Get Smart with Art

 Hannah and her piece of artwork (#18)

 When we moved, many of you know that I was sad to say good-bye to the first elementary school my kids attended.  I had some reservations about what their new school offered - or lack thereof due to funding.  I have to say, though, that I've been pleasantly surprised as to what they do have for the kids despite the money problems.  For example, the library program is entirely volunteer driven (there is one media specialist for at least three schools).  They also have an art program (Get Smart with Art) that is entirely volunteer driven.  Once a month, volunteers come in the classroom to teach about an artist and then they do a piece of artwork that would be similar to that artist.  The kids really enjoy it.

Last night, was the art show from the art projects that they've worked on throughout the year.  A few pieces of artwork were selected at each grade level for a prize after they'd been voted for.  Hannah had a piece that was selected for a possible prize, but she didn't win.  She seemed ok with that.  Then, each child had a piece of artwork displayed for all to see.  They also had several art stations for hands-on activities.  We followed up all of this with ice cream served by the school.  It was a really nice event that the kids really liked!

 Andrew's masterpiece

 Luke's artwork

 The theme was Art Through the Ages.  Here, Hannah and Andrew are decorating stones for the stone age era.

 Luke watched this professional painter for a bit

Yum! for the huge bowls of ice cream they enjoyed.

Quizzing Competition

 Last minute prep

This past weekend, Luke stepped outside his comfort zone and took part in AWANA Bible quizzing.  His brother and sister are still too young so he did it by himself.  He is also a more hands-on kid than sit and give answers, but it was a really good experience for him.  Before we went, he informed me more than once that he did not want to do it again next year.  However, he would come home from each practice excited and afterwards, he said that he would possibly do it next year.  It certainly helped that they fed him pizza and orange soda after most of his practices!

The competition was much different than I pictured.  They had teams of 1-3 kids per AWANA book.  The little girl sitting next to Luke was his partner.  Then, they had two rounds of competition.  The first round was multiple choice (where they used the paddles for their answers).  Round two was short answer with positive points for a right answer, no points for no answer and negative points for a wrong answer.  Needless to say, that last round was a bit tough!  In the end, they tied for fourth place!

 Giving us the thumbs-up that he was ready

 Multiple choice round

 Short answer round.  I love Luke's fist pump.  This was the third question and their first right answer.  I think he was relieved that they got one.

4th place!!

Soccer Season has Commenced

The much anticipated soccer season has started.  I think this season is going to look a bit different than the last one they had in Oklahoma.  For starters, there isn't the wind that blows the ball a couple of fields over each time it is left unattended.  Then, there is the longer grass that doesn't allow the ball to roll as easily.  Then, there is the rain that has cancelled a practice and is currently threatening another practice.  It will all be fun, though.  Last weekend, they played their first games and they had a good time.  Luke is playing with all 3rd/4th grade boys which is good.  He needs to be playing with those his size and with more competitive rules.  Andrew is playing four-on-four with 1st/2nd grade boys.  He's learning that he isn't the biggest kid on the field and he may knocked around a bit.  Hannah is playing with 1st-3rd grade girls.  She is going to have so much more fun with that than co-ed teams.  She was smiling in nearly all the pictures we took of her and when she wasn't smiling, I think it was because she was tired.  We are doing Upwards again and still really like that program.  Next year, we may just have to do basketball as well...

 Luke during team introductions (Timbers)

 Luke during a kick-in

 Andrew taking on his own teammate (Pumas)

 

Hannah enjoying the game.... (Falcons)

AWANA Parent Night

We recently attended Parent Night at AWANA.  It was fun to go back and relive my time in AWANA when I was this age.  Chris and I split up for most of our evening among the trio.  Thankfully, two of them were together most of the time and that helped a bit.  My evening started with games with Luke.  I just watched.  I'm sure 3rd-6th grade boys don't want a Momma participating....  I then got to see part of handbook time for Hannah and Andrew (this is when they recite their memorized verses for their leaders).  Afterwards, it was game time and this time they wanted the parents to participate.  All I have to say is that my kids learned something about me that night - I'm horrible at physical games.  By the time it was over, they were asking for Daddy to be on their tear (understandably so!)  I also got to see Luke in handbook time and then the evening was over.  We had a good time and I'm thankful for a good program for them to be a part of.

