Jack's Principal Award

A few weeks ago Jack was given a principal award for caring.  Each month they have an awards presentation during lunch.  Each teacher picks two kids that exemplify the value for the month.  The teachers try to keep it as a surprise and have the parents be there during lunch to see the presentation.

Jack had a note in his school folder telling us about it.  Kate read it on the bus ride home and tried really hard not to tell Jack.  He could tell something was up and kept talking about how "he predicts that he's not getting an award".  On the day of the award presentation Jack asked me what he should do when the principal calls his name, even though he was sure that he wasn't going to get an award.

His teacher whispered to him that he was getting an award and asked if he wanted her to go with him or if he wanted to get the award by himself.  He went up by himself.  Unfortunately the camera was on the wrong setting so I didn't get a picture.

 Jack and his BFF, Anna

Kate's Basketball Season

Kate played on a YMCA basketball team this year.  The season started in November and went through the first of March.  Dave was one of the assistant coaches.  Their team, the Magic, was huge, so they practiced together, but split the team in two for the games.  Kate's team was all girls, but they played co-ed teams. 

Kate improved a lot during season.  When she shot a basket during a game she usually made it. 

These pictures were taken at Kate's last basketball game and at a game on February 9th...

Kate likes to stay open...

 Defense!

 Kate did a good job at paying attention to where the ball was.

 Coach Dad lining the girls up against the boy team.

Running..

And the best part...the team cheer!

M.A.G.I.C.  M.A.G.I.C.  M.A.G.I.C.  Magic.  Magic.  Magic. 

 Goooooooo Magic!

Valentines from Jack

I love the art and other special things that the kids make at school.  Unfortunately, we can't keep each paper that they bring home.  I really loved the things that Jack made for us for Valentine's Day. 

So, here they are...preserved on the computer.

Jack's First Tooth

Last night was one of the most exciting nights of Jack's life.  He lost his first tooth! 

Jack didn't eat much dinner because his tooth was barely hanging on.  I tried to pull it out, but it was attached pretty well.  Finally a few hours later at bedtime, Dave pulled it out (with pliers, eek!).  Jack didn't complain about any of the pulling or poking that we did to his tooth.  He wanted it out! 

Jack wanted to write a note to the tooth fairy so she wouldn't take his tooth.  "Please not take my tooth!" 

Jack was very excited to go to school this morning.   He took his tooth in an envelope to show to the school nurse, so she'll give him a little tooth treasure box to keep it in.  He also gets to write his name on the February tooth chart at school. 

When Jack woke up this morning and showed me what the tooth fairy brought, he said "Wow.  My tooth fairy is really nice!"  He counted his money and then pushed it nicely back into the slots in the potato. 

(Yes, our tooth fairy brings money stuck in a potato. )

Jack and I have been reading this book the last week or so.  I had no idea that his tooth was loose enough to come out.  Fun book!

And, Ty wants to show you his teeth!

Valentines

The kids and I made Valentines this afternoon for them to share with their classes this week.  We had fun making them together.

Surprise Dinner and Movie

Yesterday afternoon Dave and I were cleaning out the garage.  The kids locked the door and told us that they were making a surprise for us.

This is what we found when they finally let us in...

They'd made us dinner!

This was the menu: 

• Lemonade
• Chips and Salsa
• Green salad, ranch dressing and croutons
• Fruit -- bananas, strawberries and apples

 I broiled some fish really quickly and made some orzo pilaf and we had dinner!  Yum!

They also drew us some pictures which they arranged on the couches.  And got Cars 2 ready in the DVD player so we could watch it.

We have some sweet kids!  I loved our dinner and a movie. :)

Kids at the Game...

This is how the kids felt at Kate's basketball game yesterday...

This is how Kate felt... pretty happy and concentrating on the game.

This is how Jack felt...happy and busy keeping score.


This is how Ty felt...

Ty and I had to go outside and throw rocks for a minute to help him stop crying.  He was mad because I didn't like it when he threw his cars onto the court a few times.

If You Don't Need 12 Bookcases in Your Kitchen...

This is what you do if you are like us and don't need a library wall in your kitchen/dining room.

Step 1:  Take a picture so you can remember what it looked like before, with the 12 foot Putnam Rolling ladder, the modge podged scientific pictures, 12 bookcases, desks, cupboards, armoire, etc.

Step 2:  Take it apart.  We moved some of the nicer cabinetry into other closets and the desk into our playroom.  We sold the armoire and huge heavy tv.  My favorite part was when we tore down the modge podged scientific pictures.  Nothing like looking at evolution pictures while eating your dinner. :)

Step 3:  Wonder whether or not you did the right thing as you stare at a 13 foot empty white, white, white wall. 

Step 4:  Kick holes in the wall!  It's harder than you think.

Step 5: Take off the dry wall. Vacuum. Take off more dry wall. Vacuum. And then vacuum again

Step 6:  Remove the excessive amount of electrical outlets in the wall. 

Step 7:  Put up a beam.  And decide that you don't really want to put french doors in it because you LOVE it open!

I love how you can see the trees in the backyard. 

And the kids love how they can run around in a circle. 

Now onto dry wall, texture, and paint!

Happy 100 Days of School!

The 100th day of school was last week.  Jack was supposed to make a creation using 100 of something.
We decided to make a house out of 100 pretzels.  It was really fun making it together!  It even made it to school in one piece.

While Jack and I made the pretzel house, Ty made this lincoln log house by himself.  He brought it over for the photo shoot.

 Sorry Ty that you're all blurry!

Rocks, Rocks, Rocks

A few weekends ago it was warm and the snow was mostly melted, so we bought some rocks to finish our side yard.
 
 Now the kids can rebound their basketballs without getting muddy. 

Now we just have to figure out what to plant here.