't want to try all night. But I would like to have them practice some more soon!!! I used to remember loving to go skating!!! But the inflatable slides were calling their names . . .

Even Aunt Donna went down a slide!

Cute cousins huh?

They all had a great time!!! That was me in the last video and I was thinking of D since he couldn't come due to volleyball assistant coaching duties. But you can think it meant I was thinking of you. (:

Here are my kids w/ Grandpa after their last slide!

My Dad said he had no intention of getting on the inflatables himself - just skating that night - but you know how grandkids can get you to play with them! Everyone had a great time! Thank you for inviting us to your party Grandpa! We love you!!!

We were all worn out afterwards! (: Fun birthday party celebration!!!

Pancake Fundraiser

D's volleyball team had a pancake breakfast fundraiser - YUMMY!!!Ak dishing out some butter for her pancake - a first??? She may be my one child who likes butter on stuff! (:

Z's favorite way to pose his mouth. (:
They gave us these HUGE glasses of milk - B finished that whole glass.

Grandpa went with us! Very helpful!

Z and me.