Getting geared up....

Not as though I had any time to gear up for anything....it was a weekend where I had two nights of something going on.  It was then followed by a Sunday of family time at the last home Twins game of the season.  Unfortunately, that left little time for anything else.  And we have a birthday in 3 days.  I have not yet even planned her friend party.  Thank goodness she hasn't even asked about it, because as I said previously, I think she would just prefer to have a bunch of her friends over for a playdate at her house.  We will see how it all works out after this week. 

Friday night, I hosted our 3rd annual wine party hosted by Vicky and Richwood Winery.  Wow....do I have a wonderful group of mom friends.  And a wonderful excuse to get us all together for a very fun time!  It was great to see everyone again!

Saturday night, I invited myself to the Upper Midwest Regional Emmy awards.  Brian was nominated so I asked if I could come along as his "plus one".  Guys were in suits and ties, girls were in dresses.  They had it all ironed out so that the actual handing out of awards were done in groups of 5-6 at a time.  Not everyone was allowed their 15 second acceptance speech, so really it didn't take very long at all.  Unfortunately, their group didn't win as they were a city cable High School football broadcast up against FSN Twins, FSN Wild, and FSN Timberwolves.  Maybe one of these years they can pull out a win!  It was a fun time to be downtown all fancied up.  Funny thing, I ran into one of our golf pros at the course we play at up on the rooftop of Crave that night. 

Then Sunday, it was Kid appreciation day at the Twins game and we called and found out that their autograph session was not worth being there early for and headed out to the game.  Russ won the tickets for a contest he entered at his work and he picked that day's game.  Unfortunately he had to fly out to San Francisco that evening so he couldn't stay until the end of the game.  Because it was a Sunday, they invite the kids to run the bases after the game, which the kids both wanted in on.  Sadly, the Twins lost but being able to be on the field was pretty cool, I thought.  Trevor jumped up on the wall in center field so I got a picture of that in mid-jump.  Running the bases was more of an experience than getting a picture was.  There weren't very many good places to take a picture but I got what I could. 

This week its back-to-school with the little one's birthday on Wednesday.  She can bring treats for her class, we will have a special birthday dinner, dessert, and opening of presents before her family party next Sunday.  She is very excited, and actually after the kids conferences on Thursday, we plan on telling them about our spontaneous (at least from my perspective) trip to Disneyland in the middle of October for MEA break.  Then I'll have to get those last minute details finalized. 

So on the list of things to do, I can check off:  first day of school, first PTA meeting, and fall fundraiser.  Unfortunately (only kind-of) I have to add many more things to the list including:  Disney plans which include lots of reservations and tickets needed to make the trip a success and finalizing costumes for both kids.  Because we are going during the time we are, we are also going to attend Mickey's Halloween Party.  It will be a trip to remember because we don't plan on doing it again!  It just worked out so nicely with Russ traveling to San Diego and the kids being out of school for 3 days before a weekend.  I love planning for Disney, I just hope I don't mess it up too bad!

Another few weeks of school

Time always seems to fly on by once school starts...for me it goes from school to birthdays to holidays to the new year.  So while I know Trevor's birthday and Christmas are a ways out, I am already thinking of things that involve those two events.  Tonight I even double-checked with the kids on what they wanted to do for their "friends" party and I think both of them have changed their tune a bit.  Gwen had been saying Chuck E. Cheese for a bit, and while I would be fine with that, I think she still likes the idea of having a bunch of friends over to her house to play.  So that might be a change.  And then Trevor has said he wanted to do a sleepover, but when he came down to his guest list, I suggested maybe doing a waterpark birthday and having a few friends sleep at the hotel if they could.  I just don't know many of the kids well enough to know if they would even want or have been on a sleepover.  A different choice may be an option for more of them.  Oh well, it is a ways off, and we have time. 

