Mrs. Fields cookie tour...

Trista set up a factory tour for us yesterday.  we went to the Mrs. Fields gift giving factory tour.  It's always fun to see how these type of fun things (by fun things I mean treats) are made and packaged.  And of course we got to wear those stylish hairnet things.  

We usually do a Sweet's factory tour every summer, but this one was new and fun.  And of course, we all got a yummy cookie afterward. (But I have to say, I enjoy my homemade ones better.)

 

They have a huge freezer used to store all the dough.  It was 14 below zero.  Some of us ran in to feel it.  It was freezing!!  I think Sara was cold for 20 minutes after. 

In their shop at the end of the tour they have a bunch of clearance packaging items for sale.  They had a huge tin for $2 and a bit smaller ones on sale for $1.  I got a big one and two smaller ones that I'm going to use for something (still trying to figure out what).  I also got a cute Father's Day box to fill with some sort of yumminess and give to the bishop (aka - father of the ward) from the primary kids for Father's Day. 

Dad is retired

After many years of teaching my dad has finally decided to retire!  For 19 years, he was a teacher at the middle school I went to.  He was there for 5 of his 8 kids.  He was my TA (homeroom) teacher. It was so fun.  He was a great teacher and the kids loved him.  

We threw a surprise retirement party for him on Friday night. I didn't take any pictures except of the cake I made.  He was a PE teacher, loves sports, and coached basketball so obviously he had to have a sports-themed cake/decorations.  

 

I just decorated the top like a basketball court with a basketball and added various types of balls along the sides on the bottom. 

 

My dad is one of the hardest workers.  Of those 19 years, he rarely missed a day of teaching and then came home and worked some more.  Hopefully now he will take some time to sit and watch the sports he loves so much - PROBABLY NOT! 

Congratulations Dad!

This year, the primary was invited to be a part of the parade in July.  The Stake is taking care of it with the help of the ward primaries.  The stake provided this wooden puppet (bigger than Kamri) that   I    the primary was supposed to turn into a little girl. I took this picture after I had spray painted the body cream-colored and drawn the face on it.  It started as a totally blank piece of wood in the shape of a person.  So, I painted it then took it into primary and let the kid decide what color hair and eyes they wanted her to have.  They chose blonde hair and blue eyes.  

 

Now I had to get some hair on her.  I had no idea how to start so I called a lady in the stake and she showed me what she had done and gave me a good idea of how to start.  So, using yellow yarn and some bias tape I sewed a wig together then glued that puppy on her head.  I used almost a whole thing of yarn.  There was a lot of yarn.

The next step was to figure out how to dress her.  I sketched some VERY simple ideas for a dress, chose the one that I though would be easiest, did the math for the measurements, and put together a dress.  Here are my sketches.  I think I'm going to try the skirt for Kamri.  I think it would be cute. 

She needed a shirt to go under the dress, but I had no idea how to make up a pattern for that so I opted to just paint on a shirt.  Then added a flower to her hair for a finishing touch.  If I had more time I would add some more "finishing touches" to her, but seeing as how this isn't the only thing I need to do for Primary, I'm leaving it as is.  

Here's the finished product.....

I think she's cute...don't you?

 

I think I'll have the kids give her a name so they can be a little more involved in the process. On Sunday we are taking some time from their lessons and Sharing Time (which I am in charge of)  to make at least 40 big paper flowers for the float.  Then hopefully I can breath a little.  Let's hope...

Last Day of School...

Today is the last day of school for the year.  It was a bittersweet morning for the kids.  They really like school - all aspects of it - and are sad to be leaving their awesome teachers and friends.  I can't believe how much they both have grown up in the last 9 months. 

Evan is just a cute little boy who has grown so much on the outside and is so smart.  He's learned so much and I love to sit down with him and have him read to me.

 

First day of kindergarten

Today...

last day of Kindergarten

This is his teacher, Mrs. Snow.  She was great and he loved her. I asked him why she liked her and he said, "Because she's nice.  She says that she loves me being in her class."  I got to help out in his classroom and on a couple field trips this year. I love helping at their school.  I wish I could do it more often.

Sara - oh my goodness!  She has grown up so much!  I can't believe the difference between the first day of school and the last.  It seems she went from just a little girl to a beautiful young women (yes, I know she's only seven). See for yourself...

First day of 2nd grade

Today...

last day of 2nd grade

Sara's teacher, Ms. Richard, was fabulous.  I would request every single one of my kids to have her.  She is awesome and very willing to help each student with whatever they need, whether is be a little more help or something a little more challenging.  If we are still here when Evan is in 2nd grade, I will definitely be getting him into her class. Unfortunately, I didn't get to help in Sara's class this year.  All their field trips were ALL DAY trips and I couldn't leave the other kids that long.  I wish I could have helped more.

 

 I had the kids help me decoupage some clipboards for their teachers.  

They had fun and I think they turned out cute.

End of school...

With the end of the school year close, we had a lot of school activities going on.

Last Thursday I went on a field trip with Evan's class.  We walked from the school to a nearby park and played for a couple hours.  It was great because I was able to take Kamri and Miles with me and they just played right along with the kindergarteners.  I thought it was very brave of the teachers to walk 50 or so 5- / 6-year-olds through busy streets.   But the kids did great and we only had to tell a couple kids to stay away from the curb.  I took up the rear while Evan's teacher, Mrs. Snow, led her class. 

