The Graduate

May 26, 2011...Andersen graduated from The Berry Patch Preschool. They put on a musical production of all the songs they learned throughout the year and each student got to recite a nursery rhyme, too. Andersen recited Humpty Dumpty. It was so cute. I video taped the whole program and it is so fun to watch it back. Andersen is such a character.  He leaves me scratching my head as I can't figure out how I got a "class clown" for a child.  I know I was a shy kid and I think Charl was too.  Some of the other parents get the biggest kick out of him and love that he is so willing to display his personality.

Teacher Wendy had the kids arranged on her front porch. This was taken during one of the songs. Charl was in charge of the still pictures and I was running the video camera. He didn't take too many of them singing, but when you see the video, you'll really get the gist of teacher Wendy's comment about this class having a lot of personality.

Andersen is accepting his diploma.  Funny story to follow:  Wendy asked the parents to clap once everyone received their diploma rather than after each student. Well, Andersen was last to be called. Since he was still standing when all the parents started cheering he stopped mid stage and......(see next picture)

acknowledged the crowd. He held this pose for a little while, thinking that he was getting all sorts of praise. Everyone was dying laughing.  (See....my little class clown.)

After program pose. Of course the diploma is NOT really a diploma, rather some sort of weapon.

A big thanks to teacher Wendy, who seemed to just know how to handle this cute and busy little bee, I mean boy.

Guess What's in My Garage?

OUR NEW SWAGGER WAGON!

Andersen's Star Wars Birthday Party

Last Sunday we spent Mother's Day at Charl's sister's (Rachelle) house.  On the drive home Charl and I were discussing what we were going to do for Andersen's 5th birthday later in the week. We decided that we'd throw him a party. We got home just before 10 PM that night and it was a whirlwind for the next 4 days getting everything prepared. First and foremost, was the invitation (luckily we have the internet where we can use other people's great creativity) and guest list. I stayed up for the next hour getting this invitation made and sent off to Costco to be picked up on Monday on the way to Tate's 15 mo. check up. (Tate is doing great, but he's only in the 3rd percentile...another little guy). The guest list was easy...he only wanted boys and told me his list. We had 5 boys from the neighborhood and his cousin Seth. Rowan, his friend from Cedar Hills, wasn't able to make it.

For a few weeks he's been telling me he wanted a spiderman cake, but since we decided to do a Star Wars themed party, Spidey got nixxed.  Since I put so much prep time into the games and decorations, I knew I had to keep the cake simple. I baked and frosted it the night before the party and did the final decorative icing a few hours before the party.

I think he's happy with the cake.  Just before he went to preschool he said he wanted the Star Wars logo. It wasn't to hard to do, but I decided to use chocolate sprinkles to fill in the letters, but since the icing wasn't "fresh" they wouldn't stick very well. I tried wetting it, but my fingers were too big and it was making a mess. I should have just used the yucky black icing...it would  have been faster.

Charl was in charge of the obstacle course.  He made a cool looking General Grevious (a bad guy). The kids got to pelt him with water balloons after they finished the obstacle course. This is a picture of Charl posing with him just before the party started.



These were the first guests to arrive: Seth, Miller, Andersen, and Bensen. They are getting ready to enter the galaxy.

Once they entered the galaxy (I thought this turned out pretty cool), they got dressed in their jedi robes. They got a paper light saber and then went to the table to put their name on the the light saber (which was to be used in the game pin the light saber on Yoda) and they decorated their goodie bag and colored a picture of Darth Vader. This kept them occupied while I could get everyone dressed and ready for the "Training Academy".

Then they played Pin the Light Saber on Yoda.  We didn't make a big deal about a "winner" on this game. After everyone had a turn we went outside for the real fun.

Andersen is face to face with the enemy.

 The attack. This was what the kids had the most fun doing.

Isaac making his way up the ladder. Pretty tricky for a young Jedi.

Looking like a true Jedi Knight. This was after all the kids finished the course. Upon completion, they got a "real" light saber. (pool noodles from the dollar store.)

After the obstacle course the kids had to fight the death star. (making this is what took most of my time.) I wasn't sure the pool noodles would do the trick, but they managed to break it open.

Back inside for cake and ice cream.

We called the ice cream "Yoda" ice cream.

A bunch of happy boys.

Last, was the gift opening ritual. We got him the Obi-Wan space ship with R2-D2.  It breaks apart into 2 ships and it can shoot little missiles. I think he likes it, but I'm not sure he likes it more than Legos.

Seth got him a real light saber. YAY. He's wanted a sword of some kind for a really LONG time.

