So Maci's getting to the age where I think she'd enjoy reading a book as a family, me reading it aloud to everyone. I've thought about Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Harry Potter is a little old I think. . . but wanted to know what all you read to your kids? I want short chapters, good story line, easy to understand for a 6 year old. . . you guys got anything in mind?? Comment away!
It's been a busy, fun week. First off was Maci's first Kindergarten Music Performance/Play. It was so cute. All the kindergarten classes sang a couple cute songs, and then did a little play of the Little Red Hen. Maci was one of the baby chicks, she had a couple little singing parts with the other chicks. It was so fun to see her up there singing her heart out. The pics didn't turn out too well, we were too far back. We were about 10 minutes early and ALL the seats were taken already, we ended up standing in the back. She did a fabulous job, as did all her little classmates.
This weekend we relaxed and got some stuff done. Maci had a soccer game, they won again and are undefeated! Then we got some yard work done and got some composte to put in the flower beds. It's free here! We got a lot done and it was a great Saturday.
This week has been busy, and it's started to get hot! It was about 85 today, and it felt it. I think we're in big trouble when it reaches 90-95 with the humidity. It hasn't been too humid yet, but I'm sure it's coming. Maci's school went to the zoo on Wednesday and Gavin and I tagged along. It was really fun. Gavin and I have been to the zoo, but it was Maci's first time. We enjoyed seeing all the animals, there was one giraffe in particular that was a little agressive and out of control! She had a great time with her friends and teacher, and we had fun seeing it with her. Gavin loves to be in the big kid mix, and Maci was really good about including him. Today i did library time at the school, and tomorrow I'm helping at a PTA dance in the evening, I'm feeling very involved in the school this week! Gearing me up for PTA next year.
Yesterday a friend also helped me make some freezer strawberry jam. It turned out really good! It was fun to feel a little domestic, something I'm trying to do more of. Thanks Maria for letting me mess up your kitchen! The kids had a ball and the product was fabulous.
I've done some orders this week too, I've been trying to balance crafts with every day life here for a while since I've gotten busier. I decided to only make and finish orders on Mondays and Tuesdays, and ship out Wednesdays. So any orders I get during the week, I wait till Monday to start in on them. It's been really good, and helped me balance work and life. Then I can put away my craft stuff during the rest of the week so it's not out all the time. I've also had a few 9 year old girls from the ward come over on Monday afternoons to play with the kids while I cut stuff out. That's been a great help too. I think I'm finally getting a schedule down that's working for all of us!
Chris is winding up his 2nd semester, and doing really great. He had a big presentation this week that went really well, and finals are coming up in a couple weeks. I'm so proud of how dedicated he's been to his school work and not procrastinating anything. He's totally on top of it all and really enjoying every moment of it. Work's going well for him too, we're really lucky to have this job that's so flexible and that he enjoys relatively well. We're so happy to be where we are and are so blessed in every part of our lives.
We're excited to be coming to UT around the 22nd of May. Hopefully we'll get to see lots of friends and family while we're there! Sorry this was such a long post, it was more for me than for all of you!
Oh last thing, YES we did get Gavin to cut his hair!! He just said one night, after the 100th time we asked him if it was ok, that sure, if he could watch whatever show he wanted to, we could cut his hair. So the next morning, we did it, and he was fine. Yeah!! It looks really cute. I love to rub his little head.
Yes, now that I look at all those pictures from Easter I realize how bad it really looks. Believe me, we've TRIED to cut it! Several times. But he throws such a fit, kicking, screaming, crying, we have yet to just hold him down and shave it, mostly because I'm afraid I'll cut him rather than the actual fit itself. We've tried bribes. We've tried asking him if he wants to cut just the sides, I know a mohawk is a little crazy but it would be better than this, we've asked him if he wants to go sit in a cool chair at Cookie Cutters, no dice. He says he wants it to grow up to the sky, which might happen if we don't do something soon! When we put gel in it it looks semi decent, but it usually only lasts a couple hours, if that. So what's a mom to do?! He's just too darn cute.
We had a great Easter weekend. Chris's dad made a visit and we did a lot of fun things with him. On Friday, he and the kid and I visited a Civil War site, the Wilson's Creek Battlefield. It was very interesting and Don was in his element learning about the battle. It was very cold and rainy, so we had to make it kind of a short visit. Chris took off work a little early and we went and saw Monsters Vs Aliens, which of course the kids loved. It was a funny movie.
