Souvenirs

Because we like to spoil the kids we bought them flags at the show. The next morning I was at the store picking up a few items and came across some monster truck toys. I couldn't help myself and I picked up three for the kids. I then laid them on the counter before they woke up so they could be surprised when they came up for breakfast.

They were so excited when they came in and saw the trucks on the counter. They couldn't wait to play with them. They did too, all day long.

Allstar Monster Jam

One morning getting ready for work Ben saw a commercial announcing a Monster Truck show. He looked up some of the reviews and decided that it would be a lot of fun to take the kids. We went and got the tickets and waited for the day to come.

When it finally got here we told the kids were we were going and they got extremely excited. As soon as Ben got off work we hit the road. We grabbed a quick dinner on the way and soon were at the Maverick center. 

When we pulled into the parking lot Owen was so excited. He saw on the big screen outside different pictures flashing of all the Monster trucks that would be there. He couldn't wait to go inside. They were all excited. 

When we got inside we bought the kids some ear muffs because we were sure the earplugs would do their job. We then went to find our seats. We had some pretty great seats too. We were in the second row next to the isle just in case we needed to make a quick exit. Luckily we didn't need it.

When the show got started they explained that it was a contest and there would be 3 events. Each driver would get points for each event. The first event was to see how well they could jump over three cars. The got extra points depending on how they smashed the cars. The first driver hit it just to the left and actually tipped over. The driver was fine, but his truck was not. He dropped out of the contest.

The second event was a timed event. They had to go around the course in a specific order and the fastest one earned the highest points.

In between each event they had a smaller contest as well. They has smaller sopped up trucks that also raced around the tract. They slowly, one race at a time, were eliminated.After the last small truck race they had a small intermission. The kids got up and stretched their legs were ready to go when the lights changed back.

The last event was a styles event. They could do whatever they wanted to do for 2 minutes and were judged on how well they did. This particular event also included the big jump. Each of them did the big jump at one point in their run. I couldn't believe how much air they got and each one of them landed without a problem. The kids were glued to it.

They had so much fun and were sad that it ended. I have to admit I had a blast too.

Months of the Year

When asked if I wanted to teach preschool again this year, I really didn't want to. It was hard last time and I was sure that it would be the same. Some days are good and some are bad, but it was still the same with disinterest with the kids. They have fun the moment your talking about it and working on it, but when it came time for the work they really aren't interested. It makes it even more frustrating. You do all this work to get ready for lessons and then they kids could care less. Ben has had to remind me that it was worth it because this was something that Owen and I were doing together.

This particular lesson had to do with the months of the year. I even printed calendars for each of the kids that they could color and then hang up when they were done. Owen was the only one who showed real interest in the calendar. Even when preschool was over for the day he still continued to color his calendar. He made my time worth it. He did a pretty good job coloring too. He took his time and really wanted it to look nice. He was so proud of his calendar that he begged me to take a pictures of it, not just it as a whole, but each individual page.

Coloring

Being a part of the joy school again has been very tiring. It has been very challenging with this group of kids. Some days they mesh really well and get along, other days its a nightmare. I told myself that I wasn't going to do it again after having done it with Gabbi, but I decided that since he was still on waiting lists to other preschools we tried to get in, I might as well go along with it again. Ben said it was a good choice that way he had the cool experience of being taught by me just like Gabbi did. I didn't necessarily see it that way, but we went with it anyway.

Some things that I have noticed while teaching preschool, Owen has really blossomed with his coloring. He wasn't a huge fan a year or so ago and now he loves it. Days that we could have coloring pages for preschool he would stay and color them while everyone else went and had play time. He also likes to take his time and have it look nice. I love this about him. He is very articulate and loves his finished products.

This particular time I taught about the months of the year, so I made the kids a calendar. Once they were given the calendar all they had to do was color the picture for each month. Owen was the only one who cared to color the picture. Some made lines on the days, some scribbled all over the month, and others didn't want to color at all. Owen on the other hand was very excited and did his very best work. Even after preschool was over and he could go play, he still wanted to color his calendar. He made my day and my hard work pay off : )

An Inspector calls

The next play in the line up was An Inspector Calls. It was a play designed to leave you asking questions. 

We started the night with dinner at Zuppa's. We had eaten out a lot lately and I wanted something light and delicious at the same time. Ben found a few different places online and based from their reviews he chose Zuppa's. He had forgotten that we had eaten there once before and it was pretty pricey, but we did have the kids with us that time so hopefully it wouldn't be too bad.

