Fish On!

This morning I took my kids to the Springbrook Trout Farm. We were the only ones there besides a nice couple that worked the farm. They were very friendly and the man helped us with everything from picking out poles, to putting bait on the hook every time the sneaky fish would steal it. It took a few minutes, but after that, the kids starting catching fish one after the other. It brought me such joy to hear their squeals of excitement as they felt that tug on their pole, and lifted up their rainbow trout splishing and splashing out of the water. After seven fish.....1 by Luci and me, 3 by Emilio, and 4 by Gabi, I had to cut the kids off. They charge by the fish, and this little venture was getting expensive. It was so fun though. We got to watch as the nice gentleman gutted and cleaned the fish for us, and thankfully my kids weren't traumatized by it. He even set out their still beating hearts for the kids to see. They put the fish in a plastic bag for us, and the kids were so proud of their catch. Afterwards, they played in the treehouse, and play equipment on the property for a bit before we headed home for lunch. It was definitely a special outing.

Talent Show

Emilio performed with his class in the school talent show a few weeks ago. He and his class had been practicing a hula number to Pearly Shells for a few weeks. The day of the talent show, Gabi got wind that the performance was that night. She started crying and saying that she had wanted to perform as well. I told her that she has to plan these things ahead of time, and practice a lot. She said she really wanted to do it, and perform a few songs she knew. I called the coordinator, and asked if she would consider taking another performer in the show . Granted, this was 2 hours before the show started. The coordinator told us she would, and so I contacted my friend about a tutu and an American flag. Gabi practiced a few times at home, and was ready to hit the stage. She was genuinely so excited and not nervous at all. She was the last single act on, and she did great. After her first song, which was a 50 states song, she relished in the glory of the applause, and then said, "And, that's not all folks," and broke into a song about the continents that her Nana taught her. She loved the attention from the audience. It was very fun. Emilio did a great job with his class as well. He remembered all the choreography really well. It was a very fun night, and I was proud of my little performers.

Graduation

On June 10th, John graduated from U of Washington's Law School!  We went to Portage Bay Cafe for brunch that morning with John's parents and mine, and then headed over to the campus.  We found out right before the ceremony started that the kids were going to get to walk across the stage with John.   There was a lot of pomp and circumstance, and the key note speakers talked on for forever, but finally, it was time for the graduates to walk.  The kids happily joined John on stage, and Gabi turned and waved to the whole audience, and everyone burst into laughter.  It was a very sweet moment seeing him with his three kids.  God has brought our family through a long journey, and we are grateful that we are ending this journey.  Please keep John in your prayers as he studies for the bar.  He will be taking the exam towards the end of July. 

Ballerina Girl

A few weekends ago my sweet Gabi danced her little heart out at her third dance recital.  She looked darling in her fancy costume, and had a lot of fun.  My favorite part was when she heard her Nana's infamous whistle, and all of us yelling her name.  She started waving and smiling like crazy out at the audience.  It made us all giggle.  During the finale, she did the same thing, but this time used her fan to wave madly again.  So cute!  It was so fun to watch all of the sweet little girls on stage that day. 

Make em' feel loved....

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week! I've collected money from both of my kids' classes, and used the $$$ to make some cute gifts for the teachers this week. It was a little anticlimactic however for E's class on Monday when we had decorated the teacher's door, and the kids were all ready with their tulips for her and she didn't show....they had a sub! Major bummer. But, the next day she was in for a surprise. Apparently when she drove up and saw something on her door, she assumed her room had been vandalized until she got a little closer, and saw this....

Monday Door decor

and then she felt very loved! 

this and 25 tulips from the kids

Tuesday, water glasses with Crystal Light packets

"Thanks for quenching our Thirst of Knowledge"

Wednesday.  I forgot to take a picture, but we wrapped up nail polish and emery boards (in the shape of flowers) and put a tag saying, "You Color Our World."

Thursday - "Thanks for helping us bloom" petunias

Friday - Popcorn buckets with kettle and butter popcorn, and 4 movie tickets each.  

We feel so thankful for the teachers and all they do for our kids.  Help them feel appreciated this week if you haven't already.

Another year

Our Gabi girl turned 6 this week. She awoke to paper streamers around her door, and was so excited that her special day had arrived. I bought the "healthy" if you can call it that, version of pop tarts for breakfast and whipped up berry smoothies to go along with the treat. Gabi got to open two gifts before school. A Squinkies cupcake house from Great Nana, and a Sticker Album from us. She was thrilled with both, but boy oh boy did that girl smile when she saw all the stickers in her album (thanks to a family friend who donated all of her old scrapbook stickers for the cause). She went to school with a big smile on her face. Towards the end of the school day I came into the class with a mylar balloon which she loved (Thank you Dollar Tree), and piggy pops that I made for her class (a combo of double stuff oreos, dipped in pink chocolate and pink marshmallows and chocolate chips on a stick). They were a hit! The kids all know that Gabi LOVES pigs, and they go out of their way to point them out to her when they are seen in books, shows, etc. So, the piggy pops were very appropriate. After school Gabi got to open the rest of her presents from Nonno and Nana and one more from us. She loved all her gifts. We then went to ballet class where she recieved her recital costume. So exciting. We ended the night by attending a bbq with our new community group from church where everyone sang to Gabi and we had chocolate cake and ice cream. She had a wonderful birthday. We are so thankful to have our sweet Gabi Joy in our lives .

Kids and Paint

Last Saturday we had 11 little girls over to help Gabi celebrate her at that point impending 6th birthday.  We welcomed the girls into our crowded tables in the kitchen to color on butcher paper while we waited for everyone, and then got started.  I asked the girls to pretend they were butterflies or bumblebees looking at a flower from above.  They drew flowers on their canvas and started painting away, filling all the white space with glorious color and even some glitter paint.  After they were finished my beloved friends Emily (my sis in law) Kristin, and Sheryl outlined the middles and petals in black ink to make the art pop, and then wound then with ribbon and a tag so the girls could give the paintings as gifts for Mother's day this weekend.  We played Pass the Portrait where each girl would add a feature or accessory as we passed the papers around in a circle.  They had so much fun playing this game as I called out, "Draw a nose....now PASS, Draw some earrings, now PASS." They enjoyed it that is, until they received their original back and saw how silly it had become.  Most of them didn't want to take those pictures home.  Oh well.  It was fun while it lasted.  We then made bookmarks out of paint chips and stamped on them.  We then went outside for a photo shoot.  Each child chose one or two accessories for the photo opp.  My friend Kristin took amazing photos of all the party guests.  We ended with letting the guests make Ice Cream Sundae Masterpieces to eat and let Gabi open her gifts.  What a fun, wild and colorful day we had! 
Beware, there are LOTS of pictures ahead.  Thanks again to my friend Kristin who took all the lovely photos below.