Gwen is loving school, although not loving her quiet time after school.  She thinks that if she gets homework, she shouldn't have to go upstairs since Trevor has to do his homework right after school.  She has just started to get a cold, and this morning Trevor woke her up before 6:30 to see the planetary nebula from his window....I have no idea what he was talking about but Gwen has been pretty crabby ever since.  Hopefully she can get some better sleep tonight to keep the cold away.  But after her rest time, she is free to do her homework...which really isn't homework, it is just activity pages and books she didn't completely color at school.  To watch her work, it is amazing the complete difference between Trevor and Gwen.  She has yet to complain, she has a huge amount of patience (in order to do her "quality work" - as directed by her teacher), and she genuinely loves doing it.  I still remember Trevor's work, which even now, he prefers speed to accuracy so as to get it done with as fast as possible so he can move on to the things he wants to do.  I remember the fights we would get in just to get him to complete his reading of a book.  So I would say she is loving school right now. 

Trevor is off to a wonderful year so far.  He has gotten two rewards from school for being kind to his fellow students and won a drawing at the first school assembly.  The school has introduced a new planner system as well as an academic coach that has already given us one seminar on how to encourage and teach the kids to succeed by staying organized and owning their job as a student.  I'm struggling on letting it all go, and letting him find his own way, unless he asks.  So it seems this year he really has grown and is having a highly successful year...I'm hoping his conference in two weeks is along the same lines.  It would be such a relief to feel as though we really have turned a corner for him this year. 

Similar to his summer at the roller rink, he has already had a few chances to get to know girls a bit better to.  MAN does he have charisma...at age 8!  What.the.heck?  We have had 2 swimming lessons already and although Gwen and he start the lessons at the same time, she ends 10 minutes earlier.  I told him on the first lesson he had to get himself out of the pool and into the locker room because I would be getting Gwen ready when he was done.  Didn't listen and went into the leisure area to have fun.  Typical Trevor.  So this week, I explained that he can't do it again, or he won't get McDonalds for dinner or his Nintendo for the night.  Didn't listen again...but this time, he was chatting up some girl.....probably in his class, who then walked by us and into the 10+ age women's locker room.  An older girl again?  Who does that?  Try to get older women?....oh wait.... it must be in his genes.  Well, its not from my side of the family anyway ;-) 

So that's it from me for the weeks of school so far.  I'm crossing my fingers on two wonderful conferences....It seems like it just might happen!

Week 1 kids are back in school!

Yahoo!  Mom's sure excited here!  We are a week down of school and everyone is still smiling!  Trevor had the least amount of change because most of his class followed into the next class, they just changed teachers.  There was one that transferred schools over the summer and three added, but only one from a different school.  I have already gotten notes home from his teacher on his classwork on how well he is doing and how impressed she is with his work.  And he is soaking it all up.  He told me he befriended the new girl in class that came from a different school.  Trevor said that she wants to write a book, and he said that he wanted to illustrate it with her.  At first, I thought it was a guy and then he clarified it was a girl.  Then I started to count back to realize that next year will probably be the year (if it was anything like my school) that kids started "going out" - meaning absolutely nothing except in name only.  Oh goodness.  Already???  REALLY????  I don't know that I am ready for that...but really I probably never will be so time to suck it up!  I'm looking forward to getting a good game plan on for Trevor to see how much he can learn this year. 

Gwen is so gosh darn excited for school every day.  The first day was huge, except that it is simply an hour and a half meeting with parents involved.  So technically the first real day was the next day, but from that point on, she has been telling me she wants to go all day, and when I told her that she couldn't be with her good friends that are in her class she said she still wanted to go all day, but that she would just bring them with her.  And the talks begin about how she can't wait until she is in first grade so she can go all day.  Now yes, there is a full-day option at her school, but I'm at home, and really Gwen has been looking forward to doing things with me and spending time playing with me and then gets amped up watching the clock to know when she gets to go to Kindergarten.  She also seems to think it is really cool to be able to walk past her classroom in the morning and peek in to see her teacher.  I'm glad she is having such a great experience!  I'm also so happy to know that she has an opportunity to expand her friends even though two of the girls she knows - one from dance and one from preschool - it will be great to be able to get to know their families better too. 