They served salads, sandwiches, and soups. Between the two of us we had a little bit of every type they offered. It was pretty good too. The salad hit the spot. Sadly didn't fill Ben up very much, so we picked up a Jamba Juice smoothie for the road.

We then headed up to the theater. We were close to curtain call so we quickly found a spot to park and headed into the theater.  

When we sat down they as always had the curtain open showing the first scene. It was a dinning room with some women sitting above it. It threw me off, but it would be interesting to find out what they were doing.

The play had 6 characters plus the 5 ladies sitting above the dinning room (they had no lines and only appeared when the acts changed). There was a mother, father, daughter, son, fiance and an Inspector. They were celebrating the engagement of the daughter and while they were finishing up their dinner they heard a knock at the door. In came the Inspector. He claimed that he was there because their was a suicide and he was investigating the cause that lead her to suicide. He questioned each one of them, one at a time, and in a very funny not so funny kind of way. Without it being comical, it was comical.

As he continued to question each one of them they each discovered that they had a part in the suicides life in one way or another. Some involvement was a lot nicer then others. The whole time each of them are trying to convince themselves that they didn't have involvement and what they did to her didn't matter. Every time a new story came, you wondered what the connection was. By the time the inspector left they were all surprised by the visit and decided that it was all a ruse. They had discussed their visit with the Inspector and decided that he wasn't acting like a normal inspector would. He didn't show a badge, he didn't interrogate like one normally would, etc. So they called down to the morgue to see if there was a women there from suicide and their wasn't so they were convinced that it really was a ruse. Then the phone rang, it was the Chief of police informing them that an inspector was on his way to ask them some questions.

It then went dark and the play was over. It was a pretty interesting ending and ot definitely left you asking a few questions.

Faces

William is so dramatic sometimes. He has many faces to show his drama as well as body movements. One of my favorite when he doesn't get his way...he'll droop his shoulders, drop his neck, and walk around like he has a hunchback. On top of all this he has the sad puppy dog face. I can't help but laugh every time he does this because he's so serious about it and that's what makes it so funny.

He also has a really good stern face. I can't quite describe it, but its funny to see as well. Then he gets even more upset when we laugh and don't take him seriously. He just too cute to take his mad face seriously.

Then the overall sad pouty face. He's really good at that one. 

 With all his many faces, he always makes me smile.

Stuffed in a bag

It may seem that I post a lot about William, but he is so dang funny. 

Ben came home from work and was empting out his bag. Ironically enough he could fit nice ans snug inside the bag. He at first wasn't to happy about it, but there were moments when I found him with a big smile on his face. It was so funny to see Ben carry him around the house with his bag on his shoulder.

After walking around a little Ben finally walked into the bedroom and set William on the bed. He actually stayed in the bag for a while. We didn't even make him stay at all. He just sat there watching Ben put his work stuff away. I was surprised that he stayed as long as he did. It was so funny.

Nap time

Since William had discovered how to open doors, his nap time had pretty much diminished. If he doesn't fall asleep quickly after being laid down he will just get out of bed and come back upstairs. Most days it doesn't bother me so I just let him continue whatever game it was that he was playing. He and Owen generally play really well together. 

Some days he will be so worn out that I will find him curled up somewhere asleep. He's such a doll when he sleeps, but then he wakes up and he's not the nicest sometimes. But until that happens I enjoy the silence.

Cars

When ever William sees my phone he does one of two things; he either says "Hello daddy," or he says "CHEESE!" It all depends on what he's doing at the time as two what statement he says. This particular morning he had some cars and he really wanted to show them off. I decided to oblige him and take his picture. He had the cutest fast and I just couldn't say no.

Spirit Week

Gabbi absolutely loves spirit week at school. It gives her permission to dress up in funny and crazy ways. It also allows her to wear stuff to school that she normally can't, like a hat. She couldn't wait until the start of spirit week.

Day one was hat day. Her favorite of all the days during spirit week. She chose to wear her knit hat that we bought for her when she was 4. I can't believe it still fit. I tried to convince her to wear the all white one because it actually matched, but she refused to change it. She said she didn't care that it didn't match, she loved this one.

Hat Day

Wear your favorite hat

Put on your thinking cap and write down all your good ideas!

Day 2 was Hawaiian day. I felt really bad because she surely did not have an Hawaiian patterned shirt or beach gear that she could wear. We both went through her drawn and looked at every shirt she owned. The only thing we could find was a Roxy shirt with a few hibiscus flowers on them. It was the best we could do, so she decided to wear it. When I went to drop her off I took my Hawaiian Lai off my review mirror and let her wear that to school. Ironically enough when she got home she had a Hawaiian Lai of her own and didn't want to wear mine anymore.

