WaHooz!

We started our Spring Break off with a trip to Wahooz on a Friday, when all the other schools were still in. We had the whole place almost entirely to ourselves, and stayed for about 8 hours straight! (Me and the older two anyway. Brad and Luke went home after a little bit because there just wasn't a whole lot geared towards a two year old). The kids loved the new attractions like these bumper cars.

They were both (for the first time each) tall enough to drive go karts on the Rookie track!

Jake couldn't get enough. For the first race, Jake was in the front car, and stayed in front the whole race. The second race, Emma wanted a turn to be first. Jake reluctantly agreed, but not without a "I'm going to pass you..." And below is my absolute favorite picture of the day. Jake passing Emma saying, "I told you I was going to pass you!" And check out Emma's angry (all in fun) face! I love it!

Frog hopper.

Their new ropes course. I tried to take both of them up to the higher levels. I eventually got Emma to face her fear and try a couple, and then she was happy to go on the rest. Jake clenched with fear of heights and new things, and wobbly passages, and we pulled him down to the little tykes one, where he thoroughly enjoyed himself. 

We did the dark 4d ride a few times, Ballocity (where they tried to shoot me with ball cannons), mini-golf (where only one or two clubs were thrown in frustration), rock walls, lots of go karts, and bumper cars, twisters, and one of their favorites -- the lazer maze -- avoiding touching lasers as you move across the room to touch certain buttons on the wall. It was a blast, and the 8 hours flew by!

This is Emma trying her hand at selfies while waiting for Jake to finish up on the go karts. She made sure I added the one where the hair was laying on top of her glasses on accident.

March 17, 2017

New Things this Spring

Emma won a "character counts" award in school for Honesty and Trustworthiness. The class votes for a student, but they don't find out who won until the day. She's been trying so hard to win one, and she was thrilled when she saw me sitting in the room and her name was called. Good job Emma!

Because when you're at Grandma and Grandpa's -- chocolate cake is a perfectly healthy breakfast.

Emma was complaining that she was having a hard time seeing the board at school, so I took her in, and sure enough 50/20. We are loving her new glasses! She also started playing the recorder in school. I can usually remember to have her practice her piano, but the recorder mysteriously slips my mind...

Luke figured out how to drive the car, but doesn't really steer. So he just goes forward and backward until something's in his way. He's one happy kid, but definitely knows how to pout. I have yet to get it on film, but it's hilarious. He'll walk up all happy and ask for something, and if you say no, he puts down his head like this (right picture), frowns, and walks off slowly. It's the most sad and pathetic thing ever, and he usually gets his way in the end.

I love that Amber passes her kids' clothes down to me. Luke discovered this robe in one of the boxes, and insisted it be put on. He wouldn't take it off all evening, slept in it all night, and ran around in it the next day until we ventured out of the house. 

March 3-15, 2017

February

Well, the snow finally melted (Hallelujah!!!), and the kids were finally able to drive around in their Christmas present!!! (two months later...) They are loving it!

I try to get to the library about once a week to take advantage of their kid's art, story times, and silly dance days, to get the kids away from the TV's and computer's ya know...  Sometimes it works, others not so much...

They discovered the dress-up box again :)

And then put on a little skit for us. I love their imaginations!

 

Any time Lizzy hears me messing with the washer/dryer, she anxiously waits until I throw a load onto the couch. She jumps on top and starts sniffing and digging around for the dryer sheet. It's her absolute favorite thing ever. And if I wasn't terrified that she'd eat it and end up back at the vet again, I'd let her have it.

Feb 2017

Turning Nine and Growing Fine!

Look!!! This is no small thing here. I have FINALLY grown my own human that's tall enough to ride the big kid rides with me! That's right, Emma, at the 5th percentile in height (last time we checked) has finally reached the four foot mark, and we are both SO excited for what Roaring Springs water park is going to be like this summer! Happy Birthday Emma!

   

Jake wanted to give her his own present, so he found this crocheted owl key chain that my mom brought back from Brazil (that he had claimed, but Emma had wanted), and wrapped it up and gave it to her because he knew she would like it. What a sweet boy!

