Next level of Dress Up

I found the kids looking in the mirror and conferring with each other . . . ???They said these were their "disguises" (: I thought it was clever! (:
Where did they hear the word 'disguise'??? It just hit me - mabye the Backyardigan spy show we borrowed from a friend??? (:

fair trade?

We've started jungle animals at Story Hour . . . Today was LIONS! (:I was impressed that Ak did all of the above by herself . . .
I helped draw the nose and mouth. (:

After storyhour we went to the store where she wanted some mini marshmellows. I told her she could have some if she ate some raw spinach - she said OKAY! (: I think it was a fair trade - but it might have been in her favor since I gave her so many. (:

Ak off w/ AJ

I do believe this is the first time she's gone to a realative's (or anywhere) to sleep without a sibling . . . Her bags were packed and she was ready to go!!!
She has thrilled when AJ came Friday morning to pick her up (by herself) to go hang out and spend the night. She had a great time!!! Thanks AJ - it was good timing actually! (:

Z guarding

As Z got dressed for his basketball game he asked, "Who are we beating today?" (instead of who are we PLAYING?) (: Then on the way - he asked what the name of the other team was . . . he said, "If it's not N's team we will probably win, but if it's N's team we are playing we might not."

Who is Z guarding here . . . ??? It's N - #13!
I've never seen Z play such good defense! They kept messing with each other.
They had the same color wristband for 2 parts of the game - so they were supposed to guard each other - they seem to enjoy it too much at times. (:Here is other buddy from his Kindergarten team, B, they are on the same team! (:

Those 3 seem to enjoy being around each other - made for a fun game!

Although when his buddies weren't on the court - he focused on a "boo-boo" DURING THE GAME, showing it to me, etc. I was like, "OKAY go back in the game!!!"

He did well tonight and seemed to enjoy himself!!! (:
His skills are improving.

Ak's 2 Comments

#1 A couple weeks ago in the car - Ak asked why we had to have a Dad?

I told her that Dad works and that lets me stay home.

Ak: I don't think we need one.

me: Then I wouldn't be able to be with you all day long and take you to Joy School, Story Hour, and Music Makers and stuff - I'd have to go to work everyday.
Ak: quiet and thought about that . . .

me: plus Dad has helped do alot of stuff to our house, fixing it up and making it a nice place for us to live - we need him!

Ak: well when I'm older and he gets done with the house stuff - we won't need a dad.

me: ???? what I thought ??? but I said YES WE WILL!!!!

I didn't tell D about this conversation because I thought he might feel bad. Luckily last week, something happened while David was gone for the day and she cried and cried for her Dad. I couldn't comfort her - but in my head I was glad and didn't feel bad since I was happy to see her want her dad!!!! (: Now I can share the conversation! (:

#2 Ak: how do babies get in your belly?

me: Heavenly Father puts them there.
Ak: I don't want any babies. pause. Well only cute ones. Like Grant.

PS: Grant is this little toddler we know that she can't keep her hands off of when we are around him! He has two older brothers closer to her age - they are okay to her - but due to Grant's size or something, she adores him. She remembers him this past year when he was more of a baby - so mabye that it's??? (:

Dancing Z at ball game

Tonight Z seemed to add dancing to his "on the court skills" at his basketball game. (: Quite a few times - I'd look up to see him looking the opposite way of the ball. Or he would be moving his arms around . . . even the coach noticed and smiled as Z would be randoming moving. I thought he was dancing - but during the 2nd half it occured to me that maybe he was imagining he was a Harlem Globetrotter . . . because don't they add flair and 2 extra fancy moves when on the court??? And Z has seen them recently - so maybe. Thanks Uncle Matt. (: But truthfully, who knows what he's thinking. (:



A week later Note:
As Z shoots around in his room - he does do extra moves and adds commentary to what he's doing. (: I think he is imaginaing himself on a bigger court. (: It has to start somewhere! (:

Joy School

She comes up with some funny expressions!Last time I taught we talked about how there is order to things . . .
I borrowed some kits where they had to put things in the right order (pattern) - Ak was very good at this activity! (: Everytime she did a card - she was like "YEA!!!" (: V wasn't as confident.

Then they sorted different items . . . put them in order.

