Melting Chalk

At the beginning of the summer we make a list of things we want to do and places we want to go over the summer. Brittany was super dilligent about making our list this year. We like to do some science type experiments. Pinterest was great for this kind of stuff and so she found this recipe for frozen chalk. Basically it was cornstarch, water and food coloring that she put in ice cube trays and froze.

Then the kids took it out into the hot sunshine and let it melt!

Of course after it melted the cornstarch goo was pretty fun to play with too.

Thanks Brittany, the melting chalk was a hit!

Soccer Boy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Would you believe this kid is only ten? I took this picture to download for his soccer registration and couldn't believe how old he looks. And he won't even be eleven until September. We have been through such a couple of weeks with soccer tryouts. Matthew knew he wanted a new team instead of the Hornets this year so the hunt and the tryouts began. I will spare us all and sum it up. Five tryouts of which he made three teams. I think we changed our minds about which team to go with four times. But hopefully now we have the perfect fit. It better be, no way am I going through that again any time soon!

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Josh and the Snake

Josh came inside the other day and insisted I come see what he found.   There in the flower bed a freshly shed snakeskin. Before I knew it he bent over and picked it up. You would not see me doing that!

There it is! He is a pretty awesome kid!

Josh's Last Week

We are two days into Summer.  So far so good. In an effort to update this poor old blog let's detail Joshua's last week of first grade. I got to go with Josh on a field trip to the Tracy Aviary. Hadn't been there before so it was lots so fun. I love this picture, it is perfectly typical of field trips.  See every kid is looking in a different direction.  They run that way too.  They actually were good kids, I volunteer in their class so they know me and that I'm not a total push-over.

Josh absorbed in the bird show.

Those are flamingos behind him. Note to self: do not cut this kid's hair yourself. Yikes!

Joshua's amazing teacher Mrs. Warburton. First grade was such a great year. We are really hoping that she moves to second grade so we can do it all over again!  Love the kid photo-bombing in the back.

Did I mention these kids know me?  So they insisted I take their picture too. Which I didn't mind in the least. They are great kids! Good bye first grade!

Mother's Day Weekend

Oh, poor neglected little blog! I have lost my drive to blog I guess. Instagram and Facebook are so much faster. But I was looking back over old posts and realized as much as I felt like I was blogging in the past I wish there were even more details of our lives. So I am going to try again! Even if it is just a summary of what is going on and it is only for my own enjoyment. So here is last Saturday.

 The morning started as it usually does this time of year with soccer. This time it was Joshua's. Josh is so much more engaged in the game this season. He even made a goal last week!

 After soccer William and I went looking for flowers. Maybe a little foolish on the weekend of Mother's Day but it was such a beautiful day it still seemed fabulous. And look at this miraculous picture, no people in that greenhouse! At least at that moment. We went to three different nurseries. Then later in the day William snuck out and went to another. He came home with a tree. Again. That boy has a serious tree addiction!

Part of the hunt through the local nurseries was the need for two yellow rose bushes for the front yard. Of course my man found them, bought them and planted them. As my neighbor said to me, he just gave me roses for Mother's Day forever!

This was my real Mother's Day gift. New bird bath right outside my kitchen window. Now someone inform the birds it is open for business.

In the afternoon Brittany and I went out to search for the perfect flowers for the yard. My mom has trained her since she was tiny to be an expert flower planter.  Of course the super-reader cannot be without a book for any length of time.  We went to a couple more nurseries and found just what we needed.  I have spent the last couple of days trying to keep them alive until we can plant them tomorrow.

I did plant these in the front yard. For some reason Brittany does not consider the front yard her domain.

While we were out we had to stop at DI to see if they had more books for Super-reader and we found this gem. I still feel a little bad we didn't bring her home. There is just something about a Barbie wearing that much lace that I just want!

The next day was Mother's Day. Because it was Mother's Day and they had to do anything I wanted I made these three awesome kids who have made me a mother pose for a picture after church. I am so glad I get to be their mom.

We later spent the rest of the day with my amazing mom. Love this picture. She made both of our matching dresses. Aren't we both adorable? Yep, I absolutely won the Mother jackpot!

Moab 2013

This week is Spring Break around here.  For our family that has meant going down to Moab for the last two years. I admit to some reluctance. I am not a naturally born hiker and I have really bad ankles that I spend the whole time babying in an hopes that my family won't have to carry me off a mountain someday. But, all that said, we really had a good time. We just got home tonight and I have to post these before I forget everything. This is going to be picture heavy, but who are we kidding, it is mostly just for our family.

The first afternoon we got there we thought we would try a new hike. Corona Arch had been in the news lately, unfortunately because of an awful accident. Our main goal was just to hike to it so we were perfectly safe.

 Ta-dah!

 Brittany and her dad taking a break.

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Josh thought it was a great place for sunbathing/napping.  Silly kid!

The next day we started with the hike to Delicate Arch, the major attraction. Matthew really does not love this hike. It involves slickrock which for some reason he hates.  Also, he has discovered he has a fear of heights to we you get to the very end he has to make himself push to the top. I was really proud of him for making it. We can do hard things! I kept telling him that and he kept telling me he didn't have to like it. I agree, and the sooner he learns that one the better!

 Josh got new sunglasses for the hike. So cool!

 See those two tiny specks under the arch? Those  would be Brittany and her dad! Crazy people!

 
 The next day we left Moab and headed for Goblin Valley. The kids love Goblin Valley. It is a bizarre place full of fun stuff to climb on.

 

Brittany and Mom, trying to prove that I actually was on this vacation.

 Brittany the climber! Is there a sport where we can channel this girl's love of climbing? Every time you turn around she is climbing something really high!

 Guess she gets it from her dad.

 If you climb high enough you can pretend you are flying!

 Matt found a cave.

 My two oldest! Brittany is the tiny head on the left.

 The boys hanging out with the goblins.

Brittany on top again. 

 These kids love Goblin Valley, it is worth the extra time in the car!  And that says a lot for this group!

 Crazy weird! Wish I could take a panoramic shot, the whole little valley looks like this.

Josh likes to climb too.

 After we left Goblin Valley we decided to go home the route that took us around Capitol Reef. It was beautiful. Unfortunately the kids had hit the wall and were not interested in anymore rock formations. William and I liked it though.

So very pretty!

Pinterest Projects

 It has been awhile since I have posted crafts. Too long since I've blogged really. I blame Pinterest. Love pinterest! But that is where I have spent my screen time lately. I have found some fun projects thought. This flower is now hanging in my niece Libby's new teen room. I liked it so much I made myself one in yellow. Çan't get enough flowers this winter.

 I made the word love with my crafting buddy Mandi after I saw it on Pinterest.

 This is one of my favorites that Mandi found on pinterest. We have made this one two ways. This one is fabric glued to a mat, duct taped on the back and then covered it with polyurethane.  We also did it on a piece of linoleum I got at Home Depot.

Finally, Matthew's Perry the Platypus valentine box. We found this one on pinterest too. Love that Pinterest!