Goodbye Spring Break

This year we were really lazy for Spring Break. Which was wonderful. 

The first couple days we spent in our pajamas and lounging. 

Toward the end of the week the weather was too nice to stay inside. 

 Greta had a fun time digging for rocks. 

 We traded a neighbor our basketball hoop for a trampoline. It was the best trade ever. The first couple days it was used all day long. It has slowed down a bit but still loved. 

 We moved some of our bedroom furniture into the empty bedroom that is by the kids room. They now have a hangout room to watch movies and play games or read, if they don't want to be downstairs. Just like the trampoline it has been used often and that makes me happy. 

Little man lost another top tooth this week. he was so happy about it but not happy that the tooth fairy ONLY left him a dollar....

 Since we were home, he read up a storm this week. He found a love of Calvin of Hobbes and chapter books, especially a series about a boy named "Stink".

 Greta spent her first couple days working on a report she wanted to do for extra credit at school on the periodic table of elements, since that is something she enjoys these days.

Little man spent most of his jumping time in his pjs and coat. Love it. 

Battle Of The Books Again

For the second year in a row, Greta's team went to the Battle of the Books championships. 

They lost by 1 point to the fifth grade team that has now been undefeated for three years. It was an awesome battle. 

 Miss Greta is starting to show that she has quite a bit of moxy. Especially when she sees injustice. 

We were on vacation when the team pics were taken and she was told no retakes, even if I took the pic and developed it. So Greta started photo bombing the battle of the book wall in the hall at school with a self portrait drawn by her on a post it. They kept getting taken down and thrown away so once again on championship day she did one last photo bomb. I saw it and laughed and had to take a picture. I love that she has moxy. 

 Waiting for the battle, right after this she had the school doing some arm dance. This girl can work a crowd. 

 4th grade champions

 And of course still working the crowd when her name was called. You can see her under the screen, not shy is she? 

 So proud of them and Greta was excited to win $10 for Scholastic books which she has already chosen. 

Such a close battle and so very fun and stressful to watch. 

Around Here

 Not sure where the time has gone. It is the beginning of Spring Break when the kids are freed from school today. There is finally a break in the craziness. Grets always busy with school work, craft projects, reading and research so this is what the craft table in the den looks like most of the time..She is still busy with 4-H, Battle of the books, she helped at a booth at the school carnival where I work this year and did great! She also just started volleyball and when she is at home she is either cooking, reading or working on something. Fieldin is still just busy with Star Wars everything. There are more and more kids his age at the park across the street which I am thankful for. He loves going over and playing with friends. 

 Fieldin just finished a session of indoor soccer, outdoor starts in April. He had a very successful session and got goals every game. He is even stronger and faster than he was in the Fall. He is excited to get back to outdoor soccer which he likes better.

 Getting a break for a quarter. 

 As Fieldin finishes up soccer for a couple weeks, Greta is starting volleyball practices for games in April. 

So proud of both of them. 

You Have To See It To Believe It

I knew this day was getting close, especially when she started wearing my socks but I didn't think it would happen so soon. At nine years old, Greta now wears the same size Nike's that I do(size 8). 

I will keep this post short because I need to go hide a few pairs of my favorite shoes. 

She has already taken a pair of my rain boots. 

Around Here

 Around here we have Spring fever. The sun has been out but it is still a bit chilly. 

We've started hiking again which makes me so happy. I love being out in the forest. 

We hiked 5 miles the other day and took some new paths and Greta came across this "elephant tree" that looked like it has a trunk and tusks. 

Fieldin has been busy with school and soccer and wanting freedom to cook in the kitchen like Greta. So the other morning, after years of standing beside Jeff making them he made pumpkin pancakes from scratch by himself. He even opened the can of pumpkin alone. He is king of the griddle now and loved it. 

 It was also 100 day party time last week at school. He took in 100 shells to share. 

I can't believe it is almost March! 

A Busy Two Days For Greta

It's been a busy couple days for Greta. And for her poor parents that have sat and watched her and cheered her on with shaky hands and a sigh of relief when it's been all over. 

Friday, Greta's Battle of The Books team sealed a spot in the championship for the second year in a row. Now we wait for them to compete in March. Both years they have been undefeated up to the championship, not that there hasn't been some close, nail biter battles. I am very happy for her and her team. 

Then today, she had a 4-H cooking competition. This time she had 25 minutes to prepare an after school snack. She had to present, lay a place setting with centerpiece, be questioned by judges and then clean up. She made her kalamata olive hummus dip which is quite addictive to all that tries it. She's always loved kalamata olives. 

 Here she is setting up her table. Instead of flowers this time, she chose to use collected shells as her centerpiece. 

 adding olive oil to the food processor. 

 making her carrots and pita chips look lovely.. 

 finishing up

 being questioned by the judge... I have to stand really far away so very glad I have a zoom lens. 

 The judge told her she got an A+ and she was presented another blue ribbon which she is very proud of. She now refers to her hummus as "blue ribbon hummus" 

One more pic for the scrapbook. 

Valentine's Day

It was a busy Valentine's Day around here. 

The kid's had Valentine's Day parties at school(though Greta chose not to hand out Valentine's this year) 

Their Gigi flew in on Friday so she was able to visit them at school and then got to see them both be ball kids that evening. 

 here they are at the game, my double trouble mop crew. 

 At Fieldin's Valentine's party. He was content eating and didn't really care about his Valentine's. 

 Busy working below, it was another great game. 

 Time at the beach  below. The weather has been beautiful here which is a nice change after lots of fog this winter. 

 Fieldin made he and Greta sandwiches and used a cookie cutter to make them fancy. He took the bread scraps to the beach to feed the seagulls but the crows beat them to it. 

 It was low tide so there were lots of treasures

like these beauties...