Again... The Gig is Up!

Quinn is on a roll this month. I guess she is at that age.  

After nearly 11 years of life, the gig ended this week.

STEAM Night

Sullivan's school hosted a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and music) night this past week. Sullivan was fairly insistent we go, for no other reason than she knew there was going to be chess there. She was more than confident that she could beat both Ryan and myself.

Before we tackled that beast, we headed to the art room where they were painting with Spheros.  Spheros are robotic spheres that you can code and are controlled with the ipad.  Pretty cool stuff!

We also went to play some math games, where we ran into our neighbors.  We joined them for a high stakes game of "Shut the Box."  Jack shared with us that it was a game pirates used to play (and gamble on) way back in the day.

Ryan was ribbing Jack (as he is good at doing) and telling him they should play like the pirates did.  Jack accepted the bet and Ryan left $5 poorer!  Got to love that Ryan was placing bets at an elementary school's STEAM night... with a 3rd grader!

After an evening of patience, Sullivan was itching to get to chess.  We learned that Sullivan Grace knows her stuff, and is quite the chess champion.

She left proud as a peacock, as she should have been.  She schooled both her parents at chess!

It was quite the evening filled with fun and learning!

HSE Art Show

Sullivan was chosen again this year for the school district's annual art show.  We were thrilled to go check out her work, along with the hundreds of other K-12 art work from across the city. Words can't adequately describe the amount of talent under one roof. Amazing.

Sullivan's clay heart piece was chosen for display this year...

It was an honest reflection of Sullivan's personality - bright and cheerful!  A true masterpiece that we are proud of.

While Quinn didn't have any artwork displayed this year, she was given a sweet surprise at the art show.  She ran into one of her favorite peeps - Mr. Stage.  Oh, what joy that brought her.  Mr. Stage was too kind and spent time with us looking at artwork and seeing Sullivan's masterpiece!

It was another art show for the books.  Can't wait 'til next year!

The Gig is Up...

Just to document for history's purpose.... This month the gig was up for Quinn.

It was a great run, but was only a matter of time!

Tickled Green

Sullivan and I found ourselves alone and abandoned on St. Patrick's Day.  Quinn spent the night at a friend's house and Ryan was at a March Madness party with co-workers.

The lonely 7 year old got a hold of my phone.... did I mention she was bored and lonely?

I tried to make a night of it and take her out to eat.  Sullivan really didn't want to eat out, but rather wanted the one meal she could live on for the rest of her life - Chef Boyardee Raviolis.  

After I cooked Sullivan her gourmet meal, I figured out why she was hesitant to want to go out to eat.  She had her heart set on having a green beverage (colored water).  Sullivan was tickled pink green to make her favorite concoction.  

Because we didn't eat out, Sullivan was wondering if just possibly we could go out for ice cream.  Who could say 'no' to that?!

She was tickled pink green again, when the sweet ice cream scooper made her ice cream into a monster.  The little joys.  

After an evening of ice cream and some snuggles on the couch, the sweet little Sullivan was exhausted.  She camped out in our room, where she was again tickled pink green that I said 'yes.'

Busy with Nana

We were beyond thrilled to have Nana come visit us this past week.  Upon her arrival, the girls wasted no time soaking up their time with Nana.  Nana might not have known what she was getting into, because the girls kept her incredibly busy.

The girls really wanted to see the movie, A Dog's Purpose.  Nana had already seen it, but raved about how good it was and was more than happy to see it again.

As you can see from the picture, Ryan is missing. He was too good for the movie, saying that the movie looked awful, horrible, dumb... you get the picture.  There was really no convincing him to go, so we wasted no more time trying.  We had fun without him.  And by the way, it was a very good movie.  His loss, not ours.

We spent many hours playing games - all sorts of games!  The girls might have emptied the game closet with Nana.  She was such a trooper.

The weather was not cooperative when Nana was here, so we had to get creative and find some indoor activities.  We went to the local arcade and had lots of fun. (Ryan came too, but didn't make it in the photo opp.)

We also did a couple DIY projects.  

The girls made slime...

And us ladies made bath bombs...that, sadly, were an epic fail.

This was another event that Ryan bowed out of.  I can't imagine why!  

Nana also took the girls to Claire's where they each picked out these adorable sleeping masks.  Don't they make the cutest puppy and cutest bunny ever?!

We had the best time with Nana, and are so thankful she made the trip out to see us!  Thanks, Nana!!

Sing Your Heart Out...

Sullivan's class had their music concert last night.  They performed five different pieces from all around the world.

It was nice to see that Sullivan now towers over a whole 2, maybe 3 people in her class!  It used to be one person.  Small victories.  Small and mighty, small and mighty!

There was singing and bell playing, poem reading and folk dancing. 

There was even audience participation  (of which Quinn totally represented).  Thanks, Q, for taking one for the team.  We owe you!

You can watch a couple of videos from the concert here:

Concert Video 1 - audience participation

and 

Concert Video 2 - singing

Sullivan did an amazing job, and we are so very proud of her!

It's Official....

We are getting a PUPPY!!!! 

Wahoo!!!!!

After months of research on Goldendoodles...we've decided to get an Australian Labradoodle.  That's right.  I studied and learned everything I could about Goldendoodles, only to fall in love with another breed.  Sometimes that happens.

I stumbled upon a breeder in Wisconsin that I absolutely adored.  She is truly passionate about her dogs and loves them like family members.  She, too, raises Goldendoodles but in the end we chose the Labradoodle.

Her are our future puppy's parents...

Our puppy will be bred in July and will come home with us in September.  She is going to be the cutest little thing.

This is a picture of the mother when she was a pup.  

Super duper cute!

We can not wait for our new puppy - and already the girls have started to brainstorm names.  Sullivan loves Oreo😨, and Quinn loves Bella 😐.  We've got several months to use the power of persuasion on the girls!