Sunday, December 27, 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas may be over but the spirit of Christmas still lingers in the air.....The last few days have been so special, spending time at home with the kids, watching their excitement over all the Christmas traditions....
Christmas eve we attended church at 5pm, when we arrived the church was packed and we ended up sitting in back of the choir up in the balcony right by the huge pipe organ. Believe it or not both kids ended up falling asleep during the service and woke to the singing of Silent Night as each person lit their candles and raised them in the air. The kids knew that we were going to open all the presents from family and friends when we arrived home so their excitement grew. The kids opened their presents one by one as we snacked on shrimp cocktail and cheese ball and crackers and fudge and all the other goodies given to us. They each got a Leapster, a green one for Luke and a pink one for Lily. They had not asked for these so they were not sure what they did until we were able to get them charged up, now they don't go anywhere without them. Luke got a Starwars helmet with voice changer and new light sabers, Lily got a marble maze; over 120 pieces for Daddy to put together complete with two motors to carry the marbles back up to the top. We discovered this year that the toys requiring assembly do not come with written directions. They only have sketches of the finished product, Daddy spent several hours putting this together and ended up with a few extra pieces.
At 8pm Lily turned to Luke and announced that it was time to go to bed or Santa would not be stopping at their house! They both ran to their beds (first time in history) to go to sleep.
Christmas morning I was awakened by an excited Lily announcing that the reindeer had left a small piece of carrot but the cookies and milk were gone. She did not know that Tobi the dog managed to wolf down one cookie before the plate was moved. The kids had first run into the study and took down their stockings from the fireplace. After digging through the oranges, gum, puppets, play dough and flashlights they walked out to the kitchen only to discover that Santa had left presents under the tree! Luke got the power ranger toys he wanted and Lily got a horse and doll to go with it named "Lily Anna." As it became light out (we woke up at 5am) we noticed that there was about an 1" of clean, white snow on the ground, just the perfect touch for Christmas morning.
John made the traditional ham biscuits and our sodium intake was complete for the week! Later in the morning Aunt Kim and Aunt Michelle stopped by to visit. The kids opened their present to find two laser tag guns. Yes, I am very antigun.....but Luke creates guns from whatever he finds anyway. At least with laser tag there is nothing flying through the air but a light beam. Fun for adults too I might add. Towards the end of their visit Steven, Whitney and baby Audrey arrived for Christmas lunch.
We all enjoyed ham, cheesy potatoes, ramen noodle salad, cream cheese corn, broccoli with cheese, rolls and date nut bars for dessert. Baby Audrey got to eat without clothes to prevent spills on her beautiful Christmas dress. Later in the day Logan joined us to open his presents. In all a very fun and busy day for all.
The next day we decided to brave the cold and head for Silver Dollar City. We saw the show "A Christmas Carol" at the opera house and although I have seen it several years in a row now, it never gets old. The kids enjoyed the flying ghosts and soap bubble snow that rained down over the audience at the end. We ended the night with great BBQ from Danna's restaurant in Branson, our favorite place to eat.
A Chilly Day at Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City Snowbunnies
Luke creates cookies master pieces
Cookies made with Love
Silver Dollar City Snowmen (and girl)
Christmas eve we attended church at 5pm, when we arrived the church was packed and we ended up sitting in back of the choir up in the balcony right by the huge pipe organ. Believe it or not both kids ended up falling asleep during the service and woke to the singing of Silent Night as each person lit their candles and raised them in the air. The kids knew that we were going to open all the presents from family and friends when we arrived home so their excitement grew. The kids opened their presents one by one as we snacked on shrimp cocktail and cheese ball and crackers and fudge and all the other goodies given to us. They each got a Leapster, a green one for Luke and a pink one for Lily. They had not asked for these so they were not sure what they did until we were able to get them charged up, now they don't go anywhere without them. Luke got a Starwars helmet with voice changer and new light sabers, Lily got a marble maze; over 120 pieces for Daddy to put together complete with two motors to carry the marbles back up to the top. We discovered this year that the toys requiring assembly do not come with written directions. They only have sketches of the finished product, Daddy spent several hours putting this together and ended up with a few extra pieces.
