I Lied

Ha, well so much for no more blogging before spring break!!! I completely forgot about all of these happenings going on this past week/weekend. Blake had a full day of Easter festivities at school on Friday. He loved having me there with him. His teachers had so many fun and cute crafts for the kids to do.

This kid really knows how to make me forget all of my worries!

Easter Egg Hunt

The squadron egg hunt was this past weekend. I didn't end up going so that I could work on my Easter lesson without any interruptions. So sad I missed out on it though. Derek took some video. Luckily, others got some pictures! Blake was really into it this year.....well the egg hunt anyway, not so much the Easter bunny! 

Daddy Daughter Date Night

Derek took the girls to dinner and a dance. They had sooo much fun! The old man even won a limbo competition. The girls were wiped out when they got home. Love my handsome BIG boy and gorgeous girls!!

Kids Say The Darndest Things

Avery's Kindergarten teacher stopped me one day last week and told me the absolute sweetest thing. She started off by saying that my daughter sure knows how to make her day. She said that her and Avery were walking around the playground and she had asked Avery if she was having a good day. Avery said, "I'm having a GREAT day!" So she asked her what made it so great. Avery said, "It's so great because I'm getting to walk with you." I melted! Those 2 will forever be "stuck like glue." Then she said she doesn't know what she'll do when we move.....that we'll just have to pack her up and take her with us. Too funny and super sweet! I just love hearing these kind of things. Makes me realize that we are doing something right in raising our kids.

On a Roll

I've been on a roll this month with the blogging! Will probably start slowing down again after the big Spring Break post since things are getting SO busy. I really shouldn't even BE blogging as I have an Easter lesson to plan for this Sunday. Not looking forward to that at all......probably why I'm procrastinating. I'm sure part of it has to do with the fact that the last time I taught a sharing time lesson, my skirt fell down! Sooooooooo embarrassing! I will be sure to wear a dress this Sunday. :)

Anway, 2 things I wanted to blog.

1. This pic of the kids at movie night at school. They have always wanted to go to one and we finally decided to take them.....only wish we had some floor pillows. ;)

2. THIS video! The nightly reading has been becoming a bit monotonous. Avery decided to play teacher the other night. Hilarious!!!

Also, a flashback video that I just love! It was blocked for the longest time by YouTube because of the music. So lame. But it's working again now!!!

Just Call Me Martha

Several weeks ago Avery came home from school and we had our usual after school conversation. "How was your day?" "What did you learn?" and so on. Out of nowhere she told me that she told her teacher that her brother was the one that put the tear in the beanbag that they have in their reading area. I don't know what made her think of it because after more questioning she said she didn't tell her that day.....she told her a while ago. Either way, my jaw dropped! Way back during the first several weeks of school.....whenever meet the teacher was, Blake had been playing on that beanbag and I was patiently waiting to meet the teacher, which never happened, because my kids were whining that they were hungry and then I saw Blake get up and I did see a small tear. I didn't know if he caused it, but assume he probably did. I tried to wait around as long as I could so I could say something and of course meet the teacher but the kids were just being too impatient. I never did say anything to her teacher because I kind of lost the right opportunity to do so.  I have always felt super guilty about it. So, I finally said something to her (in an email) after Avery came home with her confession. She was so sweet and told me she didn't recall Avery saying that her brother caused it and not to worry about it. Before I even emailed her I had already ordered supplies to make some floor pillows to replace the beanbag. This was a huge task for me as I have only sewn a couple of times and am still very much an amateur.

Then Avery came home from school saying her teacher had a birthday this month. She really wanted to get her something.......specifically, an electric pencil sharpener because they don't have one in their classroom and are always borrowing the teacher's across the hall. I was so torn on whether or not to get it. I thought it was a great idea but was it too much for a teacher's birthday? I have never got a teacher a birthday gift before. We do love her teacher, but was that going overboard? Would she think it was weird?

It just so happened a couple days later I was contacted by another Mom, asking if I would want to go in on a gift for Mrs. Kautz' birthday, help decorate her classroom, etc. So, now I knew that it must really be her birthday.....never know with Avery......and maybe it wasn't overboard to get her something if other parents and kiddos were having the same idea??? I was most definitely on board!

Anyway, long story short........the fabric came in just in time for me to get the pillows done for her birthday. I was kinda impressed with myself!! I think they turned out pretty cute and didn't realize just how perfectly they go with her classroom. And we did go ahead and get her the pencil sharpener.......and made cupcakes. It was so fun to decorate her classroom and I hear she was pretty surprised when she came in to school the next day. I think it made her day. I know something like that would make my day! Totally worth it!!

Closer look at the pillows. I am sooo in love with them! I don't impress myself often, but I was very impressed with my work. I almost gave up when I first started because I was having trouble with the sewing machine right away. After about......oh, 3 hours or so!...I finally figured it out. So much time and money went in to these. I just hope they are appreciated! Now my kiddos want one of their own!! I might want one too! ;)

Looking Back at Paris

I know Momma bear has been wanting to see a pic of the girls I went to Paris with. Sadly, I never took a pic of all three of us together. Jodi did take one group selfie of us and she sent it to me the other day along with a couple of her other pics. So.....a look back at my first ever girls trip. :)

March Happenings

First beautiful weekend in a long time. We took full advantage and played all day at Dinosaur Adventure Park!

