Smart!

Loving this great tip for attending museums with kids by Design Mom.  Start in the gift shop.  Let the kids pick out their favorite art postcards, them treat the rest of the time in the museum like a scavenger hunt.  See how many originals you can find.  It would give them something to look for and would be a little more interesting for the kiddos.  Of course, knowing my kids it would also become a race and they'd be running through the museum knocking over priceless sculptures and such.  But, worth a try.

Recital - Clytie Adams School of Ballet

I love that we can participate in this fabulous ballet school.  I have been so impressed with it.  The prices are reasonable - no worse than any where else, plus you don't have to pay any additional costume fees.  The recital is not your typical little girls' recital, it is a cultural event!  It is so well done, with a live orchestra and live original vocals.  It is beautiful!  I was weepy!  Granted I was on the edge after one of the craziest, possibly worst days ever (more on that later.................maybe)- but still.  I am emotional every year.  This is what the ballet does to me.  The woman who started this school (which by the way - it's huge!) started with a passion for ballet and has created such a legacy and has brought so much culture to this little town that I love.

The other thing I love about ballet in general is you don't have to worry about the horrid, inappropriate dance moves they have little girls doing in some other kinds of dance groups.  Ughh!  Any how, this year was Fairy Tales and Fables.  MissC was a "flutter fish" in the Little Mermaid.  She did so great!  I'm very proud of her.  Beautiful!

A Week Down Under

MissL spent the last week with Grandma, Grandpa and cousins.  We left her there after our trip last weekend and Grandpa brought her up Friday as they were coming to see MissC and cousin dance in their recital.  She loved it!  After a few days it seemed to me like it was so long and she'd for sure be homesick.  However, she never got homesick as far as I could tell.  I think she was happy to come home though.  I know I was excited to see her.  What a grown up gal, to spend a week away from Mom, Dad and siblings. I think it was good for her to have such a grown up adventure on her own.  To spend time one on one with her grandparents, reading to each other, getting "chillins" from Grandma and lots of snuggling, not to mention fun times playing with cousins.  I hope she remembers it forever.  The down side is the very next day after she was home the fighting, screaming and tears began.  I think she had forgotten how to get along with brothers and sisters.

Journeys

We spent the weekend in Monticello.  TY's parent's carport roof caved in over the winter.  His dad started repairing it and then had some health troubles.  The boys who could all got together to give him some help.  While we were there we took a little family jaunt to "Needles Overlook".  This summer I have a very intense schedule for my kids including study time, piano, meals and lots and lots of chores.  Mean, I know. But they really like having a schedule and new responsibilities.  They have been so excited to start.  (I'm not kidding).  So one of the things in our summer schedule is "journeys".  This is what they called them in the 4th grade program and I adopted the term.  We spend some time in nature each week, watching for things that interest us.  We each have a field journal in which to draw what we see and make observations. Make fun of me if you want, but it's so fun.  The kids love it.  Needles was our first go at it this year.  Here are some photos we took.

lizard

A Coming Out Party

Our hens are growing up.  They spent their first night out of the house.  Well, we banished them to the shed (because of their increasingly offensive odor) for the last couple of nights while we finished the hen house.  But alas, they got to try out their new place.  It was so exciting!  We placed them in the house one by one.  MissL lamented at how sad it was her little hens were growing up.  Then we watched, encouraged and cheered them on as they tried to figure out this ramp.

 They were curious, they wanted to go down it, but how?  It was a scary new thing.  Finally they all figured it out and ventured to the lower level.  But then getting back up was another thing.  I had the food in the top and TY and I placed a light in there as well so it might tempt them to get back up in the warm, safe house.  Eventually they all went towards the light and made it up the ramp.  All but one.  So instead of worrying all night about her, I decided to get into the coop and help her out.  It was not made for me to get in unless I pull out the floor of the house.  I didn't want to do that since all the others were bedded down for the night.  So I had seen Gman crawl through the window and figured I could do it.  I immediately got charlie horses in my hip and awkwardly squeezed/dangled/scraped through the window to save the poor hen.  I guess we'll turn that window into a larger door.  Still working out some of the kinks, and planning to replace the roof with a larger one.  But...isn't it a great hen house?  I'm so pleased with it!  TY is a great designer/builder and a great sport to put up with my "genius ideas".

Where The Wild Things Are

I found these bags in the dollar section at Target.  I couldn't help myself although I didn't know how I'd use them.  When I started thinking about what to give our wonderful teachers as an end of the year gift, I remembered I had just the thing.  Because, what teacher doesn't love "Where The Wild Things Are"?  We filled them with some snacks to enjoy while they are having some down time.