At 8pm Lily turned to Luke and announced that it was time to go to bed or Santa would not be stopping at their house! They both ran to their beds (first time in history) to go to sleep.
Christmas morning I was awakened by an excited Lily announcing that the reindeer had left a small piece of carrot but the cookies and milk were gone. She did not know that Tobi the dog managed to wolf down one cookie before the plate was moved. The kids had first run into the study and took down their stockings from the fireplace. After digging through the oranges, gum, puppets, play dough and flashlights they walked out to the kitchen only to discover that Santa had left presents under the tree! Luke got the power ranger toys he wanted and Lily got a horse and doll to go with it named "Lily Anna." As it became light out (we woke up at 5am) we noticed that there was about an 1" of clean, white snow on the ground, just the perfect touch for Christmas morning.
John made the traditional ham biscuits and our sodium intake was complete for the week! Later in the morning Aunt Kim and Aunt Michelle stopped by to visit. The kids opened their present to find two laser tag guns. Yes, I am very antigun.....but Luke creates guns from whatever he finds anyway. At least with laser tag there is nothing flying through the air but a light beam. Fun for adults too I might add. Towards the end of their visit Steven, Whitney and baby Audrey arrived for Christmas lunch.
We all enjoyed ham, cheesy potatoes, ramen noodle salad, cream cheese corn, broccoli with cheese, rolls and date nut bars for dessert. Baby Audrey got to eat without clothes to prevent spills on her beautiful Christmas dress. Later in the day Logan joined us to open his presents. In all a very fun and busy day for all.
The next day we decided to brave the cold and head for Silver Dollar City. We saw the show "A Christmas Carol" at the opera house and although I have seen it several years in a row now, it never gets old. The kids enjoyed the flying ghosts and soap bubble snow that rained down over the audience at the end. We ended the night with great BBQ from Danna's restaurant in Branson, our favorite place to eat.
A Chilly Day at Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City Snowbunnies
Luke creates cookies master pieces
Cookies made with Love
Silver Dollar City Snowmen (and girl)
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The first tooth is out
This past week also was a milestone in Lily's life, her first tooth came out. It had been loose for over a month and finally was hanging by a thread. When I threatened to pull it she did it herself. The new tooth is growing in right behind it. Even though I had already told her there was no tooth fairy she decided to put the tooth under her pillow and seemed surprised to see money the next morning. She is so sensitive to creatures in the night that I did not want to add to the anxiety. Either she forgot that I told her it was not true or just wanted the money and played along. There are photos two posts earlier that show the hole in her smile.
Busy Christmas time
This last week was the busy one of the season. There was a school performance on Monday night. The kids had to dress all in the white and were given snowflakes to wear while they performed. They both did very well. Wednesday night was a church performance and once again, they had to be dressed all in white to be angels. The white bridesmaid dress Lily wore back in the Spring of 08 still fits really well and has now been put to good use. She was a fancy angel while Luke was decked out in his martial arts outfit with gold belt and gold headband to be a karate angel. We managed to get both shows on video complete with Luke reaching out to touch an unattended microphone three times during the church performance.
Daddy attended school with Lily on Friday to help her decorate gingerbread houses. This weekend we delivered toys we purchased for kids whose parents are incarcerated and I did the big grocery store run for Christmas dinner.
This week should be slow. The kids only have two days of school and are so wound up for Christmas that I would not want to be their teacher. There are class parties on Tuesday at 2:30 and on Wednesday the kids go to the YMCA for the day. I will be off Thursday and Friday. John is still recuperating from a very busy semester but finally has the grading done and in.
Daddy attended school with Lily on Friday to help her decorate gingerbread houses. This weekend we delivered toys we purchased for kids whose parents are incarcerated and I did the big grocery store run for Christmas dinner.
This week should be slow. The kids only have two days of school and are so wound up for Christmas that I would not want to be their teacher. There are class parties on Tuesday at 2:30 and on Wednesday the kids go to the YMCA for the day. I will be off Thursday and Friday. John is still recuperating from a very busy semester but finally has the grading done and in.
