Annabel goes into the pit at gymnastics...
A school project of Annabel's...she worked so hard on placing the sequins on the land bits and painting the blue glitter on the ocean bits. Turned out cute!
Daniel's latest Hot Wheel track contraption. Always so fun!
Waiting for me to check out at Kohl's...now that's some photo op!
A Y Guide group activity- science themed, oozy fun!
STEM Night at school! My kids built the tallest paper tower. So fun!
STEM Night "Mad Scientist" photo op! (This was the booth I ran for the event.)
The library brought in 3D pens for our STEM Night and Annabel loves doing these things! She later got one for Christmas- just what she wanted!
Daniel practicing trombone and looking so grown up and amazing.
Daniel's 5th grade class did an assembly line simulation, making "burgers" out of nilla wafers, colored coconut, and York (or Yonk as Daniel still insists) peppermint patties. He brought the finished product home to eat. That little burger was too cute!
My favorite time of day in the library. One of these days, I want a mini disco ball on the shelf in there...the sparkles that thing would throw all over the walls...that would be cool. (I have a disco ball ornament on my Christmas tree in there, which is what got me thinking about a ball there year round. This isn't a completely random thought.)
Daniel built a Lego house to represent the house in a story they were reading at school. So cool! I was mighty impressed with his initiative.
A peek in at Annabel while she's writing...super sweet.
The kids had fun at their Y Guide Pine Car Derby!
I started reading Annabel the unabridged novel of Little Women back at the beginning of December (for our Christmas-y read of the month), and Annabel immediately started reading her own copy- she was so excited to read her own along with ours. It was so sweet- I loved that. I'd also promised her we'd go see the newest Little Women movie that was out over break (we did, with a whole crew of family, too!), but first I wanted her to see the one I grew up watching, which was in my movie cabinet...except that one (in some weird fluke) turned out to be the really old 1933 version, which we watched...but then I had to rent the 1994 version...and then we saw the newest one. Quite the run around, but we've just loved watching them all, and we got the CD for the 1994 version which has the sweetest soundtrack, and then of course we're loving reading full novel (yes, we're still at it...it's taking for-e-ver!!!).
After school reading...
Annabel had a pool party at some point recently and of course my little fish loved that party! She's getting dumped by water in this picture and loving it.
Daniel drew this comic recently...very cute.
Caught in the act!!
Ziggy and his toilet tissue roll obsession. He will shred them to bits if you let him. Sheesh. This cat.
We went as a family to see a musical production of Matilda- darling show. The kids really loved it and really want to go see more shows now. I'm loving how they are growing and enjoying these things! Afterwards, we treated the kids to ice cream at Oberweis. Yumm.
One of Daniel's Tinker Crates made this really cool glow light board. It was awesome!!
Annabel helped me prepare an overnight french toast dinner one evening. She sure loves helping in the kitchen!
Ben took Annabel to see Frozen 2, a much-awaited, long overdue Daddy/Daughter date (owed from way back last January when Annabel missed the Daddy/Daughter dance because we were stuck in California...). Annabel loved it. They had a good time. She especially loved using a gift card she had to buy her own candy.
My kids were asked to help represent our school in saying the pledge at a district board meeting. They did great! Afterwards, we walked around town, looking at Christmas lights. It was delightful. Then we made a stop for ice cream on the way home. More yumms.
Daniel keeps saying what other toys did we play with when we were younger, what other toys are in the basement that we haven't played with in a loooong time...let's get THAT out! The marble tower was the latest in this series of adventures. So fun! The cats were going crazy.
