Camryn's party

To celebrate Camryn's birthday this year, she asked for a "smallish" party with some of her closest friends to do one of her favorite things in the world...Art!  So we took the kids to Ceramicafe, where they got to choose their own piece of pottery to paint.  After painting, we headed next door to Mango Tango Frozen Yogurt where the kids built amazing creations and gobbled them up.  What a fun celebration!  Happy Birthday, Camryn!!!!

 

3rd Grade Music Program

This year, Camryn's grade level performed a min-musical titled The REAL Story of the Three Little Pigs.  It was originally scheduled for the night of the big snowstorm, so we were glad they were able to plan it for another night so that we could support Camryn and watch her sing, and play the recorder!  Can't believe that she is possibly old enough to do that!  :)

 

 

Neighborhood Sledding!

After sleeping in a bit, and enjoying a lazy breakfast, we bundled up again today, and headed back up the hill, where the Fryes and Harms had already been sledding for two hours.  When we joined them at 10 a.m., we figured we'd be home in time for lunch and a relaxing afternoon....  WRONG!

We finally called it quits at dinnertime, and made it back home by about 6 p.m.  Besides just a few brief potty, lunch, and warm-up breaks, we were all outside the entire time!!!  The kids were such troopers.  They just kept sledding, sledding, sledding, then trudging back up the hill over and over again, hundreds of times, just to sled back down again.

Eventually, the cold and physical exhaustion overcame them, and we knew when the tears started, it was time to go home, even though they insisted we stay.  So we towed them home "I-dad-irod" style to a warm bath, and grilled cheese & tomato soup for dinner.  By the time they were in jammies with full tummies, Aubrey melted into the couch. :)

What a fun day filled with amazing memories of friends, snow, and fun!

 

 

 

Then and Now

"Arctic Blast" 2008 
(Camryn: 3 years and Aubrey: 10 months)

vs.

"Snowmageddon" 2014
(Camryn:  8 years and Aubrey: 5 years)

SNOW!

Finally!  Nearly four years at this house, and we still hadn't had any significant snow...until TODAY!  So for the first time ever in my 15 years of teaching, TTSD released students early and sent everyone home before "Snowmageddon" hit hard.  All four of us were home from school by 2:00, and with the gift of time on our hands, we hit the hills around our house!  

The girls finally got to try out the saucer sleds we bought years ago.  First, they sledded our driveway, to which Aubrey yelled, "Yes!" with a fist pump.  

Then, it was on to the hill at the end of our street.  A lot longer, a tougher walk back up, but worth it.  Her response this time?  "Awe! Some!" with her sister's maniacal laugh repeating on loop in the background...

Finally, we trudged up the hill to sled with the Fryes and Harms, which got today declared the "best day ever!"  We ended our sledding marathon with hot cocoa, snacks, and playtime with everyone back at the Harms house, where we got word that school will be canceled tomorrow.  :)  Hooray for show days!!!

Kindergarten field trips

Recently, I have had the opportunity to take a few half days off from work, and join Aubrey's class on their kindergarten field trips. 

First, it was off to PetSmart, and the Banfield Vet Clinic.  The kids had a blast seeing the animals, doing a scavenger hunt, and hearing how an animal doctor uses Reading, Writing, Math, and Science in her job everyday.  I was lucky enough to be assigned a group of four sweet girls to monitor, which meant I didn't have to worry about losing any of them (they all traveled in a huddled blob, or held hands in a "train"), but instead had to control the t.a.l.k.i.n.g.....

 

 

 Fish lips.  :)

  

Today, was the day to visit community helpers.  First, was the post office.  The kids got to help their teacher buy 27 stamps (oh, Lord!), then stamp and mail the letters they wrote in class.  Finally, was a scavenger hunt for identifying and locating numbers in the mail room.  Boy, were we a sight for some poor community members who came in just for their mail, and found...us!

 

Then, we went across the street to the fire station.  It was so fun to see the truck up close, as well as all the firefighters' gear.  The kids loved it, and I had a blast hanging out with some of the *cutest* kindergarteners in town.  I do have to admit, though, when 11:30 rolled around, and it was time to get back to work, I was pretty happy not to have to tie any more shoes, take anyone else "potty," or zip any more coats.  Usually, my fifth graders can handle those things on their own...  ;)  God bless kindergarten teachers!!!  I think they must be the hardest working people around...!