Christmas performances
Lily and Luke with Aunt Kim and Aunt Michelle
Angels Lily and Luke
Lily, Morgan and music teacher Miss Watson
Lily and friend Rhea
Lily, Luke and Morgan at school show
Friday, December 4, 2009
Photos
Being silly in the tub
Baby Audrey visits for Thanksgiving Day
Luke and Lily get a nice day at the park to play
Luke meets Santa on the Polar Express
Lily meets Santa on the Polar Express
Luke, Lily and Jada in Branson
Baby Audrey visits for Thanksgiving Day
Luke and Lily get a nice day at the park to play
Luke meets Santa on the Polar Express
Lily meets Santa on the Polar Express
Luke, Lily and Jada in Branson
Time Lapse
Time passes quickly between postings.....last one was celebrating Halloween and now Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is full speed ahead!
We stayed home for Thanksgiving and Steven, Whitney and Audrey joined us for dinner. Audrey is Whitney's baby and so therefore has become my Granddaughter. She is 19 months old and quite a character. I spent most of the day in the kitchen, as it should be on Thanksgiving and just enjoyed a change in the daily routine. I chose to work on Black Friday as I cannot imagine anything I want bad enough to fight the crowds at 5am for. There were not many in our building and we spent part of the day decorating for Christmas. John brought Luke and Lily over to help decorate the tree. It was one of those work days that felt more like a holiday. On Saturday of that weekend we took Audrey for the day and on into Sunday. I forgot what it was like to have a baby in the house. She tried her very best to keep up with her 5 year old Aunt and Uncle. She refused to take a real nap, instead choosing to cat nap on the way home from the zoo. After dinner Audrey and Lily took a bath together and then I got Audrey all warm in her polar fleece onsie and then I rocked her and sang "Silent Night" and she was out like a light! This trick always worked on Lily at that age as well. I put her down in Lily's futon bed and she slept from 7pm-5:30am. At that point we snuggled for awhile while she woke up. There were three in the bed that night, a double bed: Lily, Audrey and me. I did not get much sleep just because I was so worried that Audrey would get squished! She came to church with me and the kids and stayed in the nursery and did just fine. We took her out to Steven's afterwards and she did not want to leave the comfort of Grandma's arms! So sweet. Now of course I'm building up a supply of baby clothes and necessities for the next visit.
Last weekend we made a trip down to Branson to ride the "Polar Express". It is a full sized train used in the summer as the "scenic railway" but for his adventure it was decorated for a trip to the North Pole. The kids wore their pjs, just like in the movie. We were served cookies and hot chocolate while we made the trip. Once we reached the North Pole we could look out and see elves doing cartwheels and hand springs and then we spied Santa! He climbed abroad the train and traveled back with us, visiting each child, signing their books, listening to their hearts desire, and presenting them with an official bell off his sleigh. The kids loved it. The weather was cold and nasty and really felt like Winter.
In the weeks ahead we have a school musical performance and then a children's Christmas performance at church. Luke and Lily are going to be angels in the play, "The Littlest Angel". No speaking part, they just have to look angelic and act angelic. The first part is easy, the second.....well....Luke is going to be dressed all in white in his martial arts outfit complete with a gold belt and halo while Lily will be all white in her former flower girl dress with sparkles on her face. It is a fun time of the year.
John picked up an "Elf on the Shelf" from the bookstore the other day and we have been having a good time with it. The concept is this little elf who you must name in order for his magic to work. He then sits all day and listens to what goes on. At night he flies to the North Pole to give Santa a behavior report. The next morning he is in a different location and the kids have to find him. The debate of course has been on whether he is real or not. Surprisingly it is Luke who insists that the elf is plastic and not real, while Lily seems to be a true believer and is kind of creeped out over the idea of a live elf sitting there just staring at her. Yesterday when the elf was found in a new location on the top of a picture frame Luke immediately asked who had moved him there. I told him that spot was chosen by the elf, "Elmo-Romeo" (the name the kids compromised on) and he scrunched up his face and said "really Mama? are you just kidding?" I told him that I did not move him so it must be true. I have not noticed an improvement in behavior though, Luke mooned the elf the first day he was in the house. Hummmm....maybe Santa should not deliver this year, or at least attach a warning letter for next year. I'll have to see how that all plays out.
