Art Swap

Today was the day for the big Art Swap. Abbie had all of her pieces ready and we took them to the post office and sent them off around the world. She is so excited to begin receiving some in the mail this week. It's a shame we will be out of town when many of them will arrive.

Daisy was heartbroken that she wasn't old enough to participate so Nate decided to do a small exchange with her. We shared our supplies with him and they prepared their art just like everyone else and exchanged it this afternoon. So much fun. They can't wait to officially participate next year.

What a neat program. Huge thanks to the lovely women that organized and volunteered time and talents to make it happen. Can't wait for 2012!

Papa Thom's 70th

It has been a week and a half now, but we traveled down to Pat & Jennifer's for the big 70th celebration in honor of Papa Thom. Tripp's Mom was in charge of getting everyone invited and together and planning the menu and wanting it to happen, Pat & Jennifer were gracious enough to help them pull it off and allow us to invade their home so the rest of us just showed up!

Our kids have been talking for weeks about getting together with their cousins. Abbie & Daisy had a slight meltdown when they realized it was the same weekend as Ruby's Build a Bear Birthday Party but thank goodness Rubes is a bestie and and we will have lots more birthday celebrations together.

This photo shows about 70% of those in attendance over the weekend. Of course Mama & Papa Thom aren't in it, neither are Pat & Jen. Doodles and Tripp seem to be absent as well. But it gives an idea...lots of cousins!!!!!
Pat had a kickball game planned for Saturday afternoon. I think the photos from that game are the most amusing of the entire weekend. Take a gander...





Kyle didn't really believe I could do anything so I was just standing around a lot. Not including those photos, thanks. Uncle Paul treated all the kids to the ice cream truck (young Uncle Paul that is. We also got to see Tripp, Pat & Paul's Uncle Paul later that evening...such a cute man!)
Tripp and Daisy just sitting and visiting with the group. This might be where they were when the couch photo was snapped?
Abbie and Daisy sort of fell in love with Garrett on this trip. He charmed them. Just before we left town they were trying to convince me our family should adopt a baby from China, then they hung out with Garrett all weekend....

Cute, cute cousins. Besides the absence of Doodle Bob, we missed Sweet Emily. Can't wait for an opportunity to get them all together. She is really, really missed. Having the Gormus Family call over Skype when while presents were being opened, etc. was one of the highlights of the weekend. We miss you guys!!!!!!
Overall, a great time was had by all. Too little sleep, check! Too much to eat, check! Chili Pepper, check! Three cranky kids on the drive home, check! Lots of lovely memories that I hope my kids have for a lifetime...check.

April Fools

I can't remember the last time we didn't do something for April Fools Day. Normally, Tripp and I fool Kyle or one year Kyle and I fooled Tripp (any of you remember the year I had Mr. Rosensteel fill out the paperwork saying Kyle was up on the school roof and got a citation? Doesn't seem quite so funny now but back then, when he wasn't actually getting suspended every week, it was a hoot), but this was the first year I tricked the girls....

I made "Peas & Carrots" cupcakes long after the kids went to bed Thursday night. Way long after...left me wondering why I get myself into these things. But when I told them they had to have some veggies before we went to Costco and I had these babies in a container with a fork, ready to go, they just looked at me with a sad look and started trying to muscle it down. Then they realized the carrots and peas were candy and it got better. But they didn't think it was very funny...until we played the joke on Nate and the Boyle kids with some extras I made. I'm not sure we really fooled anyone but the girls thought it was pretty hilarious and Nate says he is going to trick me next year so I can't wait for that.

I guess I stay up late doing thing stuff is because of the look on Abbie & Daisy's faces when they were trying to eat the veggies without fussing (we had a REALLY bad night with Kyle the night before that continued into the morning and they were trying to make me happy) and then later when we smoothly walked away from the Griffeth & Boyle doorsteps and they were so sure they were fooling them and then burst into the most hilarious giggles when we got into the car. Those giggles were totally worth it.

Swapping Some Art....

I read about the 2011 Kids ATC Swap recently and thought it was such a fun idea that Abbie definitely needed to give it a try. She sometimes needs a push when it comes to projects but she loves getting mail and she is always so proud of herself when she actually completes things.

It's really easy to join. You enter you child's name (must be at least 4), and where your address then your child is put into a group of six (I believe) other children their same age. Abbie will need to create five pieces of art by April 18th. Then on the 18th, we'll send one piece of art to each of the five kids in her group so that everyone gets one thing from Abbie (and Abbie gets one thing from everyone). She will be so excited to get her mail and it will be good for her to start and finish (doing her best work, without rushing just to finish and having time to use her creativity and to spread out the work load) a project like this. Besides, what a really fun tradition to start with your kids.

You have until 4/4 to enter. Click on the button at the left of my blog if you want to do it. I thought of a few of you who might be interested (Jennifer T., Jen C., Laura, Nikki, Katie...just to name a few that came to mind immediately). Today is a big "Feature it on your blog get to know you day" so I thought I would try to participate.

Thanks to Angie Gubler who introduced me to the project on her wonderful blog "Blonde Designs". She also created the super darling button for the project, because she is that wonderfully talented (I just think the stars and moon of her abilities).