Monsters Inc. and our Home School is Cool



We went to see Monsters Inc on Ice with our friends Miss. Marcie, Talaina & Reagan. We really missed having Miss. Tonya and Mikayla and Jala with us. We had a great time but things aren't the same without them. The show was fun for the kids but I think it was a waste of money. I can't help myself from thinking that way but I am glad we went.Micky, Minnie and the gang opened the show - a fun and unexpected surprise.
Miss. Marcie is so incredibly prepared for everything. She brought flashlights, glowing glasses & glowsticks, grapes, vegis and dip, cheese, pb&j, juice boxes and water bottles and everything! I don't know she fit all that food, bowls, napkins, etc in her bag but we were all set for the show!


Winter can bring cabin fever and when I can tell Nick has ants in his pants we do lots of energy burning stuff inside. Here Nick runs in place counting by 4's.
Toe touches by 3's
Hopping on one leg by 6's
Ahhhh, now we are ready to work!
Field Trip to the zoo. We have been 3 times this spring and since it has still been chilly the animals are very active. Here one bear eats while the other takes a swim. Actually, he stopped swimming to see what his friend was snacking on.
When I was a little girl I used to climb this statue of John Ball everytime I went to the zoo. It is fun for me to see my kids do the same things I used to do. Here we are with our homeschooling friends. I was doing a lot of head-counting on this outing!
This snow leopard was in heat and she was very testy. She was growling and generally unhappy. She was literally climbing the walls just before she came to stare down the kids. NOT a friendly kitty!
Whew, it sure has been a long day! Gabey and Mattie fell asleep together. Nap time feels so good.
Mattie before church. I know, I know, he is such a honey. Aunt Marcella sent the boys a big box of clothes and Mattie is wearing one of his new shirts.

This picture is a little too bright, but Gabey is just such a happy kid... except when he isn't. And, Gabey is wearing his new sweatshirt.
Those are "mean faces".

I'll try to post again soon... gotta go do some painting.
Have a great week - Happy Spring!'
Kaira

Christian IS Buzz Lightyear

This is Christian's new Rocket Ship. He made it himself this week. He is a Rocket Scientist. It will really fly into space. It is so cool to be Buzz Lightyear's mom. Oh, and yes, he is wearing elbow and knee pads. He wears them all day long because they are very practical, like him. He says that they keep him from getting hurt. Also, just in case you didn't notice, that is his FBI hat. Because he is a Space Ranger. And, yellow is his favorite color, so he has yellow mittens.

Michigan Lakeshore


We took the boys out to see the big lake (Lake Michigan). The winds coming in from across the lake make these incredible wave like formations. They are huge and really fun to see, but they are very dangerous. Many people go out climbing on them, which personally makes me crazy, but we just stayed on the beach. There were big mounds to climb on there that don't shift and break through to ice cold water. Matthew hated this and he and I ended up in the car. The other 3 boys really liked it. Grand Haven was VERY cold that day so we didn't stay long.





Christian and I made Valentines Day cupcakes. He really loves to cook with me.

Merry Christmas - a little late

I know I am behind in posting these updates. I have tried to get this done twice now and just couldn't finish it. Here are our family photos from Christmas 2006.

We spent our family holiday at the Great Wolf Lodge. This was a total surprise to the boys. They didn't realize we were going until we pulled into the parking lot . I love surprising them in that way! It was very exciting.


A few hours after we checked in the boys were busy decorating cookies and having hot chocolate.
After cookie making we walked around checking out all the decorations - but we quickly made it to the pools.
Gabriel and Matthew found the playhouse and played there for a while.
After swimming it is pajama storytime in the lobby. This happens everynight at the lodge but we had a special treat this time...
I even showed up in my Christmas jammies - the same ones I have worn every Christmas since 1990. Hey, Nana, I could use a new pair, wink wink! I no longer have the slippers or pinafore that matched but I still wear these every year. So, here we are listening to T'was the Night Before Christmas.
And, then the snow started to fall... 6 snow machines were shooting fresh snow all over the beautiful lobby! We all loved it and here is Gabey playing in the snow.
The boys right before heading off to bed.
Our Christmas morning, opening presents in our room. The boys thought The Great Wolf Lodge was their gift so the gifts when they woke up to presents they were excited. Matthew opens more Lincoln Logs.
Christian had been really wanting a camera and Nick asked me to buy one in the gift shop for his brother. Nicolas is very generous and loves to buy gifts for people. Here is Christian hugging Nick TIGHT with thankfulness.
Gabriel carried this little leopard around Meijers one day and he loved it so much. He was so happy when he opened it and just kept hugging & kissing it.
Flashing swords - just the ticket!
The lobby on Christmas Eve - Gabey is the little guy in the red.
Christian loved "swimming" in the giant hot tub. He just kept floating all around it.
Matthew & Gabriel enjoying the hot tub
Mattie attacking the water fountains
Nick plays with all the bigger kids, he loves the floating snake
Nick and Christian, waiting... waiting... anticipating...
And the bucket drops the water. This giant bucket dumps every 12 minutes and people run from all over to stand beneath it. I think the water bucket is one of Nick's favorite parts of the water park.
All dried off and we found a little time to play in the arcade before dinner.
At home the next morning opening more gifts. Nick picked out this Bible and Bible cover - he really enjoys referencing in his new Bible.
Christian sits on his new train tableMatthew wearing the cool coat Nana & Grandpa got him. He just opened his "reading bear" that he found a few weeks prior. He was DEVASTATED when I didn't buy it for him. Typically this type of disappointment goes away quickly but this time he continued to ask about his reading bear. I was so happy to give him that and I think he would have been perfectly happy to have received nothing else.Daddy and Gabriel. This musical lamb was something Gabey had picked up at Family Christian Stores - the beauty of shopping with him is that he didn't comprehend that I bought his present with him. He really loves stuffed animals.
Auntie Kimber opens her ornament from Christian.
Lukie Luke (as the boys call him) and Auntie Christine, opening Christian's gift.
Auntie Christine gave Gabriel this swimming swan - the boys all fought over it - until it stopped swimming. Toys just break too easily!
So, Happy 2007 friends, hope you enjoyed our photos.

Gabey gets a haircut!


The other day while I was downstairs doing laundry Matthew and Gabriel got into a little trouble. Matthew cut Gabriel's hair - right in the middle of the top of his head. Gabey was proud of his new haircut. We were busy for the rest of the day but the next morning I needed to take care of it. This is Gabriel's bedhead and his new bald spot. Gabriel is also the Sharpie Artist who colored on my bathroom cabinet - arghh...He was less than thrilled with sitting down to get his hair cut this time.
We tried to leave some hair but the bald spot was still obvious. The next time I removed the guard and shaved him bald.
Matthew also cut a little bit out of his own hair - he is getting shaved next! Gabey and Mattie are very close but Mattie wouldn't share his string cheese.
Bald Baby! In a week or so he will look much better.