Last week or so…

Last week was an interesting week.  On Monday I got to help Shaylee create a Cat in the Hat costume.  An hour before school she let me know that for love of reading week she can dress up like a story book character and that she wanted to be the Cat in the Hat.  Luckily we had some pieces  from a black cat costume that we used at Halloween.  We just had to add the hat and gloves.  The girls had some white gloves so that was also easy but the hat had to be quickly created out of what was on hand.  This ended up being a white brimmed had and red and white foam.  

Not too bad for short notice.  She also had a black tail hanging out the back that I didn’t get in the picture .  The mask with the ears didn’t work with the hat so it was left at home.

It was also a bit busy because I was getting ready for Kelsi’s birthday party.  We had it a week early because of spring break.  We didn’t think very many would be able to make it during spring break and we are going to be out of town part of the week.

Getting ready for parties always takes a lot of work for me.  There is the shopping for party favors, cake, ice cream, decorations, plates, cup, etc., etc.  Your child wanting one think while you are trying to keep it in a budget.  Luckily my children are pretty easily pleased.  Kelsi seemed to be happy with it all in the end so that is what really matters. 

This year I decided to make her a piñata instead of paying $15 or more.  It was actually pretty fun and easy to make as long as I didn’t try to make a fancy shape.

 

At first I was going to try to make a pony or a flower but the more I thought about it I felt simple was best, this time around.  Maybe after I know what I am doing I will attempt something other than a balloon shape.  I even had a little helper.  They problem was that she kept tasting the paste.  Luckily it was only made of flour and water. 

 

It worked out well and Kelsi seemed to be really happy with it. 

It wasn’t as strong as one from the store but I could add more layers of newspaper next time or let each child have fewer turns to hit it.  It works better than store bought ones do for little kids.  It seems that at times it takes a force of nature to get some of those piñatas to bust.

I am not a fancy cake maker so this is what she got.

 

She was thrilled because it was topped with a Littlest Pet Shop that she got to keep.  All the kids ate it up.  We only had one piece left which we saved for Jeremy.  So it must of tasted somewhat good.

 

We had 10 little girls here plus my 3.  It was great fun and luckily everything went well.  They each even got to make their own pocket purse to take home.  Thank you Family Fun for the idea. 

I survived one more Birthday party! Who knows how many more to go. 

This week the girls are home for spring break.  We went to the library today and they are trying to keep busy so mom doesn’t put them to work. 

Kelsi's Pictures

A friend of mine, who is starting up a photography business, took some pictures of Kelsi and is going to be taking some pictures of our family on Saturday. If you want to check out the pictures of Kelsi here is her blog. Rachel Belle Photography I think they turned out great.

Summer Fun

So far our summer has been full of swimming, dancing and playing. Kelsi and Shaylee took swim lessons again this year. They did really well but have decided they don't want to do session two this summer. I guess we will just go to the pool and practice what they have learned and start again fresh next summer. Courtney spent her time playing and making friends at the kiddie pool. She would carry around a pair of goggles and call them her "giggles." She rarely wore them but had to have them. It is hard to see them in this picture because they are clear, but they are in her right hand.

Kelsi had to face some fears this summer by jumping in the deep end and swimming across without a lifeguard in the water. She did pretty well but would panic halfway across when she came up for air.

Shaylee had fun and just worked on perfecting some of the basics. She went off the diving board a couple times this sessions but was still very afraid of doing so on her own and refused to the day I brought the camera.

They all love to swim and play in the water so I guess we are going to have to do a lot of practicing during the rest of the summer.

They have also been taking dance. They have been wanting to do this for a while and we finally broke down and signed them up. The really seem to be enjoying it. I'll post a video of it soon. I tried tonight but it didn't work.

Hope you all are having a great summer!

Kelsi's Baptism

I have a little catching up to do but we will start with Kelsi's baptism. In February Kelsi got to go pick out a beautiful baptism dress with her Grandma CG. She tried on several but the one she liked the most in the beginning was the one she ended up picking in the end.

Here are a few of the ones she tried on.

Here is the one she ended up liking the most. I think she picked out a very pretty dress. She looked beautiful in it.

Here are some pictures we took for her baptism announcement in her beautiful dress.

Kelsi turned eight on March 24th and was baptized on the 27th.

Kelsi and her Dad(Jeremy)

Kelsi got to share her baptism with a friend Briley.

Kelsi got to have her hair done up special for the day by her Aunt Tamra. The flower was from her Aunt Jennie. Thanks to all of her wonderful family!

We are so proud of your choice to be baptized. You are growing up way too fast. We Love You Kelsi!

Watch for more updates soon. Hopefully! ;)

Schools in Session

The girls have had a great first week of school! They seem to be really enjoying it.

Shaylee started Kindergarten and has Mrs. Stone. I have heard many great things about Mrs. Stone and think it will be a great year for Shaylee. She is already making friends and really just adjusting well to her full day of school.

Kelsi is now in second grade and was surprisingly a little bit more nervous about starting school this year. She is doing great though! She is seeing old faces on the play ground and making new friends in her classroom. Kelsi has Ms. Morris who is a new teacher at the school this year but I think it will go well.

Guess who...

. . . got student of the month for April. That is right Kelsi. I am so proud of her. She is doing great in school and loving it.

This is what she got. A certificate and a new backpack with pencils, crayons, glue and erasers. I am so very excited for her.

She says it is her 2nd grade backpack.

Track Meet

Kelsi had her first grade track meet this morning. She did great and had lots of fun. She participated in the ball bounce, the jump rope and the 50 yard dash. They also had a class relay in which all kids and classes participated.

The first event was the ball bounce she had 53 bounces in 30 seconds.

The next event she was in was the jump rope event. She got a little discouraged with this one but she had fun. I filmed her with the digital camera and forgot that you can't turn it sideways when filming. In the screen it turns it the right way but not when you upload it, so sorry for the sideways picture.

After the jump rope was the 50 yard dash. I was so busy trying to get it on film that i didn't see who won. Next time I'll have to film from the finish line so I can see the results.

I almost missed filming Kelsi's run in the class relay because I was busy watching the race. Her class did great. They won!

Kelsi ended up with two 1st place ribbons and a 5th and 6th place ribbon. One first place was for the class relay and one was for the ball bounce. The 5th and 6th place were for the jump rope and the 50 yard dash but I am not sure which one was for which. She did great and we are so proud of her.

Shaylee had fun watching, running around and playing in the dirt.

Courtney was really good but she got tired toward the end. She ended up falling to sleep in the stroller for awhile. She was a real trooper.

Afterward we got some lunch at the Eaglesroost (a snack bar by the school). Eagleburgers, french fries, a hot dog and snow cones. It was great fun!