Grandpa's Farm

We took a ten day vacation a couple weeks back and headed to see family.  Our first stop was in Cuba, Missouri to visit Cliff's dad's farm.  To say the kids had a great time would be putting it mildly.  Aidan has been there a few times but this was the first time for all five of us and the first time where they were old enough to actually play and explore.

This is a pic I grabbed of one of our pit stops on the way.

One of the popular farm activities was climbing all over Grandpa's tractors and 4 wheelers.  The first day Noah wanted to do nothing else!

Our first morning there we went fishing.  Aidan seemed to be the only one really interested in it.  However, they all enjoyed feeding them.  They caught one pretty quickly and Cliff showed them how to clean it.  We had it for lunch the next day and it was delicious.  

A couple of times a day Grandpa or Cliff would give the kids rides around the farm in one of the four wheelers.  There was one that we could fit our whole family on.  There is 160 acres to explore so the rides were a lot of fun.

More exploring and getting dirty!

Daily climbs to say Hi to the cows.

The farm dog Bear was very friendly and very huge!  Every morning Noah would come out of the house and call for him to say hello.

One night before bed we made S'mores.  The kids each had one but then just wanted the marshmellows.

"Bubble" gun wars!

He surrenders.

We had a cookout one night with the extended family.  The kids ate a whole watermelon pretty much on their own and got to meet many 2nd and 3rd cousins!

Squirrel hunting at it's finest!

Final tractor rides before heading out to our next stop!

Finally a visit to Great Grandma Mullen!

Pinterest Homeschool Activities

About a month ago I decided that I wanted to keep Noah and Ryla at home for preschool this year.  I found a curriculum I really like online and just needed to come up with some good fine motor activites to go along with it.  I have come up with several and have bought and made things for three of them.  I tried them out on the kiddos the other night and they were a big hit.  All three enjoyed the pom poms the most.  I gave them tweezer or chopsticks to move the pom poms into the tray.  Later I will put numbers at the bottom of them to help with number recognition and order.

This one was fun to make.  Went to Walmart and got paint swatches.  Two of each.  Cut one up and clued it to clothespins.  Helps with matching the colors and coordination.

This was their least favorite but they still liked it.  Later I want to use it to teach them about patterns.

Take me out to the Ball Game

We had the opportunity to go a Round Rock Express game.  They are the AAA team for the Rangers.  A friend of mine called and asked if we wanted to share the box seats they had.  What a fun night for my kiddos.  The box was extra nice because it served as a large playpen for my Noah.  Two other families were there and my kids really enjoyed it.  Only Aidan watched the game but all loved seeing their friends.   

Father's Day

This picture needs no explanation.  Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy I could have ever hoped for.

Swim Lessons

The last two weeks have been filled with swim lesson after swim lesson.  We did a two week course Monday thru Thursday for the older two.  They did a great job.  Ryla's lessons mainly consisted of feeling comfortable in the water, blowing bubbles, and doing learning to kick and do strokes, and finally floating.  Out of 12 areas she completed 10 of them.  I was so proud of her.  

Aidan did all of the same things at level 3 but without any floaties.  He got 12 out of 12.  At the end of the lessons, I couldn't keep them out of the water.  Ryla LOVES to swim underwater and I got tons of compliments on how well she does for her age.  Aidan enjoys diving for swim toys and swimming above water.  They were doing so well that I was able to sit on the edge of the pool while they played.

Noah wasn't in lessons, so I would alternate putting him in childcare and the pool.  He usually preferred the childcare, or as he calls it "class."  Mainly because this is how he "swims" at the pool.

My trip to Spokane

I was blessed to travel back to Spokane over Memorial weekend.  I had a great time catching up with my friends.  I stayed at my friend Amanda's house and her precious family.   We had a wonderful girls night!  I got to see the family I nannied for and couldn't believe how big Jack and Holly have gotten.  Finally I got to attend Julia's wedding!  I can't believe she was once the teen who babysat for us.  She was gorgeous!!  A great trip overall!!!!!  

Mother/Daughter Date

Ryla and I got some quality time last Sunday.  Cliff and I just got a new bed and I needed to pick out some bedding.  When I told her what we were doing she was so excited.  She picked out her "special" shoes and her favorite purse.  She was so sweet with me going through the aisles and as patient as can be.  She even picked out the decorative pillow for the bedding!  We went out to eat afterwards and she was just tickled that it was just me and her.