 

Needless to say, Evan got really dirty but had lots of fun.

Then that night was the school Family Feed and Talent Show. The school does a BBQ with hamburgers and chips.  Anyone can come and get fed FOR FREE.  The hamburgers are really good and the best part was I didn't have to cook it :).

 

 

Trista and her family, Misti, Trina, Grandma, and Grandpa joined us for the BBQ.

 (Grandma, Grandpa, and Trina didn't get there until a little later and had to wait in line.  They almost missed Sara's performance in the talent show.)

Sara chose to participate in the talent show this year.  When she first said she wanted to do it I was a little skeptical but encouraged her.  And SHE DID IT!   She was the very first performer and got up there with complete confidence and played her song. She decided not to do her recital piece and chose a song from her Jazz beat.  She did awesome.  (We were glad she was at the beginning so we could skip out early.)

 

The next day was field day. I volunteered to be in charge of one of the stations.  I chose to be a part of the 2nd and 3rd graders since I hadn't been able to help out in Sara's class at all this year.  It was fun to see her with her friends.  

I was in charge of the potato sack races (along with a mom of one of Sara's friends).  Those sack races are hard.  The kids were having a great time.  But I do have to give teachers some kudos for what they do.  I don't know how they do it all day with all those kids.  After going through 5 rotations (and hour and a half), I was just about done.  I had to have the other lady do the explaining of the game because my throat and head were hurting.  I needed a break.  Way to go teachers!  You amaze me. 

Kamri got to jump around in the sacks in between classes.  She was laughing so hard.  By the time she got to the finish line, the sack was down to her feet but she just kept on hopping.

Miles was  good sport and did great sitting in his stroller for so long.  I let him out to crawl around a few times, but the majority fo the time he was in the stroller.

 

Then I ran over and took a picture of Evan with some of his friends. I was really close to where his class was so I could look over and see him having fun, too.

The school rents a bunch of blow up slides and trampolines and such.  After the field day is over it's kind of a free-for-all to go and do what you want.  Kamri had been watching and wanting the trampoline all morning and was so excited when she actually got to jump in it. 

Then we were provided lunch - hamburgers again.  It was a fun day, but after 2 days of activities out in the sun, my head was aching (I get head aches easily and always get them if I'm in the sun for long length of time).  It lasted for a few days, but it was worth it to get to spend some time with the kids and be a part of their school experience (plus I HAD to lay down and relax at home).

And lastly, Sara won  her grade in AR points.  The school has this program where you read books from the "AR" list and take small tests on them.  Each book is worth a certain amount of points and you have to get atleast 80% on the test to get points for that book.    They keep track of how many points each student has and at the end of the year the student with the most points from each grade gets a prize. In years past they've always given a bike to the winner of each grade.  So Sara was working really hard all year trying to earn the bike.  She did it!  She had the most points in the second grade.  But, she was a little disappointed because they didn't give bikes this year.  (Budget cuts or something I guess)  She got a basketball.  She really wanted the bike (I did, too) but this was a good lesson on just being grateful for what you get, but more importantly that it is important to work hard for something and be proud of the achievement - not just the prize.   My initial reaction was one of shock and disappointment (I really wanted her to get a bike) so we both had to learn that lesson and I think I am still working on it.  But way to go Sara!  We are so proud of you and your desire to learn and work for something you want.

Her awesome basketball.  She's happy.

Blah to Ooh la la...

I've been looking at a few craft blogs lately.  (OK, maybe more than a few.  I enjoy looking at what other people are creating and being inspired to make something myself.)  Anyway, there are a lot of refashioning projects out there.  I was at Old Navy the other day looking for something and I ran across these shirts, on clearance for $0.97!! Sara is in need of some new summer shirts so I picked up one of each color and went home.  But, when I got home I decided I wanted her to make it a little bit cuter than just a plain T-shirt so I went back and got one more of each color in the biggest size they had.  I used the second shirt just for the material to turn them into these....

This post inspired me to add vertical ruffles to the coral one, and ....

this post inspired the horizontal ruffles with a cute flower on the blue one. 

So much cuter.  I love them now!

I've also been inspired to make some other things.  These have been keeping me busy...

Memorial Day/4th of July wreath

summer wreath using split peas

knee high socks changed to leg warmers (the girls look sooooo cute when they wear these)

and turtleneck turned cute short-sleeved ruffle T

I love creating things.  I like looking at the finished product and thinking, "Wow, I made that."  I just wish I could come up with these wonderful ideas on my own.  Oh well, I make a good copy cat.

The sweet moments of life....

The other day I was making a shopping list and Kamri asked if she could help me write them.  I handed over the pen and let her at it.  I told her which letters to write and she did it.  She needed help with a couple of the letters but I think she did great.

Look at it and see if you can figure out what she wrote.

One day before school I went into the kids' room to get them for breakfast and found them like this.  They had all grabbed their new Books of Mormon and sat on Sara's bed to read.  Pretty good start of the day if you ask me.

What more can I say...

look at those cheeks - and that outfit!!!

Darling!!!

These are the moments that make all the not-so-sweet-times of being a parent all worth it.  There are days when I just want to pull my hair out, but then things like this happen and the other times are forgotten.  Kind of like a fresh start.