Family Movie Night!

A couple Friday's ago our church had family movie night. The kids love going since they have a concession stand and they can buy some goodies. We always have the kids get their money out of their banks so they can buy something. 

We arrived at 6:30, but the movie didn't start until 7pm. By the time the movie started the kids were already finished with all their candy! 

Ella had fallen earlier that day in the garage and skinned her chin pretty bad. She's a trooper though! 

Zeke didn't really watch the movie all that much he liked wandering back and forth between me and Daddy. 

The morning of the movie Jack asked if Andrew could come with us. I told him I would text Ms. Kim and see if that would work for them. At first I was thinking that their whole family might come, but then I occurred to me that if that didn't work for them we could just pick up Andrew and bring him along. It was so fun for Jack to have a friend with him. Kim and I were just amazed that we are actually at this point in our kids childhood where they can go with friends and you feel okay about it. Crazy how time flies!!! 

Andrew & Jackson...already friends April 2008

It feels like we were just here a few moments ago! 

Schools Out For Summer!!!

The Monday prior to my gum graph....hence the blogging hiatus...we had our last day of home school at Miss Kim's house. I'm planning on doing a couple days a week with Owen and Jack at the house just to keep things fresh in their minds. It's so crazy to think back to Kim and I talking about home schooling our kids together (at the time it felt like it was forever away) and now we've finished our second year! Time has a way of doing that doesn't it?  

 

 

 

Last day of school...

 

 

First day of school!

 

Since the first day of school Owen has learned so much! He knows how to write every letter both upper and lower case. He can read many words....he doesn't know all the rules yet, but I'm sure he'll get that next year. He knows all the months of the year, can count to 100 by 1's, by 5's and by 10's. He can also count to twenty in Spanish. He also knows the different values of money when it comes to pennies, nickels and dimes.

 

 

Last day of school...

 

 

First day of school!

 

This cute kid can't look at the camera to save himself! Jack has also come a long way this year. He can write his full name....he practices and practices this one. He can cut and paste really well now. This was such a struggle for him last year. Jack is an excellent at coloring. He loves to pick all the different colors so the picture really does look true to life. He's usually the last one coloring because of this. He can count to around 39, but he does know the song counting by 5's and 10's to 100.

 

 

Last day of school...

 

 

First day of school!

 

Not only is it neat to see the change in the boys looks in this picture you can see how much Andrew grew since last October. Andrew also learned how to spell his name and count by 5's and 10's and in Spanish. Andrew is very precise when it comes to doing things...like lining up his coins. he likes them to be in a nice straight line!

 

Ella and Josiah didn't get their pictures taken yet since they aren't technically in school this year. Next year they will start their first year of preschool! Scary!!!

 

The best part of homeschooling for me has been speaking the Word of God into these kids lives. When we meet at Miss Kim's we read a Bible story from The Jesus Storybook Bible and then we sing a Bible verse that goes along with the story from our Seeds of Family Worship CD's. We talk with the kids a lot about the stories and how they match up with how we live today. We've also explained to them that they don't allow this in public schools today. I feel so strongly that I need to be the one teaching my children these Godly principles and pouring into their little impressionable minds the Word of God.

New Belts!!!

A couple weeks ago the boys had testing at Taekwondo. Ella wasn't ready to participate in testing this time since she has only been going for about a month.

Getting all lined up and straightened out!

Jackson getting his Junior Orange belt from Miss Kelsey!

Owen getting his Junior Yellow belt! 

Owen was so excited to get his new belt on he had to run over right away. 
 

 Standing in line with all their new belts! 

Proud of my Big Boy! 

Andrew was over the moon about getting his new belt! 

So proud of my Jackers! 

The whole time I was over taking pictures of the Taekwondo kids Logan and Zeke were so good just sitting across the gym! Logan kept talking about her belt even though she doesn't have one, but her made up belt was pink! So cute!

Caitlynn Elizabeth Storer!