Luke's game time (4 square at this moment)

 Hannah's handbook time

Chris during game time

Andrew during game time.  I think this was bean bag bowling or something like that.  They were to balance the bean bag on their head while making one loop and then knocking down a bowling pin in the middle.

Snippets of Spring

We have been enjoying our periodic spring days to the fullest.  The warmest day we've had was 80 degrees.  I think that evening the kids may have been inside a total of 20 minutes to eat dinner before heading back outside.  Here are just a few activities they've been enjoying!

 Luke seems really interested in baseball.  Unfortunately, for him his mother can't throw a ball correctly to save her life.  Fortunately, Daddy is home to take care of that task!

 So, I guess this one and his sister grew over the winter.  The bike helmet is a bit big because it was mine, but we've taken care of the problem and he's got a new one to take care of his safety needs.

 Hannah enjoyed seeing a classmate at the playground!

 This one probably wins the award for creativity.  Luke is wanting a basketball outside.  However, we just don't have a good spot for one.  So, he took matters into his own hands with a tree, 5 gallon bucket and a soccer ball.  It worked pretty well, but Luke thinks a hole in the bottom of the bucket would be even better.  He did switch to a basketball making it a bit easier.

Upside down princess with no shoes!

This Puzzle....

In our home, winters have been for working jigsaw puzzles.  I've always loved a good puzzle and must admit that it is sometimes difficult for me to pull myself away from a good one.   The kids have helped on occasion, but are really coming into an age where they help more.  However, this USA puzzle has become the favorite puzzle.  It has been worked at least a half dozen times this winter alone.  I thought we put it away after I took this picture last night and it is once again being put together on the same coffee table this morning.  We have several other ones, but this is definitely the go to puzzle.  They've learned to work it, but they are also learning their geography.  I've even learned things as I've been asked such things as where is the town of Weed? (California if you didn't know).  The weather is becoming more delightful so these will soon be packed away and got out again in a few months when winter arrives again.

Evidently silly pictures involve sticking out your tongue....

After a Fashion - A Book Review

I found this book to be quite delightful.  It was not a hard book to read nor was it a deep book by any stretch of your imagination.  It was just an entertaining book.  The author does a wonderful job with detail and character development.  I felt like I was in the midst of much of the action from page one.  The story line was quite entertaining, but highly unlikely.  There were so many highly unlikely events that take place, but she is consistent and it makes you want to root for the hero and heroine and boo the villains.  It kept me reading because I really wanted to know how everything would right itself in the end.  An enjoyable book that kept me turning the pages.

I received a complimentary copy of After a Fashion by Jen Turano from Bethany House Publishers.

Andrew Update

Ah, Andrew made my dream come true.  He is the first and only one of our trio that had two missing front teeth.  The final one disappeared tonight with a bit of work by Andrew and , again, a little help from Daddy.  It won't last long, though.  One of them is already sliding into place.

Andrew's New Look

Andrew has had a dangling front tooth for several days now.  I'm sure he was tired of me asking if he was going to pull it that day.  Never fear, though, Daddy took another look at it last night, "tapped" it with his finger and Andrew turned around and it essentially fell out in his hand.  I'm not sure what he thinks of his new look.  I'm hoping that other front tooth falls out very soon.  None of our kids had missing two front teeth at the same time and I think it's cute.

When I got the camera out to take his missing tooth picture.  He retrieved all of "this".  These are medals he's earned reading books at school and he's pretty proud of them.  I'm not sure why they also gave him a cow bell, but it was part of the reward.  Just for the record, Andrew doesn't know why he got a bell either, but it was with his latest medal he'd earned so it must be important.

Library Outing

I try to get my kids to the library on a regular basis.  However, I haven't done such a good job here since the library isn't really on my way to anything else.  We used to go about once a week, but now, I'm doing well if I get them there before their books are due.  However, I digress.  This is nearly always the outcome of a trip to the library - a very quiet trip home and then comfy seats to finish their findings.  I should have joined them....

