Kindergarten favorites from Paige

My favorite thing that I learned in kindergarten was about flowers and plants and also volcanoes. We even made a volcano by putting little things in a root beer bottle (that had root beer in it) and when we shook it up, we opened up the lid and it was exploding and going down from the root beer bottle. And then when we were standing on the black thing [the asphalt] that's what volcanoes are made from. And I was a little bit worried because I thought there was going to be a volcano at our school, and it would erupt and lava would wash our school - but it didn't really, and it didn't really make a volcano either. What I like about plants is that they grow food and the thing I learned about the seeds in the plant is that they grow roots, a stem and leaves, and they make fruit and all of the plants have little flowers in their leaves. What I like about flowers is the same thing as the plants, except it has beautiful, beautiful petals on them and in the middle of a sunflower it has seeds in the middle.

My favorite friends are (I guess everybody is my friend), even Talia in the afternoon class. There were 27 kids in my class. I liked to sit by Kenyon. I met Lilly Phillips when we would walk home from school. Me and Lilly Phillips had a different teacher, her teacher is Mrs. Holyoak, my teacher is Mrs. Sarkady. And you know who else I met? Emily and Lizzy in Mrs. Holyoak's class.

My favorite day of the week was Thursday because that was computer day. I got to go to KidPix. This time we did something like pictures to put on the computer and then we made stickers that come to life on the computer. The way how we made them alive is we pushed a green PLAY button and then they all moved around at once.

Monday is also my favorite day of the week because we play music games, we learn new songs, and new composers that write the songs. And one of my favorite music games is "We are dancing in the forest." Another is "Old Mother Witch."

There was one field trip I went to in Kindergarten. I went to a play called, "Knuffle Bunny." I rode a bus, it was fun. There was a big theater and a big stage. We sat on red, soft chairs. It was a fun play.

Mrs. Sarkady was the best teacher ever. She taught us new things and new games that we can play. She is so fun. I miss you, Mrs. Sarkady!

I once got in trouble in kindergarten. I was talking too much with Melissa. Then we had to go over at the place where we paint and we started to talk again. So we had to be separated in the hall with Andrew.

I'm a little bit excited to go to First Grade. I'll do some more fun stuff on the computers.

Concussion

We had a little excitement at our house last night.

We noticed an ambulance and firetruck outside and went into the backyard to see it. Ashby ran back inside the house to go around the front. I heard him slip on the tile and start to cry. I went inside to help him up but he staggered forward and landed flat on his face on the tile again. That tile is so hard - it hurts to even think about it. I picked him up and he seemed so twisted around and weird looking. He was stiff in my arms and his eyes were going crazy. It only lasted a few seconds before he started to come back around. I didn't know what to do, it was just the strangest thing and then it was over. I talked to him for a bit and calmed him down. I thought about running outside to the paramedics with my little boy in my arms, but everything seemed fine now. I called out to Brian in the backyard to come inside. Ashby's eyes were so bloodshot and he seemed confused about what happened. The ambulance was still outside and Brian really wanted me to go out and talk to them. I was too scared, but eventually we went out in the rain and I caught a paramedic's attention. He said to monitor Ashby for the next 4-6 hours and sleep by him if we could, to make sure he doesn't seize again. So that's what we did until about 1am.

Later Paige wanted Ashby to reenact what happened. He only remembers the first fall of slipping on the tile. Then he started spinning around and told Brian that I was spinning him in circles. "Why did you do that Mom?" he asked.

Everything seems to be fine today. Ashby is his old self. He just has some purple bruises on the side of his face. Sure is a scary feeling to not know how to help your kid though.

(We never did figure out why the ambulance was parked outside in the first place. Hope everyone is okay across the street.)

Losing Brain Cells

Yesterday I planned ahead. I was at Wal Mart and remembered that I needed to get cash for a babysitter that evening. I got two ten dollar bills.

As we were headed out the door for the evening I remembered I had gotten that money, but I suddenly could not remember where I put it. I checked my wallet, the diaper bag, my jacket pockets and my jean pockets. Nothing.

Brian helped me search and I sheepishly told him, "I think I threw it away."

There was no other explanation. I did remember emptying out my pockets earlier in the day, filled with old receipts, and fruit snack wrappers. Unfortunately I had also filled up the kitchen trash can and emptied it out in the garbage bin.

We searched through the garbage bag, covered in kitchen goop. Finally I found it - two out-of-place ten dollar bills.

I'm glad we found it - that was going to end up being a very expensive night. My only excuse is that I'm pregnant. Guess its true what they say about losing brain cells.

