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Winter Band Concert
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Painting the Rock for Cait's Bday
Picking out our 2015 Xmas Tree!
End of Year Water Fight! (With the fire department... you guess who won!)
In our neighborhood, there is an annual tradition that the fire department, parents and neighbors all kick-start a water fight when the elementary school bus stops in the neighborhood. Yesterday was the perfect day -- weather in the low 90s and a spirit of excitement. Here is what it looked like:
We learned how to make our own cane fishing poles... and caught something!
More fun than humanly possible?
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Certainly seemed like more snow than possible! Wow, so much fun on our snow days this week - sledding, making snow men, snow ball fights, and even trying our hand at an igloo! We had big, big flakes three days in a row! A winter to remember, for sure!
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Another tooth bites the dust - get it, bites the dust =)
Yay - our first snow day of the year!
Goodbye Tooth #3
(And Hello Tooth Fairy!) I remember not too long ago when Micah lost his first tooth and Carson said, "My teeth aren't falling out, Micah, because I take care of them." And, now look who has lost tooth #3 -- and couldn't be prouder!
Halloween!
Preschool's Halloween Program
Here we are Pumpkin-ing it up!
We had a great time picking out our pumpkins... the local farmer had your typical orange pumpkin but also ghost white pumpkins, fat short pumpkins and everything in between. (And then we got to decorate them!!)
Micah's Letter to the Tooth Fairy
Today's Fun Run was a Blast!
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Our elementary school formed a team to run in today's Fun Run. Not only was there a really fun 1 mile foot race, but a kid zone! Carson literally squealed with delight as he saw the huge bouncy house slide. Kids received ribbons, free food, high fived blue the dog, danced with the Chic-fil-a cow, played basket ball, sampled bagels and smoothies, found friends, and more all on a gorgeous day just off one of the area's prettiest golf courses. Too much fun! Carson summed it up well: "This is the best day, ever!"
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Look what the girls made! Mmmmm.... cupcakes!
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Ahem... someone lost their tooth at school today... Actually, it is safely tucked under the pillow waiting for the Tooth Fairy to come whisk it away to safety in exchange for a wonderful surprise! **Update: The Tooth Fairy Came, Found the tooth under the pillow AND left $2 in exchange. Boy she works fast!**
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A Total Room Make-Over!Move over Trading Spaces.... Here comes the ultimate bedroom. From a new coat of hand-picked paint to stencils and wall decor, this is an all-new beach-themed room ready to calm after homework and rev up for fun at sleepovers. Yes, lei, beach ball and sea shells are included =)
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Caitlin's "Rock 'n Roll Glamour Make-Up, Spa Slumber-Birthday Party" was a hit! |
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We had a blast bowling! Tess got her first strike!
Caitlin's new glasses....
Snow Day!
Sesame Street Cupcakes - Thanks Grandma!
Babysitting Cookie!
We brought Cookie home for the weekend to babysit her. Everyone loved the Guinea Pig and we learned that they love oranges, and most of all - Green Bell Peppers!
A New Park!
Fun and sun on a November Sunday! We always knew this really cool park was just around the corner and today we had the chance to really check it out. Fishing in the summer in the large pond, a couple jungle gyms, mountain bike trails, tennis courts, picnic tables and hiking trails. We played and ate lunch in the sun. It was so nice to get the wiggles out after church!
A Most Fun Day wiht Grandma, Grandpa and Scott!
Grandma, Grandpa and Scott came to see us this weekend and we had a GREAT time! We visited, played ball, showed off our Halloween costumes, drank cider, decorated pumpkin cupcakes, joined the neighborhood parade (led by a fire truck - yes with sirens!) had cookies and played on the jungle gym. It was a beautiful day and was really what fall is all about. Thank you for coming to play with us (and for taking Oliver on an awesome walk!)
Pumpkins, Corn Holes, and Cow Trains -- oh my!
What an excellent day we had, enjoying sunshine at the Pumpkin Patch! We kickstarted our Saturday with a trip through the corn maze, where everyone took a turn leading, answering trivia questions at stopping points throughout, with correct answers leading you down the correct path. (And incorrect answers putting you on a detour.)
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From the Corn Maze, we ventured on to several activities, including a cow train ride, playing in the corn box, corn hole (which in other parts of the world is called the bean bag toss), a tennis target game (which Micah aced for a piece of candy), potato sack races, the petting zoo, a wiggly tunnel climb and, of course, a hay ride. We even saw our first cotton! Micah couldn't resist rubbing it under his nose. What a super fun and busy day. And, we brought home amazing pumpkins which we plan to carve next weekend with Grandma and Grandpa.
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A weekend in Ashville with Grandma, Grandpa & Scott!
Grandma and Grandpa drove out to see us and Scott from Arizona. So Cool! We took a weekend to discover Ashville, where Scott lives. It was so beautiful and a lot of fun! We spent Saturday at the Biltmore. The day flew by as we explored the house (mansion, or castle depending upon your age and gender =); meandered and played tag in the gardens; and played at the farm with Chester the horse, the goats, and chickens.
Grandma and Grandpa spoiled us with new gifts -- Barbie make-up; life-size batmans; a new outfit; a super cool map and oh so much more. Thank you!!!! We also played at Chuck E Cheese and chillaxed (as the kids would say) with the boys on the couch watching the Seahawks beat the Falcons. What a great weekend it was!