Another lego set...thanks Will.

div>

Anikan Skywalker action figure from Bensen. He's loving it. Good thing he got this because we thought Obi-Wan came with the space ship, but he didn't, so Anikan can drive the ship.

So I didn't really give a good description of the obstacle course, but I wanted to give credit to Charl because that was a the main attraction of the party and it was really fun for the kids. Here's a quick rundown, as I didn't get pictures of all the steps. They crawled  under a wheelbarrow, walked on a ladder that was inclined, went on a swing, down a slide, shot a laser (the hose with a spray nozzle attached) at a ball resting high on a ladder, jumped over a snake, crossed a bridge, kicked a ball in a net, and bombed General Grevious with a water ballon. The feedback from some parents was great, so I think the kids had a fun time. It took a lot of time to prepare, and it was over in a flash, but I think it will be a lasting memory for Andersen's first big birthday party.

I finally cut her hair.

Today Holly is 3 years 4 months and 13 days old. I felt it was time that she finally get a haircut. My dilemma was do I dare try to do it myself, or do I spend some money to have it done by a pro.  After tonight's bath, I just went for it. I figured if I messed it up too badly, I could then spend the money to have it fixed.  She mostly cooperated. I went a little shorter than I planned on, because I put her hair in a little pony first so it would be easier to save the first cut lock, but it was too thick and my scissors didn't cut if off all that straight. I think this length however will be easier to manage and it shouldn't get tangled so easily.

 In my mind, I planned to take about an inch off, but in the end it was closer to 3 inches.

A Rockin' Easter & 39th Birthday Weekend

It all started on Friday when Layne and her kids minus Turner came over. Layne and I made Sheri Green's famous peanut butter chocolate dipped eggs. It was a lot of fun, despite some minor issues with the chocolate, but in the end it all worked out. Marin, even lent a helping hand. The little kids entertained themselves on the new swing set and airplane teeter totter even though it was a little bit chilly.

Here's a sample plate of our fine craft.

Saturday was another fun filled day. It started off with Charl going to a nursery with his mom so he could get his birthday present...a tree, of course. He got a Hinoki Cypress. We are pretty sure our cute little ornamental tree in the front bed did not survive the winter, so he dug it out and replaced it with this new tree...hopefully it lasts.  Then the kids went to an Easter egg hunt with kids on our street. We had a BBQ lunch afterwards. Andersen had his first soccer game, so we ate quickly, then went to his game (already posted about that.)  In the late afternoon, we took the kids over to Layne's to get babysat while I took Charl out to Cheesecake Factory.  His parents and Teresa joined us and we had a great time. After dinner, we walked the mall looking for running shoes for Charl. We didn't have any luck in the stores, so Charl ordered a pair on line when we got home and I made his birthday cake...a chocolate bundt cake with black raspberry chocolate chunk in the middle.

Here's Andersen shaking his bootie waiting for hunt to begin.

2 little posers.

Tate and his first egg hunt. (Notice the new tree.)

I'm cool.

Now I'm cute.

Holly is just happy to be eating candy.

Tate found an egg and he knew just what to do with it. Hopefully when he gets older he won't be mad at me for giving him a light purple Easter basket.

Elijah is checking out Holly's stash.

Sunday...Easter morning. Holly and Tate woke up early, as usual for them (7 AM - too early for my blood).  Andersen didn't get up til after 8 or 8:30 and that was after we were yelling for him to wake up. The kids enjoyed their baskets. Tate drooled plenty of chocolate and colored sugary messes everywhere. The Easter Bunny obviously didn't think through the candy very well. Andersen was happy with a new lego set.  Holly was thrilled with her new headbands and candy.  After church Charl went Home Teaching and I made a salad to take to Charl's parents for dinner. We celebrated Easter and April Birthday's (Charl's and Taran's). We had good food and the kids of course had fun seeing their cousins.

  

The early birds checking out their baskets. Tate's already 4 bites into his peanut butter egg.  Holly's checking out her new barbie mermaid movie.

Tate had more fun with the fake grass than his toys.

Happy Holly.

Tate finding some eggs.

Holly displaying her treats.

Andersen finally showed up. He got a new Scooby-Doo movie featuring Batman and Robin, and new legos.

All dressed for church.

Andersen all dressed and ready for church, too. He's sporting his new belt and lego knights. 

My Easter display. I need to work on my collection.

The Birthday cake.  It was really good and easy to make.

I think Andersen is trying to refrain from blowing out the candles.

Tate is just wondering what in the heck is going on.

I failed to get a picture of the kids before church all dressed up and posing cute on the front porch. They were such a mess after church I didn't even try. There's always next year...I seem to be saying this a lot lately.