superhero...

Today was superhero day at Discovery Days. Jaiden was really interested so I promised I would take Alyssa and see what Miss Stephanie made so we could make it at home. I didn't think Alyssa would be interested in it, however...

... I was quite wrong! She spent the morning "fighting crime" and "restoring good" to Walgreen's, on our drive home and in our front yard.

Superhero Alyssa!

I could seriously have posted about 20 photos of her in these action photos. She was so unbelievably cute and really into it.

Finally, taking a break for lunch before heading off to school... yes, this is exactly what she looked like when we went to Walgreen's, and no, she didn't go to school this way. She decided she wanted to be "school Alyssa" for that!

Well, we are off tomorrow morning for our own adventures... and during that time... unplugged! So we will be back with recaps on those adventures in April!
Happy Spring break!

PS. Jaiden got 7 out of 7 on his spelling test today! That's 4 in a row but 5 tests total... go Jaiden!

happy birthday tutu!

Happy birthday Tutu!

We hope you have a splishy splashy birthday in Hawaii!

watching from afar...

In this particular photo, I am watching from afar... not too far, in fact only from the kitchen table but what I am watching just tickles me pink...

... they decided they wanted to eat by themselves

... they have their mini table set up by the warm evening sunlight streaming in

... they are laughing, giggling and talking

... and yes, she isn't wearing a shirt (don't ask!)

... and to him, it's perfectly normal that his little sister always seems to be missing some article of clothing

... and from our view, Dennis and I chuckle over how cute they are as a pair!

I have one more thing I forgot to share this weekend, which is Jaiden went back to school on Friday and had to do his spelling test that he missed ... without hesitation, he asked how he did from his teacher - she said "Another 7 out of 7!"

We celebrated this weekend for his 4th time getting 7 out of 7 and for 3 in a row... so we wonder, will he make it this week?

This is him grading his practice test... what do you think?

I think he's looking quite confident again!

His secret strategy this week?

1. remember the silent 'e'

2. there is a pattern involving a 'u' and an 'e'

mind the gap

After 5 days of a constant stomach virus that involved much vomiting (of which I was afraid I would have to sift through to find the missing...), he recovered and delighted in coming to tell me he lost his ...

2nd tooth!

Oh, and the gap is just darling. I can't stop smiling at him and he's so annoyed with me that I think he is so very cute. It's adorable to see him talk and catch a glimpse of this new gap!

And after being sick for 5 days, this was his request for dinner... his idea of traditional St. Patrick's Day food... green pizza dough! Alyssa's pizza was not green because the last time I did this, she wouldn't touch it!

And these are a few extra photos I wanted to post yesterday but it's been busy here as usual. Alyssa got a new scooter - 2 wheels, pink (of course) with a lovely bell. She is a maniac on it and crashes at least 3 or 4 times one way to school but she is totally in love with her new set of wheels and insists scootering everywhere despite the constant crashing.

Very precarious here!

When she came home from school on Tuesday, she had another package awaiting her. She and Jaiden both checked it out. The lighting may seem strange in this photo but this is how it comes in to this room at 4 pm -ish ... low and bright!

Here is a close up of her with her new cupcakes. The icing tubes are more like a marker that you can wipe off easily but it makes for a lot of entertainment decorating her cupcakes!

I have more photos I will need to put up the next couple of days as I catch up but I thought I'd share a few tonight... it's sort of a hodge podge of photos but it's been a strange week here.

Jaiden is doing so much better today and wants to go to school tomorrow! Alyssa has been on an insane energy high that has nearly driven Jaiden and I crazy but I think she is finally over her excitement of turning 5! Soon it will be Jaiden's turn to be hyper about 7!

And then she turned 5...

March 2006

March 2007

March 2008

March 2009 (photo compliments by Yaya)

March 2010

March 2011

Love, love, love this little girl!

Love her silly little faces!

Love her smiles!

Love all that she brings to this family!

Happy 5th birthday sweetie pea!

meet prince perfect and princess kittycat

This is Princess Kittycat and Prince Perfect.

This morning Alyssa carefully sewed these two cute felt projects together from a kit I got at Hobby Lobby. She decorated them - first the kitty cat and then the heart who later became Prince Perfect - he has two sparkly eyes, a crooked smile and a furrowed brow but he's quite the talker and desperately wants to marry Princess Kittycat.

Princess Kittycat is shy, sweet and very loveable but definitely not ready to get married. And the imaginative story continued for nearly an hour before we had to leave for school where they were left neatly by the door waiting for her return.

In the meantime, here is her hand sewing technique. It started out fairly neat...

and then became a little creative but it works! With the exception of tying the knots, Alyssa did the entire project by herself.

7 out of 7

This photo really has nothing to do with 7 out of 7 but I thought this was the cutest (am I always saying that?) ever! Jaiden got his Lego magazine yesterday and then today, Alyssa got hers so they peeled off their coats and shoes and laid right in the entryway to look at her magazine together. Jaiden read it to her.

The other cute thing about this photo is this morning Alyssa asked Jaiden if they could dress like twins. And he did! They both wore their school t-shirts, sweatpants (his were brown, hers were purple) and tennis shoes. More cuteness!

Now about that 7 out of 7...
 

Jaiden got his second 7/7 on his spelling test. He and Daddy worked really hard on this one with tricks and rules... my favorite was "A Round Orange Under Nick's Desk ~ around." For next week, it's umbrella - Under My Bed Rests Eleven Long Lanky Alligators.

Go Jaiden!

yo-yo yo-yoing

First of all, this is a horrible photo - horrible lighting, high ISO, low shutter speed = 100% unsharp, blah photo but... the story goes Jaiden and I were clearing the table and he picked up his new yo-yo after the last dish was cleared and to my utter surprise and shock, he yo-yo'd. Up and down multiple times!! I grabbed the camera and did the best I could in such a spur of the moment situation. I was so excited to see him do this and just had to share it with everyone.

So where did he learn this? PE... yep, physical education ... this is your modern day have fun PE kind of class. They have been doing this for the past week and tomorrow is the exciting visit from the "Yo-yo Lady" (how would you like to be called that?). This week Mr G. (the PE teacher) was selling real yo-yo's and Daddy and Jaiden both wanted one. I thought it was a bit outrageous but went ahead and NOW, I am really glad I did.

And the other bit of exciting news was Jaiden brought this certificate home! 2 other classmates were also awarded the Super Reader and it means they finished 25 weeks of reading 100 minutes or more per week! They were the first 3 and have been officially invited to the pizza party to celebrate their success! We are so proud of him!

is it my birthday today?

That was how I was greeted this morning. I heard the clunkiness of her opening her bedroom door, the pitter patter of her tiny feet to my bedroom door and then her cute little face peeking around the door where I greeted her with a big hug and said "Good morning Peaches!"

She peeled back only to say "Is it my birthday today?"

Only after I confirmed no, did I get my hug and kiss back!

Today was stunning. Still a bit breezy to my liking but it was warm enough for a picnic lunch in our backyard just before school!

I couldn't resist a photo... she was so relaxed and content on her blanket with her baby Kai and her peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Here's to 13 more mornings of the ultimate question before I get to say "Yes, today is your birthday!"