Finishing off February

Heidi has turned into a huge help during the morning-get ready for school-madness.  She and Brett will pile up some books and settle in on the couch for a good 20 minutes or more.  Heidi "reads" to him and Brett listens just as intently as if one of us who really can read are reading. 

 Enjoying a break in the cold weather and building sand castles.

 buddies

 We went with some friends to a 50 cent indoor swim night.

 Nicole and Isaac would have spent the whole time on the diving boards had we let them.

 Brett sucks his thumb when he is concentrating


  
My finished Valentine wreaths for our front doors.  Wishing we just had one front door . . . maybe we would have more wreaths to hang for other times of the year!

More Basketball Pics

In case you were wondering, he made that shot!

I like these next two with both of them in it

 Doesn't he look cute in his coaching shirt?

Heidi's Tea Party

Heidi was invited to a Tea Party Birthday Party.  She was SO excited to go.  The invitation came with a pink "pearl" bracelet and necklace to wear to the event.  They were also supposed to dress up and Heidi picked this dress that was hanging in her closet--it was mine when I was little.  My mom made it, even the white hand stitching on the front inset (it has a special name but I can't think of it right now . . . )  We found some gloves in the dress up box, and borrowed a big hat from a friend. 

She went wearing this hat, but they made some cute tea party hats out of Styrofoam plates and bowls at the party that turned out super cute too.

this is a PERFECT twirling dress

found her asleep like this

Pine Wood Derby

We attended Isaac's first pinewood derby tonight.  Thanks to an electronic timer/track etc. and some awesome computer software the Wolf, Bear, and Weblos were all able to race in under an hour and we were home by 7:30.  Amazing.  I remember attending my three older brothers' pine wood derbys.  Chalk boards with brackets, marathon nights--who knows how long it took, judges with their noses right at the finish line.  This was quick and painless.  I didn't even see any tears.

 Isaac's car is the third from the left--the blue one--he named it the Skinny Fireball--so hot it was blue

 You can see the car that won the overall award on the track below--it is the yellow one, shaped like a wedge of cheese with holes in it and everything.

 Isaac's car won quite a few races . . . I didn't realize how many because all the cars from all the dens raced against each other so they could race more, and he didn't place first in some too.  The software kept track of the top scorers for the individual dens etc.  So when they were telling us the final results I was actually a little surprised that he won first in the wolf den, and fifth place overall.  He was pretty happy.

 They had an award for each car--Isaac's won the "Indie 500 car."

Just a few

                                           Isaac finished this book in a day and a half.  It's probably one of the longer ones he has read.  Nicole read it first, and got him interested.  Then Isaac proceeded to read all day Saturday and a little bit on Sunday.  It was cute to hear them discuss their differences of why or why not they liked the ending. 

 Ryan fulfilling the "fun" big brother roll and pushing Brett around the house in the storage tote.

 

 Heidi woke up this morning with these really sweet curls in her hair!

Just had to share this one.

 Getting ready for the red holiday--was a little messier than anticipated (which is why there are no pictures of us during the project--my hands were covered too) but they turned out pretty cool.  They are now hanging from the top of the window in our kitchen. 

 drying

 Isaac and Ryan's first B-ball game--They are on the same team again and Curt is coaching.  They've had three games now. 

A Splendid Time Indeed!

I can now say I've been to an official Tea Party!  This super fun little place called "St. James Tearoom"  Fabulous friends, fun hats to wear, lots of delicious tiny food, plates and silverware. Probably as close as I'll ever be to experiencing Jane Austen-like formalities and fun!  Curt said we were just missing our dolls.  Next time.

A few extras

A few more pictures for you . . .

 Dad jumping with some kiddos

 Saying Bye to Grandma and Grandpa

 Nicole got to go with them over to Flagstaff to spend a week with cousins

 All of our week after Christmas plans were foiled by sickness.  Isaac, then Heidi, then Ryan.  All different sicknesses!  We didn't go anywhere or have anyone over to play.  Some major vegging took place--lots of pajamas and couches involved.  At least they are excited to go back to school  . . . I think.

We did make a big batch of play dough one day.

 Ryan had time to put together some lego creations.

 

and Heidi dressed up like a movie star