Saturday, June 21, 2014

Art Camp for Adam

A brother in our ward is a middle school art teacher and he offered an art camp this summer.  Adam attended the 6-8 year old class for 4 days this week and had a blast!

Day 1
Color Theory

Primary & Secondary Colors
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Cool vs. Warm Colors
He said the warm color side was a diving board on top of a mountain.
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Day 2
Georgia O’Keefe Water Color Flowers

The top one is a flower and a mountain.  He couldn’t remember what the 2 lines were on the bottom one.
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Day 3
Pablo Picasso Style Abstract Drawing

He used shapes to draw this super hero Adam.
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Day 4
Clay Sculpture

He sculpted himself as “the most awesome soccer player” with a net and a ball!  I laughed when I picked him up and his face was smeared with clay residue!
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He took home a bag of art supplies and has set up his studio using the easel upstairs where he and Abby work on their projects together, at designated times.  He wrote up a schedule and taped it to the easel.  Not sure what that’s about!

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Fun in the Sun

The temperature is rising here in Dallas so it’s time to bring out the water!

The kids had a blast using the water table and hose for the first time the other day!
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Today was a HOT, 95 degrees at 4:00 pm so we went to the pool for the first time this season!
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I’m a bit concerned about what I’m going to do with Caleb when I take them on my own to the pool with friends during the week.  He was jumping in without warning, or wanted to walk a few feet away and then just right off the edge.  Maybe after a few fall-ins he’ll learn he has to wait until I’m ready for him!
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My little fishies have improved SO much over last summer!  They have been having swimming lessons for the past 6 weeks or so.  We go twice a week to a semi-private lesson and they have gone from being scared of the water and not wanting to go under, to jumping in to swim to us without warning!  (Another thing we must work on – make sure Mom or Dad acknowledges you before you jump in!)

Abby swimming to Dad
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Adam was all over the area where he knew he could touch and no longer needs us to be right by him!
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“Ice cream scoops”
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There will be much more swimming this summer than there was last summer.  They are begging to go back!  Good thing we have swimming playgroups set up 3 times a week if we want!  They need to get their fill before August, since sadly, Baby Sister is going to put a damper on pool time!

Friday, May 23, 2014

Six Flags

Last May we bought tickets for Homeschool Day at Six Flags.  It was raining.  We went anyway, rode the carousel, and then decided there was just no way we were going to have fun with 3 little kids in the rain.  They offered a rain check but we never got around to going and then it was way too hot to enjoy.

This May, we again bought tickets for Homeschool Day.  It rained.  A lot.  Like severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings.  They offered a rain check and we immediately planned a day for Nat to take off work so we could go before public school got out and the summer heat kicked in.  We went on Thursday, May 22nd and since Nat had been out of town on business over his birthday, we counted it as a birthday celebration!

Hoping to avoid the summer family crowds, we went right in the middle of Jr. High day.  LOTS of teenagers.  Getting in took forever, and getting food was a nightmare, but when we were hanging around in kiddie areas, it was great!!

First up, the carousel.  Or as Abby calls it, the Merry-go-Round.  Caleb was hesitant to get on a horse, but then loved it.DSCN1685

Caleb was only able to go on about half of the kid rides, but this truck ride was a hit!  He loves trucks and loved this ride!DSCN1687

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I don’t think there was a single ride that Adam didn’t like!  He was by far at the best age for riding!
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Abby was kind of unsure on a lot of rides.  Especially in the hour BEFORE we ate lunch.  It never ceases to amaze me how this girl can go from a moping, crying mess, into a perky, happy little thing just by eating.  It shouldn’t amaze me…..she is ME in this regard.DSCN1692

This rollercoaster actually turned out to be a good one for her.  Nat said she seemed unsure the whole time, but she came skipping out smiling from ear to ear!  (Adam is behind them….such a big kid to be fine riding on his own all day while Daddy was with the little kids!)
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There were a few times when Abby didn’t want to do a certain ride so Adam and Daddy got to go together!
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The train was the one other thing I rode.  They all loved it!  Abby was a little unsure before we started moving so she looked at me and said, “Will you hold my hand Mama?”.
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Shoulder rides
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I did lots of hanging around with non-riders.  This was my attempt at getting Caleb to fall asleep.  It didn’t work.DSCN1712

Me and my girl!
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You gotta love the Texas pride music playing throughout the park!

Our final stop was to get a funnel cake (too busy eating powdered sugary/whipped creamy/chocolate saucy goodness to get a picture) and a quick trip into the gift shop.  Abby and Adam had been eyeing super hero capes all day and they were cheap.  While I was helping them decide on the ones they wanted, Caleb somehow convinced Daddy to let him hold a teddy bear….that cost more than the capes combined.  But clearly, he just had to have this Super Bear!
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On the way home, Adam asked how often we can go to Six Flags.  I told him probably just once a year.  His idea is once a month!

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Homeschool Field Day 2014

Homeschoolers get to have Field Day too!

Our Kaufman County Homeschoolers group of kids
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Abby and Caleb attempting to participate in the preschool games.  Caleb wouldn’t sit in the circle and Abby refused to be “goose” when it was her turn.
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We tried one other race, and when she decided she didn’t want to do it, we spent the next hour and a half watching Adam and chasing after Caleb.
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Adam was in the 6/7 year old group and seemed to be having fun!
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Egg Race
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3-Legged Race
Adam paired up with his friend Brigham every chance he got.
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Water Cup Chain
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My view down – 29 weeks pregnant
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I’m glad that Adam had fun.  I kept trying to encourage him to talk to the other boys….he was happy as could be hanging with his friend the whole time!

The best thing about Field Day were the goodie bags!  We got tons of certificates for free meals to local places and even free Slurpee coupons!