Hawaiian day or Beach day

Wear your favorite Hawaiian shirt or beach clothes

PTA makes school feel like a day at the beach!

Day 3 was school colors and crazy socks. When Gabbi came upstairs she was definitely was wearing red and black, but I asked her why she didn't just wear her school shirt. She said she didn't want to and wanted to stay in what she had on. She then went in our bedroom and raided my drawer for some crazy socks. She picked out two different pairs of Christmas socks. They were definitely crazy. 

School colors and crazy sock day

Wear your school shirt or red and black, also wear your favorite crazy socks

Dance your socks off with music at lunch!

Day 4 was pajama day, my least favorite day of spirit week. Gabbi tried to just wear the pajamas she slept in, but I wouldn't let her. I made her change into a clean pair of pajamas, which she didn't seem to mind. She was just happy that she got to wear her pajamas to school.

Pajama Day

Wear your favorite pajamas

Roll out of bed and come straight to school!

The last day of spirit week was sports or college day. We don't root for any one particular team and we don't have sports gear, none of us. I did have a college sweat shirt from when I attended college there, and I told Gabbi about it. She asked if she could wear it. I told her it was too big, but she said she didn't care. So she put it on, we rolled up the sleeves and she headed out the door. It did drowned her, but she was excited to wear it.

Sports or College day

Wear your favorite sports jersey or favorite college shirt

We always have a ball at school with the PTA!

Sleeping

We were out pretty late at Brandon and Christy's house watching the Live Grease show after having helped with some remolding that day. It was our relaxing moment after a lot of hard work. The kids were enjoying the movie and actually sat there and watched it with us. As the movie went on, they started to get restless. We put them each in a spot and laid them down. If they wanted to watch the movie they could, if they fell asleep, great.

William was laying on my lap, Owen was in the recliner, and Gabbi was on the floor smothered in blankets and pillows. It was too cute and hard to move them, we didn't want to wake them. But the movie came to an end and it was time to go home. It had been a very long day and I was beat.

Field trip to Discovery gateway

Gabbi's latest field trip was to Discovery Gateway and she really wanted me to come. I didn't want to, the last time I went there is was absolute chaos. I also would have had to find a babysitter and during the day that can be a little difficult. But Gabbi took it upon herself to ask Nana to watch the boys so I could go with her on her field trip. Nana agreed and she jumped up and down. So did the boys, they were going to spend the night as well.

All the parents had to drive on their own and meet the buses at the museum. Christy and I rode together. It worked out quite nicely. We also had enough parent chaperons that it was only 2 students to each parent. That was a huge relief. Sadly the other girl with Gabbi was a very energetic child and really like to move around checking things out. Overall though, it wasn't bad at all.

When we first got into the building they took the kids into a big room for some instructions. They told the kids all about the rule of the facility and were told if they didn't fallow them, they would be asked to leave. They were then broken up into two groups and given colored vests so the parents could easily keep track of their students. Half of our group went to the top floor and the other half went to the bottom floor. After an hour we were to switch.

We started off at the bottom floor. The kids were very easily drown to the first attraction, the ball hive. It  had hundreds of the ball pit balls that you put in tubs and watch them fly off to their destination. It was hard to drag them away from this one, there was just so much to try and so many places that you could pit balls.

When we finally were able to pull them away, when it had way to many kids in it, Gabbi and her friend saw a line for a tree. They got to climb around the base, in and out of the burrow holes, and even climb through a tunnel to the top and jump off. At first Gabbi didn't want to jump, but she finally did and didn't have the happiest look on her face when she landed.

We then made our way into the large room which was broken up into different sections. They had a play house, construction zone, post office, grocery store, farm, auto repair shop, rock wall, water table, and a kiddie zone. They bounced back and forth between each exhibit.

Gabbi spent the longest time at the water table. Only a few kids could be there at a time, depending on how many water aprons were available. They could watch ping pong balls float through the river, they could build a dam, play with boats and jet ski type toys, etc. For the most part Gabbi watch the water as its force moved all the parts to transport the ping pong balls to the different areas of the table. She wanted to stay longer, but her friend wanted to be done and there were other waiting for a turn.

Afterwards we headed to the farm. They could plant and grow a pretend garden, ride a horse, move barrels of hay, collect chicken eggs, and even play a few farm inspired games on an ipad. The ipad wasn't really working so they didn't stay their long. The had a lot of fun getting on and off the horse, they did this a few times.

