Fun on Ice

Lizzie's Ice Skating Party-

 Probably one of the funnest and easiest birthday parties we have done. 

 

The Invitation:

To say that Liz did amazing is a
little bit of an understatement.
  It was so fun to watch her.

Lizzie with her friend Amber



  

Lizzie with some of her friends.

 

Lizzie (with her mom photo bombing :)

 

 

The group- 
Lizzie has such a great group of friends right now. 
She invited 8 girls and 2 boys. 
They all did great ice skating. 
Especially since for most of them it
was their very first time.

Party Favors to take home:
  Girls got a pink chalkboard pencil box that had heart shaped marshmallows inside. 
(I was quite proud that I found the boxes on Valentine's clearance). 
Boys got king size Reeses's and a fruit roll up box. 

The gallery

I read in a book once that what a kid chooses to do in their free time
 can give a good indication of interests and gifts
 they will continue to use as an adult.
 

 Lizzie draws and draws and draws. 

 

 Since it is her birthday month- here is a little
 spotlight of some of her recent items. 

 These are all items she has drawn in  just the
 past couple weeks. I asked her to think
 of a title for each one for the blog.

Welcome to the Lizzie art gallery:

 

Lizzie with happy Lilly
*In school they have been working on filling in white space. 



Dr. Seuss Trees
*I found it interesting how she made the
 trees curve more and more  along the paper.
  I also like the use of pattern on trunks and trees.

Rainbow Patterns
*Once again she had the pattern grow and grow
 as it moves from one side of the paper to the other

Self Portrait: Me
*just plain adorable


 

*On a related note-  this is a homework assignment.
 The assignment is to just write the words down for practice.
  Obviously Lizzie added her own touch :)
She has done this more than once recently.  

A couple of "lasts"

 

Within a couple days Ethan has had a couple of "lasts".
 Yet another sad reminder our children our growing up.  

 

1.  Last year for Valentine boxes and Valentines.  Well I am assuming you don't bring a box and valentines for everyone in all seven of your classes in middle school :)

2.  Last pinewood Derby with Cub Scouts.  The boy will turn 11 in April and move up to the next scout level.  

 

Here are some pictures from the two events:  Valentines and Pinewood Derby.

 

Valentines:  Four kids in elementary school or pre-school equal 4 Valentine boxes needed :) 

 This is as crafty as we got this year.

The line up-
 birdhouses for the Afton and Lilly,
cupcake for Lizzie
 and Indiana Jones artifact for Ethan

The kids with their boxes. 
 Lucky offered to take Lizzie's spot for the picture :)

This is what Lizzie thought when I asked
 if I could take her picture by her box.



Afton with her birdhouse. 
 If you look closely she wanted to write her name to go
inside and she even made a little nest (out of a cupcake liner)

Lilly- always the poser

Ethan's last year for a Valentine box. 
Ironically he has used this same box almost as many years as
 he has dressed up as Indiana Jones for Halloween.

Pinewood Derby:
Overall Ethan ended up getting sixth place out of 24 entries.  Not too bad even though Ethan really wanted to take home a trophy.  

The  finish line

 Ethan's Pinewood Derby car.

  Ethan the Scout

Kamas

 

Our friends the Duncans invited us up to a cabin in Kamas for a night.  Jim ended up taking the older kids (Ethan and Lizzie).  Our friend Cameron took 3 of his kids.    Julie (the other mom) stayed home with one of her daughters who had a dance thing. I stayed home with Afton and Lilly thinking two 4 year olds out of the equation might make things a little easier.

 

I am not sure what all went on since I wasn't there but it sounds like they had an awesome time and that it was absolutely gorgeous up there.

 

Here is a little summary of the "Dad's and Kids Retreat."

 

 

 Here is Cameron, Maddie, Ethan and Collin getting the stuff ready to snowmobile  into the cabin.  Jim said it was so beautiful up there and that the stars were so bright.
 

Jim said this was the view from the bedroom him and Ethan were staying in.

 



I think a lot of snowmobiling went on along with pulling the kids on sleds with the snowmobiles.  The kids had a blast.  There was tons of fresh untouched snow for them to make plenty of tracks in.

Back on the homefront:

 

Friday night:  the girls and I watched a few episodes of Phineas and Ferb. Then I let them choose whatever they wanted for dinner. They chose oatmeal and cereal :)  After baths it was storytime and  bedtime.  Once they were all tucked in I fixed myself dinner, got a bowl of ice cream and watched a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother on Netflix.

 

Saturday: I took them with me to my piano lesson, went and picked up our food co-op and then we all  headed to SmashBurger for lunch.  Yum!



Afton was not cooperating for photo shoot. 
Lilly was more than willing to show she liked the fries :)

When we got back it was such a GORGEOUS day so we got their scooters out of the garage and went for a walk/ scooter adventure around the block with Lucky.  So nice to be outside with the sun shining on us.