Family Date Night

Saturday night was family date night.  And we had a special treat in store for the kids.  Movies, schmoovies...Disney on Ice was in town!

First up was Dinner!  Now, eating out is not new to our children.  Matter of fact Jack used to think eating IN was a special treat.  YIKES!  I've improved that situation.  But still, the kids had a blast eating in the CNN center.  Then we entered the arena.

Do you see that unbridled enthusiasm?  Partly in anticipation of the show but mostly because this was right in front of them.

Every five feet another booth with the exact same over-priced but oddly captivating souvenirs was found.  Jack picked out a sword and Bronwyn a light-up princess globe.

Three minutes later they switched toys, much at Bronwyn's insistence!  A duel followed :)

Our seats were right on the ice, which was exciting (and cold!)  hee-hee.  The pre show was almost as good as the real show.  What was the pre show?

 

Cotton Candy and Pop Corn!  The next night at bedtime Bronwyn sang out randomly, "I ate ALL the popcorn.  I LOVE popcorn!"  Time for the show to begin!

Now Bronwyn loves Mickey Mouse.  She talks about him daily.  Multiple times a day.  She wore her Mickey barrette with pride.

And then she saw him on ice.  With those big ears and those big eyes!!!

And she exclaimed, "I no like!  I no like!"  and promptly used her dad's hands to cover her face.  Not to worry, once the shock of seeing a giant mouse wore off she began to enjoy the show.  Next up...the princesses!

 Ariel!

Rapunzel with Maximus.  How did that horse survive on the ice?  Amazing!  :)

 

 

Blurry shot of Merida and the triplets.  She was fantastic on ice!  Pop-pop, better learn who she is as she may be part of your next Disney World quiz ;)  Two red heads to keep straight.  The misery!

 

 

They saved our family's favorite for last!  Beauty and the Beast--complete with the show-stopping number, Be Our Guest.  So did Jack enjoy?  He did...all the princes were there and enough humor to make up for the show being largely about princesses (ick)!  What about Bronwyn?  She eventually peeked out from behind Dad's crab-like fingers and liked what she saw.  She enjoyed the rest of the show (minus a loud, explosive noise here and there...hee-hee!)

 

 

 

 

 



Jack's First Report Card

Tonight was the child-dreaded parent-cherished teacher conference.  Our very first.  It went super.  Boy, Jack needed the good report as he got a yellow check today on his behavioral chart for collaborating with another boy to turn math manipulative's into terrifying carnivorous dinosaurs that went on the attack.  His teacher also found three locks of hair under his chair last week.  We are just thankful they were Jack's and not any of the girl's at his table...yikes!

Now that I ratted him out, indulge me in a bragging moment.  Jack did AWESOME this first quarter.  The teacher had this to say about Jack:

• Only child to get an exemplary mark for responsibility!  She called him a go-getter and said he was her hardest worker!
• All 4s (exceeded expectations) in academics. 
• Said he participates tons!!!  and gets along with everyone!

Way to go Jack!  Keep it up!!!

Pumpkinpalooza Stone Mountain

Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival 2012.  Weather was perfect--low 70s and a nice breeze.  Kids took a train ride around the mountain, did crafts and watched a Yogi Bear 4-D movie (which scared Bronwyn to death and she now emphatically declares, "I don't like Bears!!!") They also were in a dancing parade and saw a family get pie in the face.  Good times, people.  Very good times!

Entering the Pumpkin Festival

Crafts

Feeling the Wind!!!

Sitting on a Rock

A Perfect Day!

Dance-a-Thon 2012

Ingredients:
100 Kindergartners
5 Teachers
2 Teacher-aids
1 Guidance Counselor
1 Man in a Funny Wig
1 Bobcat
Sprinkle of PTA Volunteers

Directions:
Dress in 90's wardrobe, play bad wedding music and jump around for 40 minutes. Then beg family and friends to PAY you to do this!!!

This my friends, is called a Dance-a-Thon.  Jack's one and only school fundraiser.  Themed to the decades each grade had a specific time to demonstrate their ability to do the Chicken Dance, Electric Slide, and Hokey Pokey. 

Jack's grade was assigned the 90s...and us parents were supposed to dress them accordingly.  Which for a boy meant either channel Kurt Cobain, imitate Vanilla Ice, or dig up your Backstreet Boys garb.  For the girls...seemed everyone had the same idea, Oops, I did it again!  You got it...Ms. Spears in her naughty school girl days. 

