First Day of Summer Vacation...

...and we made the best of it!

First Cross Orchards (we have a membership), then James M. Robb State Park (we have a pass), and lots of fun stuff in between: shopping for Momma (Hobby Lobby and Michael's, baby!), park for the kids, picnic lunch and ice cream and french fries to top it off. Mix in lots of exploring and you have the recipe for a perfect day.

There was an old train, many old trucks and lots of tractors to climb on - at least there was no sign that said we couldn't. Heh.





The farm had the coolest wood shop including this toy making set-up.



The boys - LOL.



The boys again. Major "Awww! ♥" moment.



My beautiful girl who needed much cajoling to get into the spirit...



...but there's nothing like water to attract the kiddos, right?



After lunch at the state park...







Everybody smile. I said everybody... hey... over here! Oh whatever - LOL - they were having fun so who cares!

Field Day! or the Last Day of First Grade

Each class focused on their teachers' alma mater so for the Field Day kick off they did a CU cheer.





Then they were off and having fun! Some action shots then a wet but happy kiddo.

Blooming Rock Garden Part 3

Japanese roses, yellow and orange. My rock garden in flanked on both sides with these beauties. They don't bloom for long but when they do it's an explosion of bright, fiery color.

Miniature Golf

It's a longer walk to the lake than it is to the miniature golf place. We've been to the lake about a zillion times. Today was our first time playing putt-putt.



Willon was all fired up and ready to golf. He quickly got the hang of how to really do it on the first hole.





Then he got bored and turned to climbing, chugging along like a train, and running in circles. Good thing his round was free. Still not sure why I paid for a round for myself.



Rhetta loved every second of it. She moved along swiftly not bothering with rules. If she couldn't hit the ball in she'd push it. She managed to go two rounds of 18 holes in record time.





The teenager played his round then lounged around ogling a girl.



After that we had frozen treats then hit the game room. We blew six bucks on hockey, Pacman, air hockey, the crane, et al. Notice Willon trying to kype a toy from the Super Scooper, heh. Rhetta had so much fun scoring in her own goal. Silly girl.







A fine way to spend the afternoon, for sure.

Blooming Rock Garden Part 2

Proud Parents, Proud Kid

Rhetta has struggled with her sentence writing all year. She's been unable to write on topic which is always a "wh" question and often about something about which she is unfamiliar. The tests don't allow for any explanation or help whatsoever from the teacher so they've been doubly difficult for her.

They test on such things as whether it is readable, which she has mastered, and whether her sentences make sense, which they usually don't in regard to the topic and are often off-topic altogether. Her scores usually land in the Partially Proficient (2) to Proficient (3) range, hovering in between.

She's been working one-on-one with her SPED teacher all semester and has shown improvement with each test. We just glow over the samples she brings home with her.

Well today she brought home her most recent Rubric on which she scored a 4! My baby scored a 4 on her Sentence Writing Rubric which translates to Advanced! Yay! We are super proud of her and she was so, so happy. I could tell she was proud of her accomplishment.

We're going to celebrate with pizza.

Mother's Day Finale

Grilled salmon salad with rice pilaf... mmmm... on my lovely new 25¢ sale thrift store dishes. The kids get separate little salads 'cause they're picky that way.

A Gift From My Garden

Late tulips, early iris, lilac, and a stray daffodil. They look and smell lovely.

Mother's Day 2010

I got some pretty cool loot this year, heh heh. Lots of homemade stuff from the 1st grader (thank you GMES for all the cool ideas!) and more homemade stuff from my little family, thanks Daddy and Willon, and Rhetta again ♥. I also got a lovely rose from the kiddo we mentor - or more accurately from the program we mentor through. It was lovely just the same. :)

I'm a lucky woman, that's all I can say.

They're Totally Faking

Well, not totally... ♥

We went to a school carnival on a school night to help benefit a new gym down at the middle school. Kids had a blast waiting for hours in line for cotton candy, face painting, and the bouncy house. The noise levels were dischordant and deafening. Let's just say middle schoolers know how to have them some fun! LOL

Spring Dance Recital 2010

Footloose!

She starts out in the very back and ends up on the far left. Then they make the crossover and she ends up on the far right. This is Rhetta's event of the season. It makes her whole semester.



This is what Willon did the entire time we waited for Rhetta's routine. Back up through the sea of legs, disappear, run back. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Clouds in May

We have a lake right in town, Sweitzer Lake State Park, and we have a park pass. Today we just needed to go get some fresh air so we trucked on over there, literally in the truck, and kicked around for about half an hour. It was chilly and breezy...

... and cloudy.













We ended our day further south at a friend's house and this was the sunset I caught looking over the top of her barn.