Junior Firefighters

  When we lived in our other house we had a neighbor who is a firefighter and he was so kind to give our kids a fantastic tour and demo this past Friday!

We started off touring the inside.  They have a fabulous kitchen :o)

Then it was time for the vehicles and tools.

Here the kids are in a grand spanking new ambulance.  Never been used.

Then the kids learned that firemen might look and sound scary but they help us and to not be afraid.

We checked out all the fancy tools they use and even held the big, heavy ax.

They they all piled in the fire truck and drove it out of the garage.

They tested the hose...

and then worked together to refill the tank on the fire truck.

It was a great trip to the fire station!

bowling buddies

A couple of weeks ago we introduced our little friend, Ashby, to bowling.

First time she was up Scott was nervous.  Such a good friend.

"Yes!"  She knocked some down.

Sydney chose her ball based on color, not weight.  Perhaps she should rethink her choice.

She made it without breaking a toe.

out with the old

Yay!  Eric got a new car this past Monday.

After months of research and comparison shopping it was bye bye Altima...

and hello Toyota Camry.

water beads

Water beads are awesome!  That's the new word in our house.  

So water beads are used with plants.  To be specific, they are water retaining polymers.  

I was inspired by this blog post last summer.  The activity has been sitting in the pits of my mind and was recently dug up when I ran across them at Michael's the other day.  I can't believe I stood there debating if I should buy a pack (or 2).  I mean come on Jennifer, it was $2.99 and you had a 40% off coupon.  No brainer.  In hindsight I would of bought them even if I didn't have a coupon :o)

I bought a bag of dehydrated ones so they started off the size of seed beads...those teeny tiny beads.

Alright let's just add the whole bag.

As they soaked up the water you could see the wrinkles, the promise that they would grow larger.

Here's the run down...

What an awesome tactile experience!  I think we'll come up with new ways to play with our polymers in the days to come.

Magic Powder

I saw this idea on good old pinterest.

We've done baking soda and vinegar but this time the vinegar is colored and we are using smaller amounts.

I sprinkled some magic powder (baking soda) over their papers and the set out dropping colored vinegar all over the page.

Some were more patient and stayed for awhile.

Others experienced the magic and moved on.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Let me set the scene...

Last week the girls are paining some bluebonnets and the conversation unfolds:

Sydney:  Ashby, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Ashby:    I don't know Sydney.  What are you thinking?

Sydney:   Ashby, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Ashby:     I'm thinking about painting.  What are you thinking about Sydney?

Sydney:  She pauses, puts her fist under her chin and says...hmmm...Iiiii'mmmm thinnnking                  abouuut...Santa Claus.  Ashby, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Ashby:    No Sydney.  I told you I'm thinking about painting.

My guess is that Sydney wasn't too interested in what Ashby was thinking but just wanted to try out her new learned phrase, from where I don't know.

ABC

Scott's has taken more of an interest in reading and writing since he visited the kindergarten classroom at his preschool.  

The other day he wrote his capital alphabet.  Or it's almost all capitals.  Can you spot the lowercase?

He was 2 letters away from completion and I had to bribe him with a picture to finish :o)

Dinner is Served

Finally after all these years we have a place to eat outside and tonight was meal #1.  

Not only did we break in the new patio table but Sydney discovered her lost love of hot dogs.  

What a night!

Opening T-ball Day

Saturday was opening day for t-ball.

This year instead of playing for the city, Scott is playing Little League and Eric is the coach.

It just so happened that Scott got #6, same number his daddy used to be.

The kids get 3 pitches from coach and if they don't hit one of those they hit off the tee.  Scott hit the pitch both times up to bat today!

He played a little outfield, some third base and a bit of first base.

Old friends, new friends

Last weekend Sydney and I got to hang out with one of my oldest friends, Stacey, and her family.  We have known each other since kindergarten.  She made the comment and I've been thinking about it since, our kids are almost the same age we were when we met.  

It took Sydney awhile to be a happy, social, little girl.  Actually it took half way around the zoo and I think it was at the goat petting when she finally befriended Grant.

She rode for a few feet in his stroller but decided she had enough when he held her hand.  

She exited the stroller after she attempted to kiss him.  Okaaay.

But then it was OK to hold hands and run around the zoo!

Good times with old friends and new friends.

The pool is...

The pool is...OPEN!

Or at least today it was warm enough the kids wanted to get in.  Scott started off with a cannonball.  

He spent at least 5 minutes warming up--stretching, practice running, etc.--you know anything to delay the actual jump.  

Don't mind that he's wet already in this picture.  I missed the initial pool entry.

There might of been a, "Yeah, baby!" exclaimed after that jump.