Dance Showcase 2012

 Brea got to do dance this year for the first time.  She was really excited to dress up, with makeup, and dance on the stage.

 They both enjoyed getting all dolled up.  Although Brea did not like her hair getting done.  Since here hair has been so short I haven't had to do a whole lot to it.  Because of that, I think she has a soft head, meaning if I brush it she screams.  Well, I had to get it all back into a ponytail for her performance.  She did not like that one bit, but the anticipation of getting makup afterwards kept her seated.

 This is Breas class.  They did such a great job.  They were little sunflowers, so precious.  I videod both dances but forgot to get a shot of Jackies class.  They did  a great job as well.  It is fun to watch them and the growth they both made over the year.

 Afterwards we gave them flowers and Brea said "It is like I am getting married today, since I have these beautiful flowers".

A busy day and a much needed nap.  Jackie wanted to go outside a play after we got home.  So we told her to change her clothes (she was still in her dance outfit).  We checked out the window a few minutes later and saw that she had indeed changed....into her dance outfit from a previous year.

Fountain Nature Fun Day

 Another fun day at one of our all time favorite places - The Fountain Nature Center!  Brea got very excited when she saw the beaver or bear come walking around, she used to be afraid of them (like Alyssa is now) but not anymore she gave the hugs, high fives, and big smiles.

 The older three kids all made animal masks to wear around the nature center.

 Our cute Alyssa, we didn't bring the stroller this time because she always wants to walk. But since we didn't  have it she wanted up.  Dad had to carry her most of the day, at least she is still pretty little.  She did walk some, when we made her.

 Dallin spent the longest on his mask, he made a rainbow striped animal.  The girls enjoyed smores made in a solar oven while he finished up

 Dad helps Alyssa and Brea with their crafts while Mom helps the older tow make kites.

 The kites worked amazingly well.  The kids wanted to fly them immediately, so we let them run down the trail a little ways, but there were too many people and trees so we had to save them for the open park.

It was a beautiful day to be out and they had a lot of staions for the kids to make and do things.  Plus games and lunch and a puppet show.  A fun day, we decided when we are older we will volunteer at family oriented things like that.  It was a great way to spend a day as a family and we realize that it took a lot of volunteers to pull it off.

Jackies Pioneer Day

 Jackie celebrated Pioneer Day with her 2nd grade student body.  She was able to use Jeralins skirt and bonnet from trek which worked perfectly.  She could hardly sleep the night before because she was so excited.

 Jackie with her two best friends from school.  Don't they look so cute and authentic.

 After lunch they went out in the field and made up this game.  One of the would take their bonnet off and then the would play keep away from the girl in the middle as they threw the bonnet over her head.  It was great to see them come up with something fun to do that the pioneers might have actually done.

 Jackie with her teacher, Mrs. Lynch who was also very authentic looking.

 The 2nd graders put on a show for us parents, they sang a couple of songs and recited a couple of poems about pioneer life.

 Jackie got to make some pioneer things.  These candles they and dipped.  They also made bird feeders, toy game on a yarn, and a clay pot.

 Brea and Alyssa found an old tractor to play on while we waited for Jackie to finish up a craft.

And finally the games.  This game is called Rats and Cats.  Kids were chasing each other as they ran under arms in and out of the circle.  They also did sack races and three legged races. They were about to do a tug a war against another class but they ran out of time.  All in all a great day.

Volcano school project

 The day arrived when we had a child that make a volcano for school.  Dallin knew about this project for a couple of weeks and wanted to work on it every night.  Jeff had a brilliant idea to use his clay from his former college days.  Side note: I am always trying to declutter and get rid of things we are not using.  This clay was one of those "things" that I thought we didn't need around.  Jeff proved me wrong as he brought it out, I warmed it up, and it worked wonderful to make a volcano.

 The girls did not want to be left out, so they made their own creations out of the clay.

 Jackie formed her own dinnerware.  A plate, bowl, cup, fork, knife and spoon.

Alyssa drew a picture, she wanted to be artistic as well.  It was a fun evening of homework.