Grandma and Grandpa spoiled us with new gifts -- Barbie make-up; life-size batmans; a new outfit; a super cool map and oh so much more. Thank you!!!! We also played at Chuck E Cheese and chillaxed (as the kids would say) with the boys on the couch watching the Seahawks beat the Falcons. What a great weekend it was!
Carson Takes Off Sans Training Wheels - oh yeah!
Carson's watch it and learn it approach pays dividends once more as he proudly declared on Sunday that he was ready to ride his bike without training wheels. And, yes, he was! He got, pushed off, pedaled and away he went. Didn't even flinch at turning, braking or anything else. It's like he's done it thousands of times before -- which I think he had. In his head. Carson = living example of how visualization works. Go buddy!
Our First Out-of-Town Visitors
Grandma Betty and Uncle Jeremy made a special visit this weekend. We had so much fun with them and were sad to see them go, but know we'll see them again soon. Thank you for the awesome presents, for having fun with us, and most importantly, for spending some incredible time together!
A Special Day!
It's not every day that your Grandma and Uncle fly across the country and are here to see you turn 3, but that's exactly what happened this weekend. We celebrated with an Elmo-themed party -- including an Elmo cake, Elmo lanterns and Pin the Nose on Elmo! (Guess who won????) Audrey. (The birthday girl was allowed to open her eyes.)
The Tooth Fairy Has Been so busy here...
Look who woke up to a missing tooth!
And now we have to wait for a whole day for the tooth fairy to come!
Caiti is Ready for School with Her New Look!
Thank you JC Penney for the awesome new hair cut! It looks great! Short in the front, longer in the back, just how Caiti asked for it to be cut. She is going to steal the day come first day of school.
Tenacity wins the day!
Setting the stage: The YMCA has water slides at its water park that if you are a youth swimmer, you must show the lifeguard you have the ability to swim to the stairs once you go down the slide. There are two levels of slides and as a result, two levels of proficiency you can show to the lifeguard - Yellow and Green.
The Test: In order to earn your band for the Yellow slides, you must swim half-way across the pool, touch the rope and return to your starting point. To earn your band for the Green slides, you must swim the entire length of the pool and then tread water for 60 seconds.
The Challenger: Carson. Determined to earn his Yellow band, Carson found no fewer than 4 lifeguards to test him. The first, second and third times he took the test, the lifeguards asked him to continue to practice, which he did with voracity. And, on his fourth try, he passed with flying colors, earning him his Yellow Band. He could not have been more proud or more excited! Go Carson!!!!
The Test: In order to earn your band for the Yellow slides, you must swim half-way across the pool, touch the rope and return to your starting point. To earn your band for the Green slides, you must swim the entire length of the pool and then tread water for 60 seconds.
The Challenger: Carson. Determined to earn his Yellow band, Carson found no fewer than 4 lifeguards to test him. The first, second and third times he took the test, the lifeguards asked him to continue to practice, which he did with voracity. And, on his fourth try, he passed with flying colors, earning him his Yellow Band. He could not have been more proud or more excited! Go Carson!!!!
Two Weeks of Swim Lessons - The Perfect Skill to Hone in the Summer
The local YMCA hosts two weeks of swim lessons, which we are taking full advantage of. We have turned into Guppies and Minnows in order to better learn our swim strokes, floats, and general water safety. We started with front crawl and moved to the back stroke with a little breast stroke thrown in. We have shown off our bobs and even jumped in with our classmates shouting the colors of the rainbow. Wow, come to think of it, we're meeting new people on top of learning new skills!
Yes, sir. That is O-N-E very wiggly tooth!
And, there it is! Thank you tooth fairy!
We found a great place for U-Pick: The Hall Family Farm
The boys and Audrey had a blast picking Strawberries, which we will turn into some yummy jam and syrup later today. They were so proud when the woman working the register told them they'd managed to pick nearly 10 pounds between the three of them! Similar to Kruger's Farm where the kids used to love to go on Sauvie Island -- but on a smaller scale -- the Hall Family Farm has several activities for the kids besides picking from their rows of berries. They had lots of fun navigating the maze, racing ducks with old hand pumps, riding some serious trikes and playing in the sand box. We'll have to be patient for the blueberries to arrive and in the meantime enjoy our strawberry bounty!
Following our time in the berry fields, we went for a dip in the pool. While Tess opted to play tennis with her friend at the courts next door, the rest of the kids had a
splash at the pool on the second weekend that it has been open. We swam and
jumped, kick boarded with our boogie boards and even danced in the pool. Fun!
Micah Learns How to Ride Sans Training Wheels
On Sunday, April 29th, Micah took his first bike ride without training wheels. He was so excited! It was as if something clicked inside of him and he was off. Turning, stopping, starting: nothing stood in the way of riding his bike. And, ever since, he has been on his bike every chance he can get; he is just so happy! There is nothing like a boy on his bike...
Kids' School Gets USDA Honors
It's pretty neat when your school is one of two in the entire school district to be awarded a medal by the USDA for healthy choices. The kids got to participate in an assembly where several chief people from the district were lauded for their efforts. And, most interesting to the kids, was all the media coverage. Caiti came home excited to share that the newspaper and television news were both at their assembly. We looked to see the story on Channel 14 news, but didn't see it. Here is the article from the Charlotte Observer.
