The walk home....

 The walk home from school is always fun.  I enjoy it because we can talk about our day and also enjoy the nice fresh air.  There is always something goofy or funny that occurs on these walks.  Today, Molly was ahead of us.  Apparently she was weary from the short walk and decided to sit down at the intersection while she waited for us.  Seriously---  who teaches that girl to pose?  Is she 6 or 16???!!!

Then there is Sam--- or shall I call him "spider-Sam"??!!

The rock is always good for poses---  or the sidewalk.

Then Molly sat in the neighbor across the street's  yard, while waiting for Sam and I to catch up again---  there is that pose again---is that called DIVA??

From 11/2014

RACE TO WIN songs

Just believe (sam)

RACE TO WIN -----Molly sings ensemble

Molly got to sing in an ensemble with a couple of other girls.  They practiced the song a couple of times before the performance  I just got her part....Here is take 1

Thank you Lord rehearsal #2-- Molly focuses on the "tape" marks of where to stand.  Last note is a doozy for the whole crew

And the actual performance of the entire song

RACE TO WIN Sam parts

Very first song of the musical

Here are several of the lines that Sam had during the program

I wish I would have gotten the entire musical instead of snip-its--- I'll try to remember that for next year!!

RACE to WIN "I've Got The Power"

Our Children's choir at church performed their summer musical last week.  It was very good (and yes, I am just a wee bit biased)  Sam had a great speaking part this year!!  His character (Chief) has lines in every scene (except the opening and the end.)  He did a Fabulous job!!!  Unfortunately, I did not get all of great parts due to technical difficulties...  My camera died mid production. The back up camera was not working as well--  and most things ended up VERY, VERY blurry.  I almost felt like the "crew" did in the musical, when they find out that the backup engine exploded (Sam's line no less!) 

So, all that to say----  here is one of the songs.  We were fortunate enough to be hanging out during the rehearsal right before the performance.  Sam and Molly were on the complete opposite ends of the stage the ENTIRE  musical.  I knew I would be focusing on Sam mostly during the actual performance (which unfortunately did not happen like I wanted--- see above) so I thought it would be great to focus on Molly during the practice.  

This did tape better for a few reasons---  the camera did not have to keep readjusting to the lighting changes and I was up close and personal.  The draw back is that it is rehearsal therefore people are moving all about etc.

Molly, Molly, Molly.  Well, another thing about rehearsal---  you get to see what she wants to do so bad--- sing right into the microphone as though she is the only one there. 

Sam and Molly during rehearsal

The actual performance.  Molly so wishes she had that solo for this song, I love watching her "sing the words" to herself (Kirk started taping here, he got Molly)

I've got the Power actual performance-- Sam

randomness

 and this is why I always ask---  will you eat a second one?  Are you sure you want another?

The Easter egg line up...

Soccer spring 2015

Sam is into soccer... He loves it, which means that I now love it too. 

 

 It  is so  fun to watch him play each week

 

 He has really gotten better and has shown some great progress

 yes, he is ALWAYS happy while playing...

 ALWAYS!!!

 You can't wipe that sweet smile off his face

it truly makes sitting in the cold, the rain, the heat, and the wind so worth it!!!

EASTER 2015

The scavenger Easter egg hunt

 

 reading a clue

searching

the race is on... who can get there first?

 hmmm, Sam and Molly try to solve the clue

up in the tree?

perfect for my little tree climber!!

 love the look of accomplishment!

All in all....  quite a fun night, and a great success!!

HAPPY EASTER 2015

 Yup, this is the best I got....  You can dress them up in teh best of clothes, but they are still my same kiddos---  fake smiles and all :)

elsa

After the recent cold snap, ice storm then follow up snow storm  this poster is appropriate!  Hope someone captures her before spring gets here!!

they win--- again

Why is it that when ever I try to remove things from this house (toys/gadgets/clothes etc etc) said item then becomes the best thing known to man.  This tent has lived a good life.  It has been fun and entertaining.  I thought it was on it's way out.  Then, it magically re-appeared in my family room.  The two actually worked together well (team work I think they called it) to set it up.  I asked what it was doing down in the middle of the family room and this is the answer I got- from Molly-- "you told me to read my book, I needed to make an awesome book reading area".  um, how am I suppose to respond to that?!

