Harry Potter Mania Attacks...

Well it's finally happened. Harry Potter has infiltrated our home and taken over our first born.  Aleea read the first book on our trip to Utah and Colorado this summer.  Then as school started she rocketed through the next three.  Glenn and I've had to drag her back from the wizarding world many times in the last few months.

By the time she got to book five I was concerned.  The Order of the Phoenix is the first in the series to become a PG-13 movie.  So I consulted with a few moms and my book expert, twelve year old niece Julia, and decided that Aleea could read the last three if I read them first.  I've been off in Hogworts for weeks now and enjoying every minute of it.  But more importantly Aleea and I are bonding through sharing these stories.  Here's some pics of her hiding under the covers reading book five.  She was supposed to be cleaning her room!

Retro Blog - Crow's Nest Farm

Just before school let out the kindergarten classes took a field trip to Crow's Nest Farm.  It was a remarkably cool day filled with animals and adventure.

 

Here their learning about dairy cows.

 

Of course there was a hay ride.

And I tried to get some cut colorful shots of Evan at the entrance of the butterfly house.  But he's such a silly this is a close as we got.

The Devil Eats Popcorn

Okay so we had FHE last night and Glenn taught the kids about being peacemakers.  (How many times will we need to have this lesson?) He tried to make the point that Heavenly Father and Jesus are pleased when we are peacemakers and that Satan watches and laughs when we argue and fight.  Half way though making this second point Evan pipes up with: "He probably even eats popcorn because it's like a really good movie..."  Oh, my!

Rachel's Fantastic Picture of Our Kids

   My super talented girlfriend Rachel Campos took our family pictures on Friday night.  This is the first of what promises to be a terrific group of photo's.  Thank you Rachel!

Here's a link to her sight - Rachel Campos Photography.com

Evan's 7th B-day Party

June 4th was last day of school with early release at noon.  So we had Evan's party after school that day.  Just like last year our wonderful friends the Bogans let us use the Falcon Point pool and clubhouse.  Thanks guys!

Here's the invite including his partially toothless grin.

Here's some pics:

 

Here's a thank you layout I did for the Bogans of Katie.  She's as cute on the inside as the outside!

Retro Blog: Aleea's Friend Bracelet Party

I typed up this entry back in March and never posted it!  So for the sake of family history...  Here it is, March 19th 2009.

I've been hesitant and some would say negligent in following through with birthday parties for my kids.  I simply didn't have the emotional and financial 'bandwidth' for a party and frankly I didn't I had the know how to pull it off.  But as many of you know Aleea has struggled lately and really needed an official 'friend' party.  I planned a bracelet making party and did a 'dry run' with her wonderful cousins last weekend. 

The party went beautifully.  Everyone had a great time making their own personalized bracelets.  Evan was out on a purposely planned play date.  But before he left he set up a fishing game for the girls.  We really appreciated his generous contribution to a party he wouldn't even attend.

 

Thanks to Cassidy, Abby, Rachel, Danni, and Kiara for their wonderful gifts!

 

The Great Ladybug Hunt

 

 

At the end of May ladybug season was in full swing.  Aleea was fascinated and hunted everyday for the bugs.  Then she put them in a clear plastic storage box that served as temporary atrium.  She really wanted them to become permanent pets.  But at my strong insistence, she reluctantly released them into our garden.  Well, a few weeks later Evan found ladybug larva on our plants!  She had inadvertently provided us with an all natural insecticide.  Cool!