Mad Scientists

Friday I got to go help in Mara's classroom for a science project. The kids had to make a prediction, observe their experiments and then write their observations. The goal was to see which way water would flow when you poured it on a pile of sand. Mara's prediction was correct.... The water flowed down :)

Hoarder

Thursday evening we decided to go to Target with my mom to pick out Valentines. Now Gracelyn can be a bit of a handful so I tend to try and go to these places without the kids. Apparently I need to get her out more because any and everything in her sights she was trying to throw in the cart. I had to take out my camera for this one because she was dumping bags of candy into the cart and trying to carry some in her hands to. My mom and I were hysterically laughing. As I always say.. "What a goofball".

Hot Shop

Thursday afternoon Mara's class got to have another field trip. This time it was to the Hot Shop at the Glass Museum. It was just an amazing experience. The kids got to go to the galleries first, then to the educational center to create artwork and the then to the hot shop. This by far was the highlight of my day!

It just so happened that we got to be there on the day when Lino Tagliapietra was in creating art. Now you are wondering who he is right?? This is the man who taugh Dale Chihuly how to create glass art. Dale Chihuly traveled to his hometown in Italy to work under him and learn everything there was to know. Lino is the most famous artist as far as glass goes in the world but you would never know it! Just another day in the shop was his demeanor when we viewed the hot shop. He was very hard at work but stopped a couple times to smile up at us and offer encouragement to the artists that were assisting him.

I was blown away at the entire experience and I hate to say it but I think you will find me sitting in the hot shop in the near future. It was way cool!!!!

Therapy

Thursday I snapped a few pictures of Gracelyn during her therapy session with Teacher Liz and Teacher Charmane at Birth to Three Developmental Center.

Here they are blowing the pin wheel..



Blowing Balls..

Making Music..

Chewing on a toy

and her most favorite...swinging!!


The blowing really helps Gracelyn were her sensory system to calm and soothe.. It's working well so far :)

Hoop it Up

It's basketball season again and Mara is playing for the Y. Once again she is the only girl and she is the tallest but that is fine, she is used to it!!
Joey and Zachary are also on the team so that makes it more fun. This was practice day but Mara did really well. Scored 3 baskets during scrimmage.. I am hoping these are all good things for the games to come :)

Valentine Fun

I got the girls set up with a variety of art supplies and told them we were making Valentines. The boxed ones are classsic and great but there is just something about a homemade valentine that warms your heart. The two of them decided these valentines would be for daddy!! Mara wanted to make a heart guy with heart arms and legs. It was really cute and took Mara lots of time to create. Gracelyn however went with the standard heart for daddy that she stuck Highschool musical stickers all over and colored a bit too! What creative little girls I have.. I wonder what mine will look like?? I'm thinking that it will be from Hallmark sealed in an envelope.. Daddy doesn't let them get as out of hand with the crafts as I do.. Oh well it all cleans up right!!!

Oh and sorry that all my pics seem to be at the kitchen counter lately.. we just haven't gotten out that much!!

Down and Out

This week was a little crazy.. After seeing my doctor late last week I found I was having surgery Monday morning. Not to worry just some ovary issues which have since been resolved. Well guess what?? Justin left Sunday morning to go to Oklahoma for a month to AC school. AGhhhhh!! How am I supposed to do this??

With a lot of help from family we were able to manage and the girls were kept busy with activities that involved a lot of cooking with their Papa. I am so thankful for my father in law! I can hardly express what he means to me and how incredibly much he does for us!! The girls adore him and are soaking up every second of this thing he calls "retirement".

The pictures are in no order but involve their activities they did while mommy was laid up. I think there were moments when they went a little stir crazy. Oh and might I add that the day after my surgery the school called and informed me that Mara was running a high fever. Well she sure was and was sicker then ever. We were 3 invalids the entire week! UGhhh...




This was a point of craziness.. Hiding in moms vegetable stand

Super Nachos anyone? Papa had Mara hard at work!


Then came the costumes. A little small but still great for the imagination!



Here Papa got out squeezy cheese and put it on the girls fingers and told them they were eating caterpillars. All day long Gracelyn was asking for more caterpillars please. It was so funny but hurt to laugh!!