Saturday we started bright and early at an Easter Egg hunt put on by the city. It was more of a Dash than a hunt, but they split the kids into different age groups, so there were plenty of eggs for everyone and the kids had just enough candy. Then Maci had a soccer game, which they won 6-1. Maci was not feeling 100% due to a cold, but still played great. She got to be goaly for part of the game and saved 5 goals! She did great.
Saturday afternoon we went to Fantastic Caverns, "The only Drive Through Cave" in North America :) It was fun, we went with Grandma and Grandpa Boren when they were here, but Chris didn't get to go with us that time, and this time we saw 3 bats in the cave! I was a little freaked out by the bats, seeing as they were only about a foot from your head as you drove by. Icky.
We also got to go to the Dixie Stampede in Branson, something we hadn't done before. It was really fun, picture a Medieval Times but with the North and the South instead of the Red and Blue Knights. They had really cool horse maneuvers and different tricks and stuff with livestock, it was fun. They feed you dinner and you don't have any utensils, great fun. The food was really good though, fingerlicking good. The kids loved it.
We took him to Lamberts of course, and fed him some Buckingham's BBQ, and Andy's Frozen Custard. On Sunday we had a regional conference broadcast, and it was Easter. So we did the usual egg dying and such on Sat. night and did baskets Sunday morning. We tried to emphasize the true meaning of Easter all day long, we kept asking Maci why we celebrated, and she'd say, Because Jesus was Resurrected. It's so hard to keep the true spirit in mind with so many distractions, but I think we did pretty good.
Chris's dad left on Monday. We had a really good time with him and are glad he could come visit so we could show him around the Ozarks!
I'm a little homesick today for some reason. Maybe it's preparing for Easter for my kids, remembering baskets at my house filled with fabric instead of easter grass. My mom would always put in new tights, our favorite shampoo, a new hair clip, some bubbles or a little toy, and a Cadburry Egg, along with other candy. After spending a measly 8-9$ each on my kids baskets, I realized how much thought and effort she put into ours, remembering what our favorite things were. It's so funny how you look back on your childhood and remember little things that seem big now, and think "Am I making those memories for my kids?" I hope so, and I'm so glad my parents made those moments for me, even if they weren't trying to.
I'm also missing the yearly Easter Egg Hunt with all the bro's and sisters, and cousins. Maci's missing it too. But I guess sometimes you have to miss things to really appreciate them!
On another less nostalgic note, we had our first real tornado siren warning tonight. We've had warnings other storms but the sirens haven't gone off. Well tonight there were several sighted tornadoes in our area, one even in Nixa?! It rained and hailed quite a bit and lots of thunder and lightening. Our power didn't go out, and I doubt we were ever super close to one, but it was definitely an adrenaline rush! and a glimpse of what I'm sure we'll be in for for the next couple of years in the spring. We don't have a basement, so we've heard we're supposed to get in our bathtub and put a mattress over top of us. We didn't employ that tonight, but will try it out if we get wind one is headed our way again! What an adventure!
No I did not take this picture, I got it off the internet :-) this COULD have happened though!
Maci had her first soccer game this last Saturday. Her team is the grey team and they chose to be the Sharks, very intimidating! It was soooo cold! and windy, but the kids toughed it out and did great. They won 6-2, but it's not all about winning right?! Maci played 3/4 of the game and got a few good kicks in there. She was not afraid to be in the mix and really played well. Magnet ball is very entertaining to watch! She's having fun and that's the best part about it.
Here's some pics of the girl in action!
I don't think this was a planned pose, but you never know with this girl?!
We also had an addition to our family this week. Chris has been looking for a hobby of sorts, a way to release some stress and tension from working and being in grad school, blah blah blah :) We tossed around a couple of ideas, but I brought up getting a reasonably small and affordable motorcycle. I know, what was I thinking?! But he's been wanting one ever since he sold his other one, which we probably should have just kept, and it would be a great way for him to unwind. So of course he jumped all over it since I suggested and and had one found on Craigslist within a couple days. We got it and he loves and and I am wife of the year now :) It turns out when you're really poor the government likes to give you money at tax time?! I really hate benefiting from socialism, but what ya gonna do? We're saving a good chunk of it, spending some on food storage, going to UT on some. . . thanks Government!
