Why I Love the Library

We love the library at our house.
We go there a lot.
They have lots of great programs for children.
My kids have aged out of storytime (not grown out-- they still love it)
Now we head to the library for great books, fun toys, interesting magazines, and computer games.
There is a chess club each Wednesday that is just for kids. The kids there teach each other the game, with oversight from the leader. I think it helps take the pressure off. Annika had so much fun, Kade was intent on figuring out the best move, and Nathan was sure he would win every game, but learned a hard lesson about practice... it makes you good if you do it, and beatable if you don't.
Adrienne even played last time we went. (She only lasted about 3/4 of one game, but did fairly well against a 12 year old).

The chess club leader is dynamic, energetic, and involved with the kids. He plays music, provides a treat, and makes sure the kids don't give up.

At our house, a trip to the library is considered a treat and my kids look forward to it every time. (Good incentive for getting chores done quickly).
We love the monthly Monday night activities,
Summer reading programs,
and various parties (Nathan went to the Percy Jackson party a few months ago and "discovered" he belongs in the Hermes cabin),

Plus, it is all free!
Well, minus the $78 they took from my property taxes to pay for it...
And the fines I get when that darn lone book doesn't make it back in the library bag in time for the trip back.
Worth it though, every dime.

So What?

Adrienne had a dance competition on Saturday. Her dance was called "So What" by P!nk. The little girls were so cute, but got a bad case of stage fright.

Their teacher couldn't come and I don't think they felt comfortable with dancing in a big auditorium.

I guess it doesn't matter much. Adrienne got a "Participation Trophy" at dance on Monday (I hate those). She hasn't let it out of her grasp since then, even sleeping with it last night.

Plus, she got to wear makeup. A big thrill for a young girl.

We took some pictures. I asked her to do a pose. This is what I got:

Then I asked her to smile:

We finally ended up with this:

Much better.

Here is her dance:

Drive In Movies

We love the drive in. It is the best way to see a movie with kids. They get to talk, eat, and sit outside in the warm summer air with blankets and Capri Suns.
We can't wait for summer movies again...

So we decided to do a drive-in movie night for our Primary Quarterly Activity.
It was a success and I only had one nightmare about it ;)
It was so much fun and we had a pretty good turnout.
The plan went like this:
The children came in and made their "cars" with cardboard boxes, lots of tape, colored paper, paper plates, and glue.
Then they had to do a coloring sheet or an object search to get their first ticket,
Then identify a member of the First Presidency or recite an article of faith for another ticket,
Then sing a primary song on Kade's karaoke machine for their third ticket.
Then they used their tickets for popcorn, root beer floats, and the entrance to the movie.
They were really good about making sure we took their tickets. I think they felt like they were all grown up.

I don't generally put up pictures of other people's kids, but I snapped a few that were so cute I had to share:

Medical Care on the Cheap

This:
Is supposed to be attached to Adrienne's arm.
Nathan took care of it while "helping" her to get in the car the other day.
I think when it slid off it scared him more than it did her.
And they were all scared of me when I came on the scene.
You know that "deer in the headlights" look they get when they are about to get in trouble?
There were four pairs of eyes looking at me as I climbed in the van with my previously lost keys in hand.

Nathan began by telling me he was trying to help, Kade was trying to stuff her hand back in it, and Annika was busy tattling.

I checked her hand and felt the area that was broken. The doctor told me he was just planning to push on it and move it around to make sure it was healed.

I can do that, right?

So I did. And it was.

And Nathan saved us another visit to the doctor.

Thanks... I guess.

The Choir?

Nathan rarely sings in Primary.
I can see his lips move when there are songs about melting snowmen, or sometimes "Scripture Power"-- when he can swing his scriptures around legitimately.
It drives me crazy, but I understand it is probably a "macho" thing.
That is why you can understand that my jaw dropped to the floor when he asked if he could join the school choir.
Really?
Whatever floats his boat.
(Sarcastic eye-rolling goes here).
I guess singing the Beatles is more fun than singing "Follow the Prophet".

The choir had a mini concert at a local grocery store as a fundraiser for the school. I missed it because I was at Kindergarten Roundup with my baby *sniff*.

Burke was superman and got home from work early, rounded up my other three, and took them up to the store. All the while remembering to grab the camera.

I got there just as the concert ended, but I did get to see the pride in Nathan's face.
It was almost as good.

A Birthday Gift

My mom and dad came to visit Nathan for his birthday. They brought him a gift that he could open and a gift that I don't think he realized was a gift.
His Great-grandpa came with them. And he brought his harmonica.We all had a little laugh about that.
Grandpa always finds an opportunity to play for whomever he can find.My kids loved it.
Great-grandpa loved it.
Annika is still talking about when she can get her first real harmonica.
I think the real gift is being able to appreciate family.
I am so blessed to still have all four of my grandparents. (Got some good genes there).

Nathan really enjoyed the gift he opened though. I have no idea how I have not gotten a picture of it yet because I believe that it was surgically attached to his hand as soon as he got it out of the package.
It was a nerf gun. And he loves it. It has been confiscated more than once for my other children's protection.
We are currently working on getting him to focus on target practice right now.
But it is so fun to shoot it at people.
I got Adrienne the other day when she was trying to sneak up on me.
And it was really fun.
Then she took it away.
Darn.
Guess I should be a better example.

Pretty Girls

I did this on the girls' hair Sunday for church. It turned out to be so cute, but didn't hold up very well. By the time they got home, the ribbons had moved around too much. I have a new plan to try to keep it in place, but I'll have to wait for a while to try it out because the girls weren't impressed with this 'do.
Here is my littlest munchkin's hair:

How about that cheesy smile? Love those girls.