6-2 against a travel team! boo-yah!

cute little pink clad keeper with a clean sheet

Birthday celebration!

 

For Lu's birthday we planned a trip to the zoo.  She got to invite 3 friends and chose Summer, Maggie and Arden.  Unfortunately Summer got sick and couldn't join us.  It was a cold, cold day but the girls were game and we all still wanted to go! I am a big believer in kids being outside.  A little cold or a little hot is just fine. Anyway it was such a fun day.  Ethan spent the day "running around the woods" with Daniel so it was an all girl trip.  We stopped at WaWa for some donuts on the way up and I packed a picnic backpack so we'd have lots of sustenance throughout our day.

The animals were out in droves and we got to see so many up close and personal.  One of our favorites was the pandas.  They were in the house eating and playing and we got to stay and watch them for a long time.  There was a keeper there who was happy to chat with us.  She told us that in the winter the pandas eat the stalks and in the summer they eat the leaves.  Interesting.  We got to watch wolves, and foxes, zebras and the lion maned tamarin. 

The girls had a great time running around, riding the merry go round, and laughing, and talking.  It was really great! 

The best thing was the seals.  This was amazing.  The girls had picked up some short bamboo sticks and were using them as walking sticks.  Well we sat down by the seal tank and were watching them swim by when we noticed that they kept stopping by the stick and putting their nose on it.  I thought that they were probably trained with a stick.  I know this from a) our last trip to the aquarium when the trainers told us that's how they work with dolphins and b) from my reading in preparation to train our little Ziva.  Anyway I told the girls and said, slowly move the stick in a big circle.  Sure enough they responded and we then spent the next 15 minutes, or maybe 10, I am not sure but it was quite a while watching them do flips, race passed us, jump out of the water and otherwise interact and play with us.  It was amazing, really we could not believe our good fortune!

On the way home we stopped at the gift shop and then drove through Chickfila for ice cream cones and french fries.  Lu got some cute elephant gifts.  Laura made the darling crocheted elephant for Maggie to give her, and Arden got her the silver elephant necklace and she chose the erasers and some magnets for herself and I chose the cute change purse.

 

It was a good, good day!

snow day?

It's chilly outside.  Today the talk about town was that we were expecting a "snowmagedon".  In fact the schools closed 2 hours early in preparation for the big event.  So far, as of 9:40 pm, we have seen not so much as a flurry.  Well, we were happy to have the extra hours.  Grace and I went to JCP and bought a pretty dress for her to wear for her baptism and we found one for her to wear to the wedding.  Successful shopping trip!
When we came home John came to play. The boys were very crazy today.  I think it's snowfever.

This evening we went to the store.  The kids and I stopped at the puppy boutique.  We got a fancy new collar.  (because she ate the old one).  The kids wanted to buy her puppy socks and shoes and tons of stuff.  I was strong though and didn't let them :)

Tonight we enjoyed a family meeting.  The topic was how to watch less TV and do your homework on time and be kind to your siblings.  The kids were engaged and agreeable so that was good.  Grace cracked me up...she was cold.  It is a bit on the chilly side inside our house in the winter. 

Last night we took a trip to the temple with Pete and Katherine.  We had a nice time.  We always get along well and enjoyed the drive.  On the way home we stopped at the WaWa for dinner.  I had never eaten there (it's a gas station FYI) and surprisingly they had a large selection and it wasn't bad for a late night stop for food.  Rob got a hot pepperoni sandwhich which he liked and it smelled good so real food is an option.

Had a chat with my new counselor today.  She will get called Sunday and she's exicted to get to work.  Which is good, there is lots of work to do.

7 years 360 days

Grace is almost 8.  I can't say it's flown by.  She's the last and we have savored all the milestones.  She's also a bit of a pill so no day seems particularly fast.  The years sure do though.