A Day at the Races

Last weekend we followed Brian up to Soldier Hollow in Midway, UT to watch him race in an I-Cup mountain biking race. These races are something he is just getting into, but mountain biking is his hobby, so its fun for him to have another outlet to ride.

I was nervous about this day outing just because I wasn't sure how the kids would behave, especially since they went to bed really late the night before and we woke them up really early to drive up the canyon. Plus, I am one who is very adamant about naptime - that's what my day revolves around.
I was just so pleased with how it all turned out. The kids did great! I didn't even have to use my secret weapons (iPod and bottle). I packed a huge picnic lunch, so we were set with food and we had such an enjoyable time playing at the playground and cheering for Daddy - he actually got 4th place in his division! We explored Midway a little bit, took in the beauty of the countryside and watched a big storm move across the valley from atop Veterans Hill.


I am glad to know that we can do it! We can have fun as a family, go on adventures, and actually survive. But it seems like every time we reach this point of freedom - freedom from schedules and crying and whining - we have a new baby. Then we are tied down for another period of time. I guess we better enjoy this summer of freedom!

General Conference

This year for General Conference I printed out pages and pages of activities to keep the kids busy. Ashby hardly touched his. But Paige was finally at an age where she really wanted to get into it. It was fun to watch her. There was even one activity where you cut and color the first presidency and make toilet paper roll puppets out of them. Well, Paige found an extra t.p. roll and (all on her own) made a "Paige puppet" so she could pretend to be speaking at the pulpit. I just thought it was the coolest idea and she loved it. She even came up with speaking topics for me (Love), Brian (Obedience), and herself (Christ the Lord). :)

Cheekmunks

The kids like to stuff their mouths full of grapes. Brian and I cleverly call them "cheekmunks", but they like the name "grapemunks" better. Someday they'll learn...

Wrong question

Ashby and I were looking at pictures of Christ during sacrament meeting today.
I showed him one of a little child sitting on Christ's lap.
"Wow Ashby. Wouldn't it be neat to sit on Jesus' lap?" I asked.
He agreed.
"Would you rather sit on Jesus' lap or Santa Claus' lap?"
"Well, Santa gives me candy, so...you know," was Ashby's answer.
Guess I should have seen that coming.

A Pirate says Aaarrrgh

Happy 4th Birthday Ashby

While we waited for everyone to arrive, the kids defended their pirate ship by popping bubbles with their pirate hooks.

Ahoy there mateys! Welcome to this party!

We’re here to have fun, avast there me hearties.

We’ll be following clues, ‘cause we don’t have a map,

And when we find treasure, you might yell and clap!

We’re hunting for seashells and patches and hooks,

Fish, gems and feathers, and gold – like in books.

And then, after ice cream, which we like a lot,

We’ll find one last treasure where X marks the spot.

Brian made a terrific pirate with a great growly voice. He read all the clues between activities. And a special thanks to Brian and our friend Emily for their clever pirate poetry to get these clues written.

1

Here’s the first clue, of the thing ye should find

An island you’ll see, it’s the round kind

Ye’ll be winning a seashell if ye get through the loop

Come along little sea dogs, and look for a hoop.

For completing the island hopping activity and not falling into the ocean, the kids collected sea shells an put them in their goody bags.

After each activity the kids had to search around the area to find a rolled up scroll with the next clue.

2

Shiver me timbers! Ye made it off the island!

The next clue is harder, as you’ll be a blinded.

Look for a hideout around on the side

But don’t be afraid of the one

who has died.

This is a flag I made for pin the skull on the jolly roger. I was pleased with how it turned out, since I'm not the most creative. The prize at the end of this game was their very own pirate eye patch.

3

This next clue is fishy, but you’ll get the motion,

Open your eyes, and search for blue ocean.

The reward for this challenge is

top of the rank,

But to get what you came for,

You’re walk’n the plank!

Swedish fish was the prize at this station.

4

Out yonder be jewels and beautiful gold

All for the taking, like stories of old.

Search deep in the depths of the underground cave

But watch out for snakes and don’t be afraid.

After crawling through the tunnel entrance, the kids searched in the grass for jewels and gold coins to collect in their baggies.

5

Look lively, someone is shooting our ship

With cannonballs! Careful now,

don’t slip or trip!

But hurry and look for a big bouncy thing

With feathers upon it – it’s made for jumping.

We threw soft padded balls at the kids while they jumped on the tramp. The tramp was covered in colorful feathers because we told them that one of the cannonballs killed their pirate parrot. They collected the feathers for their goody bags.

6

Even pirates have tummies that grumble

So abandon ship! (but be sure not to tumble)

Follow your nose to a place full of yummies,

And if you say please, you can fill up your tummies!