Boosterthon Molly 2014

Molly had fun,  she tired out easier than Sam, but she had a blast.

 Her run was a little different than Sams.  Her intent was not all about the laps.  She enjoyed the sights, the sounds, the audience cheering her on, the cones...

 

You see, there are cones marking the path.  Believe it or not some kids would actually run right beside these cones and knock them over...  This distressed my little girl- so much so that she had to arrange them back into their perfect little row...

She ran a good, strong race, She did not run as many laps as Sam, but she still did the minimum.  She enjoyed it though- the whole experience

Boosterthon Sam 2014

 As usual, Sam LOVED the fun run----  he really gets it... to him it really is a "fun" run!!  Almost every picture of him looks the same, from the first lap to the 40th---  he never lost that sweet smile!!!!

 

He was smiling while waving-- look at that focus!

   

Making great strides 

 

 He was wearing down a bit-- but you could not tell, he was just happy, happy, happy!!!!

oh, that girl...

 We all know it, we all laugh about it, but here is just a little proof.  Molly does tend to dance to the beat of a different drummer.

 The 1st graders all wrote a thank you note to the veterans .  Apparently they needed to paint a flag as well.  I loved looking at all of the cute flags, seemed they all had 50 stars and 13 stripes.  Then I spotted Molly's.  I guess we now only need 12 states and wow, can't even tell how many colonies we have.  and stripes...  why should we aline them?  Isn't it prettier to fan it out like the sun's rays?!?

 

And why would anyone number their spelling test where you can actually fit your spelling word on the paper?  That would be crazy!  We talked about it after I got her paper.  She still claims that there was not a problem... she was able to get the words on there wasn't she??!!! 

 

Then I get this in her daily folder...  Thinking it must have been a bad day, and this just topped it off...

 

oh, I do not know what goes on in that sweet little head of hers sometimes, (most times) but she does make a smile come across my face on occasion...

throwing away food

Are You Throwing Away Good Food?  Good to know facts....

An eye-opening new study claims 'use by' and 'sell by' dates on food are confusing and misleading. click below....

 Perfectly Fine Years Past Date? »

proud mama moment

I was having a conference with Sam's teacher.  She had to get into his file.  She pulled this out and said, awe, this is sweet, did you see this?  I looked at it.  I LOVED it-- so much so that of course I had to take a pic!  Wonder why this paper never came home?
Love that boy!!!

crystals

He had a special project to do for school.  We got to grow crystals!  It was an interesting project, I was not sure if it would end up working or not. But it did---  boy did it ever!  These things grew and grew and grew.  let me tell you a secret.  Do not put them in a corner in the kitchen and forget about them while you wait for your son to write his report about them.  They might just explode..  ok, they might not explode, but they are sure to expand.  They went onto the counter, onto the backsplash, onto the wall, down the cupboard and all on the floor. What a mess!  At least it was just salt, so clean up was pretty simple (thankfully!)
Sam did a super job, and he was quite proud of his accomplishment. and so were we!

this grinch did not steal christmas

It was DEAR night at school.  The kids love this.   They get to go to school at night, wear their PJ's, get hot chocolate and cookies and then roam the hallways listening to their favorite teachers reading stories.  It is a nice night out for the kids...  Look who stopped by to see them this year...

 This is who visited us last year (2013)  so much fun!!!

Christmas songs at church Sam and Molly

This is the best I got---  My camera kept stopping on me?  then it was completely blurry?? who know-- I am sure it is the camera and not the camera holder---  that would never be ha ha.

Molly looks like she has fleas this year.  Sam looks like he could fall asleep at any minute.  Yup, best performance ever ha

Apparently I kept them both up too late the night before as they yawn throughout.  Doesn't phase Molly though-- she continues to sing through the yawn listen carefully, you can really hear it.

It was really special though because Sam's 3rd grade teacher from school came to see him sing!!  It was a wonderful surprise!  So sweet.

and it would not be a church singing event without Molly trying to do something to make sure she is noticed...

I love Christmas time.  I love theses kids.  I love that they are singing songs about our Savior.  I pray that they will soon listen to Christ stirring in their hearts.

some days.....