Not last night but the night before I went to bed early, Lu was still awake in her bed.  She came and slipped in the covers next to me.  We snuggled and watched a little Downton Abbey until soon we were both asleep.  She's so much bigger than the tiny babe that once lay by my side.  In the dark we whispered to each other, admiring the lovely gowns the ladies worn, talked about the day, laughed at the Z antics. 

Today she turned in her cookie order form.  Her goal was 1000 boxes of cookies.  Mine was a much more attainable 115 boxes.  That's how much you had to sell to earn the stuffed puppy and heaven knows we need another stuffed animal around here.  She easily reached the 115 and then sold some more, then some more.  Pretty soon we were pretty close to the next prize point 175 boxes.  Today she realized she was 8 boxes short so before brownies we made one last push and she got up to 193 boxes.  I think she has a career in sales.

After a short hiatus from piano Lu started back up with lessons today.  She did well and was happy to be back.  I hope she will stick with it.  She really is musical and has a talent for it.

Today in the hall at school I saw her walking back from the nurse with her friend Ava.  Ava had hurt her head.  Lu is nurturing and kind, she is always willing to walk someone to the nurse, or run and get a band aid.

Lu is a writer.  She has book plans and likes to write chapters.  She also has a good brain for math and easily figures out lots of stuff.  I wonder what she'll be when she grows up.

The other day I was talking with Ms Myers, Lu's kindergarten teacher.  She was reminiscing about when Lu was in her class.  She has a book of remembrance that she puts a few notes in each year of funny things she wants to remember about her teaching years.  She told me Lu was in the book.  It was Columbus day and the kids were on the carpet talking about Christopher Columbus.  Ms Myers asked the kids what they knew about him, Lu raised her hand and was the first one called on.  Ms Myers expected her to say he sailed around the world or something like that.  Instead she said "he was a Jew".  Hmmm.  While Ms Myers asked Lu about that interesting fact and how she knew it Ms Knight looked it up on the Internet.  She verified that Lucy was right.  Who knew?  I didn't, and I asked Ms Myers how Lu knew.  She had told her she learned it in church the day before.  She remembers and knows all kinds of interesting things.  FYI: When I looked it up myself the info seemed more speculative than conclusive but maybe he was.

Love my little Missy.

circus dog

Trick #2, unless you count sit and come which she also does. 

check

Last night we had some indoor soccer fun.  The games are fast paced and the boys play well and love it.  They love to play off the wall and to have no off sides.  It was an exciting start to our weekend.

 

Hannah finally went back to school yesterday.  She was sick for a long time.  She got cast in the ensemble cast which was disappointing but hopefully she will have a lot of fun none the less.

 

This morning was our first chess team match.  It was a tournament and it was oddly exciting to watch too.  Ethan won his first match, lost the second, won the third, lost the fourth and won the last.  Not bad for his first time out.  He is anxious to go again and do better!

 



 

 

When we got home Lucy and I took the doggies for a walk in the woods.  It's pretty out today.  Not too cold and the leaves were crunchy which is fun.

 

Tonight Hannah is going to a regional fireside.  She's going with Chelsea.  I am anxious to hear all about it.  I decided not to go because we really have a busy month and I have to be home sometimes.  It's hard to find the right balance.

perfect record

Last night was the pinewood derby.  We ended with our record of embarrassing losses intact.  Ethan's cars are always slow :)  Oh well.  His was the pink one.  Nate's "carrot car" won.  I heard it was a fun night.  I stayed home with Hannah and Grace. 

Hannah is finally feeling better.  She was in bed for basically 4 days.  Today she was home but is up and grouchy and fighting with her siblings so tomorrow she goes to school.  She'll have a lot of make up work :( and will find out her part in the play.  I can't imagine that it will be a happy day.

Poor little Penny has RSV.  I am so sad to hear that news.  It has been a winter of illness.  The flu is every where.  Kids are missing school by the droves.  Between the illnesses, the economy and the lack of quality television programing on it's a wonder we are getting through the winter.  At least I figured out how to get pictures on. I don't know what is wrong with blogger but I can switch to HTML mode and get one in.  Strange.