Spring Break

To start off this Spring Break post, I give you Kellen's newest super hero costume creation. Notice the two guns tucked into his tights. This boy makes life interesting!

Friday afternoon, March 20th, I asked Kellen to write on a birthday card for Grandpa. I was expecting him to draw a picture. Which he did. Not only that, but he wrote his first letters! All. By. Himself.

Kevin started out spring break in true teacher fashion by being sick. He was feeling so bad on Saturday that we needed to get out of the house so he could have some rest (quiet). It was one of the first really nice days we've had so the kids spent most of the day outside. Jenna got the idea that she wanted to soak her feet in warm water in the garage, while coloring and listening to music. Then they wanted to have a water balloon fight and thoroughly soaked themselves!

During the coloring time on Saturday, March 21st, Kellen wrote his name for the first time. All by himself!

Sunday afternoon, Kevin gave his car a much needed washing. The kids "helped" and then had a blast playing in the puddles. Thoroughly soaking themselves is becoming a theme.

Monday, mid-morning we went with Papa and Mima to Estes Park. We got settled into our place and then went right out to the park to see the scenery and hike.

Taking a little rest on a rock

Revived

Hiking buddies

A boy and his sticks

"I want to be the leader!"

It was a good thing we went hiking right away because Tuesday and Wednesday were too cold for hiking! We did drive into the park again Tuesday afternoon and found a little bridge and pond.

They had a great time throwing rocks in the water. But, it was COLD!

Kellen laid his clothes out for the next day and Kevin surprised him by laying his out, too! Kellen was in the bathroom and he called out, "Mama, I can't reach the wiping!" One thing we take for granted as grown up people in new places is being able to reach the toilet paper!

It was even colder on Wednesday - notice the warmer coats. We braved the cold and walked down to the stream behind our condo. Jenna was able to throw rocks all the way to the opposite bank!

It was nice to be able to curl up in front of the fire place and look outside while it was snowing.

We discovered that even though our condo didn't have a private hot tub, that there was a public hot tub that anyone staying there could use. Jenna and Kellen REALLY wanted to go in the hot tub, but none of us brought suits. So, Tuesday morning, we went into town on a mission to find swim suits. We found a thrift store in town and found some athletic shorts for Kellen and swim suits for Jenna, Papa, and even me. $1 each! The kids LOVED going to the hot tub. On Wednesday, they went 3 times - once while it was snowing!

Kellen had to wear underwear under the athletic shorts since we didn't find him an actual swim suit. I hung their suits outside in the sun but then forgot about them when it got cloudy and colder. Then, when I got their suits for the next "swim," Kellen's underwear was frozen stiff! We all got a big laugh out of that.

Even though it was too cold to hike as much as we wanted to, there was lots of relaxing - movie watching and "swimming." Jenna and Kellen had such a blast in the hot tub. I'm glad I decided to take the plunge with them.

We came home from Estes Thursday and managed to unpack, play "does it still fit for summer?," and then treat ourselves to frozen yogurt all before the basketball games started. Then, Jenna and Kellen set up a little tent to watch a movie in Jenna's room while Kevin and I enjoyed the basketball games.

Friday, we enjoyed a day of just the four of us. Lunch at Chick-fil-a, Cinderella movie, and a trip to the toy store for a certain girl who had money burning a hole in her pocket.

Saturday, we were watching more basketball and Kellen came rushing in, hid behind this door, & exclaimed, "Jenna and I are playing catch the loser. Jenna's the catcher and I'm the loser!" So glad he keeps us laughing!

R.I.P.

Blue the fish died today. RIP our faithful friend of almost 2 years. 

He was Jenna's birthday present when she turned 6.

Jenna was quite upset and wrote this memorial of sorts. 

Daddy saved the day with a trip to the pet store. Welcome: Cocoa (for Kellen), Hot Shot (for Jenna) and Goggles the snail to help Daddy keep the tank clean!

Update: Cocoa is a bully and bit up Hot Shot's tail until he/she died. R.I.P. Hot Shot. 3-17-15 not 3-18.

Update #2: 3-18-15 Cocoa is now dead. R.I.P. Cocoa.

Update #3: 3-20-15 Goggles the snail is now dead. R.I.P. Goggles. We are done with sea life for awhile!!

Expensive

Saturday, we were lazing around the house, trying to come up with something to do. Jenna suggested, "Monkey Bizness?" Kevin said, "Too expensive." Jenna suggested, "Sky Zone?" Kevin said, "Too expensive." Jenna suggested, "Itz?" Again, Kevin said, "That's too expensive." Then Kevin jokingly suggested, "I know! How about I tickle you (Jenna) until you pee your pants?" And, without missing a beat, Jenna said, "That's too expensive!"

Pioneer Day

Today was Pioneer Day at Jenna's school. She has been able to get a lot of use out of this dress I made and this time, she could wear the bonnet. She was so excited! I'm really glad that we listened to the Little House books over the summer and that they read one together in class this year.

She told me all about this quilt that her teacher's grandmother made. She thought I would love it! She was right - so pretty.

This morning, she asked if I could dress up, too. I didn't really have anything, but the other hat that goes with her dress and a shawl. It made her happy, though.

They traveled around to the different 2nd grade classrooms in 30 minute increments. They did a dried fruit room & a school room before this where they wrote on slates (black construction paper) with chalk and the misbehaved children had to sit in a dunce chair. They seemed to get a big kick out of that! This station pictured here is where the girls made dolls and the boys made tin can lanterns.

She loved this one so much. Mima and I had fun before hand in helping to sew the dolls together. We left a little opening in the bottom so today, the girls could put the stuffing in and sew up the bottom. It was fun to hear the girls chatting while they sewed just like I imagine pioneer girls would do.

Concentrating

They also got to draw the face on and add some blush for the cheeks. She loves this doll so much and named her Grace.

After doll making, they went to learn a pioneer dance. 

Daddy only had one class in the morning and the rest of the day free, so he was able to come over. She was excited to have Daddy there, too!

After they worked up an appetite dancing, they came to where I was serving up Johnny Cakes. They weren't so easy to make last night, but all the kids loved how they tasted and wanted more!

They also learned to make candles by dipping strings into wax then water, wax then water until the wax built up enough to form a candle.

Such a fun day!

4 - Like Sister, Like Brother

This picture is from March 2011, four years ago, and just before Jenna turned 4 years old. At the time, I thought she was developing organizational skills by choosing to lay her clothes out like this all on her own.

But, look what Kellen's been doing lately:

He's 4 years old and laying his clothes out the night before, too! So it must just be a 4 year old thing.

This one is my favorite - such attention to detail!

While we're on the subject of choosing clothes, I have to include some of his more interesting clothes choices of late.

Peter Pan tights and "puddle shoes" 

He makes sure his shirt is tucked in. 

Also interesting: while he clearly prefers to eat and write with his left hand, he prefers to throw a ball and golf with his right.

I took these pictures as we enjoyed the last few warm moments before the big foot-of-snow-snow-storm. As he was playing we could see the front moving in and feel the temperatures dropping fast!

Shorts and "puddle shoes" are also a current popular choice. Temperatures were in the 20s this day. He is a native Coloradan for sure!

And, when he needs red boots to pretend to be Bay Max after watching Big Hero 6 (also just like Jenna), he just makes them out of red paper!

Kellen's costume selection came in handy when the LP bands played a joint concert and a Pirate piece. We had to leave the concert before this piece because it was getting too late for bedtime. Jenna asked him to take a selfie so she could see him dressed up.