Valentine Mouse

Friday Night at the Children's Museum

Nicholas, Madison and Cousin Hanna were in the participlay "Too Much Noise". Maddie was the baby, Nicholas was a sheep, and Hanna was a goat. Emily even got to be in this one. When it was her turn to be on stage she said, "Hi, Mom!" (She's wearing the blue princess dress in the photo above.)

We met Ashley Wolff who illustrated the Miss Bindergarten books. Her newest book is Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop.

We folded origami boats and raced them.

Emily loves the United States.

Here is Emily preparing for her part in the play.

Nicholas won the boat race every time.

Such A Fun Saturday!

First stop--the zoo. We saw the baby giraffe for the first time. So cute!

Second stop--the University of Fine Arts Museum. The kids each painted a backpack inspired by the abstract art exhibit (Darren having the most fun).

Emily contemplating art. Or the meaning of life.

Third stop--dinner with Mom, Dad, Jordan, Natasha and baby James ("NO! He is not born yet!" is what I have to tell the kids every time Natasha's name comes up in conversation, so he really is like one of the family already).

Last stop--why wasn't Build-A-Bear around when I was a kid?

Maddie On Rollerblades

Sometimes it's just faster to walk.

Happy Chinese New Year!

To celebrate the Chinese New Year (after writing letters to the six missionaries in our ward),

we folded origami bears! (Yes, it is the year of the rat, but it's Bear Cub Scouts--makes sense now, hopefully!)

A little disclaimer that my blogger spell check will not work!!!

Bubbles, Anyone?

Homemade Valentines

Do you remember as a kid opening all the little valentine envelopes you received from your classmates and making a pile of candy while at the same time looking for any small sign of love from the opposite gender--important and obvious things like the word "love" before signing their name or a heart drawn next to your name or else just really good handwriting? (If a boy did not like you he'd just hastily scribble his name somewhere on the card and it was barely legible.)
Anyway--have you noticed how valentines do not come in those little envelopes anymore? How do you express your love secretly? More importantly, how do you include candy with them? These things must be considered.
Well, I do not have any ideas for the little envelopes, but I saw these really cute homemade valentine mice and maybe we'll make them this year. And who needs secret love messages anyway? (Ah-ha! I tricked you--the secret love message can be written inside the mouse, under the sucker!)

Why won't my darn spell check work?

Horse Hats at the Treehouse Museum

A night of wild west fun!

Nicholas Gets His Bear Award

Last night Nicholas earned his Bear award in Cub Scouts! He worked very hard and is a motivated kid. We also had our first pinewood derby last night--we didn't win but we have a great idea for next year!