Tuesday, April 2, 2013

State Capital & Winter Snow & Egg Dyeing

Jaidyn's "Owl" art drawing was on display during the month of March at the state capital for National Youth Art Month.  Her drawing was one of four chosen out her school to receive this recognition.  Papa volunteered (or rather was talked in to) keeping the boys all day so that the rest of us could enjoy a full day at the capital. The exhibit was really neat and it was neat to see the artwork of some REALLY talented kids in the state of Missouri!

 photo 032_zps6c0cc83f.jpg

 photo 031-1_zps373e69d8.jpg

 photo 033_zps4cd28513.jpg

 photo 034-1_zps1fb46e85.jpg

 photo 037_zpsfa9ce1d7.jpg

 photo 038-1_zpsc483149d.jpg

 photo 041_zps8166e72b.jpg

 photo 042_zps50d6202e.jpg

 photo 043_zpsf2f878ea.jpg


 photo 044_zpsf503bb33.jpg 

Nana working with Reid on mastering the potty.  He's had some successful go-abouts in the last week and is in fact wearing some Mickey Mouse themed underwear around the house (I told him I am out of diapers and he didn't have a choice).  I think he just likes reading stories with her and therefor hangs out much longer than necessary.
 photo 045_zps4e358bf8.jpg

 photo 028-1_zps0b336c1f.jpg

Earlier in the week the kids winter wish of snow happened!!  The girls had a 2 hour late start to the school day due to the snow and it was the perfect opportunity for building some snow friends and sliding down the hill on the side of our house with their sleds.  And they took advantage of the opportunity to get a few snowballs thrown at their dad!

 photo 012-1_zpsb9a19d35.jpg

 photo 011-1_zpse383f017.jpg

 photo 016-1_zps1e9f1a82.jpg

 photo 017_zps4f6806ad.jpg

 photo 021-1_zpsda1e1fe5.jpg

 photo 020_zps3e3e4daf.jpg

 photo 022-1_zpsed928b14.jpg

 photo 024-1_zps3492b2e6.jpg

Easter egg dyeing fun with friends!

 photo 004_zps2bdf14d1.jpg

The boys all decided they wanted to be shirtless so they could be completely messy!
 photo 003-1_zps93f01f36.jpg

  photo 002-1_zpsbc322d6e.jpg


 photo 006_zpsb2b334e2.jpg
So I am pretty sure it wasn't the most exciting way to spend a birthday weekend, but Nana came to help one day with my garage sale and we got in a tiny celebration with some chocolate cheesecake and a birthday song serenade from the kids.

 photo 007-2_zps84ab100a.jpg
Jaidyn's teacher is going to be spending several weeks of July in Guatemala working with kids of the Shadows of His Wings Orphanage.  Jaidyn (and Addy helped some too) worked hard and long at her soda stand during the garage sale so that she could contribute her proceeds from the sales to her teachers trip.

My camera phone isn't working and Wes had to do all the picture taking from the Easter weekend festivities.  Hopefully, I'll have a chance to download them soon and post pictures from Easter. 





Thursday, March 21, 2013

Be Gone Winter!!

  photo 0092_zps0c67a6ff.jpg
The boys are disappointed that there is no snow to play in, so they are having a tea party to pass the time.  haha!

Has it really been almost a month since I last posted?  I think the continual days of cold winter weather have me lagging behind.  Yesterday was the first day of spring and temps were in the low 30's with a supposed snow and freezing rain storm coming today.  No snow or rain falling yet and I have some disappointed kids, but I am completely fine if we don't receive an ounce of it.  I have removed my snow friend from the front porch, removed all winter clothing with the exception of a few long sleeve shirts and jeans from the the kids closets and we have cleaned out our entire garage while also airing up bike tires and sport balls in anticipation of warm weather here to stay.  So, Mr. Winter, be gone!  I have no use for you!


Lots of fun so far in March!  Earlier in the month we celebrated Papa J.R.'s birthday and all of us adults were able to venture out for a night out of entertainment and dancing!
  photo 011-1_zpsfa07c157.jpg
 photo 006_zps24bb7ac7.jpg 
  photo 007-2_zps352349e7.jpg
  photo 013-2_zps1f7547b0.jpg

  photo 015-1_zps784eaedb.jpg
   photo 015-1_zps784eaedb.jpg

  photo download_zps7e3f7907.jpg
Addy's class celebrating Dr. Suess's birthday.

 Jaidyn's teacher posts pictures of her class almost weekly.  I look forward to these every week and seeing all the neat things they are doing in class. 
  photo 487568_448302385246655_1095753398_n_zps0a862c92.jpg
Studying force and motion by building their own roller coasters.

 photo 221645_448303105246583_1402936952_n_zps784d2e43.jpg
Researching and preparing for their planet projects.


Before spring break the girls had Decade Day and also participated in a Silly Sock Hop dance during the school day.  Addy like totally like rocked it out in her 80's attire while Jaidyn peacefully glided through the hallways in her flare leg pants and fringe vest.
 photo 0132_zpsffe1f87d.jpg
 photo 014-1_zps92a6ee3f.jpg
And Reid just wanted in on the picture action...
 photo 0152_zps79497ac7.jpg
 photo 0152_zps79497ac7.jpg

Wes worked late the night before and therefor didn't have to be at work quite as early, so I was able to surprise Jaidyn and hang out with her during her sock hop.  Wish I could have made it for Addy too, but hers was in the afternoon. 
 photo 0172_zpse232a1be.jpg
 photo 024-1_zps0d1b622d.jpg
 photo 025_zps7e6513ef.jpg



SPRING BREAK WEEK!!