 My best friend Kimberlee had her baby girl on Sunday February 10th. Caitlynn Elizabeth came really quickly once they got to the hospital...in fact the midwife only had on one glove when she came out.

We brought dinner over and hung out with the Storer's on Friday night. It was nice to get to hold Caitlynn and visit with Micah and Kim. I had already met Caitlynn at the hospital, but I was too busy checking her out so I forgot to take a picture. 

Kim was already looking so good...tired, but good!!! 

 

The new Storer Family!

We've been friends with Micah and Kim for more than 10 years and Micah was just thinking and said...wouldn't it have been funny if 10 years ago we could have had a glimpse of what our life would be like now. In 10 years so much has changed and now between us and them we have 7 kids! God is so good!!

We're Not Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf AKA Owen's 5th Birthday Party!

This years theme for Owen's party was The 3 Little Pigs & The Big Bad Wolf. I was having a hard time figuring out what theme to go with a couple months back and then I read my old book to him for the first time and he fell in love with it...so I ran with the idea.

My old co-workers from Safeco should find this funny. I didn't get rid of ALL my pigs so I used 3 of them for the centerpiece at the food table.

After eating our pigs in a blanket (little smokies in crescent rolls) and wolves in a blanket (roast beef in crescent rolls) it was time to read the storybook. I was worried the kids would be having so much fun playing with toys they don't normally play with that they wouldn't be into this, but they all sat and listened very carefully. It helped that the book is a bit exciting!

After the book it was time for the first game based on the saying, "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin" in the book. Except the pigs don't have hair on their chin so I thought it would be fun for the kids to try to stick hair on the pigs chin.

Jack giving it a shot. I love how even though Andrew and Kendra are fighting over Evil Dr Porkchop they both took time to stop and watch Jack! Kids are hilarious!!!

The end results were...no chin hair, but Kendra got the closest with getting it in his ear. Her prize was a piggy back she can paint.

Sorry the picture quality stinks. My camera is down for the count so I was borrowing my mom's and I didn't have the setting right. All the other pictures are courtesy of my Dad.

 The next game was what I named "The Huff & Puff"! The kids got to be the big bad wolf and try to blow the pigs house down. Michael cut a hole in a Solo cup and put Hamm from Toy Story in it. Then the kids had to get on their tummies and blow his "house" down. We would put tape on the floor to mark off who blew their house the furthest. Camryn won this game and she got a periscope just like the one that the wolf used in the book to spy on the pigs.

Partygoers!!!

Ga-Ga with Ella Bean!

Kim with Josiah!

Rachael with Lilyann!

Aunt Stephie, Pa & Aunt Becky!

Uncle Ry, Daddy & Mr. Micah!

The birthday boy himself! Sadly he wasn't feeling very good most of the day...hence the lack of pictures of him. He did brighten up for the book, games and cake...although he didn't really eat anything. His cake is the strong brick house that the third little pig built that couldn't be blown down by the big bad wolf. I made it with ice cream sandwiches, crushed Oreos and Cool Whip. It was the easiest and most tasty cake I've ever made!!!

Happy 5th Birthday Buddy!!!

Singing to the birthday boy!

Making his wish!

Present time...Owen was opening his present from Jack here. I took Jack to The Dollar Tree and let him pick out a present for Owen all on his own. He picked out a shark that grows in water and a flashlight that Owen can clip on his clothes.

Owen seeing his BIG present from Ga-Ga & Pa.

Cars big boy bike! He's been riding it around the house all day. He's really good too...I don't think those training wheels will be on for long.

Group shot! I love love love how Ella and Kendra (front row in pink) have identical cheeser faces!

Owen playing with his new Leapster 2 from Uncle Ry & Aunt Stephie....the one we got him last year for his birthday bit the dust a few months back. He is loving being able to play it again!

Thank you to all our family and friends that were able to celebrate Owen's 5th Birthday with us!