Laura's History Project

Laura had a history project on the renaissance and chose to write about Filippo Brunelleschi among other things. Here is the Duomo in Florence that she made. She did everything by herself. The only advise I gave was to make the dome out of paper-mache with a balloon. I think the whole thing is paper-mached over different materials. The bumpiness made it hard to paint. She also had an oral presentation and written report. It made me homesick for Florence! The school kept it for a while and the school library wanted to keep it, but Laura wanted to take it home. She got an A.

Utah County Mom

Love this website! She has all sorts of things she posts to do in Utah County. And posts things regularly. Here is a giveaway she's doing. I hope I win!

http://www.utahcountymom.com/2011/11/illinois-nut-candy-review-and-giveaway.html

Colorful Observations

I love the exploration going on here! Daniel and his friend Jade loved playing with these colorful sensory bags I made for the preschoolers. (I got the idea from www.teachpreschool.com)They first squished them and made hand prints and cookie cutter prints. Then they wanted their own, so I made each of them one. They started to put them up to the window and made comments like: "Awesome!" "Wow!" "Beautiful!" "Sparkly!" Daniel then asked if I could help him tape them to the window. More exploration with light and "color mixing." Now they are outside with them:)  I need to clean my windows!

Football

Danie's Birthday Party

Daniel's 6th birthday party (Mid September) was a fun Star Wars party. The kids LOVED it and were totally engaged the whole time. Here are some high lights!

The light Sabers! (Pipe insulation and foil duct tape-these
are much softer than pool noodles)

Relay on the Planet Mustafar (Volcanic Planet)

Claiming their light sabers. Look at them run with their eyes
fixed on the light sabers:)

Jedi Training Camp. Scott was a great Jedi Master!

Jedi Knights practicing in training camp

Part of the Jedi Training obstacle course

Beginning the obstacle course

The Droid Factory Machines

(Ryan and a friend moved the light sabers

up and down as the kids tried to cross on the

wood planks. The kids were supposed to miss them )

More planet Mustafar. They had to step on the "rocks"

to cross over"

Fighting the Sith Lord at the end!

 If you look closely, you can see an unexpected visitor.

Daniel being teased by daddy:

New additions

The kids and I were at the scout store in a business district in Orem and we came across these tiny, fightened, and emaciated kittens. We couldn't just leave them there. After several hours, we caught two of the three we saw. They were all the same size so we're pretty sure they are from the same litter and were either dumped or were feral. But they purred as soon as we held them and were box trained from the beginning as well. With  advise of a vet tech, we've been working on socializing them and fattening them up. They have improved by leaps and bounds! They like to be petted, held, they lean into our hands for more,  they play, play, play, and are so adorable. Now if we can just get a rescue group to help us. So far we've been blown off by everyone I contacted. Maybe the salt lake humane society will take them. They aren't no kill, but they do keep them a long time and rehabilitate if necessary. They have a high adoption rate. Here are some pictures.

The untrusting evil eye. They were very frightened

and this was a typical expression.

Still scruffy and thin. Still unsure. This was a few days later. 

The kitten in the back was one we went back for so this

was his first day. They are about the size of an adult

guinea pig but weigh much less.

Today! They have improved by leaps and bounds:)

They are still thin, but so much trusting and healthier.

They pounce, wrestle, and play! 

BTW Scott hates having them here, but said I did

the right thing.

California Trip

I LOVED going home to California! We had so much fun seeing family, going to Disneyland, Kirk and Michelle's, and the beach. It was hard to come back home. We first stayed with Rob and Kimberly (my brother and his wife). We were pretty much spread out everywhere. Scott and I slept on the L shaped sofa in the family room. They were so nice to host us and two different family get togethers to fit everyone in. We saw Tina and Florian and Vivi (step sister, her husband, and step mom) on Saturday and then on Memorial day my mom, sister Susan and her husband Mo and two of her kids, Anthony and Autumn. My step brother (my mom's step son) Greg was there too. Swimming, grilling, and fun times!

Rob making Guacamole. He reminds me of my dad here.

Heather, Daniel, and cousin Aria. 

(Aria is Tina and Florian's daughter)

Jacob, Laura, cousins Elise and Noah. (Elise and Noah

are Rob and Kimberly's kids)

Scott talking with Tina and Florian while watching the 

kids swim.