Day Off!

So, my kids are home from school today.  It has nothing to do with the seven inches of snow that we got over the weekend.  The roads are cleared and fine.  It has nothing to do with the temperature.  It is currently a balmy 20 degrees.  There are no maintenance issues at the school and my kids are also quite healthy today.  So, it very reasonable that you ask why they're home. 

Well, it is Casimir Pulaski Day and we are home in honor of him.  When I first looked at the school calendar, I also had to look up who this person was.  So, here is your mini history lesson for today. 

Casimir Pulaski was born near Warsaw, Poland on March 4, 1747.  He became a soldier to help Poland become free.  His enemies wanted to kill him so he went to France.  In France, he met Benjamin Franklin who asked Pulaski to come to America to help George Washington's army.  Pulaski came to America and became a general.  He won many battles for the American army.  He was a great leader.  He was wounded in a battle in Georgia.  He died on October 11, 1779.  The people of America remember him as a hero and symbol of our freedom. (courtesy of one of Hannah's assignments)

Snow Much Fun!

With very little snow accumulation this winter, the kids were once again excited for this snow fall. It was also fun because we were out in it, which always makes snows like this more fun.  Chris and  I had decided to go to church Saturday evening because the forecast did not look good for Sunday morning.  The roads were not good with just the 2 inches we had when we went.  The way home wasn't much better, but I have definitely traveled in worse - much worse.  The adventure ended when we got home from church.  Chris had thrown the shovels in the back of the van to shovel a path when we got home so he wouldn't need to drive over the snow.  On any given snow day, that was a great plan, but the van couldn't get traction to make it up the incline.  However, where the tires had tried to grip the drive, made for a great sliding area.  So as soon as the van was parked (we did make it into the garage), the kids were out and playing in it while Chris shoveled the rest.  They played and played and played some more this morning!

By the way, Luke had the driveway half shoveled by the time I finished my shower this morning.  I could definitely get used to that!

 Hannah and our make shift sled - we've never had a sled because we've lived in places that a) didn't get much snow and b) didn't have any "hills".  So, you make do with what you have.

 Daddy's turn

 Andrew's turn - don't ask me where their coats are!  They have all the snow gear, but were evidently warm....

 Hannah building her protection and snuggling in to be protected from the barrage of snow balls from her brothers.

 Ganging up on Hannah

Let's just say, this didn't last long.  Luke is heavy and it wasn't nearly slick enough for Hannah to pull him.

Just a little sledding action last night down our "slick spot"

Home Show

We are always game for a good home and garden show.  It's just a lot of fun to browse, check out new home items and spend the day wandering huge convention halls with a few thousand strangers.  This was a new town for us so that meant a new home show to check out.  This was a nice one, but I have been to a couple of others that outshine this one (one with an entire home built inside and the other with elaborate themed gardens), but this one was just fine and probably just fine for our trio.  I was kind of laughing because there were a few things that they had that were not home related, but ended up being favorites of the day.  First, the kids love picking up all the freebies from the tables.  We kind of have to restrain them in the candy department, but there are a few neat things they came away with.  Luke's favorite was a tape measure/level/notepad combination that attaches to his belt (that he doesn't even own!).  He couldn't get enough of that!  Hannah enjoyed the master gardener display and all the crafts they had for kids there.  Andrew enjoyed the candy....  We also saw dogs catching frisbees demonstration.  This was a favorite until we found a small ferris wheel.  We couldn't pass that up.  Andrew wasn't sure about the whole thing until Luke and Hannah were onboard and then he really wanted to go.  We had a good time.  To make the day even better, we drove home in the snow....

 Hannah enjoying her balloon flower

 Making pine cone bird feeders

Frisbee Dog Demo

 Round one of the ferris wheel.  Once it really got going (and it did go fast), Luke said he was kind of freaking out, but he ended up calming down and really enjoying it.  This was their first ride.

Round two.  Andrew did great.  He wasn't sure about just sitting still at the top, but he did fine as we chatted about all the things we could see from so high up.