 Wes had perfect weather for his Gladiator Run that he participated in.  The intense hilly 7 mile course consisted of many obstacles including wall and rope climbing, mud crawls and burpees.  Wes and a buddy tore up their heat placing first.  It was hard to actually compare times since there was no official timer and waves of approximately 100 people started the course every 30 minutes.  Regardless, they earned bragging rights for participating as well as a tshirt and finishers medal.
 photo IMG_3274_zps574a4060.jpg
 photo IMG_3250_zps3a476564.jpg
 photo IMG_3291_zpsc2cbf82d.jpg
 photo IMG_3341_zpsae9ebf31.jpg



 photo 002-1_zps81a59ca3.jpg
Check out these stylish Gladiators!

  photo 0062_zps3d340244.jpg
Never a better way to unwind and relax than hanging with 8 kids in a hot tub!

 To kick off spring break, Jaidyn, Addy, Levi and I ventured out to the theater and watched Oz, The Great and Powerful.  Great movie!  Here we are just messing around in the lobby before the movie started.

 photo 0092_zps6fbda651.jpg


 photo 008-2_zps44a774fc.jpg

Jaidyn and Addy celebrated a friends birthday with an overnight slumber party in the church basement.  This was Addy's first overnight sleepover and it was the highlight of her spring break (or started out that way anyways) as she was on a count down every day until it arrived.

  photo 578981_10200824287349619_233263194_n_zps1e3312d6.jpg
Celebrating with the birthday girl!
  photo 562141_10200824284549549_1207380302_n_zpsc4eb6b69.jpg
Forever friends!
 photo 555128_10200824291149714_359103084_n_zpsbf181963.jpg
Addy was the Twister Tournament winner!  Go Addy!
 photo 601964_10200824286189590_1552864246_n_zpsd3f05e1c.jpg

All was well until Addy decided that she needed to get in one more dance twirl in before crawling into her bed for a movie.  This move in slippery socks resulted in me getting a 10:30pm phone call suggesting that she needed to go the emergency room.  Addy fell on the cement floor splitting open her chin.  Of course this would be the night that Wes was out of town for work, so I had to wake the boys and my once peaceful evening to myself was instead replaced with all of us in the ER until 2:00am.  Fun time!  Poor Addy, but she was a trooper and very brave through it all.
 photo 005-2_zps6a078c4f.jpg
 photo 007-2_zps7e402ceb.jpg
She did shed some tears after seeing this picture as she was extremely worried about everyone making fun of her for having chin whiskers...

 photo 008-2_zpsc46a4c8d.jpg
The girls were festive for St. Patrick's Day with their freshly painted green nails and toenails.


Enjoying the couple of nice sunny weather days of spring break with a picnic out in the yard and a hike at Buseik.
 photo 0092_zps66fa3c28.jpg
 photo 011-1_zpsdeaf0f7b.jpg


 photo 012-1_zps7813e5ad.jpg

As if the hilly 3.1 mile hike the day before wasn't enough we talked the girls in to participating in the local 5K fun run.  Wes kept up with Jaidyn on his bike carting the boys behind him and I stayed with Addy.  Addy ran her 2nd ever 5K and beat her previous 5 year old time over a year ago by 10 minutes. 

 photo 015-1_zps376a1cca.jpg
 photo 014-1_zps7c812c17.jpg




 photo 013-2_zps529c9260.jpg

We finished up spring break by attending a Dancing with the Stars project graduation fundraising event with Papa and Nana.  I knew when I found out that my BF from the school days was participating that I wouldn't miss it!  She would have never stepped foot out on the dance floor with the exception of an occasional slow dance.
 photo 017_zpsf56187ba.jpg
Addy made her a good luck sign to text her a picture of before the event.  It is both she and Addy out on the dance floor.  Notice the disco ball?? :)
 photo 018_zps2cc7c0f6.jpg
Before the event started all the kids were allowed out on the dance floor for some Cupid Shuffle and freestyle dancing.  Jaidyn was out there adding some of her gymnastic flipping ability to her dance, Addy was as always making the most of it and used the opportunity to twirl, pump her arms, and even spin on the floor, and I was impressed with Levi as he was out on the floor the entire time trying to keep up with his sisters.  One of the judges of the event even made it a point to find me after the show and tell me that we needed to get Addy in dance lessons as she is one of the most naturally talented dancers that she has seen.  So maybe we need to let her lay low in the sport scene for a couple of months and get her in some dance lessons.
  photo 001-2_zps2d7253a7.jpg
  photo 002-1_zps2baf69d9.jpg

With probably 1000 people in attendance, the event raised over $18,000!!  What a successful fundraiser!  I am so proud of Lesley as I know that was a huge step out of her comfort zone.  Actually, I should say leap as most of the time her feet were spent off the floor.  It's no doubt she had many bruises from the training.
 photo 487687_10201009527660693_2056166830_n_zps93a91680.jpg
 photo 297312_10201009515940400_1634869174_n_zpsb3f887a9.jpg




 photo 602185_10201009519980501_1456757824_n_zpsc7f8bb06.jpg

Found this in Jaidyn's backpack yesterday.  I thought it was super sweet of her to nominate her sister for the March word of the month at school.  Courage!
 photo 003-1_zps81b40824.jpg

Levi and Reid are giggling over the noises Levi is making with his frog puppet from preschool.


 photo 004_zpsfdb3684a.jpg 

March came in like a lion with snow, so here's to hoping the ending of the month goes out like a lamb!  Although looking at the 10-day forecast doesn't look too promising.  :(