She wanted her own alarm clock, so we got her a spiffy one that displays the time on her ceiling, which she thinks is totally awesome.

And of course, the thing on every one of Emma's wish lists, Legos!

1. What is your favorite color? Pink
2. What is your favorite toy? Tablet
3. What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries
4. What is your favorite movie? Parent Trap
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner? Potato Bacon Soup
6. What is your favorite outfit? Blue dress-up dress
7. What is your favorite game? Clue
8. What is your favorite snack? Doritos
9. What is your favorite animal? White tiger
10. What is your favorite song? Gethsamane
11. What is your favorite book? Bad Kitty
12. Who is your best friend? Kjirsten Thacker
13. What is your favorite cereal? Honey Nut Cheerios
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Drive the toy car
15. What is your favorite drink? Lemonade
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Snowy --white tiger stuffed animal
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cinnamon Rolls
19. Where do you want to go for dinner on your birthday? Tucanos $$
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Zoologist and Vet
21. What is your favorite thing about school? Art and Recess
22. Favorite sport? Basketball
23. Favorite treat?  Ice cream

We did end up going to Tucano's, but we combined it with Valentines day and with taking Brad's brother Jeff there to make it totally worth it. It was delicious, and I think Emma ate just about as much as the rest of us. The girl loves meat! It's hard to see my only little girl growing up, but I'm loving the  new activities and fun we have together! She's doing great in school, and enjoys playing piano and ballet. She's a smart and talented young lady, and I love that she still loves snuggles, hugs and kisses.

Feb 2017

In a Galaxy not so far away...

Emma wanted to do a Star Wars themed party for her 9th birthday. I put up some streamers and stars, and made some storm trooper balloons for them to battle with their light sabers. We surprised her with a Ray costume right before her friends came, and she loved running around in it.

They discovered asteroids around the house, had Imperial Pizza with Vader-ade juice, and decorated cupcakes with red and blue frosting for light sabers. Emma picked the activities she wanted to do, so we had "Jedi training" where they tried to keep balloons in the air with light sabers, battled the storm troopers, "stay aboard the Millennial Falcon" (Musical chairs), until they were fully trained in the Jedi ways to take on Kylo Ren.... aka Big Bad Brad.

Brad was sweltering hot inside the layers, couldn't see well through the mask, and had 8 kids trying to attack him with swords and light sabers. He went down fairly quickly. I trained them well.

 A few of the girls finishing up a game of musical chairs...

 Miss Emma won the first round.

 Presents. I'm always nervous having a group of kids over that I don't know, anticipating a crazy, loud houseful of mischievous out of control kids, but this group was very well-behaved and polite. A very nice, unexpected surprising difference from last year! I'm glad to see she's making some good friends in school. She's a good kid; we're glad we kept her around another year!

Feb 4, 2017 

Lizzy Down for the Count

Lizzy loves coming with us to pick up the kids at the bus stop. In the beginning, she's so excited she's shaking! (And if you look in the back left right when the video starts, you'll catch not one, but TWO kids falling.. I laugh every time). Oh... and as a last note, don't turn your volume up too loud because Jake decides to whine right by the speaker... my apologies.

Lucas, my first body contortionist. He would just sit like that and watch his shows... And I love when he runs over to Brad just to snuggle for a while. Melts my heart.

 And poor Miss Liz got spayed and a fixed hernia. She was a pretty motionless drugged dog for a couple days. check out that bandage on her leg showing how much of her is just fluff! She did not appreciate the cone of shame.

Almost a week and a half after this, when she was completely back to herself, she all of a sudden wouldn't move unless absolutely necessary and wouldn't eat or drink. So back to the vet we went, and they discovered something about 1" in diameter in her abdomen... we're guessing it was a wad of toilet paper because she kept getting in the bathroom trash. Anyway, they wanted to do really expensive x-rays to make sure that's what it was, and possible surgery to get it out, but I opted for pills to help with digestion and hope she could pass it. It was looking pretty grim with a couple days of syringe feeding/drinking that we were about to take her back in, but luckily she bounced back and is doing well again. Phew. Bathroom doors will be shut from now on.

Jan 17 - Feb 2017