We stayed home for Thanksgiving and Steven, Whitney and Audrey joined us for dinner. Audrey is Whitney's baby and so therefore has become my Granddaughter. She is 19 months old and quite a character. I spent most of the day in the kitchen, as it should be on Thanksgiving and just enjoyed a change in the daily routine. I chose to work on Black Friday as I cannot imagine anything I want bad enough to fight the crowds at 5am for. There were not many in our building and we spent part of the day decorating for Christmas. John brought Luke and Lily over to help decorate the tree. It was one of those work days that felt more like a holiday. On Saturday of that weekend we took Audrey for the day and on into Sunday. I forgot what it was like to have a baby in the house. She tried her very best to keep up with her 5 year old Aunt and Uncle. She refused to take a real nap, instead choosing to cat nap on the way home from the zoo. After dinner Audrey and Lily took a bath together and then I got Audrey all warm in her polar fleece onsie and then I rocked her and sang "Silent Night" and she was out like a light! This trick always worked on Lily at that age as well. I put her down in Lily's futon bed and she slept from 7pm-5:30am. At that point we snuggled for awhile while she woke up. There were three in the bed that night, a double bed: Lily, Audrey and me. I did not get much sleep just because I was so worried that Audrey would get squished! She came to church with me and the kids and stayed in the nursery and did just fine. We took her out to Steven's afterwards and she did not want to leave the comfort of Grandma's arms! So sweet. Now of course I'm building up a supply of baby clothes and necessities for the next visit.
Last weekend we made a trip down to Branson to ride the "Polar Express". It is a full sized train used in the summer as the "scenic railway" but for his adventure it was decorated for a trip to the North Pole. The kids wore their pjs, just like in the movie. We were served cookies and hot chocolate while we made the trip. Once we reached the North Pole we could look out and see elves doing cartwheels and hand springs and then we spied Santa! He climbed abroad the train and traveled back with us, visiting each child, signing their books, listening to their hearts desire, and presenting them with an official bell off his sleigh. The kids loved it. The weather was cold and nasty and really felt like Winter.
In the weeks ahead we have a school musical performance and then a children's Christmas performance at church. Luke and Lily are going to be angels in the play, "The Littlest Angel". No speaking part, they just have to look angelic and act angelic. The first part is easy, the second.....well....Luke is going to be dressed all in white in his martial arts outfit complete with a gold belt and halo while Lily will be all white in her former flower girl dress with sparkles on her face. It is a fun time of the year.
John picked up an "Elf on the Shelf" from the bookstore the other day and we have been having a good time with it. The concept is this little elf who you must name in order for his magic to work. He then sits all day and listens to what goes on. At night he flies to the North Pole to give Santa a behavior report. The next morning he is in a different location and the kids have to find him. The debate of course has been on whether he is real or not. Surprisingly it is Luke who insists that the elf is plastic and not real, while Lily seems to be a true believer and is kind of creeped out over the idea of a live elf sitting there just staring at her. Yesterday when the elf was found in a new location on the top of a picture frame Luke immediately asked who had moved him there. I told him that spot was chosen by the elf, "Elmo-Romeo" (the name the kids compromised on) and he scrunched up his face and said "really Mama? are you just kidding?" I told him that I did not move him so it must be true. I have not noticed an improvement in behavior though, Luke mooned the elf the first day he was in the house. Hummmm....maybe Santa should not deliver this year, or at least attach a warning letter for next year. I'll have to see how that all plays out.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wonderful Weekend
Princess Bride rides on Daddy's shoulders
The gang all decked out for Halloween
Luke models his toga
Spiderman Luke
Going for a swim
Maddie the dinosaur
Lily circles the drain
The kids got out of school 2 hours early Friday and we headed up to St. Louis. John is the Pit Crew leader for the Glendale marching band and they were competing in St. Louis on Saturday. Logan however would not be marching. The cross country coach and the band director got together and had to decide who needed him more. Cross country won out, much to Logan's delight, but that did not get John out of his duties. That was ok with me and the kids because it meant we got to hang out at a hotel all weekend and visit our friends the Mindens. We ordered in pizza Friday night and the Mindens came over to the hotel. That was where we got to meet the newest member of their family, Max. Stacy and Kevin and daughter Maddie just traveled to China in August to get Max who turned one in September. He is adorable. So tiny in body but bubbling with personality. He is very much a mamma's boy which is exciting for Stacy because that did not happen immediately with Maddie who took to Daddy much quicker. Max can already say some words in English and is quite the charmer. By the end of the evening he even let me tickle him and pick him up. Maddie joined the kids in the pool.
