Camera Practice

Four kids, Two hours, and Six Stores

What a day. I needed to get some errands done today. My oldest daughter Hannah had her friend over and asked if she could come along. I told her that I didn't know how much fun it will be, but she can come if she wants to. They each had a few dollars of their own and were itching to buy something with their own money. We only had two hours to get the girls back for activity days. I was not sure that we would get everything done. The trickiest part is getting the kids in and out of the car. However, the kids surprised me. It is wonderful to be able to come to a stop and simply say,"OK, everybody out!" And out they hopped! Are little trip went as follow. Dollar Tree, Target, Big Five, Sally Beauty, Walmart, and Costco. I love having so many stores right at my finger tips. Lucky for us we didn't have a long list of items to get at any of the stores. I think the best part was because we were so short on time we really had to stick to the list. We didn't have time to just walk around and find little things to spend our money on. The kids got the chance to purchase a couple of things that they wanted. As we were leaving Walmart Hannah was skipping to the car and said "This was the best day ever". I guess even kids can enjoy a day out shopping with Mom.

Mario Birthday

Connor is SEVEN. In school this year he got to be deputy of the week. We worked together to make this fun poster with facts and pictures of Connor. He got to help his teachers all week long. Both the class and Connor had fun the day Connor got to take a book in to read. He chose the book "Silly Faces See Me at the Circus". The teacher said that the kids all really enjoyed this silly book. I let Connor choose his theme for his birthday party this year. He had a difficult time deciding between Michale Jackson and Mario. I suggested that he flip a coin. Connor thought that was a great idea, and Mario won! I would have been happy to come up with either party, but was pleased to put together a Mario party. He has been into Mario for a few years, and I enjoy stretching my imagination.

This was the invitation I came up with. I was pleased that he could tell what I was trying to do.

I decorated using stars. Connor was OK with this. He really wanted boxes with question marks on them. I am sure that would have been really cute, but sometimes their just isn't enough time to do everything.

I was so happy that Connor's friends were able to come. It wouldn't be a party without his friends.

Connor's Cake. I kept this simple this year. I used cupcakes to make the letter M for Mario!

It has become a bit of tradition to serve pizza at the kids parties.

We came up with some fun games using ideas from Mario Party Eight game.

This is how we pulled of the game "cut from the team". You could not tell who's string you were cutting up until the last two strings, so we had to have the last person cutting close their eyes. It turned out to be a lot of fun.

some of the other games we played were.

"Mash pit playroom"

We had three different color balloons. About nine of each color. The kids were divided into three different teams. The goal of the game is to pop all of your teams color balloons first.

"Sugar Rush"

We had a cupcake with simple decorations. I used Frosting, red chocolate star, and red and blue M&M's. The kids had to decorate their cupcake to match.

"Balloon Pump Game"

We used a bike pump and water balloons (NO WATER). The kids were timed to see how quickly they could blow up their balloon and make it pop. I could not remember the name of this game on Mario eight, but this was one of the kids favorite games.

March 26, 2011

On Connor actual birthday we took everyone out to eat and then came home for presents. Connor was happy to get a new bike.

He also got a few other fun toys.

Dad was happy to work with Connor to put together his new Lego.

Happy Birthday Connor

Green Dinner 2011 and more!

St. Patrick's Day was a lot of fun this year. It started out with Hannah's assignment for school to make a leprechaun trap. The instructions were that they do not obey signs, they love things that are green, sparkly, and shiny. We made this fun little maze together.

Bonnie informed everyone the night before. "You better wear green tomorrow or you will get pinched by a leprechaun or Mom!" She is right. Mom sleeps in her green pajama pants and tells everyone if she sees them with out green they will get a pinch.

We started the day out with green waffles.

I made myself some extra yummy green waffles.

The day was a little busy, but with a bit of planning we still all got to enjoy green dinner together. We had BBQ chicken in the crock pot, with green mash potatoes, and some other green stuff on the side.

It is tradition to have sugar cookies on St. Patrick's Day. It's funny how things workout sometimes. With the day being go go go kind of day I figured that was one thing we were just going to have to go without this year. However, my dear friend Kim stopped by to pick something up from me and dropped of some very yummy sugar cookies. Sometimes our special traditions get to continue simply because of other people.

Hannah requested to have green jello this year. I don't care much for jello, but holidays are a day to make something just because one person wants it. I found this cute little pretzel mold and decided it would be fun to green chocolate covered pretzels. The kids all really liked these.

Pickle face!

It is fun to have a special day just to do things a little different, but most importantly to get to do them together!

KIds Musical Sleeping Beauty

I was very excited for the opportunity to help out with the Lehi Arts production of Sleeping Beauty. It is always fun to watch these young kids put on a really good show. They each get to do a little audition for a part.

Sometimes you get a role of someone pretty and nice.
Other times you get to to have a little more fun!
Don't let her fool you, Hannah was one evil goon.All the cute fairies

All the scary GOONS!

Well, I can not get my picture to move. I guess you know how it ends!

It was so much fun for both of my girls to have good friends to be in the show with.

The Royal Family

Maleficent

Sneaky Hannah, peeking out behind a tree. The goons discovered the fairies.

The three fairies

Aurora birds singing together.

The DRAGON

The Prince and his true love.

The Cast of Sleeping Beauty 2011

We didn't even make it out of the driveway

Paul is a great Dad. Hannah asked Paul if he would join her on a bike ride today. He had not been home for very long. Dinner was finished and cleaned up and we had finally just sat down to talk with each other for a bit. Paul commented "I have not had a break all day. Give me just a minute and we will see." The only problem with going out on a bike ride on the very first spring like day is that the bikes have not been looked at for months. Paul changed his shoes and went to work pumping up tires. Bonnie came in crying that she was going to get left behind. I told her to stop crying and hurry to get her shoes on. The only reason they would leave her behind was if she was crying like baby. Everyone was happy and ready go. It had only been a few moments of quite when Paul came back in. "We didn't even make it out of the driveway!" Connor decided to try to go down the last part of the driveway on his bike and fell off. Paul being the wonderful Dad that he is got a band aid. I am sure it took a few hugs and kisses to stop the crying, but they made it.The kids and Dad went of their first bike ride for the year. The only thing that needs to happen now is for Paul to get is own bike so we can all go on a ride together. I guess maybe I am the nice one to let Paul borrow my bike.

Alfonso

I had a fun opporutunity to try something a little different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5kr1zd9V_E