So this week, we are already in the thick of things with a PTA meeting, dance class, swimming lessons and I have been able to get some appointments for myself on the calendar too.  So this week, while hectic, it has been good to start to set a revised schedule.  Of course Trevor is already testing those rules to see if they still hold true, but I'm hoping that he'll come around quicker than usual since for him, the changes are virtually nothing.  I guess I should focus on gearing up for the upcoming birthdays/holidays.  I know those things pop up on me every year.  I'd love to actually be ready for them one of these years!

A beautiful end and a wonderful beginning

Thursday was HOT.  We spent the afternoon at a family friend's pool.  Everyone was getting ready for their back-to-school meeting the teachers evening.  So it was a great way to close out the summer with friends.  The kids did very well playing together.  As the kids get older it gets easier and easier to relax and not worry about them.  I love my mom friends and know that these friendships will be around for a long time.  Of the group that was at the pool, there are 6 families and none of us go to the same elementary school.  I've told a few of my friends that I think it works out REALLY well.  At least from my perspective.  My kids think it is a huge treat to be able to see these friends as opposed to seeing them every day at school as well.  I hope it continues into their teens!

So we made it to back-to-school night and unloaded the school supplies, met the new teachers, the kids saw their school friends, and I tried to keep it all together organizationally.  There is so much to try to keep track of and get ready for our first PTA meeting.  So not only did I play the part of parent, I also had to help with the PTA stuff too. 

As soon as Friday rolled around, we were off to the lake for a beautiful weekend of sun, water, golf, and fun family times.  The weather was nice and warm for me, although not warm enough for me to want to go swimming....but I was able to watch the kids if they did want to swim. 

Apparently, it was the weekend for Trevor to grow well beyond his years because he drove the boat by himself, could have been offered an alcoholic drink (which he could never drink if it was any form of carbonation...he tried it again and could not drink it), and then was asked to go behind the bar and serve a drink or two.  What got me was that Trevor didn't ask for ANY of it.  People were just willing to give it to him.  The kid already thinks he is the coolest thing out there, and I have no idea if it is possible, but if so his head grew even larger that weekend. 

I wanted to drive back home from the lake on Sunday instead of Monday so the kids could have two nights of sleeping in their beds, so we started back after dinner...around 6:15.  Gwen was so exhausted that she slept the whole way home and all the way until the next morning, around 6:30 and she was happily playing in her room until my required 7:00am time.  Trevor was ready to fall asleep before we got home at 8:30 but made it upstairs and asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. 

And on the final day of our summer vacation, we were blessed with the arrival of becoming an aunt, uncle, and cousin to the newest Johnson boy.  I dropped Russ off at the hospital where he was delivered a few hours after we were back in town so he got to meet little Adam right away.  The kids love him and are excited to watch him grow.  I couldn't think of a better way to end our summer vacation than with the start of a new life in the family.   

State Fair...and we are READY!

Of course, here we are, end of the summer and HAD to get those last few things off the to-do list for the summer.  Well, it's not like you could do the State Fair during any other part of the year.  So last Friday, we went to the State Fair.  Russ was able to come with us this time, and we got to stay for a fair amount of time (pun intended).  I think I need to get a bit more familiar with where our favorite spots are before I go next time, because I didn't plan it all out very well. 

We did the animal barns as well as grabbed milkshakes outside the cow barn.  First thing into the fair, Gwen was hungry (at 10am) and decided on....a hot dog.  Trevor then wanted one too.  So at least we started out without the kids being hungry.  We got them through until the milkshakes.  After the milkshakes, we went on to the jumping trampolines.  That has been an annual event.  I don't know if it was because we had been to Valleyfair earlier in the week or not, but there was only one ride that the kids wanted to go on, and it was in the Kidway, so we didn't even buy tickets for it. 

