Heading to New Mexico

Here we are...flying into New Mexico!

Albuquerque is the closest major airport to Aunt Becky. So, after we landed, we spent the day exploring ABQ. We found giant hollyhocks...

Giant sombreros...

Fancy sombreros...

Lots of Indian stuff

And lots of chili peppers!

We had dinner, walked around the old part of town, had a quick cold dip in the pool, and then settled in at the hotel.

Checkmate

Look who is learning how to play chess with mommy...

Spirit week preparations

A note came home the other day. Spirit week is upon us. That means the kids have a dress up theme every day for te next week. Savannah got to work right away. She has plans for decades day (she plans to be a 60s girl), what you want to be when you grow up, mis-matched day, dress for success day, and famous person day. 

Gage...not really interested. Well see if I can talk him into taking part in any of the events!

Bath time

Normally, Pep stays downstairs when we do bath time (because she steals - and then eats - toys from the kids' rooms). But, I let her hang out with us recently, and she was happy as could be. In fact, she kept jumping up and putting her front paws on the side of the tub like she wanted to take a bath :-)

Graduation

Adam and I had to attend graduation a few weeks ago (dressed in fancy regalia). We briefly considered letting the kids wear their Harry Potter robes and bringing them with us, but ultimately decided against it. Savannah did try a graduation cap on, though :-)

Bunny nest

A few weeks ago, we found a nest of baby bunnies right near the deck. Truth be told, Pepper found a nest of baby bunnies. She immediately ate one. Poor thing was squealing and she just chomped it up :-(

Adam built a bunny barricade out of banquet tables to keep Pepper out, and we only let her out on a leash, or under "close supervision".  

We peeked in on them every few days, and watched mama bunny come to visit them morning and night.

I'm happy to report that the bunnies made it and have moved out of their nest. They were the cutest little things ever, and so much fun for the kids (and me) to watch grow up so quickly!

Soccer

Soccer camp has been a big hit!

Spring stroll on college green

Spring has sprung in Athens!!!

Paris birthday party

It was two months late, but Savannahs Paris-themed party was super fun!

We made Eiffel towers out of wafer cookies and frosting...

We had a fashion show...

Kid shark tank

My students' project was to create a business plan for a company that would target kids. So....I surprised them one day and had 9 kids come into my classroom and pretend to be the Sharks on shark tank (the entrepreneur pitch tv show). The students had to pitch their ideas to the kids. If te kids thought the idea was cool, they gave them the thumbs up, and the students got extra credit. The kids absolutely grilled the students with questions and critiques!!

Easter

Dying eggs...

And hands...

The Easter bunny found us in OH!

Life lessons

This is what Gage learned: how to pour beer from a keg. 

Play!

After months of practice, it was finally time for the play. The Mad Adventures of Mr Toad. Here she is being dropped off for hair and makeup on the first night:

Here's Savannah the field mouse performingg:

She did an awesome job! She had a great role - the field mice, while not a main role, were on the stage a lot - from the first act to the end. They also sang LOTS of the songs.  I have a feeling she will decide to try out for play again next year ;-)

Uncle Eric's wedding

Sleepover with cousins Elizabeth and Ryan while Mommy went to Uncle Eric's wedding!

Irish!

Last week, I checked the kids out of school a little early, took them out to "Larrys Dawg House" (the local hot dog joint) for ice cream, and went to buy st.pattys day supplies.

I love the dollar tree!! 

A car full of trees

Spring is here....which means mama is planting trees!  

We also bought a pear tree and an apple tree, because the kids have been asking to sonthat since last year. Well, I got home, planted them, and THEN read the information cards attached to them.  Apparently, they will only produce "quality fruit" of they have the correct pollinator nearby.  

So....we had to go back and buy a Pink Lady friend for our Mcintosh apple tree, and a Bartlett friend for our Ayers pear tree. Now, we have an "orchard" out behind the barn. Let's hope that the deer down eat my fruit trees to nubs, and that we get some fruit off these suckers!!

Worms

Savannah was very excited that spring has arrived because...worms and slugs abound right now. She's crazy!

Savannah the actor

Savannah has a part in the school play this year. She plays Field Mouse #4 in the Mad Adventures of Mr. Toad. Se has been practicing since January and we've gone from 3 days a week for 1.5 hours to  4 days a week for 3 hours! This is serious.

Last week I saw this on the bulletin board. They took b&w "headshots" of all the actor and had the kids write up a profile about themselves. Here's Savannah...

She wrote than she loves drama and she's been "on the stage for 3 years...but only singing". I couldn't figure out what she was referring to at first. But...then I remembered that her old school had a singing extravaganza once a year - on stage.  

She is taking this acting business very seriously. Can't wait for her play...and...for her practice to end so I can stop running back and forth to her school constantly ;-)

The big day is next week ...wed, Thursday, and Friday!

Doggie baseball fetch

Spring is peeking it's head out. We're getting nice days around here. Gage found a fun game - both for him and Pepper. He puts tennis balls on the baseball T and whacks them for Pep to chase. 

Tired dog

Don't ask why she lays on the ottoman. It's a compromise for her not being able to lay on the couch. Make sense? Probably not ;-)