Saturday John had band duties from 11-3 so the kids and I hung out at the pool and just had fun, I even got them to take a nap to be well rested for Saturday night.
The Mindens stopped by at 5:30 and we followed them to a Chinese buffet. Everyone had plenty of food. Luke kept eating spicy shrimp, then sucked in large amounts of air saying how hot it was but going back for more.
We followed the Minden's to Grant's farm. Normally a large park with animals, this time of year it is decorated for Halloween Spooktacular. We took a chilly tram ride into the park. The kids got to feed goats bottles of warm milk. We walked around looking at all the decorations and finally made it to the square where they had a dj playing traditional scary music. I forgot to mention that our kids were all dressing up in costumes as well. Luke as Spiderman, Lily as a princess bride, Maddie was a dinosaur, and Max made an adorable Elmo. The kids were pretty worn out by the time it was over and so we said good-bye to the Mindens and headed back to the hotel. The kids had another round of swimming before leaving for Springfield the next morning. It was a great weekend.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
All is well....
It has been a week of illness but now I think everyone is well at last. Luke is on antibiotics and while home with Luke on Wednesday I got a call from the school nurse that Lily was running a fever of 100.7 so I picked her up as well. That night her fever raged up to 104.7 and scared me. I was putting cold wash cloths on her head and she kept throwing them off. It was a long night but we got her into the doctor on Thursday and although they tested her for several things, they decided it was a virus of some sort and would just run it's course. Luckily her fever went down and she stayed home with Daddy on Thursday and returned to school on Friday. Now of course after managing to stay well the entire time, I have a sore throat. I am treating it with ziacam in the hopes that it will just fade away.
The kids brought home their kindergarten pictures Friday. It just amazes me how grown up they look but Lily still has the little Minnie mouse voice.
I think Lily and I will head down to Arkansas early in the morning to see my parents while my sister is visiting them. It will be a short visit but I don't get down there often enough with everything we have going.
The kids brought home their kindergarten pictures Friday. It just amazes me how grown up they look but Lily still has the little Minnie mouse voice.
I think Lily and I will head down to Arkansas early in the morning to see my parents while my sister is visiting them. It will be a short visit but I don't get down there often enough with everything we have going.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sick little boy
It was a quiet weekend and Sunday I took the kids to Sunday school as usual. Luke seemed fine. After lunch at McDonald's and play time in their play land we went home and took naps. Luke slept for two hours and woke up hot to the touch. I always worry when he has a fever since he did have a seizure last year with a fever. I gave him children's Tylenol and he was quiet and subdued, not his usual self at all. He did not eat any dinner but did drink Gatorade with electrolytes. I slept with him and we got up several times during the night. His fever continued. This morning we called the doctor at the moment they opened and of course the line was busy with other parents doing the same thing, making that Monday morning call of desperation hoping to get an appointment. We got an appointment for 10:30am. Although I thought he might have the flu, the doctor said there was crackling in his lower lungs indicating pneumonia. He has had this a couple of times since joining our family, always a loose cough and runny nose. We've been lying on the couch watching movies and just read a chapter in the Mouse and the Motorcycle. Now he is sleeping on the couch. Luke's personality does a complete 180 when he is sick, normally a laughing, energetic boy just ready to do something to aggravate his sister, when he is sick he is listless, sad, very clingy to Mommy. It makes my heart break to see him like this. I hope the antibiotics kick in soon to make him feel better. His fever is persistent and keeps returning after the fever reducer wears off.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Photos
Daddy is the leader of the band at the Moon Festival
Luke swings from the Monkey bars and makes it
Lanterns on parade!