Daniel and cousin Juliet taking a snack break. 

(Juliet is Rob and Kimberly's youngest daughter)

Scott and Rob watching the kids. Scott was great at 

giving me time to socialize with Tina, Florian and Vivi.

From back to front: Aria, Jacob, Juliet, and Daniel

playing with Lego after swimming.

Ryan with cousin Noah. Their birthdays are 

just a few days apart.

Dinner time!

Cousin Delilah (Tina and Florian's daughter) 

sitting on Laura's lap. Juliet is next to Laura.

Delilah entertaining us!

Memorial Day. My mom, Scott, and Greg on the fireplace.

My mom, brother in law,  Mo Ghasemi (American Iranian)

and my sister Susan.

Rob with Susan's family and Greg.

My mom watching the kids swim.

We left Rob and Kimberly's that evening to check into our motel at Disneyland. We spent three days at Disney and six nights in the motel. We stayed at the Alpine Inn. It was just around the corner from Disneyland. We usually stay across the street, but we were trying not to spend as much. Big Mistake! It was only a 15 minute walk, but when you are tired from a long day at the park, the last thing you want to do is take a long walk to your hotel. There was no shuttle. We don't like to deal with the shuttles anyway. We hate to wait for them:) Next time we will spend extra and stay closer. Poor Ryan had several blisters on his feet from the swimming pool and had a hard time at Disneyland. But all in all the hotel was very clean and a good deal. Disneyland was a blast as always!

 Waiting for the rest of the family 

outside the entrance to Disneyland.

Daniel with his "driver's license"  to Autopia.

Me and Scott

In line for It's a Small World. Daniel is watching the dolls

come out of the clock. We happened to be there on the 

hour.

Daniel climbing the rope at the play area

of Tarzan's Tree House.

Me, Jacob, Ryan, and Laura on Splash

Mountain. The first time I went with Scott.

He said he could use the picture they take

of you when you're about to drop to blackmail me!

Silly picture near the Winnie the Pooh ride.

Grizzly River Run at California Adventure.

The second time around without me and Daniel.

Daniel was too afraid of the drops on all the rides that had them.

Meeting Sulley. Daniel was too shy to actually meet him.

A great diversion in Tomorrowland. A water ball!

Laura's new ears!

Jake is such a nut! He loved his new hat.

This is probably the last time my kids will be excited about Dumbo.

Daniel wasn't even very excited. He's too "cool" now. Sad :(

Eating lunch at Toontown. A great place to eat! I was able

to have a Chef's salad a couple of times and a Turkey club another time.

Meeting Pluto:) 

Daniel and Ryan didn't want to.

Heather and Daniel. All the others were on fast and scary rides.

Waiting for the Tiki room. Another great diversion and cool break.

They have yummy and huge Dole whips too:)

gotta take advantage of good photo opportunities!

Celebrating Jacob's 10th birthday at Main Streets Gibson Girl's Ice-Cream Parlor.

Yum! At City Hall Jacob got a pin saying "Happy Birthday" and we

all got pins saying "We're Celebrating!" Staff and cast members all

over wished Jacob a Happy Birthday. 

ANOTHER great and cool diversion and break. The

Main Street Cinema where they play old time Mickey Mouse

cartoons.

On the canoes. This was the first time we did this.

It was fun to go around the river and do something different.

Playing on Tom Sawyers Island.

Yet ANOTHER diversion! This was on the third

day and Daniel said, "Why didn't we do this yesterday?"

Why didn't we?  We always make a point to do it and the
kids always love it. They love all the running around and
getting their wiggles out.

Daniel going into one of the caves.

Ryan and view of New Orleans Square from Tom Sawyers Island.

Me holding Baby Taryn at Kirk and Michelle's house.

Jake and Daniel in Kirk's Corvette.

The girls are holding African Hissing Cockroaches. Michelle

keeps them in a tank. Yuk!

Night swimming in Kirk and Michelle's pool.

Kirk and Michelle

Playing in the waves at Huntington Beach. I need to

teach my kids how to body surf and boogie board!

Not this trip--the water was FREEZING!

Daniel's treasure!

Click on old Posts below to see my other recent post about the end of the school year programs and concerts.