For our craft - I told them about the order you should set the table (yes there is a right way!) V's mom told me last time I taught this lesson to her older kids - they came home and would not let anyone set the table incorrectly! (: It got a little annoying she implied - I loved hearing about it! Would make Emily Post proud! (:

After they glued on the parts in the right order - I let them color it or draw some food on it. Ak was putting on broccoli and tomatoes until she heard V say he was putting some fruit snacks and candy on his plate . . . so she added some of those! oh well! (:

CELEBRATE LOVE DAY

I remember as a kid - getting a little gift (not candy) with a card from my parents. I would find it on the table in the morning of Valentine's day. It stuck with me - so I want to do the same for my kids. (: They liked the cards I made. Z put on his new shirt and wore it to school - it had some basketball players on it. Ak got a little purple bag - she used it to carry her Valentine's to the library. B . . . . she put on the new cute shirt I gave her - but then she cried because it had a collar. ): I knew it was a stretch . . . but I was hopeful. She admitted it was cute - but she didn't want to wear it - so she quickly changed before school. Oh well - she got a card. (:

Valentine's Day Parties

Ak had Story Hour in the morning . . . . . . nutritious morning snack huh? She didn't like the sugar cookie - so I ate it!
They passed out valentines to each other via these bags they decorated and lined up.

She was proud of her flower bag she made!

Then after a quick stop at home to eat a few carrots - we went to B's school party. (:

where we ate more non-nutritious food! Happy Sweets Day they should call it! (:

This was the 3rd attempt for a 1st grader to use my cell phone to take a picture of us! (: Better than nothing. (:

I know there is too much sugar on this day. I'm sure my kids didn't eat as much as some - but they weren't deprived. We had to all come home and eat some vegetables!!! I figure as my brother said to me once, "You don't have to cut out all the bad food - just make sure you get the good stuff!!!"

valentines' dance!

D's mom came and babysat for us so we could go attend a church stake Valentine's Dance! We've been going for years and this was one of the better years!!! Despite the decorations being a little disappointing to me (they moved the tent to the side?! It's usually above the dance floor - so this year only 7 couples got to be under it at little tables and enjoy the effect - but oh well) - I had to mention it. The D.J. was good and their were other couples from our ward to dance with and it was FUN!!! They played a few too many slow songs but I expect that at such a themed dance. (: There were some games going on in the back for people to win prizes and although I'm all about prizes - I wanted to dance more!!! At the end there was a "dance -off" I had mixed feelings about that - I didn't want to get kicked off the floor since there were only like 2 more songs for the night! But we got in the top 6 couples - so even though we didn't "win" since we only knew like 2 people who were still there to cheer for us (the audience clapped for who of the 6 couples they thought should win). BUT we did get a runners up prize (three free admissions to a dance studio with a lesson for us both) AND our friends from here got in the top 6 too - so we hope to go to the place together - should be fun!!!

Luckily there were left over food items that they asked me to take home. I only stopped once to snack during the night - too busy dancing - so I was glad to help them out!!!!

My mental state needs me to dance more often that I do it!!! (: Fun Night!

Good Game!

Z's game yesterday was a good one for AJ and Mammaw to come watch! Z actually had the ball for more than 3 seconds . . . He dribbled quite a few times up and down the court!!!

He seemed to enjoy being out there!

And he was acutally able to run and dribble (not run and hold the ball)!

Of course Ak and B were happy for company on the sidelines!

They were super excited to see AJ and Mammaw!

Z put up the ball and made a basket while I had my camera out!!!! A first during a game for him!!!

He was so excited as he ran down the court!!! He smiled and waved at as soon after:Good job Z!!!

Thanks for coming to watch the game Mammaw and AJ!

Z's Valentine's Party

Z's class celebrated Valentine's Day a little early. (: Ak and I got to go for the festivities yesterday. Coloring by letter . . . trying to get some hearts out of the shapes. Ak got to do one too and she did better than some of Z's classmates I was trying to help.
She also got to make "a Love Bug".
Z did a good job following the diagram description.

He got to pass out his valentines. Not labeled who to . . . just said from Z.

He was happy to see a full bag of valentines for him!

He wanted to line them all up to look at them right away! (:
That's most of the fun as I remember. (:

Z had told some of his classmates if they had any extras to give them to his little sister. (: So Ak was happy that she got some valentines' too! (:

I'm glad we got to go and help Z celebrate! (:

We love you Z man!

100th day of school!

This day was a little delayed due to all the snow days - but it finally came! Z needed a shirt with 100-something on it. He really likes camouflage right now - so D painted 100 shapes/blobs on a shirt for him. (: He liked it and he looked good!

This classmate, B, is also on his basketball team.

They did different activities throught the day - here they measured out 100 marshmellow hearts - it took 130 cubes! (:

Here's his class.

They all brought in 100-something to eat and then shared for their afternoon snack. Z took in raisins. (:

I got to see Bailey for a bit too on the 100th day of school - she was a little disappointed that they didn't do as many "100" activities as in Kindergarten. She did fill out a paper that said if she had $100 she would buy "some make-up and a trampoline." (:

I think this is such a good picture of B - with N who sits at her table.

Here's her other pal, K, who sits at her table too and who she has a weekly playdate with afterschool. I'm glad I get to go volunteer sometimes in their classes and see who they spend the day with!