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).

You know you're in trouble when....

Both you and your dog are now taking the same, unusual, stomach medication several times a day.....

St. Patrick's Day

For St. Patrick's Day this year I made Kyle green eggs...he wasn't interested (I wasn't surprised) but I gave it a shot. Maybe we'll do pancakes next year. After school I had his favorite Blizzard ready for him, Mint Cookie, he grudgingly did accept that. Abbie and Daisy weren't too bummed about that one either...

We didn't find any Leprechauns (although the girls looked in the backyard again) or a pot of gold but we did make rainbow cookies to deliver to some family and friends.
As with almost all our holiday treats, disaster strikes the day we prepare for the fun. Just before I started working on the dough for the cookies, Daisy opened the door to the refrigerator to put in her chocolate milk and it completely fell off and on top of her, nearly crushing her. It made an enormous mess on our floor and created the logistical problem of what the heck I was going to do with a fridge without a door and all the food inside. Abbie was the BEST helper I've ever had. She moved into action while I was still working on Daisy and started emptying the freezer and taking all the frozen foods into the one in the garage. I then started putting the cold food into coolers in the family room. We had the piano teacher's daughter over and I'm sure she isn't going to want me to tend her again anytime soon...poor little Hadley. It took an hour to get everything moved and cleaned up. Then off to get Kyle. While I was gone a friend's dad took a look and was able to temporarily reattach it until Tripp is able to get back to town and we can get a new one....fridge that is. He (John Biever) gave me the - You COULD get a new door but I wouldn't - look when we talked about my options. Rats...that's all I need, to spend more money.

Also, I learned yesterday that among all the other things I don't do right (and Kyle spends his entire day, from sun up to sun down telling me about them) I don't put enough things on my car. And when I say "Things" I mean bumper stickers or Styrofoam on my antenna. So he told me on the way home from school that he is going to have a car with five antennas when he grows up and I asked what they would be for. He said, "To stick things on, you know...Mickey Mouses and things. Because you don't put anything on the car and that's dumb so I'm going to put on five things." Ok Bud, you do that.

Spring Soccer 2011

Spring soccer is upon us and both Kyle and Abbie has games last weekend. Below is a schedule for both kids.

Eagles

All games played at GVHS unless noted

3/19 - 2:30

Out of Town

4/2 - 2:30

4/9 - 8:30

4/16 - 2:30

4/30 - 2:30

5/7 - 10 MC

5/14 - 10 MC

Grasshoppers

All games played at Sonata

3/19 - 12:30

Out of Town

4/2 - 3:30

4/9 - 4:30

4/16 - 10:30

4/30 - 9:30

5/7 - 8:30

5/14 - 9:30

And just a side note...I'm joining almost every other blog out there by adding a post about the Justin Bieber movie. Sam took Abbie to see it Friday afternoon. She waited all week long to go with her aunt to see it. I've read on blog after blog and heard from countless friends (and my sister, who already saw it once before taking Abs) how fantastic it is. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a hater, but I don't love Justin Bieber. I listen to Radio Disney for my kids, not out of choice and I've heard enough of him and every other teenager (and younger) singer to last a lifetime. But Abbie used to dislike him then decided she liked him then got invited to go see the movie and has been over the moon. Her brother, on the other hand, is a hater. And a mean one at that. He takes every opportunity to remind her how he feels about the kid and how dumb she is for liking him. We've had a lot of tears but she is toughening up and it helps to have one beautiful, wonderful aunt on your side.