Alamosa 2012

 We were able to go to Alamosa again this year, and we had a wonderful time.  Each year we go, it is different, even though we do the same things, it always turns out different, which makes if fun.  We stopped for a potty break on the way down and Jeff let Alyssa up by him.  When I came out to the car she had a big grin on her face, it was too cute to pass up.

 We deiced to stop at the sand dunes first, before we even checked into our Hotel.  This year there was a tiny bit of water at the bottom of the dunes.  Half the kids wanted to play int the water and the other half wanted to hike up the dunes, so we slit up.  Dallin had hurt his toe in the parking lot, he was walking around bare foot and caught something on his toe nail.  It was very dramatic for him and he didn't even think he would be able to walk up the dunes.  But here he is walking through the mud with a hurt toe.  Eventually the bandage fell off and it was cut pretty deep, but he was still able to do everything we did.

 Alyssa loved the water, she was hesitant at first, but once she realized it was warm and muddy she did not want to leave.

 Here is the crew that decided to hike up first.  That sand was really hot and if you didn't have shoes on it was hard to walk on.

 These three kiddos never wanted to stop, their goal was to make it to the very TOP!  They were troopers and went at far as the could, until their water was out and Jeff told them they had to turn around.

 They are helping each other go on because once they reached the top of that hill they could....

 Run down together!  Weeeeee

 The day finally arrived when the kids got to break open the pinata!  They all got to take a swing at it, with a blindfold (jacket) on.  That pinata was pretty tough, so then they all got to take a swing at it with the blind fold off.  Eventually, they got it and their was a mad rush for candy.  The kids were very good to share and make sure everyone had the same amount.

 Then it was one to the Alligator Farm for some more fun.  Dallin is brave and holds an alligator.

 Dallin and Alyssa touch the shell of this giant turtle that was just wandering around on the ground.

 Good thing they have fences because those Alligators have big mouths and we saw those big mouths in action when one of the workers fed the alligators and duck - not the prettiest site but it to Dallin it was fascinating

 Here are those big teeth on a skull they had out front, normally I would not let my six year old put his had in an alligators mouth.

 The last day we went on a hike to a hidden waterfall.  Four adults and nine kids under eight. The kids were great hikers and climbers.

 To get to the waterfall one must cross over a creek with running water.  There are stepping stones stratically placed through the creek to ease crossing.  But for little legs it was difficult.  It took some time to get them all in there, with the help of adults picking them up and setting them down.  Brea poses on a rock in front of the beautiful semi frozen waterfall.

 On the way home we decided to hit the sand dunes once again.  Not because we wanted to walk through hot sand, rather we wanted to enjoy the refreshing water/mud.

 The kids made sand castles in the mud.

 Dallin found a hold, made by someone previously, and couldn't resist...he squatted down...then leaped up...and landed in the warm mud.  Pure Joy for a six year old boy!

The whole gang, including the alligator can't forget him!  We had a great time and were glad we could spend the weekend with our good friends.  The Hotel was a lot of fun as well with an indoor water park.  Both Jackie and Dallin were able to got down the water slide by themselves.  It was scary, but worth it.  Good memories.

Homemade Pinata and Super Dad

One Sunday morning, a couple weeks ago, the kids decided to make a pinata.  I believe that it was Dallins idea...They decided NOT to inform the parents, but to rather make it themselves.  They had a bowl of water which they were dipping ripped computer paper into and them trying to form something with it.  Luckily, they were smart enough to do it in the bathroom (good thing because it soon made a BIG mess).  Dad was the first to catch them.  He got a bit worried about what the kids were up to when he realized how quiet it was in the house.  

I just want to add right here that he earned super extra Daddy points for what happened next.  He very politely asked them what they were doing.  When he learned they were making a pinata he offered to help.  He did not yell at them and tell them what a mess they had made and ask why they thought that was ok to do.  He directed them in how to make a pinata, and then in shirt and tie, helped them make a gooey pinata.  What a great Dad, he was my example that day.

They patiently waited for their pinata to dry and then the really fun part - Paint!  Of coarse, Dad helped them with that as well.  He opened cans of house paint for them to use and they each got a section to decorate.  It came out very colorful and they were all so proud of themselves.  We saved the pinata for a special get away to Alamosa.