The Happenings 'Round Here...

We've been busy around here this past week with lots of great events....!  First off, Quinn had a music concert at school late last week.

There were three of the five third grade classrooms that presented songs and traditions from around the world.  It was a 'busy' show - with lots of rhythm and movement.  They have a very young and very ambitious music teacher who inspires a lot of creativity and individuality in the students.  Throughout the songs, there was skipping and running and even some scooting around (crab style).  It was a good time, and as usual, Quinn did a wonderful job!  

Quinn had another sleepover on Friday with her friend, Leah.  We have finally entered "that" stage in friendships.  When I say "that"stage, I mean getting BFF necklaces and wanting to go shopping and talking about celebrities and favorite singers, and who in Hollywood is cool and who is not...!  Standing on the outside looking in, I almost chuckle.  It takes me back to my childhood and I wonder what my mom thought of me and my friends when I was in that stage.  

We invited Leah's sister (who is in Kindergarten like Sullivan) to spend the night at our house too.  But because of Hallie's dog allergy, she wasn't able to come over.  So Leah's family asked Sullivan to spend the night at their house.  I wasn't sure how Sullivan would do - she has spent the night at family's houses and at our dear neighbor's house in SF - but never at a classmate's house.  I wanted to leave it up to her and see how comfortable she was with the idea.  Let's just say there was no discussion about it. No time to think things though.  The definitive and absolute answer was "YES!"  Sullivan was going.  

They said that Sullivan had a blast playing and did an amazing job being away from home.  Not surprising.  I predict that Sullivan will be our child who will take off when she is 18 years old on a backpacking trip through Central America or Europe on her own.  After all, she is her own person and has determination and perseverance as her middle names.

And speaking about growing up, on Saturday Quinn and Sullivan wanted to watch The Kid's Choice Awards on Nickelodeon.  I decided to let them watch it as long as I was there to watch it with them.

As I was laying on the couch, Sullivan was snuggled up with me.  I got such a hoot out of her because she most definitely had an opinion about who she wanted to win each and every award and was not afraid to let us all know.  

After each nominee was named, this is what would happen....

Thumbs up or thumbs down.  Hoots and hollers followed if her pick actually won the award!  

Mostly Ryan, and a tad bit of me, spent the weekend hanging cabinets in our laundry room.  They turned out extremely well and Ryan did an absolutely amazing job.  I love the fact that that room is now a bit more organized.  You know me and organization...!  Got to love it.

And finally... we have a "Top Banana" in our family.  This is the equivalent to "Star of the Week" at school - but with a monkey theme.  Now being in third grade, they shy away from making it a huge deal.  In Quinn's class, they fill out a form with all her favorite things and information about her family.  

Here is our "Top Banana's" completed form..

Despite the fact that this is a celebration that flies a bit under the radar in her classroom, Quinn will always be tops in our books and super duper special to us!!! 

 

It's Friday - Flashback Friday

Sullivan Grace

This picture of little Missy was taken in October 2011.  She was pretending to be the school teacher and "read" to all her  children.  Such a stylish teacher she makes - upside sunglasses and all!  I can remember very clearly the amount of enthusiasm that went into that "reading".  She is such a goof!

Quinn McKenna

Love this picture of Quinn and Nate.  It reminds me of how far back that friendship goes!  This was taken during the summer of 2008 - when both Nate and Quinn were only children!  We had visited the Black Hills together and this was taken on the way out there.  They were and are such good friends - I hope it always, always stays that way!  

The Little Ladies

We are wishing that the sun was shining today and sunglasses were needed.  This picture reminds me of the summer and the sun and being outdoors.  All things we are so desperately craving!  And isn't Sullivan's smile infectious?  This picture was taken during the summer of 2011 - most obviously on a nice, hot day!  

Spring Partying...

This year, the girls' school decided to shake things up a bit in terms of parties at school.  That said, they celebrated with a "spring party".  This theme proved to be a bit more difficult to plan than your standard holiday parties, but I think it all turned out great.

Sullivan's class made an adorable beaded butterfly craft.  The kids had a blast beading their creations and watching it turn into a butterfly!

Afterwards they played a "hot potato" inspired game that turned a bit into a fiasco with kids not wanting to be out.  But in the end it all worked out and the kids had a good time!

For Quinn's class, I wanted to get outdoors and do something fun for them.  I crossed my fingers and said a few (hundred) prayers that the Indiana weather would hold out and be good to us.  After all, I didn't have a back up plan.  Well... the day of the party was a bit chilly (in the upper 40s/lower 50s), but the rain held off.  So all was good!

I created a scavenger hunt for the class and each team was given an envelope of clues like these and then had to go to the location on the school property that the clue described.

All the feedback that I got was positive - the kids said they had a blast.  I know my group that I watched had a good time! And I certainly had a good time making the scavenger hunt.

After the scavenger hunt, we went inside to warm up a bit.  They played a drawing game where they put a paper plate on their head and are given directions to draw something - in this case, a butterfly.  It sounds really easy, until you try it.  It is hard to draw without looking!

The kids really got a hoot our of this - wanting to do it again and again!  We had a little contest and found the person in Quinn's class who has a future in drawing on their head!

All in all, the parties were a good time.  I had a great time organizing them and helping out with them.  Sadly and happily, the parties are done for the year!  We are now in the spring mood - hope you are too.  Happy spring to everyone!

Art Expert...

Quinn came home last week with an invitation to the district-wide art show. Apparently her piece of art was chosen to be on display at the show - a huge honor for her as only a small amount are selected from each school for exhibit. We were also told her class was selected to display their quilt too, which meant Quinn had a hand in two pieces.