Here's a tip for the school next year.  Don't give the five-year olds the after lunch--carbohydrate overload--can I please have a nap--time slot.  Let's just say...zombie decade...could have easily been the theme ;)

The kids all were adorable.  They were SO focused on getting all the dance moves correct!  And each one made it the full 40 minutes (even the teachers...I was dubious but they did it!)   And most importantly, the school raised $50,000 in which 100% is going directly to the classrooms for needed supplies!

Freeze Dance

Half-Way Mark

Apple Pickin'

An Apple a day keeps the doctor away...

The Big Apple...

Apple of my eye...

Apple for my teacher...

One bad apple spoils the bunch...

As American as apple pie...

Adam's apple...

Or as Jack says, "I am just *really* into apples!"

We went Apple picking this weekend.  Granny Smiths, Golden Delicious, Ambrosia, Jonas Gold filled our bags (and tummies too!)  One thing I didn't plan for--pesky, little "not made of jello, stand behind a fellow, BLACK AND YELLOW!" bees.  They were everywhere.  You know it's bad when "sting stations" line the apple orchards.  We braved through and everyone got their pickings! 


Mercier Apple Orchard

 

Ready, set, GO!



Jack picked the first apple, ambrosia

The "fruit" of his labor.

Bronwyn got one too!
  

Instant gratification!

That was Saturday.  Sunday we had apple bread with apple butter for breakfast, cheese and apples for snacks and turkey with apples and sausage stuffing and apple cider gravy for dinner.  May the doctor stay far, far, away!

Happy Birthday Baby Bronwyn

She's two! She's two!
My little girl is two...
She loves to twirl,
has crazy curls,
my precious baby is two!

I'll stick to my day job ;)

Bronwyn had a luncheon at American Girl to celebrate her birthday!  Itty Bitty Baby is her birthday present, and as you can see--baby (in her special Birthday outfit) joined us for lunch! 

I can't believe it has been two years!  Bronwyn, you are such an amazing daughter... full of personality and expression,  determined, sweet and funny!  I love all that you are!  And all that you will be! 
xxoo,
Mom

P.S. Happy Birthday to Bronwyn's virgo twin and newborn cousin Adrienne! 

Birthday girl with Itty Bitty Baby!

Mom and Bronwyn

Em, Jack and Nanna!

School Days, School Days...

Dear ole golden rule days...

This week marks one month of Kindergarten class for Jack.  How's he doing?  Great!  He's made a "best friend", Michael and some really good friends who came over for a play date last week.  By the way six boys and one backyard bouncy house = anxiety attack for mom.  Just saying ;)

His teacher reports Jack is considerate, sweet and one of the hardest workers who always completes his work first and with diligence.  Let's see some of that work...

On his first day of school, Jack set a goal for the new year.  His goal--"I will not use a lot of seats on the bus."  Apparently he was worried he might fall asleep.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy is what Jack had to say about this! 

 

Jack's teacher asked him to show more detail in his drawing--like the sun, sky and grass.  This is his first drawing with an actual background.  Guess it's not 70 degrees and sunny for this bad guy :)

 

Much of the first few weeks has been settling into the routine, assessments and review of preschool basics.  Here is the "opposites" exercise.  I love that his good and bad guy look vaguely familiar (LEGO city mini figures!) 

 

 

The end of year standard for Kindergarten is to write your numbers 1-20; count to 100 by tens and ones; and count 20 items...  Jack has assessed at a "4" (meaning above grade level) on all areas.  He has work to do on writing his number in the right direction (those are the blue marks you see on the paper.)

 

 

Jack "interviewed" his best bud, Michael.  Jack's handwriting seems on par with most even though it has been identified as a "challenge" in the past (from every one of his preschool teacherrs!) 

 

What about Bronwyn?  She loves her time at home with Nanna while Jack is in school.  She attends dance and music; story time at the library; and has her own craft lesson each day.  Jack is jealous of the crafts she does each day...me too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birthday Fit for a Princess

"Try the grey stuff, it's delicious!" This weekend Bronwyn was transformed into Princess Belle in order to celebrate her birthday (about two weeks early) with her Royal Court by her side. I'll save the mushy "OMG! She's TWO!" stuff for her actually birth date. In the meantime, "Raise your glass, you've won your own free pass, to be our guest, be our guest, be our guest!"

Princess Belle enters with her "Royal Coach"



Cousins were there!
 

As were the grandparents!

Here's Minni

Godparents too (Uncle Robby and Aunt Meg)!

 

Brother Jack was there, showing us how old Bronwyn is...turning.



And, of course, the CAKE!

It was a culinary cabaret. 

Happy early Birthday Bronwyn and a thank you to the Royal Court for making the trip!