Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
A Knight's Tale
I know I said we don't do birthday parties, and I really do mean it, but somehow I got roped into this one. I guess maybe I felt bad that Dallin has had much of a real party on his behalf and mostly it was due to Lauren's enthusiastic agreement to do all the "hard stuff." But here we go...
Dallin invited a few of the boys his age from our ward to celebrate his 9th birthday. When they arrived they made a coat of arms for their shields and then swords. The swords were paint sticks from home depot with foam insulation over top- super cheap in that the paint sticks are free and the foam was 1.20 for a tube long enough to make 4 swords. 
After everyone was "armed" we built catapults out of hangers and rubber bands and attacked the castle with marshmallow missiles. (Lauren and Dallin built a cardboard castle for a target)
After successfully storming the castle the knights gathered to loot the castle and collect their booty. (Lauren made this incredible castle cake -see post on Lauren's new cake hobby for close-ups)
After cake the troops were called out to destroy the local dragon. Lauren made a dragon pinata and filled it with shiny red streamers and notes to where the dragon's treasure was hidden. The boys were HILARIOUS when doing the pinata. Of course it helped that it was "oozing" blood when they got a good whack. In the end Rusty couldn't contain himself and had to finish it off.
Each of the boys got a little bag of "gold" to take home (basically any golden wrapped candy from the dollar store). I love this action shot! These are some serious warriors I wouldn't want to cross! Love It!
Ah, the carnage of battle-- the mother of the dragon mourns the loss of her creation :)
After everyone was "armed" we built catapults out of hangers and rubber bands and attacked the castle with marshmallow missiles. (Lauren and Dallin built a cardboard castle for a target)
After successfully storming the castle the knights gathered to loot the castle and collect their booty. (Lauren made this incredible castle cake -see post on Lauren's new cake hobby for close-ups)After cake the troops were called out to destroy the local dragon. Lauren made a dragon pinata and filled it with shiny red streamers and notes to where the dragon's treasure was hidden. The boys were HILARIOUS when doing the pinata. Of course it helped that it was "oozing" blood when they got a good whack. In the end Rusty couldn't contain himself and had to finish it off.
Each of the boys got a little bag of "gold" to take home (basically any golden wrapped candy from the dollar store). I love this action shot! These are some serious warriors I wouldn't want to cross! Love It!Vincent Hernandez, Jonathan Anderson, David Van Slyke, Benjamin Clarke, Dallin Clarke, Jackson Carbone
Overall it was a great party and everyone had a wonderful time! Much of the thanks goes to Lauren because it just wouldn't have happened otherwise. As a tribute to her I've included and before and after shot of her dragon pinata...
Ah, the carnage of battle-- the mother of the dragon mourns the loss of her creation :)Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Mother's Day Tea Party
Our local library hosted a Mother's Day Tea Party. It was very fun! The decorations included various corn husk dolls made by a local woman, Judy Arnold. Judy did a presentation for the girls on how she learned to make the dolls and how she gets her ideas.
www.rjarnold.com
Lauren and I went to ask her for more information on how she makes the dolls and she offered to have us over to her home where she would teach us. Needless to say we took her up on that offer and the results of that visit are the contents of another entry.
I was really surprised that so few people who signed up attended the tea party. It was very well done.
www.rjarnold.com
Lauren and I went to ask her for more information on how she makes the dolls and she offered to have us over to her home where she would teach us. Needless to say we took her up on that offer and the results of that visit are the contents of another entry.
I was really surprised that so few people who signed up attended the tea party. It was very well done.Hair Cuts!
After traveling and not having access to a hair stylist for several months all of us girls were looking quite shabby. I went to get a hair cut and the girls joined me for a fun girl outing. Here are the results... other than me, I don't know why I didn't take a picture of me :(
The next day our babysitter came over and curled the girls hair and dolled them up so we took a couple more photos 
The next day our babysitter came over and curled the girls hair and dolled them up so we took a couple more photos
Scouting
Dallin loves Scouts! He led his first flag ceremony. He was so nervous, but he did great.
A couple of months later he received his wolf badge.
A couple of months later he received his wolf badge.
A Piece of Cake
Lauren has decided to take up a new hobby that incorporates her love for cooking and her love for art- Cake Decorating! She checked out a book at the library that got her started, but it was pretty advanced. The train was her first attempt....
Then she got a beginner level book for Easter and made this purse cake for her friend, Zoee.
Her most recent cake was a castle for Dallin's Birthday.
I love her creativity, but I'm not a huge cake eater, so we're trying to incorporate a make and give away policy :) Cake anyone?
