Let's go fly a kite...with 120 third graders

It is tradition for the third grade classes to decorate a kite like the cover of their favorite book.  Leah chose "Millions of Cats".  We all boarded buses at 10:30 am, rode down to Ona Beach where it is ALWAYS windy and had a picnic lunch, played games and flew kites until the end of the school day.

 what?  i was cold

 Leah flying her kite

Happy 7th Birthday my sweet Naomi!

6:30 am

Heidi tried to open Naomi's first present. Naomi opened it, Heidi cried. Naomi declared it the best birthday ever.

7:30 am
Naomi realized that she couldn't wear the pink shoes that would match her outfit to school because she had P.E. and they would slip off.  She melted down and declared today, the worst birthday ever.

6:30 pm

Naomi opened presents at her birthday party. Heidi sobbed. After surveying her loot, Naomi decided that it actually was the best birthday ever.

Never get tired of this

I finally broke down and bought batteries for the camera.  I think I was subconsciously hoping that if I didn't have a working camera, I would be more likely to buy the $600 one that I really want.  Somehow the three dollar battery replacements won out....lame.  Anyway, I enjoyed another AMAZING sunset the other night.  Enjoy :)

Over Yaquina View Light House

Pre School Graduation

 Wednesday E graduated from Cubby Pre School.  She did NOT want to wear the robe, but after some tears and coaxing, she finally put one on.  The cap?  Forget it.  She refused to take the bow out of her hair.

 Me, L and the graduate

 What's graduation without some cake?  Especially if it will turn your whole mouth blue?!?

 E with Teacher Ginger

E with teacher Mrs. Harget

I'm not gonna lie...I got a little teary eyed.  But I'm hoping you stopped reading before you got the the end of the post so you don't actually know that. 

Lunch

Heidi prefers her sandwiches on Wight, not wheat.

Do you like my hat?

All you fashionistas out there know that hats are all the rage.  Not to brag or anything, but my girls have been sporting some pretty creative and stylish hats of their own.  Eat your heart out fashion world!

 The "Orange Play Dough" Hat.  Comfortable, form fitting and hides any hair faux pas.

 The "Couch Cushion" hat.  Soft and secure with a wide brim for your protection.

 The "Floral Panty" hat.  Always a hit!  Great conversation starter.  Perfect for pig tails.

I really need to get these girls an agent.

my poor legs

These are both my own fault and were obtained because I was lacking in common sense.  However, I feel entitled to gripe about it...so here goes.

Injury 1
A couple weeks ago I read a book about a woman who had four daughters and was dying.  In the book she said she wished she would have played with her kids more at the play ground rather than sitting on the bench and watching them.  I decided I was going to play more as well.  We went to the park the next day and I was helping the girls go across the bars when I thought I would impress them and pull an old trick out of my bag. 

When I was in elementary school, we would hook one leg over the bar, wrap our arms under the bar and over our ankle and then spin until we were so dizzy we couldn't stand up straight.  I thought I would give it a try and show my girls I was a really cool Mom. 

I did it.  My girls were impressed.  I had a moment of irreverent pride and got the biggest, darkest bruise on the back of my knee.  Apparently tricks like that should be left to those weighing less than 55 pounds. 

Injury 2

No, thankfully that's not me (but it's funny)

Last week was sunny for most of five days in a row.  (That's amazing.)  I wanted to soak it up as much as I could.  I spent many hours tide pooling, collecting shells, playing on the beach and at the park with my girls and going on walks.  One afternoon, however, I decided to lay on my deck and read a book.  Now, in Newport, sunny does NOT mean warm.  I wrapped a blanket around the top half of me and decided to let my legs get some sun.  I fell asleep.  Three hours later I crawled inside.  The backs of my legs from above my knee to my ankle are FRIED.  Even now, three days later, I want to cry every time I have to bend my knees.  My girls keep giving me hugs of sympathy and saying, "I wish you didn't have that sunburn Mom."  Me too...but now I have a great reminder to stock up on sunscreen for this summer.

Bunny

Lars has carried on a tradition that his dad used to do.  As soon as stores start stocking them, he will buy each of the girls a chocolate bunny and they are allowed to take one bite a day until Easter.  Heidi, being two and a chocolate fiend, didn't really grasp this concept so each day when the other girls would take a small bite, to ensure their bunnies lasted until Easter, Heidi would take the biggest bite she could and cry for more.

Coincidentally, after Heidi had finished her own bunny, our friend gave us a GIANT chocolate Easter bunny.  Heidi kept asking to have it and I kept saying No.  I put it on the counter and went of to do something else.  A while later I realized it was too quiet and I hadn't seen Heidi in a while.  I was pretty sure what was going on, so I tiptoed around trying to find her and catch her red handed.

When I snuck upstairs, I came upon Heidi sitting in the middle of the floor with the bunny completely unwrapped.  She had already gnawed the face off.  Stifling my laughter, I approached her and said, "Heidi.  Mama told you not to eat the chocolate bunny."  Heidi innocently responded, "I not eating it.  I LICKING it!"

Random...and completely inappropriate

Naomi and Leah were jumping around on the couch.  Leah accidentally landed between Naomi's legs.  Naomi grabbed herself and yelled, "You just hit me in the nutz!"  Leah countered.  "You don't have any nutz."

I would like to thank the influence of public school for this contribution.  :)

Art Exhibit

Leah and Naomi both entered an art piece into the Lincoln County School Art Show. 

Naomi's piece won and artistic excellence award.  They selected four students from K-4th grade based on skill...and a bunch of other stuff (see...not remembering).  Anyway, she got a fancy certificate and a gold sticker next to her piece in the gallery.

Leah's artwork showed up in the local newspaper.  http://www.newportnewstimes.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=79&story_id=27787

And here are a couple other pictures from the Gallery Open House and the walk home.

 Leah, Naomi, Heidi, Yaya

 Cheesy Heidi

 Yaya

Heidi stopping to smell the...tulips