Story time at the Moon Festival
Fuling Friends Jada and Lily at the Moon Festival
Lily gets a pony ride
Luke rides again at Campbell Farms
Luke's Scary Sucker!
The kids at Campbell Farm
Busy Weekend Recap
It turned out to be a very busy weekend. After the Saturday morning birthday party at Chuck E cheese there was the celebration of the Chinese Moon Festival at Chesterfield park. There were around 20-30 kids dressed in traditional Chinese attire. It was a pot luck and we brought Chinese dumplings. There was quite an assortment of food but Lily was much more interested in playing with friend Jada. Luke showed us that he has finally mastered the monkey bars all the way across! He was so proud he must have done it over 10 times to show us. The kids all gathered around to hear the story told about the woman in the moon and how she swallowed the pill of immortality too soon and ended up floating up to the moon. The kids all gathered their red lanterns and paraded around the park several times in the dark.
Sunday I woke up with my head spinning and the feeling that I had just gotten off the tea cups at Disney World. Don't know why but this hits me every once in awhile and it feels awful. I kind of laid around all morning. By afternoon I felt better so we all went to Campbell Farms about a 30 minute drive from here. Logan brought along his girlfriend Candace. The farm is a playground of activities, there is a 4 acre corn maze, a jumpy house, the train, a pony, a magic show, pumpkin painting and a ride out to the pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkin,. It's not a cheap venture but the kids had a good time. Now they have had their baths and many stories and are finally asleep.
Sunday I woke up with my head spinning and the feeling that I had just gotten off the tea cups at Disney World. Don't know why but this hits me every once in awhile and it feels awful. I kind of laid around all morning. By afternoon I felt better so we all went to Campbell Farms about a 30 minute drive from here. Logan brought along his girlfriend Candace. The farm is a playground of activities, there is a 4 acre corn maze, a jumpy house, the train, a pony, a magic show, pumpkin painting and a ride out to the pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkin,. It's not a cheap venture but the kids had a good time. Now they have had their baths and many stories and are finally asleep.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Play in a Day
School was out yesterday so the kids went to "Play in a Day" at the Springfield Little theatre. The kids spend the day pretending and singing and dancing so that when the parents picked them up at 5 the kids put on a show. They sang and danced to Zippity do da and then performed skits. Both of the kids seemed to enjoy the day but were pretty worn out.
This morning we were off to Chuck E Cheese to a birthday party for one of Luke's classmates. Lily came too since John was busy and they had a good time playing the games, eating pizza and running around. It is now my job to try and get them to lie down and take a nap. They both were playing well together but at some point Lily got mad and suddenly they were hitting and punching as only two siblings can do. Both ended up in tears and 5 minutes later Lily was fast asleep.
Tonight is the yearly Moon Festival, a Chinese tradition. I should have some photos to share tomorrow.
This morning we were off to Chuck E Cheese to a birthday party for one of Luke's classmates. Lily came too since John was busy and they had a good time playing the games, eating pizza and running around. It is now my job to try and get them to lie down and take a nap. They both were playing well together but at some point Lily got mad and suddenly they were hitting and punching as only two siblings can do. Both ended up in tears and 5 minutes later Lily was fast asleep.
Tonight is the yearly Moon Festival, a Chinese tradition. I should have some photos to share tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The week ahead
Luke is a cowboy
Lily rides again
Luke and Lily at the festival
We all had a good time at the Fair Grove Heritage reunion festival. The kids got kettle corn and tornado tators. They both rode horses and went through the petting zoo. I am leery of petting zoos due to all the outbreaks of illness they seem to be plagued with but I made sure the kids used the hand sanitizer afterwards.
Monday I attended a team building seminar all day that was actually pretty entertaining. I made my supervisor team attend as well and hopefully they will not hold it against me.
Lily has been complaining of general cold symptoms for several days now and today I got "the call" from school saying this was her third trip to the nurses office and although her temperature was 99 and not the 100 that the school requires sending home, they felt that she truly did not feel well and so I made an appointment with our pediatrician and picked her up. Once they got all the wax out of her left ear the verdict was a major ear infection. So it was off to Walgreen's to pick up a 10 day supply of antibiotics. It is always stressful trying to keep everyone healthy.