Then she got a beginner level book for Easter and made this purse cake for her friend, Zoee.Her most recent cake was a castle for Dallin's Birthday.
I love her creativity, but I'm not a huge cake eater, so we're trying to incorporate a make and give away policy :) Cake anyone?
Sunday, April 25, 2010
what's up?
We are back to full activation in our ward, Rusty and I both got callings. I'm the second counselor in the primary and he is the webelo scout leader. It's perfect. We love being with the kids and have enjoyed the chance to get to know ward members better.
Last weekend we had a fun family outing to the re-vamped Ft. Worth Science Museum. We only get a couple of more months to use our membership so we are trying to make the most of it. The highlight of this visit was a great 4-D movie on gathering oil in Texas. 4-D movies include the senses so you smell and feel various aspects of the movie. The little boy in front of us didn't love it when the T-Rex appeared- a little too real. My kids thought it was great.
Katie of course loved the doctor's office where you can take care of all the babies- but with so many people there she had to fight for a doll.
Ben had a great time in the giant train area. I had a proud mom moment when someone asked if Ben was my son and told me that her little girl wanted a train and couldn't find one so he gave her his. You have to love it when they show those glimpses of goodness!
Fort Worth is famous for cattle and they had a whole section of the museum devoted to cattle ranching.
Always a favorit are these awesome building blocks.
Last weekend we had a fun family outing to the re-vamped Ft. Worth Science Museum. We only get a couple of more months to use our membership so we are trying to make the most of it. The highlight of this visit was a great 4-D movie on gathering oil in Texas. 4-D movies include the senses so you smell and feel various aspects of the movie. The little boy in front of us didn't love it when the T-Rex appeared- a little too real. My kids thought it was great.
Katie of course loved the doctor's office where you can take care of all the babies- but with so many people there she had to fight for a doll.
Ben had a great time in the giant train area. I had a proud mom moment when someone asked if Ben was my son and told me that her little girl wanted a train and couldn't find one so he gave her his. You have to love it when they show those glimpses of goodness!
Fort Worth is famous for cattle and they had a whole section of the museum devoted to cattle ranching.
Always a favorit are these awesome building blocks.
Last Tuesday we met a couple of new homeschool families at a park for a nature walk and play day. It was fun for the kids to make some new friends and get out of the house. Lauren and Dallin joined one of the families on Saturday for a birthday party at a fun entertainment center with go carts, laser tag, etc.
On Friday we joined an LDS co-op group North of Dallas for the classes. It was very different than what we typically do. They have 15-20 kids per age group and it is pretty academic. The kids liked making friends and class, but not the drive. It's 1 1/2 hours to co-op and 1 1/2 hours home. That's pretty hefty drive, but I think we will do it for at least one semester. I'm hoping to round up enough folks that we could do something similar closer to home, but I don't know if that's realistic. The LDS population is stronger North of Dallas.
Yesterday after taking Lauren and Dallin to the birthday party I took the little kids to the Children's Museum in Dallas. It was kind of nice to be able to focus on little kid things and just let them play without having the big kids there getting bored. Rusty had a work training all day, but spent a couple of hours with Lauren and Dallin at their party in the evening.
Today, Sunday, Rusty and I spoke in Sacrament Meeting. Then I did sharing time in primary and he taught high priests. It was a very busy day and it is nice to have an afternoon to rest.
Now that we are "involved" again our life is filling up quickly, but it's been a welcome change and we are enjoying the opportunity we have to be a part of the ward and community.
On Friday we joined an LDS co-op group North of Dallas for the classes. It was very different than what we typically do. They have 15-20 kids per age group and it is pretty academic. The kids liked making friends and class, but not the drive. It's 1 1/2 hours to co-op and 1 1/2 hours home. That's pretty hefty drive, but I think we will do it for at least one semester. I'm hoping to round up enough folks that we could do something similar closer to home, but I don't know if that's realistic. The LDS population is stronger North of Dallas.
Yesterday after taking Lauren and Dallin to the birthday party I took the little kids to the Children's Museum in Dallas. It was kind of nice to be able to focus on little kid things and just let them play without having the big kids there getting bored. Rusty had a work training all day, but spent a couple of hours with Lauren and Dallin at their party in the evening.
Today, Sunday, Rusty and I spoke in Sacrament Meeting. Then I did sharing time in primary and he taught high priests. It was a very busy day and it is nice to have an afternoon to rest.
Now that we are "involved" again our life is filling up quickly, but it's been a welcome change and we are enjoying the opportunity we have to be a part of the ward and community.
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