This is the cake I made from an idea in Family Fun magazine. The directions told me to use decorator icing for the details. I was excited to try something new and feel professional. Well as you can see below, the icing did not work at all? Any clue why? I don't know, so on the other (less pretty side) of the cake, I used normal frosting. So much easier. Wish they had told me to do it that way from the beginning.

After cake and ice cream and opening presents, Brian gave the last pirate clue...

Next is the thing that gives all pirates pleasure

A chest full of goodies we pirates call treasure.

Sometimes we hide it in ships that are wrecks,

But this time, to find it, just look for the X.

I'd like to thank Dollar Tree for the success of this pirate party. I was very impressed with their selection of pirate bounty. It was fun to put the goody baskets together and I hope the kids liked them. It was really a fun party and we ended right on time.

Hoppy Easter

Easter this year was filled with all the normal Easter traditions. But we did try a couple of new things.
On Saturday morning I ventured out with the kids alone to the city Easter egg hunt. I knew it would be crowded, but I just hoped I could keep track of my kids. I couldn't believe how many people were there! Probably a thousand (literally). The park was divided up by age groups to hunt for eggs, but I made my 3 stay in one area, otherwise they would have been in 3 different areas. When it was time to hunt, they rushed onto the field, but a few seconds later Ashby was crying because he didn't get any eggs. And by that time pretty much all of the eggs were picked up. One little girl shared an egg with him so he wouldn't cry. That was so nice. Luckily Paige got several eggs, so she shared too. Poor Levi was made to stay in the stroller the whole time. After the egg hunt we waited in line for about 45 minutes to get faces painted. Then we waited in line for petting baby farm animals. Then we waited in line for pizza. Then Paige started crying because I didn't want to wait in line for the bouncy house - it was time to go home. All in all, it was a successful outing - in that nobody got lost. Hooray for that.

The backyard Easter egg hunt was a much more pleasant experience for everyone. The Easter bunny really went overboard on all the eggs she hid, but at least no one cried over not getting any.

You can all be as much in love with Levi's sport coat as I am. He was the cutest kid at church for sure. I just couldn't help smiling at him and his cute outfit.

The Hills are Alive

I just got home from a 3 hour long play audition with Paige. It was call-backs for The Sound of Music. We found out about the auditions and I thought it would be so fun to give Paige a new experience, (especially since she didn't really understand how it all worked - when we left for the first audition she told Ashby to look for her on t.v.). She tried out for the role of Gretl, of course (I know, weird way to spell it, but it's true). Heaven knows Paige has enough energy and dramatic flare to be in theatre, but I was a bit worried about her singing. Tonight was filled with lots of singing rehearsal, simple choreography, and script reading. The singing was pretty boring for Paige since she didn't need to learn any of the harmonies, and unfortunately she was in and out of her seat and not paying attention. I was pretty frustrated, because it's hard to explain to a kindergartner that she is being watched and judged on every little thing she does. Paige loved the dancing and sliding across the stage and trying to figure out how to do a jazz square. She also did a great job saying her lines and acting out her part. It was a really fun and successful evening, and we watched the crowd of candidates diminish. The part of Gretl was down to just two little girls. Unfortunately Paige did not get it. She was quite disappointed, which helped me realize she understood a lot more about it than I thought she did. But Paige did amazing! She even went and said congratulations to the other little girl without any coaxing from me. She said thank you to the directors and good luck to all the other cast members. Wow!

I'm so glad Paige got to have this experience. I will admit, I was getting pretty excited as the night was drawing to a close - but I had to give myself a reality check, too. What are the chances Paige would be cast in the very first play she ever auditioned for, and really after only seeing 3 or 4 plays at all?

It was fun to work with Paige throughout the week on learning and memorizing songs and parts. I tried to keep it laid back so it would be a non-stressful experience for her, but part of me just really wanted her to work hard, pay attention and do it right! It made me think and wonder about my own mom when I was growing up and doing plays. That's really a lot of work for a mom. Hopefully some day Paige will get to be cast in a play and make great memories. This learning experience will definitely send her in the right direction.

Now I know

I really love the look of the long, flowing loose curls that everyone seems to be doing with their hair these days. I think its gorgeous. So, for about the last year I have been growing out my hair to get to the point that I could enjoy some long, smooth, shiny curls for myself. Well, I haven't been very happy about the whole process. I decided that for Mother's Day I wanted to get my hair cut. So yesterday I did it. I cut off about 7 inches and now I finally feel like myself again. Now I know that I am not a long hair kind of girl. I feel much happier and more free. I actually felt like clicking my heels on the way out of Fantastic Sams.