We made shirts for the girls to wear for Dr. Seuss's Birthday

Finally took Derek to Castle Rising. Blake dressed the part.

School Projects

Avery and her catapult

Allie and her Leprechaun trap

Date night with my girls to see Cinderella

Last Few Days of February

Allie had to choose a person to research and then give an oral report on that person......and dress up as them too. Any guesses who she chose? It really is no surprise that she chose Jane Goodall. Allie is such an animal lover. She has changed her mind about wanting to be a teacher when she grows up, to a veterinarian. She is constantly bringing home animal books from the library. Allie researched Ms. Goodall completely on her own and before I knew it she already had her report written up! Derek is not a fan of Jane Goodall so he was constantly poking fun, not at Allie, but Jane Goodall. He listens to Adam Corolla religiously and she had been on his show not too long ago and she said something to Adam along the lines of "you do not know how wrong you are." and so Derek was just always saying that to Allie in his best Jane Goodall voice. Okay, I did too.....it was pretty catchy. She HATED it! It was kinda funny. Allie is such a loyal person though and if we were making fun of the person she was identifying with, well then she was going to stick up for her!

It's finally starting to warm up some here. Blake and I went to the playground and we had so much fun playing. I love that he is completely content to play with his Momma and he is not ashamed of it at all. He is also sporting his new Ninja Turtle sweatshirt that he that he wants to wear EVERY.DAY. 

Oh, and Blake went to his very first friend party. Like a party that his sisters weren't invited to! It was for his friend, Isaac. They are soooo cute together.

Avery also lost her 2nd tooth!! It had been so loose for the longest time. I know it was bothering her because she would ask Derek to pull it almost every night........and then she would chicken out. On the day of Hedgehog Hangout it was just hanging there. She so badly wanted to lose it at school. She had some idea that she would get a necklace to keep it in and then she could proudly display it for all to see. I don't think they do that at FES. Maybe she got the idea from Allie's last school. Allie was pretty sure that's what they did at MME. When I arrived at lunch time she couldn't even take a bite of her sandwich because of her tooth! Her teacher came up with a grand idea to let me pull it and everyone could cheer for her once it was out. I seriously just put my hand on it pushed a little and it was out. Her teacher, the principal, her classmates and other fellow first graders were all there to cheer for her and I am quite certain it made her day. :)

Girls were in school. Blake wasn't feeling well---so he was resting. I decided to make up some freezer meals and then used the leftover chicken to make up a few lunches! I made up all 8 freezer meals all before 11 am. These will be so handy with the upcoming soccer season. No more eating out every night after practice and games!!

Biggest news of all. Derek has been selected for promotion!!! He is so very deserving of this. Of course, he is disappointed because he didn't get a school slot.....which I agree is disappointing. I seriously don't know many that are more deserving of a school slot than this guy. He likes to joke that he gets all that gray hair from me and the kids (probably somewhat true) but I am pretty sure he gets it from his job. He works harder than anyone I know, puts WAY more hours in than anyone I know. The other disappointment, it may still be a while before this actually happens. 

February HIGHlights

Our "happy" little fox. The kids went to their friend, Addison's, birthday party.....I think it was the end of January. I've lost track of when things actually happened with the Paris trip. It was a busy week leading up to that trip! 

A sweet surprise from Derek after returning home from Paris.

The kids had a half day at the beginning of the month. Avery and a friend had a play date at the skating rink. Blake and Allie tagged along. We had the whole place to ourselves! Blake's first time skating!!

There were several 2 hour delays at the beginning of the month, not really because of snow but the possibility of it, cold temps and ice. One day we did actually wake up to some snow! I'm glad I let the kids play in it because it was gone by the time they got home. However, Allie came home from school that day with a 102 temp! She was completely fine that morning as you can tell!

The 100th day of school was on the Friday I was in Paris. We thought it was going to be the Monday after I got back, but found out Tuesday afternoon that it was Friday! Avery and I quickly brainstormed and came up with something super creative and all our own! No pinterest copying on this one! There was some significance with the hedgehog choice. Their school mascot is a hedgehog.

The spelling bee selection was going on the week I left for Paris as well. Of course, that was the week Allie was sick and missed a day and a half of school. They were doing their spelling bee trial in the classroom and Allie was so upset because that meant that there was no way she could go on to the school spelling bee finals. The school nurse was so sweet in helping to figure out a way that Allie might still be able to participate. One teacher even went and tracked down Allie's 2nd grade teacher to see how well of a speller Allie was. To which Ms. Shafer replied that Allie was her top student last year. :) That made Allie's day and instantly made her feel better. And......I got a phone call in Paris from Allie saying she made the spelling bee!! 

The spelling bee was last week and she did really well. She finished right in the middle of the pack. She was really upset when she got eliminated. She has such high expectations for herself. We are so proud of her!

A peek at the girls' Valentine's cards this year. Allie's had glow sticks in Yoda's hand. Her party is actually today. We couldn't find the glow sticks anywhere in time for Avery's party so we just used her hama beads to make those Yoda's.

And.......a goofy selfie.