We then walked over to the rock climbing wall. It wasn't very tall, but Gabbi was still apprehensive about it. She wasn't sure she wanted to. She watched her friend at first and then when her teacher came over and wanted to take a picture she hurried to the wall and did her best to make it as far as her little body could take her.

Then we hit up the grocery store. This wasn't the best set up play area, but they still had a lot of fun. They had plastic food that you could put in your basket and purchase. Sadly they didn't have very much which made it hard for the number of kids who wanted to play in the area at one time. They very quickly lost interest in the store. It was sad because the register worked and everything.

Then they went to fix the car. Gabbi wasn't quite sure what to do here, but her friend had no problem. She hopped on the mechanics board and slid herself under that car. She's seen this done more then once, I assume. Gabbi merely put cash in the car and that's it.

Our our was almost up and only two areas left to play in. We first went to the construction sit. There were some older boys there with their families, hopefully not with a school because they were very rude and weren't following the rule that were clearly listed for that area. But Gabbi did her best to be patient and wait her turn. When she finally got a turn she had a lot of fun using the crane to move the blocks from one place to another and then they put them down the slide to do it all again. Her and her friend took turn using the crane to move the blocks.

Then we stopped at the play house. It had a kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom. I was surprised at how large it was. Even adults could go in and stand up straight inside the house. They could feed the babies, watch TV or even read a book. It was a cute little house. Gabbi was a little mother and took care of the baby.

We had 10 minutes left when we walked back towards the ball hive and found another ipad with games on it. The girls sat down on the bench and took turns playing a math game. They stayed there till we heard the whistle to move to the top floor.

The top floor as as crazy as the bottom floor if not more. There was a lot more stuff to do and because the exhibits were smaller it made it harder with large amounts of kids all wanting to participate. The girls bounced around between exhibits so fast it was almost hard to keep track of them.

They first started in the movie and movie strip center. There was stamps, crayons, and color pencils. You could draw pictures and make your own movie strip. Then you could move to the next section and you could acutally film a short. They had toy you could use as your characters and different backdrops to out it together. Sadly I don't think it was working or at least we couldn't figure it so, they didn't stay here long. Gabbi did the best she could with her movie strip with the time she had.

We then went to the science center where they had all sorts of sensory fun toys. You could put your hands in some holes in boxes and try to figure out what was hidden in the box. Then they had a gel type writing square that you could use your finger to push the gel around to make a picture. There was a wall made out of marbles that spun as you ran your hand over it and then last but not least the light ball that danced when you touched it. That one was my favorite.

Next they ran to the newest exhibit the soft center. They had a soft floor, wall, and blocks. You could build anything you could set your mind on. The girls had a lot of fun building all sorts of things. They started with a seesaw. I was impressed. They they started building a tower to climb to the top and sit on. They got it pretty high, I was surprised that they were able to actually climb to the top of it. Sadly there was this little boy and of course his mom was too busy visiting with her friend to watch her own son. He was going around ruining and knocking everyone's stuff over. He came over to the girls and started to push the tower that they were sitting on. I was grateful that it didn't fall, but I wanted to smack that mother for not caring about the horrible behavior of her son. That scared Gabbi enough that she was done with the soft center.

We then went outside to find a hospital, two different medical helicopters, and even an airport traffic tower. This seemed to be a popular area. The first helicopter was like a small jungle gym. It had a slide, a monkey bar type propeller, stairs and even a steering wheel. The girls really liked this one.

Then we headed over to the life size helicopter. The line was insane and crazy. We waited here forever for the girls to have a turn. There were even two different entrances and that didn't make it any easier. Everyone wanted in the helicopter. Once they finally got in, I told them to hurry and look around and then get out. There was just too many kids.

When they left the helicopter they played in the traffic control center and the hospital. There wasn't a hole ton to do in those centers, so that didn't last long either before we headed inside.

Inside the remainder of the floor had a lot of hands on exhibits. You could make all sorts of things. They had a wind tunnel that you could make a parachute for, they had a marble wall where you made a track for the marbles to roll down, they had a gadget wall, tic tac toe, and even magnet toys to make what ever your little mind could think of. We spent the rest of our time bouncing between all the hands on fun.

Last but not least, one of the teachers paid to let kids experience the tornado tunnel. Gabbi was lucky enough to be one of those kids. The look on their faces are priceless.

We then gathered in one spot and headed back to the giant meeting room. We turned in our vests and then headed to the bus. They then headed to a park to eat lunch and then headed back to the school.