Day 125

Today was such a fun day for my 2nd graders (and me!)  We traveled to Clanton, AL and our first stop was the Alabama Power Water Course. We learned all about the importance of water to our state specifically, water conservation and water safety.
                                  We played a game cleaning out the rivers with robot claws

                                                 Took a virtual tour of Mitchell Dam

                                                        Played a water trivia game

                                            Toured Alabama's waterways via helicopter

                                                   Saw a few fish native to Alabama

                                     Then it was on to Sunshine Farms...(how cute is this guy?)

                                 Where we learned about strawberry growing and harvesting

                                      2 of my precious guys looking for some good ones :)
                                  We ate plenty right off  the plant while filling our buckets

                                    Then it was on to the tractor ride to tour the peaches

 We all got a peach to take home and a bucket of strawberries. I've already used some in some muffins I'm bringing on tomorrow's field trip.

                                                                          YUM!

Day 124

Nothing makes this boy happier than this......you would have thought I brought home a million dollars.                                            Yea for cupcakes!

Day 123

I am thankful for a day with virtually no plans..we went to church, took a nap, went for a walk and then to dinner at Moe's. Here are a few pics from our walk.....I brought along both lenses to try out some settings...

fun with her shadow

zooming in on a bluebird

thought it was going to start raining on our walk...but we made it back just in time

sweet smile

wildflowers

cattails on the pond....and a red-winged blackbird

I get this look a lot :) 

the only time I could get JFS to smile....and it was bribed with a starburst

Day 122

Recital night!  After my rehearsal night last night, I thought I was prepared for today's recital...NOT.  Apparently this is a BIG deal and I didn't get the memo. This was only the preschool (3,4,5yo) recital---but you'd never know it from the flowers, make-up, hot rollers, hair spray cloud and 8 mile line at the entrance to get in to get a good seat 2 hours before it started. Thank goodness someone towards the front thought of me and saved me a seat..because before I saw them, I was told "these rows are reserved" ROWS?  you can't reserve entire rows?  for 1 kid?  agggh!  My apologies if you were with the granny that told me that. I guess I'm just out of the loop.

The important part: Elizabeth had a great time tonight and was super cute on stage. If I can figure it out, I'll try and post the video from yesterday (since I had to buy the 30$ dvd for tonight's performance) hehe

                                 Here she is with the fabulous Miss Amy, her teacher.

And after the show...with her 6$ balloon...purchased inside....because mama didn't stop on the way at Publix for a bouquet 

I'm gonna pump up soccer all summer, because it is only on Saturdays, and has a SEASON for tha love....this mama is not cut out for these recital weekends.

Day 121

Wow....I just got home from a four and a half hour REHEARSAL for Elizabeth's dance recital tomorrow. I guess I was not anticipating how long this would take...because I would've packed a snack or some Advil or both. And this is just the preschool recital!
                                                          Backstage getting ready

                                                                  and coloring...........

                                                            and waiting.............

                     Ballet was first. (her group was 4th).....E is in the back row and jumped the gun ;)

                                Tap was next (actually it was 23rd)--finally a front row shot!

                                      No pictures allowed tomorrow, so these are it!

Day 120

Today was Jack's ACTUAL appointment for his 3 year check up. Yes, I showed up last week on the wrong day.

I l-o-v-e our pediatrician. Dr. Andy is kind, gentle, realistic and my kids adore him. I am comfortable talking to him about anything- trivial to serious-and he always listens intently and has great insight. Jack weighed in today at a whopping 42lbs and is 39" tall. I make big babies...both have always been at 90th %ile or above from day 1 on height and weight. He answered all my questions, reassured me that he would most likely not go to Kindergarten in pull-ups, that he would eventually sleep in his own bed (without me) and that his crooked feet would straighten themselves out. Jack was a great patient-answered lots of questions and got a perfect bill of health. We are going to screen his tv/books/videos even more (no more scooby or  halloween(ish)---he loves pumpkins, bats, halloween themed things for some reason--- content) and change our night time routine a little in hopes that his bedtime fears will start to fade.  No shots today, thank goodness!

 Jack's favorite thing to do....if there is a sink, he'll find it, and stand there as long as you'll let him~

Day 119

MAJOR accomplishment in the Smith household....Elizabeth recently got a pair of shoes with laces...which, I was not prepared for. Who knew the t-strap leather Keds she's worn since she could walk only went up to a size 12?  WAAAH!  And how did she go from a size 10 1/2 to a 13 in 6 months?  Last size in the little kids section?  double WAAAAH!  I already hate shopping in the 'girls' section at stores...the clothes are RE-DIC. How hard is it to make shirts and skirts with solid colors, stripes or polka dots?  or how about just WITHOUT glitter and a peace sign?  ok I'm off on a tangent....

Since getting the shoes a week or so ago, it has been relentless demands for shoe-tying lessons. I put her off, and put her off, knowing she'd be all "I can do it myself" because she is NOT a good constructive criticism kind of girl.  So last night I took a double dose of my patience pill (I wished I had some kind of pill...any kind would do) and sat down with her princess learn to tie book from Scholastic book order I'd ordered for such the occasion. Much to my surprise and relief...she was a FAST learner!  She got the steps down and left for her room for some alone time practice.  She re-emerged 20 minutes later with a proud smile and tied white Keds on her feet!  She slept with her princess laces book in case she "felt like she was starting to forget the steps during the night" and tied her shoes for school today.  Now I can mark that off my list of "parenting things I am dreading" which is a good thing, because Jack's potty training is looking like it's going to stay on that list until he goes off to college in his giant pull up.
OY VEY