LOST tooth

While talking to Z after school at the table - I was like, "UH - did you loose a tooth?"  His face went quickly to excitment as if to say "YES!" and then quickly went to a contemplating look as he remembered his day.

Z wrote a  note to the Tooth Fairy and left it by his pillow:  "Dear Tooth Fairy, I'm sorry to tell you this - I lost my tooth at school.  From:  Z"

He was worried but the tooth fairy came and left his some money anyway.  Aunt Emily said the tooth fairy can go to the school and find the tooth with special fairy dust.  (:   ???  (: 

We Love to See the Temple!

Our ward had a goal to get more people to the temple.   What to do with the children was discussed . . . I suggested an activity that my sister has done twice where the kids have activities right on temple grounds.   

So that's what we did!  My kids were so excited to go.  I was surprised but I was happy they wanted to go!

They got a tour around the temple from a Bro. Knight who is in the Temple Presidency.  He was great and pointed out things I didn't know.  Like there being 3 windows and 3 circles above them . . . all symbolic.   

We wanted the the children to physically touch the temple - so "it can touch them." 

We took an individual picture of each child in front of the temple.  

We put the pictures in painted frames that said, "I love to see the temple" on the front and then on the back of the frame we put cards that the kids had filled out about how they felt that day.  We passed them out the next day - the kids were very excited to see them.   It was worth the effort!

This is my attempt at a Rice Crispie Treat Temple - we ate as it as part of our snack. 

We had some games, relays, songs, and a short video for them to watch the rest of the time (like build a block temple relay, temple memory, temples around the world bean bag toss, build a marshmellow temple, etc.). We didn't have as many children attend as we had first thought - but those that came had a great, memorable time.   I have awesome ladies in our Primary Presidency that helped do this successful activity and I am so thankful for them. 

Treehouse Progress!

Uncle Matt came up and helped start putting up the "sides"

Then the kids and I helped put up a board on top of those sides.

Pretty cool up there to have more of confined space.  Makes me less nervous to be up there.  (:  

About a week later - we got a ladder!!!  Why I didn't take a picture of just that - I don't know . . . but you'll see it soon!

Above is what B drew in Art Class when asked to draw something that really happened.  She's outside playing in our neighbors backyard with their grandaughter.   See the treehouse she drew on the right before the above progress.  (: 

This picture is for my Dad - he asked what the door D built looked like for this part of the "shed" he built. 

Random

Snakes we made at Joy School when we talked about the joy of spontaneous delight!

 We went to see the play Annie!  A girl in B's primary class was in it - she was the orphan Molly!  They hadn't seen the movie - so before we went I was playing them classic songs from the movie online.  B's friend came with us.  (next door neighbor's granddaughter)  They all liked it!

 Crazy hair day at school for spirit week!  (:

For AJ's birthday we went out to eat . . .

and went dancing on the Belle.  Fun times!  Happy 40th AJ - we love you!!!!

The kids didn't come to her party on the actual day - so she came during the week and celebrated with them!

Z's Spider Drawing

In Art Class - Z was asked to draw something that really happened. . . he drew:

I was impressed and surprised by his memory and choice!  (:  A couple days before D had received a large box - with a spider in it.  He was home before the kids and he wanted to surprise them.  He took it out of the box and placed it in our living room so when they came around the corner all giddy from the school bus - it would scare them.  He was NOT disappointed by their reaction!  B and Z were talking and laughing as they came around the corner and they saw it - they both jumped back and B screamed LOUD!  (:  It was pretty funny!!!!   Look how he drew their mouths. 

I took a picture after the surprise - Z was still laughing but B wouldn't pose in this picture!  (:

End of Labor Day Weekend

Note the long sleeves . . . it rained last night and the temperature dropped about 30 degrees!

Here's the famous stuffed animal BAT that got lots of playing time in this weekend at the cabin - thanks again AJ!

Rain outside doesn't change our plans for pancakes - D just brought the stove inside!  (:   With the cooler weather - we opened the windows - so we hoped the fumes wouldn't be bad.  (: 

Yummy pancakes!

Good-bye Mammoth Cave - thanks for a good family weekend!

And thanks Ben for bringing us together - you are remembered!   

 We love and miss you!

Labor Day Weekend continues . . .

There is a Jr. Ranger Program at National Parks.   They had the kids act out a skit from part of the cave's history.

Do you see the person in the cave?

Water fight continues to the kids delight.

Then we went on a hike in the afternoon - overlooking a bend in the river.

We went over this ferry to get to a road where a cool BIG tree was . . .

right next to the road.

we got out and climbed in it.

Who's peeking out there?   B first then Ak !  (: 

The trunk is hollow and there is a way in and out on both sides of the trunk.  Random cool find!

The Hot Day Continues . . .

While waiting for some dinner prep - the kids and D got in a water fight.  The kids had water guns but D had the hose.  (:  They loved it. 

Uncle Matt made his seafood pot again!  YUMMY!!!

Our deer friend showed up again - so they feed him some bread again - the oddest thing huh?

 Since we had loaded up a bunch of gear to go to the picnic site in the vehicles . . . even thought it was a short distance - it had to go back.  Ak was happy to help AJ "drive" as was Z to help Uncle Matt.  (: