Denver Aquarium

Rebecca’s class has been working on an ocean unit.  They went to the Denver Aquarium last week and I was able to be a chaperone.  Before we left I smiled as Miss Lauthen told the class of rewards for good behavior and good choices for the day.  One of the kids said, “Why are you bribing us?”  To which she quickly replied, “Oh I’m not bribing you, I’m allowing me the opportunity to reward you for good choices”

By the time we left the school I was ready to make the best choices possible and be the greatest me I could be.  :)

Our group

  Check out the flat fish in the bottom of this next photo.  His mouth and eyes make me smile.  Camouflage animals are so cool.

They paired up and dissected little squids. 

          Rebecca’s ocean report was on the star fish.  She had to make a model.  The little girls helped her make a paper-mache star fish.  They glued rocks on it, and spray painted it orange.  I think it turned out great! 

  I had so much fun with Rebecca.  We giggled on the bus.  We checked out the boys.  We learned a lot at the Aquarium.  We loved being together!

Quote of the Day

 

Air Force Night Football Game

The boys had plans so we took the four girls to the Air Force football game.  It started at 8, and was such a beautiful night!  There were a lot of touchdowns, but sadly it was Wyoming making all of them.

 

There is something about a game under the lights all snuggled under blankets.  Jerrica literally was camped under the blanket playing her DS.

I sat there explaining different rules and things about football to the girls.  Maybe someday one of them will marry a football player. 

Football is such a fun sport to watch!

EXPO Markers

My dad keeps an EXPO marker by his mirror in his bathroom.  He constantly has little lists and notes on the side of his mirror.  One of my favorite things to do when I am home is to write a little love note in the middle of his mirror with his marker.

There is just nothing like looking in the mirror and seeing a sweet note about yourself from someone you love.  It just makes ya look “even better” in the mirror!  ;)

I couldn’t resist adding a few notes around my house after I cleaned all the bathrooms yesterday.

Book Clubs

Reading is a favorite past time  for most of my kids.  When it just so happens that I have read a book that the kids have recently read, a book discussion HAS to take place.  Sometimes we go over to Sonic and sit in the stall sipping our milk shakes as we discuss our favorite parts.  It is perfect one on one time! 

Recently my mother sent Rebecca a copy of “Wonder”.  She had just read it and thought Rebecca would enjoy it.  Rebecca devoured it, deeming the book a must read.  Well, my mother came into town and Rebecca immediately informed her that they needed to do a book club to discuss it.  My mother excitedly told Rebecca that she had never done a book club and always wanted to do one.



It was like 10 o’clock at night as they sat there sipping their icy sodas and giggling about various parts of their book.  All of the other kids were jealous that they hadn’t read this book and couldn’t be a part of their party.  I was even jealous!  I wanted to get it read, but hadn’t had a chance yet.

I do enjoy a good discussion after I have read a book.  I love hearing others’ opinions and ideas after a book.  AND let me just second Rebecca’s recommendation, “Wonder” is a great book!

Letters

We are a letter writing family around here.  The girls are constantly riding their bikes up to the mailbox.  I just had to share a couple of fun ideas that they have done lately. 

Ash has sent this type of balloon letter to her grandmas and cousin.  You blow up the balloon and write your letter in Sharpie, then when you deflate you have this cute, tiny font.

 

Jerrica made this giant hug poster today.  Who wouldn’t like to get a hug in the mail?!?!

We have sent box candies in the mail.  Just stick on an address on the outside and it’s good to go!

The big girls are always creative with their letters.  Aunt Alesha started them writing in circles.

Have you received or sent any fun mail lately?

Having an inbox full of emails is nice, but there is just something about an actual letter to treasure!

Giving is the Best Communication

Loved this! 

Ashley

Last week the office called me and told me that Ashley had bumped her head in PE and I needed to pick her up.  It was an hour before school got out and we are 30 mins. from the school, so I asked if she was fine until school was out.  The nurse said, “we aren’t allowed to keep students here with an injury such as this.”

Off I went to pick her up.  When I saw her sure enough there was a HUGE bump on her forehead.  The office staff assured me that she looked much better since the ice.  She had tripped as she was running in PE and fell head first into a concrete wall.  They were concerned about a concussion.

Ash of course needed some ibuprofen and some mommy love.

Well the next day the fluid from the forehead settled down into the bridge of her nose.  The swelling of that area then made her eyes seem farther apart.  She just looked “different” than our regular Ash.  Kaylee was adamant that she had some type of plastic surgery because her face looked so different.  I have just been sad for her every time I look into those sweet eyes.

She is still swollen a bit on that bridge of her nose, and now the bruising is getting darker.  Poor girl!

ANOTHER Denver Day

We headed up to the Wildlife Experience in Parker since they were having a big birthday celebration with lots of activities and food.  I thought that it was cute how they had a hot dog and s’more area to roast your own.  Although my favorite treat was the Blue Bell strawberry bars. 

Even though we headed up to see the Wildlife Experience museum, we fit in a lot of other things…

American Girl Doll store

Bird demonstrations.  We fell in love with this cute little owl.  Every time he would rotate his head around the girls would squeal.

 

Lego store

The four older kids had a Lincoln Log race to build the tallest and fastest.  I’m so grateful that the kids make the best of a situation.  It’s hard to go to places as a family and have everyone enjoy where we are.  The kids are good to implement a game or do something creative to make it fun.

When we got to the museum I let the boys go off to check out what exhibits we needed to see, as the girls did some of the activities in the booths.  I’m not quite sure if they were checking out exhibits or the cute girls that were there.  So glad those two have each other on these family days.  :)

Spin art

   

We also cheered both Rebecca and Kaylee on in their soccer games.  I was exhausted by the end of the day, but the boys kept going and went to a party when we got home.  Hanging with the family isn’t so bad after all, when you are allowed to go to a party at the end of the day.  :)

Marriage Clip

Tears filled my eyes as I watched this clip.  I know that Stephen would be just like this man.  Heck, he already IS like this.  Stephen has always been so quick to think of me and my needs before I even realize that I have needs.  :)

I don’t give enough shout outs and praise for what an incredible husband I have.  I love you so much Stever!

Isn’t the quote at the end of this clip is SO true!?!

Magic Tree House

Jerrica LOVES to read.  She has always enjoyed books.  She recently fell in love with Jack and Annie in the Magic Tree House series.  I had bought the first 30 in the series clear back when Jacob was little.  Each of the kids have read some of the series, and now my baby is reading them.  They are second grade level books.  She has finished the first two of the series. 

  

She is constantly reading with all of the different members in our family.  She will curl up next to Jacob on his bed, or sit out on the grass as Nathan juggles his soccer ball.  She plops down next to our cat or dog and shares a chapter with them.  There have been times that she is right up on the counter next to me as I’m cooking.  I’m thinking that I need to snap pictures of her reading with each of us, because in the not too distant future she will be reading quietly in her room.  :(

Fertilizer

I came across this quote today in a pile of papers.  I can’t remember if I had posted it before -

“On my way to visit the James’ the other evening, I saw a wheat field that appeared to be greener and taller than the others.  Thinking about it for awhile, I concluded that occasionally some loving farmer drives over the field with his tractor and pumps manure all over it.  I thought, ‘My, it’s just like life.  Here we are minding our own business, growing our little hearts out.  We’re really quite green somewhat productive and very sincere.  When out of the blue, life deals us a dirty one, and we’re up to our eyebrows in maure.  We, of course, conclude that life as we have known it has just ended and will never be the same again.  But one day, when the smell and the shock are gone, we find ourselves greener and more productive than we have been.’  Unfortunately, no matter how often we go through these growing experiences, we are never able to appreciate the smell of the manure when it comes.”  Harold W Wood.

I’m thinking that I’m having manure spread all over right now.  Can’t wait to see the growth after!

High School Soccer

I missed Nathan’s first two soccer games last week.  They were both in north Denver on weekdays right after school.  It just wasn’t possible with the schedule.  The first game I got a text from him that said, “We Won 3 to 1.  I scored a Goal.”  I felt so sad that I had missed it.

He had a home game tonight under the lights with Sandcreek.  I maneuvered all of the kids and rides home from activities and sat there under the lights watching my Nathan.  He was awesome!  He plays attacking mid and uses all of his foot skills to deliver the ball from one teammate to another.  He is always talking about this big kid who is a Junior and plays forward.  He tells me how nice this kid is to him and how much he praises him.  Well after tonight I can see why, Nathan assists him with the sweetest passes ever so that this kid can score goal after goal.  Here they are after one such goal, probably making plans for the next. :)

Here is a cool little series of photos from tonight.  He wants to shoot with his right, so he draws the player over just enough to his left so that he has all the room in the world to shoot with his right.

 

So grateful that I was able to watch him tonight.

So fun watching your kids do something that they enjoy!

Monkey Bars

Every year as soon as school starts, the girls get WAY into doing the monkey bars.  Kaylee and Rebecca started their SOCO basketball practices, so we decided to wait for them at a nearby park, and let the little girls have at their monkey bar business! 

 

I seriously was grossing out on how black Ashley’s hands were when I was downloading these pictures.  I’m really hoping that she washed her hands before dinner that night.

 

Of course the big girls had to try it before we went home…