Russ and the kids went on two rides of the Giant Slide, where Trevor was a little frustrated that he didn't go as fast as Gwen and Russ in their race, but it was a good lesson in what develops speed in a slide.  So from there, we went by the agriculture building which was right near the Skyride.  We took a round-trip ride before Russ had to head back home.  After the ride, we went to the food building to grab some cheese curds.  The kids enjoyed the fair cheese curds.  At this point, it was afternoon and getting REALLY hot in the sun.  There was enough shade where we went to stay cool and I knew we had to go over to the Twins tent.  Unfortunately, there wasn't any shade there.  Gwen wanted to do the jumping house and Trevor saw they were doing a home run contest with an inflatable fence.  I think the height was 7ft tall.  The distance was maybe 25 feet from where the kids were hitting the ball.  They had pretend bases and the pitcher was one of the workers.  They had wiffle balls and thin plastic bats.  I knew Trevor was pumped.  He had 4 chances, and as he was up the 4th time, Gwen was melting down....literally and emotionally.  I was able to watch him bat, and the first 2 times he hit well enough to get on base but not over the fence.  One time, he popped out to first base.  Finally, luckily his last time, he hit one over the fence.  Obviously he knew this really meant nothing as there was no prize, the event cost no money to enter, but the grin on his face was priceless.  This boy loves baseball. 

After the Twins area, it was time to head back to the other side of the fair, where our car was parked.  So we walked, being in the shade as much as possible.  We were home by 3, able to rest and cool down.

So on to this week....today (Wednesday) was the day that I made sure to get our school-related to-dos done.  I double-checked the supply list and we are set.  Both kids needed haircuts.  Both kids needed a first-day-of-school outfit.  And if we had time, I needed a few things at Target.  So when I told Trevor the list of things we needed to do, I knew he wasn't going to be super keen on shopping for clothes (yep, he's my son).  But I knew I would be able to at least let him take care of the items he needed to get if I gave him a list and a size.  I was right.  So I hung around with Gwen and let her roam to see what she wanted to get. 

I heard Trevor ask the salesperson if they had Ninjago t-shirts and she was a bit puzzled.  I knew they didn't.  The shirt that he did pick out I think was a result of being forced to pick one.  He tried it on, and it was too big for him.  So we put it back and I told him we would check out Target.  He wasn't really thrilled with that idea, but when I told him we had other things to pick up anyway, he was ok with it.  Gwen found a nice shirt and skirt so we were off. 

We went into Target and split off again.  I told him to look for his t-shirt and Gwen and I went to the shoes.  Gwen's biggest thing lately is that she is proud to say she has changed her first favorite color from pink to purple.  So now clothes and in this case shoes, she is on the lookout for anything purple.  And we found some purple shoes.  That's done.  Moving back to where Trevor was, he had found a t-shirt but I didn't recognize the character on the front.  I directed him to the character t-shirts and wow...there was a Ninjago shirt.  Only his size left so it worked out perfectly.  He will feel all cool and excited for anyone to ask him about his shirt and Gwen will look pretty in her new clothes.  Mission accomplished.  Went over and got haircuts for the kids, lunch, and we are done.  Everything is set.  We have a pool gathering tomorrow, dropping off the school supplies, and to the cabin for the weekend!  That will be all that's left of the summer vacation!  This mom is glad school is coming....the kids and I need our schedule back! 

Valleyfair...like Mall of America...except outdoors

Seeing as how the kids have never been before, I tried to explain it to them, but it just didn't work.  They kept trying to figure it out..thinking with "fair" in the name, it was like the County Fair they went to a few weeks ago.  Sort of...but not really.  They had just been to the Mall of America Nickelodeon Universe a few weeks ago...sort of like that...but bigger...and outdoors....but not really either.  Valleyfair has a water park in it and rides that really get you wet. 

We have seen it as we have driven into Shakopee, but just some outlines of rollercoasters, and I don't even know for sure that Gwen would know what she was looking at.  So we went, all packed and ready before the park even opened that day.  They had just changed to a later opening time that week of 10am.  So we heard the fanfare and musical opening ceremony that they do.  Not exactly worth coming out to see, but bringing Brian, and how far I remember having to drive to get out there when that was where we lived, it was just ODD. 