While at Walgreen's Lily chose her own personal PDA play phone so now she can "text message" and talk on the phone.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Catchin' up
Rodeo Twins Luke and Lily
Razzle Dazzle Rodeo style
Napping in an unusual spot
Doing what cats do best
Introducing Nadia our newest family member
It has been a very long break since my last posting. I got talked into facebook and that sort of took over my long distance communication with friends and family. Meanwhile, Grandma and Grandpa in Arkansas don't get the opportunity to see the kids very often so I decided to get back to posting so I can print out a copy with photos and snail mail it to them. This may keep me on track!
Last Sunday we went to a rodeo of bull riding at the JQH arena on the MSU campus. I would have to say that for the most part the bulls won, the majority of the cowboys did not make it to the bell, however some of them did after a jolting ride. Luke and Lily enjoyed the show especially the antics of the rodeo clowns.
This was week 5 at school. We attended open house on Tuesday night. It was difficult to get a word in with Luke's teacher but we did talk to Mrs. D Lily's teacher and found that Lily can often be heard singing in class. Mrs. D commented that Lily has a pretty little voice but at times she does have to ask her to stop singing so the class can move ahead. I think for the most part the kids have settled into the routine. Friday they got the privilege of wearing a hat to school if they paid a dollar, some type of fund raising for the 5th grade. Last night the parks department hosted a parent's night out at Sequiota school so for $15 the two kids had dinner, played games and watched a movie while John and I went out for a grown up dinner and rented a non-kid friendly movie to watch at home. The kids were still wide awake when we picked them up at 9 but it did not take them long to fall off to sleep once home. Luke actually slept all the way until 5:45am this morning instead of his usual 5am on the dot time. I appreciated that extra time of sleep.
We are getting ready to head to the Fair Grove Heritage Reunion festival this afternoon. John is working with the scouts parking cars and the kids and I will enjoy the beautiful day while feasting on fine festival cuisine. More later.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Lily's Birthday
Lily's birthday surprise
It was Lily's 5th birthday on March 4th. When she woke up we surprised her with a couple of gifts. She got a Hannah Montana girlie kit with nail polish and glittery eye shadow and earring stickers, all the bling bling a girl could want. She also got a real 1/16th violin. Lily had been taking violin lessons Suzuki method but was very bored playing on a cardboard violin so we took some time off. John's hope is that the real violin making real music will increase her interest. So far that theory seems to be working as Lily plays her violin as soon as she gets up and she has mastered the rhythms that she was not getting with the cardboard version. Last night she was able to play while John accompanied her on the piano in a duet. Considering it was just the same note only different rhythms, it sounded pretty good. Now of course Luke is very interested in the violin as well and he is now playing the cardboard one when ever Lily plays the real one.
Lily will be having a birthday party next weekend out at the Sac River riding stables with some friends so her birthday really gets extended.
Lily did compete last Sunday in the Winter games and did very well. Daddy was able to shoot video of all four events and she ended up with two blue ribbons and two rainbow ribbons. She was very happy with her results and had a wonderful time with her gymnastic friends. We will be getting a disk with photos in the next couple of weeks. It will have all her action shots during the routines plus pictures of her team and a couple of poses of her alone.
The weather here has turned very warm and hopefully the kids and I will be outside enjoying some sunshine today.
Lily's birthday morning
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Winter Games
Lily prepares for the Winter Games
Lily is inspired by Nastia after watching her performance
Lily meets Nastia up close and personal
The Springfield gymnastic team and Nastia
This past Friday night Lily got the chance of a lifetime, to meet Nastia Liukin, the all around gold medal gymnast from the Beijing Olympics. Springfield gymnastics hosted the Winter Games and was able to bring Nastia in for a performance. The girls from the Springfield gymnastics gym got to meet Nastia in a private room for autographs and pictures. Lily gave her one of the Chinese braids we have as a good luck charm. Saturday Nastia performed for the crowd. It was stunning. Lily was in awe. Afterwards she said she wanted to go home and put on her leotard so she could do the things Nastia did. Sunday afternoon Lily will be performing with the level one gymnasts. She is excited but a little scared. At this age, it is meant to be all about having fun.
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