Weekly - Round Up

We headed out to see the Purina Pro-Plan Performance Team.  We saw a sign advertising the show and had a great time watching the dogs.  We were interviewed by a lady from the local paper.  She asked me how I heard about the show.  I told her we saw a sign.  If there is an event for free... we are there!!  In fact we headed to the library later that day to attended a card making class and the same newspaper lady was there.  She could basically just ask us to review every event on post! 

 Two thumbs up for this show!!

 A huge shout out to Amy who gifted us with new Play-dough.  Here are a few pics of this weeks creations.

 We attend weekly museum/art classes.  Last week was mask making.

 This kid's mask just made me laugh!  You go Pom-pom boy!

 Here are Owen and Meg's mask.  Owen looks overjoyed!!  Can you sense his enthusiasm?

 Then it was time for the weekly library class. This week was very interesting because she brought:

a Screech owl

                                                                     baby opossums

Off to the local thrift stores.....Owen felt the need to try on this motorcycle jacket.  He thought it would be perfect for when he rides with Pappy.  

 Some evening games of Capture the flag.

 I said to Owen one night, "Son, you have on different shoes."  and his response was "huh?"

This weeks art class was making a board game.  Owen and Meg worked together and game up with this.  I thought it was funny because they came home and played it and Meg's response was:  "it wasn't the best mom...it was just OK".  On the upside on the way to the car after the class Owen said, He really enjoyed the art class.  Maybe Art is growing on him.

Weekly - Challenge!!

Seems like every week we have what I like to call a "weekly - challenge."  This past week we had some mice that came for a visit.  I feel like we have reached our quota for having rodents in living quarters for the year.  Thankfully Pest -control came this week and we "hope" that will be the end of these little guys.  We are on a first name basis with Pest control.  

And that's a Wrap!!  

Our Favorite Books this Year!

As we are wrapping up our school year - I thought I'd post about our favorite books we read as a family.  Here is the chart we keep in the school room.  The kids rate the books 1-5.  One being not so great to a five which means it was loved!

Most books scored pretty high  - I am constantly combing book list for good read alouds.  I follow blogs, listen to podcasts and research children's books a lot.  

I LOVE CHILDREN'S BOOKS!

In fact, the first year I became I teacher I started collecting books for my "future kids."  I still have those books and we started one of them this week.  

The Secret Garden and Heidi were huge hits!  These books spoke to us and pulled on our heart strings.  These books sit on our shelves and feel like friends!

 Meg says Dominic was enjoyable

 The following books were in our curriculum.  These were our favorite 3.  We really liked these.

 The Sign of the Beaver  - great book on friendship.  We'll be reading another book by this author this year in our curriculum.

We read all 3 of these books but the standout was:  The Julian Chapter  - We are BIG fans of R.J Palacio

 The Hundred Dresses was more of a girl's book but had a very powerful message.  Huge life lessons learned in this little book.

So that wraps up what we read together.  Owen and Meg are big Rick Riordan fans and so they have been reading these on their own.  Owen is on the last 2 and Meg is on Son of Neptune.  They follow Greek and Roman Mythology hence the odd titles.    

We still have two little spaces to fill in on our chart.  We are currently reading:  The Hallelujah Lass by Wendy Lawton and My Side of the Mountain by Jean George

I saw a flyer for something called "Lunch Time Paddle."  We decided to check it out.  It was an event where you could pack a lunch and then take a canoe or kayak out on the lake for $2.00.  We thought it was great!

 We also went to a little nature program put on by the library.  Libraries are the BEST!

 It is Super hot in KS!!  Some of the hottest days we have ever had.  So we hang out a lot at the pool. WE have been known to show up twice in one day!

and that's a wrap!  

Summer Fun Part I

 Our dear friends from Germany flew in for a few days and we were re-united!!
                              Then it was off to NC to kick off Summer vacation

                                             The kids loved this new park

 We headed to our little home town of Saluda to check out the Art Festival

 We enjoyed seeing friends and neighbors

 We enjoyed some homegrown music

 We got to go to Dan and Drew my cousins graduation party!

 The kids are super into Chess right now.

 We had fun with cousins

 Went to more parks

 We took in a dog agility show and this was super fun!

 We laughed and cheered!

 We worked at Pap's shop and took in another street festival

 Here they are racing derby cars

 We walked the streets of a garden show

 We visited the Asheville Veteran's Cemetery on Memorial Day

 Meg and Owen put a flag on my grandfather's spot

 We walked the train tracks into town

 We checked out old abandoned buildings along the tracks

 We walked and visited the farm

 We loved celebrating Pap's birthday

My Aunt and Uncle were camping in Pisgah so we had fun visiting their campsite

 Owen took a few rides on Pap's bike

 We soaked up our time in the mountains!!