I cannot remember the exact year that I had been there last...but I know I had ridden on Wild Thing roller coaster.  Since then, they had gotten Renegade and Steel Venom.  I believe that puts their total to 6.  We walked through from the front and worked our way around.  We hit the old time cars since that was right at the entrance...looked at the Wave for a bit because that can be interesting to kids.  Gwen got a big splash right where she was standing and she wasn't very happy about that.  But at least the kids had their swim gear on so it would dry quick. 

We tried to convince Trevor to go on the Corkscrew roller coaster first since it was the first one we came across, but he couldn't do it.  So we went on the ferris wheel instead.  That way we could see the whole park and tell which roller coasters were the highest.  At that point, he was willing to go on High Roller.  Gwen and I hung out in the Camp Snoopy part of the park...it took over for the Berenstein Bears park.  There were a few nice rides for her and I could see when the boys came around on the coaster.  Trevor said it was awesome.  Unfortunately, a few minutes later, Brian found out he lost his phone.  I thought FOR SURE that meant it flew out of his pocket and was gone forever.  He went back to the ride and they said that they found it and just returned it to the front gate area lost and found.  Thank goodness! 

Brian headed up to the front and we rounded the park to the Mouse roller coaster.  I thought Gwen could pass for 44 inches, but we got to the front and they said no go.  She had a bit of a fit and Trevor decided to go on it anyway.  So we kept walking and at that point I remembered Thunder Canyon....oh it had been forever.  Unfortunately, it was another ride that Gwen couldn't go on, so I braved it with Trevor.  The sun had started to go behind clouds and rain was off in the distance, so I knew we had to get it done soon.  Of course I had to sit in the wettest part of the ride.  Didn't help that there was an added bonus of people could pay 25 cents to squirt water out of a shooter at the riders.  I got a good chunk of that one too...since it was Gwen and Brian aiming right at us.

Before coming over to Thunder Canyon, we were going to try Wild Thing, but Trevor couldn't do it.  After Thunder Canyon, since we were right by Excalibur, I told him it was his only chance...he couldn't say later.  So he did it.  I think he gets so amped up and nervous right before the ride, it is hard to enjoy it until it is over.  But he did it, without complaint...said it was a little bumpy, which was why I didn't care to go on it. 

We went back to the sports bar place to eat and sat down for a good chunk of time when the radar started to look iffy.  But we still got out and rode on one last ride called wheel of fortune before we noticed all the rides were shut down due to lightning.  So we took off for a playland type place over by camp snoopy.  I thought we might head out, but the weather didn't ever really get that bad.  Plus I knew it was going to lighten up again and they were going to re-open the rides.  We moved over to the arcade for a change of pace and when we saw the rides starting up again, Trevor REALLY wanted to go on the High Roller again.  So he did..and Gwen went on a few of her favorite Snoopy Rides.  This is primarily where the Snoopy character would hang out so Gwen got quite a few Snoopy hugs which I know made her day. 

So after Trevor's coaster, I REALLY wanted to get on Renegade before we left.  We walked over and Trevor and I rode on it first.  It wasn't really what I was expecting.  But Trevor liked it and immediately went on it again with Brian.  After that is when he started going on the water tube/slide ride.  At this point in the day, I knew we were not going to make it to the water park, because of how late it was and how cold it was for me.  Poor Brian got soaked.  But I think he enjoyed it too....

So by this time Trevor agreed to try the corkscrew again...because the drop on that one is way lower than Excalibur was...and I told him it was very smooth.  Yep...he did it and loved it.  So that made 4 out of the 6.  We made it back to the entrance area, and then the boys had to go on the Wave ride.  Crazy kids....if they weren't wet before, they were drenched now.  And they have this "family drier" where you pay $5 for 3 minutes of drying.  Um what?  Trevor thought if he got wet enough I would buy that.  Nope.  Here's your towel.  Let's go on the Enterprise to dry you off.  So we did.