It was without a doubt that we were going to attend! How could we not?

Sunday afternoon we visited and we were blown away by the amount of talent at the show. It is overwhelming to see how much talent there is in this small community. 

But the star of the show? Quinn, of course!!

She was so excited when we spotted her work. 

Her friend Leah was also chosen for her art piece and happened to be there at the same time. 

After talking to Quinn's art teacher, we also found out that Quinn had a third piece on display. She worked on a collage with her learning club at school and that was displayed as well. 

Here is Quinn's class's quilt work...

We couldn't have been more proud of our art enthusiast! She did an amazing job!!

Flashback Friday...Again!

Quinn 

Love, love, love this picture.  It was snapped on some random Sunday afternoon in Feb. 2012 when Quinn was snuggling with Ryan watching football.  Such a sweet moment caught.

 Sullivan Grace

Ran across this picture (June 2012) and got such a chuckle.  Makes me laugh every time I see it.  Sweet Gracie was caught playing kitchen one afternoon.  Except that our free spirited little one shed her underwear and pants at some point during the "cooking".  Apparently too hot in the kitchen!  

 The Girls

Being in Calistoga this past week reminded me so much of the Black Hills - which is near and dear to my heart.  This picture of the three of us was taken in June 2012 in the Black Hills.  I just love this picture of us.  

Wine Country Revisited...

This past week, Ryan and I were fortunate enough to go to Napa Valley with Scott and Abatha, our dearest friends and travel companions.

We had been to Wine Country with them back in 2005.  That was ten whole years ago.  And that was before we all had kids (kind of - Ab was pregnant with Nate at the time).  It seems like just yesterday we were there and an eternity ago all at once.

This trip did not disappoint at all.  We stayed in the sweet little town of Calistoga.  It had a quaint little downtown area that reminded me so much of a small Black Hills town.  Replace all the grape vines with pine trees and it could have been the same place.  So, so pretty. 

This picture doesn't do it justice, but we had a gorgeous view from our cottage.

Friday we hung around the Calistoga area - visiting local boutique wineries.  We first visited a place called August Briggs.  It is a wine that Scott and Ab introduced us to before our trip and we liked it a lot.  So it was a no brainer that we would have to visit there! It didn't disappoint.

Aside from that winery, we also visited a couple others that day.  Some we were pleasantly surprised by and others left us wanting something different.  But over all a great experience and a wonderful way to spend the day.

Oh, and did I mention that the weather was FANTASTIC!?  Who could argue with 80 degrees and no wind?  Especially after our cold winter.

Saturday we traveled a bit further out and found some truly fabulous wineries.  We fell in love with a couple of them - Failla Winery and Chase Winery.  Both distinctly different, but both truly outstanding. Both my new favorites.  

At Chase, the sweet southern Georgia native helping us gave a bit of their history - they had grapevines that were over 115 years old.  Amazing how those grapevines could still be producing grapes that make wine, and great tasting wine at that!

The wine was fabulous and the scenery great - but the company we were with made the trip!  We just love our adventures - and trust me, they are nothing less than adventures - with them.

In the sweet town of Calistoga, we stopped one evening for some ice cream.  In this shop, the shop owner was selling old (might I say vintage), packs of Topps Baseball cards.  They were dated back to 1987.  Well, it was most certainly a given that Ryan and Scott were going to get some.  

When we got back to the cottages, they transported themselves back to their childhood.  They talked about the baseball players in great length - most of them retired by now - and had the best time.  And as expected from the two of them, they were most tempted by the bubble gum inside.  They smelled it and touched it and examined it....and then.   Then they just couldn't resist eating it. That's right.  My husband and Scott ate 28 year old gum.  They said it tasted horrible, and we all got quite the laugh out of that. 

Adventures, I tell you.  Adventures.  And we wouldn't have it any other way! A great, great trip!

St. Paddy's Day...

Happy St. Patrick's Day...!

Cheers from our sweet leprechauns to yours...

One must celebrate St. Paddy's Day with a green drink, you know!!

Hope that you all enjoyed your day...we surely did!

Flashback Friday #4

Sullivan Grace

I just watched an episode of 'Friends' this week where Phoebe give Monica a haircut.  Monica said she wanted her hair cut like Demi Moore, and Phoebe inadvertantly cut it to look like Dudley Moore. Needless to say, it was not such a cut look on Monica.  That reminded me of the atrocious haircut Sullivan got back in September 2012.  Poor girl.  Always said that this was her "Dudley Moore" haircut!  

Quinn  McKenna

I was cleaning the kitchen floors before school one day this week.  I had pulled all the chairs out from the table and lined them up in the living room so that I could really clean under the table.  Ryan had come down stairs and saw the chairs and instantly said, "Remember when Quinn used to do that all the time and play 'train'?"  Then two minutes later, Quinn came down the steps and said almost the exact same thing.  Here she is back in 2009 playing train with the dining room chairs and all her stuffed animal 'passengers'!

The Ladies

The girls were just asking this week to build a fort out of blankets.  It sort of came out of the blue - not sure why.  They haven't done built a fort in ages, not since we've lived her in Indy at least.  But that reminded me of how they used to ALWAYS build a fort.  Every.Single.Morning in Ryan's bathroom. They would drape a blanket over the drawer and sit underneath and read or color or talk.  Oh the fond memories of their blanket forts!  This was taken in  March 2013 - Quinn almost 7 years old and Sullivan almost 4 years old.