What is a Signature?

Ryder noticed that Dave & I write our names really weird.  He asked me what is was I was writing on his homework.  It is my signature.  Your what?  My signature.  Do I have one?  He asked, Not yet I told him.  He didn't like that answer it didn't tell him anything.

I tried explaining to him that he needed to learn to write his name first for school.  When he is older he will make his own signature out of his name so nobody can duplicate it.

He promptly told me that he would make his now and use it.  After he wrote this on a birthday card I asked him how will Dacoda know that it's from you if he can't ready it.  He promptly wrote his name underneath and said THERE!!!!

How do you explain to kids that your own handwriting is messy and we call it a signature to justify it.

Old Toy Becomes New Again

Reganne got a Spirograph set for Christmas.  It sat on the shelf for the month of January since she wasn't sure exactly what it was.  Thank goodness for lazy Sunday evenings Reganne begged us to show her what it was.  I noticed right away something different there are no longer pins to hold the paper in place.  Instead ticky tack sticky stuff to use.

They were ready to start...

Take our picture please!!!!

Dad its our turn.

A picture for you.  How does it look?

Mr Dirty Face also has to get a piece of the action
 and share his picture

Half of a ream of paper later they loved it and wanted me to hang the pictures up at my desk.  I asked them if they had signed their work? No why? All artists sign their work.  Off they went and I have 10 pictures to decorate my cubie walls.

It is some much fun watching your kids play with toys you enjoyed as a kid yourself.

100th Day of School

This is a big deal when you are in first grade.  The assignment on Monday was find 100 of something to share with the class.  Not only find something but package it so nobody can tell what it is.  Then write 3 clues for the class to guess.

We started with macaroni, then cheerios.  Maybe cars (too many to count), beans.  Each one made too much noise or was too easy to guess.

Then.....

We remembered the pirate's chest full of coins from Halloween.  Were there enough coins inside? Ryder started to count, and count, and count.  Three times were a charm and the verdict there were 100 gold coins in the pirate chest.  Clues...Round, Shiny, and belongs to pirates.

He was all smiles after school it was a success.  He stumped the class!!!! 

I love his teacher for making this such a fun and educational day.

Water's Sports Update....

Saturday's in January have been filled with basketball.  These girls played their hearts out each week and loved every minute of it.

Their skills improved each week.

Dribbling away from the other team.

Rebounding

Holding onto the ball no matter what.
Eyes open is optional just don't let go.

Shooting
The camera was too fast.  Reganne made the basket.

Crazy girls with Coach TJ

Who could have guessed they only won one game by the smiles on their faces.  Reganne is already planning on playing next year and is working on her skills at home each night.  She has even recruited Dave & Ryder to play with her.

More sports are in our future with cheer leading, karate, soccer, and baseball.

Stay tuned for our next edition in March.

Who Loves Sugar?

We do, doesn't everyone?  Time to try Reganne's cotton candy machine.  We love presents that keep on giving even after Christmas.  This is a great treat for Sunday night.

Setup and ready to roll.

First attempt was pretty good with a small amount of the fluffy stuff.
Jolly Ranchers don't make the best fluff.  Too tart.

How about us? Can't we have any?
Wait a minute Dexter what is in your beard?

Looking closer he found some on the ground and quickly licked it up.
The only problem was it stuck in his beard and eyebrows.

He was back for more but the kids refused to share.  They ate every last piece of the fluffy stuff.  We tried hard candy (Jolly Ranchers) like the instructions said would work.  Maybe we should try the actual sugar stuff next time.

Stitches or Glue

This was not the question I was anticipating on the first day back to school after Christmas break.  However, Ryder and his friends were playing a friendly game of tag they forgot the rule of running near the big toy.  As Ryder try to dart away he forgot about it and ran right into it instead.  

He promptly told his teacher that he was fine and to please not call his Mom.  The boys weren't sure of how it happened since they were only playing tag.  Mom was called and found him sitting in the office with an ice pack and all the secretary telling me how brave he was.  He asked me if he had to get a shot or go to the doctor.

Off we went....Emergency Room.....InstaCare....Doctor's Office????  Having no experience I decided to start first with the doctor's office.  The nurses weren't sure so they called the doctor into to take a look.  

Stitches or Glue was the question of the day.  My choice was glue after Ryder let out a yelp of NO NEEDLES!!!!

Before 

After

After a good scrubbing, 4 layers of glue we were ready to leave.  It was lunch time and Ryder was starving.  I guess he wasn't hurt bad enough not eat.

Update...The glue fell off and long with it most of his eyebrow.  Let's hope that grows back in and the scar fades.  If not the doctor told him scars are cool and chicks dig them.

Saying Goodbye...

To Christmas and all the fun activities we did over the past couple of weeks.  The decorations came down and all the large Christmas projects all gathered up.  There is never enough room to store them but memories last forever.  

How better to keep the memories fresh than with a picture.  Ryder & Reganne had so much fun making and trying new things they didn't want to throw them away.  Problem solved with the picture and requesting it have it's own entry on the blog so they can always remember the fun they had. 

I am a pushover for a hug, kiss, and a smile.  Just don't tell them that.

New Year's Snow

After all the snow last year everyone was hoping for a little snow this year.  However, a white Christmas was not in the cards instead a white new year was.

Snow on the driveway.

Taking a picture before it melts with his new camera.
Pictures will last forever but the snow only for an hour or two.

Too bad there was not enough for a snowman or even a snowball.  It was a fun way to start the year out and better than all the snow last year.

New Years Eve....Party Time

The new year came too quickly for us.  The kids had big plans for Christmas Break and we only had time for a few.  Time to party with the Wheelers and enjoy the night together.  We had a lot of yummy treats.  The kids were anxious for more presents and couldn't be bothered with eating, playing, or sitting still for very long.

They were done waiting.

This girl had no clue of what this present was.
But the parents did.

It was time for movies and treats and wait until midnight.  The kids all made it but Mom did not.  Everyone is eager for the new year to start but first it was time to sleep.  Hopefully, everyone will sleep in what better way to start the new year.

New Tradition......Zoolights??

Which will it be Temple Square or Hogle Zoo for Zoolights?  New or old tradition was the question of the day.  New won out and and we convinced Uncle Ryan, Aunt Emily, and family to join us.  We were all excited to finally see the animals up and moving.  It was COLD!!!! hats, coats, and gloves required to venture to see them.  However, it was cold enough that not even the animals were stirring.  Stupid humans were smart enough to come in from the cold.

Instead, we all went inside to the reptile house.  This is not my favorite spot at the zoo, but it was warm and toasty and I quickly overlooked the smell. 

The snakes were moving.

Even the alligator looked up.

I'm not sure what was there but it was moving too.

The Frozen Group

Time for hot chocolate and maybe even a snack at McDonald's.  The Zoolights were a bust but we sure loved spending time with all our family.  Isn't this what Christmas is all about?

We will go back to our old tradition next year.

Playing....

There is nothing more awesome than having older cousins that like to play with us.  Saturday we spent time with the Waters' Cousins.  There was snow all around let's play.

Oops no gloves
Who's can I borrow?
Nate, Trevor, Mitchell, or Uncle Brandon's gloves.

Dang!!! snow everywhere!

It's cold & wet

Please play with me again.

They were good sports with Ryder and didn't bury him to deep in the snow.  We loved spending the afternoon with them and of course a late Christmas lunch.