Gwen really wanted to get her face painted, but I said no because we were going to go mini golfing.  But when we went to the park, it was closed for the season.  Brian got to try out Steel Venom (no thanks for me...and Trevor also said no) and then the boys rode on the go karts.  So I took Gwen to get her face painted. 

We got a quick dinner before leaving the park "officially" less than 30 minutes from closing.  That. is. insane.  Who does that?  I'm pretty sure Brian wasn't expecting that sort of day.  I wonder if he'll come back to do it again some other time.  Until then though...Gwen needs to grow another inch and Trevor needs to get just a little more guts to go on those two other coasters he has a slight fear of.  But for now, it is another check off of the to-do list this summer.  Only 12 more days of summer vacation!  But who's counting ;-) 

A new thing for Trevor

I read a few weeks ago about a friend that had gotten her daughter an email account.  So I looked into it, asked both Trevor and Russ what they thought of it, and they both thought it would be great.  Trevor now has email, but I have the ability to control it.  I set settings such as who he can send email to, who he can receive email from, censoring settings, and if I want the first look, I can.  The provider costs $12 a year so it is pretty do-able. 

As of now, just shoot me an email if you would like to be put on T's contact list.  I'm sure he would love to send emails to all of you.  We'll tell you how he likes it in a few weeks.

School opened for me to get all the PTA bills and mail from the summer today.  I guess I should get that stuff together to start the school year.  So I'm busy again. 

We had an awesome weekend with a visit from my cousin and her two daughters.  I feel bad that we can't do that more often if we had lived closer.  But at least we don't have to go so long between visits since we both get to the cabin during the summer as often as possible. 

Until next time.....

Finally seems like we have a few minutes

Although every week Trevor could go to the parks, and next week is the last week of the session, I've decided to have him around because he has an afternoon hockey practice all week.  Things are finally coming together...and yes it took all summer to get this organized.  We are scheduled to go back to school shopping tomorrow, and if all goes well we will see the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie at an early (cheap) showing. 

Today I took Gwen in to get her shots updated so that she could enter Kindergarten in September.  I told her late last week that today would be the day, and while she seemed to be a bit fixated on it and mentioned it at least once a day, she did pretty good.  I remember when Trevor had to get them, I had to physically hold him down and one other nurse had to come in to also hold him down because of the fight he put up.  Gwen reminded me a lot of myself.  She braced herself, and looked away.  She cried, and was out of sorts, but she recovered well.  She doesn't like to remember it and gets sad if she even thinks that she will ever have to do it again.  Even though we have told her it is another 7-8 years off. 

I also registered her for her dance class next year.  I've started Trevor thinking about all his activities for next year....chess, swimming, piano, and yes he already wants to know more about baseball.  He was willing to forgo summer camps next year until I explained that it doesn't take any more time during the day, they are all evening and weekend games or practices.  I think he was a bit surprised by that. 

New for this school year, our church is offering Wednesday evening religion classes.  It is pretty neat that most activities don't meet on Wednesdays because of the assumption that so many churches do hold religion classes for kids.  Our elementary school also doesn't want parent meetings during that time either for that reason. 

So starting to switch gears while still having enough days in the summer to plan to get a few more things checked off the list of summer activities is what we have in store.  27 more days!  I think we'll be ready when it comes.  And very excited!

Trophies and medals, medals and trophies

It was the week of trophies and medals here at our household.  This will be one of the few posts that I use photos in.  I wish I was more visually gifted, but I just have no idea how that all looks good.  I depend on others to design anything that requires designing.  Give me numbers and I can organize them all. 

So here we go...the post of the pictures of trophies and medals...Kind of interesting since it is going on at a world setting that other medals are being given as well:  ;-)

Gwen took off her medal before I could take the picture, but she was happy to show me her trophy that she got.

Trevor decided not to show off his trophy but I did get a nice picture of his medal.  Trevor's trophy was for him being in his second year of 5 hole league.  Next year, if he chooses, he will be in 9 hole league.  I was able to watch him play his 5 holes and he did very well.  He scored a 38.  I know he still enjoys to get out and play with either Russ or me or our family.  It is so nice to be able to share a common love for a sport we can all play. 

 The club took this picture of Gwen and posted it on their website as they do for any member hole in ones, but I didn't know to look for it.  Russ was counting her score as I had Trevor for the morning.  She told me she got a hole in one, but you can tell she is also pretty pleased someone wanted to pose her picture for the shot. 

So that was pretty much Friday last week.  Trevor had a week long swimming camp which he enjoyed for 3 of his 4 days, but for some reason on the last day he said he didn't want to do it.  We've been having to deal with a lot of wanting not to fulfill a lot of commitments.  Unless it is baseball.  Trevor started his season ending tournament last Thursday.  If he won, his team would have had the week off until last weekend, but they lost, so they had to play Tuesday and won, to get to Thursday, and won to play on the weekend. They won on Saturday, so played for the 3rd place on Sunday.  Unfortunately, no one could get any hits during the game so they had to settle for 4th place.  4th place earned Trevor his 11th trophy.   

 So it was a weekend of medals and trophies for our family.  Now starts the countdown to back to school.....

Another two weeks by

There goes another two weeks of summer vacation.  This week Trevor has his swim camp which he has been looking forward to for a while.  But I forgot to mention and add to it the take on two weeks ago where both of the kids were at an art camp.  Gwen was at Princess, Ballet, Tea party camp and Trevor was doing fun with clay.  Although I dropped them both off at the local middle school, they had to take a bus over to the Art center.  I'm pretty sure both kids were really excited by the bus ride, but Gwen might have been a little bit nervous about it too. 

Trevor came off the bus every day very clay-filled.  It was pretty cute.  I'm glad he had a good time with it.  Because they fired the clay in the kiln, I have not been able to see any of the projects yet.  But Trevor said that he made a plate, a mug, a cat head, Mario, and got to paint them all.  He also mentioned that he took orders from his classmates so he did some Garfield and Odie figures. 

Gwen came off the bus every day with projects that she and her class did as well.  The first day she had a crown, the next she had a wand, the next a tu-tu, and the last was a yarn wig for Rapunzel's hair.  They had a tea party on Friday and I had Gwen skip Golf that day so she could go to the tea party.  They had cookies that they frosted...I forgot to ask her if she actually had tea!  She had a great time and I'm glad she got to do that.  I bet she'd do it again next year. 

Last week, we didn't have any activities scheduled because Russ had his annual golf tournament at our club.  I was going to take the kids down to the lake earlier in the week, but Trevor had a playoff baseball game on Thursday night.  We had some friends over on Wednesday, and Trevor went to the park Monday and Thursday, and both kids were at the Childrens' Museum on Tuesday.  We headed down to the lake Friday morning.  Gwen got to swim and Trevor got his baseball game in with Bubba before we went to the Stone's Throw for dinner.  We had big plans for Saturday, but when rain happened for most of the morning, we scrapped them.  Both kids did got to swim again once the clouds broke up in the afternoon.  So then we went to the roller rink for dinner.  We were planning on a hopping time afterwards...or maybe a skating time....haha.  But Gwen fell asleep at the table.  Literally.  So we had to go back and drop her off.  All that swimming really does her in.  But Trevor was geared up to go so we headed back close to 7:30.  Megan, Ellie and Addie all met us there to also go skating.  Trevor tried on his new rollerblades.  They will take some getting used to, but he did pretty well on them.  He didn't win the limbo, but I still gave him a sundae.  I'm glad he likes to do it.

Sunday, we got up and decided to take our first real boat ride of the season.  It was sunny and warm so we quick took advantage.  The kids got to jump into the creek from the boat many times and I got some sun and warmth.  We headed back in the early afternoon and Gwen slept the whole way home.  It was good to be back and good to have Russ at home for another week so we are all set to get stuff done.....or are we?