Blow Out the Candles!

We celebrated Ella and Sam's birthdays with family in Kansas City last weekend.  The planning was pretty easy this year.  They both agreed on BBQ for dinner and chose themes pretty quickly.  Sam wanted a basketball theme and Ella chose Shopkins.  We made the banners, cupcake toppers and ordered the desserts.  It was nice to see everyone after not seeing most people since Christmas.  The kids had a good time surrounded by people they love.  Not a bad way to start another year of life.  

Reading Week

Ella's school celebrated reading week two weeks ago.  They had a dress up theme for each day, parents came in and read to the class, and on Friday they had "famous" readers.  I was excited to read to Ella's class on Monday.  Ella and read a lot of different books before choosing which ones she would like me to read to her class.   It was a fun experience.  Ella really got into the dress up themes and participated each day.  It was a fun way to get the kids excited about reading! 

The books we chose to read to Ella's class. 

Dressed as Fern for book character day. 

Thirteen???

Trying to get a picture while they are eating
without being the annoying mom. 

It is so hard for me to believe that Sam is now a teenager.  I am not sure where the last thirteen years has gone.  For his birthday this year he invited three of his good friends over to our house for a sleepover.  They had pizza, snacks and desserts and mostly hung out in the basement playing video and computer games.  They had the office set up so they all four could be on their computers at the same time playing Minecraft together.  They had a fun night and actually got a little sleep too.  

First Competition and First One Rating!

In the music program at Sam's school they can start going to competition in seventh grade.  Sam was in a low brass ensemble that took a piece to a middle school competition at Central Methodist University.  It is in Fayette, which is about a 45 minute drive from Columbia.  I was able to go and watch him compete.  His ensemble did an excellent job.  Sam was very nervous about being judged but was happy at the end of the performance telling me it was the best job they had ever done on the piece.  The judge thought they did a great job too awarding them with a one rating! 
The kids also enjoyed being out of school for the day, walking around a college campus, listening to their friends perform and just hanging out together.  I think the highlight of the day was their time after the competition getting to go to the mall for lunch.  From what I hear they had a great time.  Hopefully this will encourage Sam to keep taking pieces in the future.  

Showcasing the Rainforest

For this year's Rock Bridge Elementary Showcase Ella's class did ecosystem projects.  We had to do some of the work at home since my little perfectionist had fallen behind trying to make everything amazing.  We got some research done the week before the showcase and finished up her google slides presentation the day before the presentation.  She was very happy with how everything turned out though and I am glad she wants things to be done well.  She partnered with her friend Rain and they worked on the diorama and slides about the rainforest some together at school and finished their projects individually.  They did a great job presenting everything that they learned and enjoyed having guests come and see all of their hard work.  

Nine!

Sometimes I can't believe that Ella is nine!  Her birthday also fell on a Chat and Chew day so it was easy to have lunch with her and some of her friends.  Her request for birthday lunch was Zaxby's salad.  It is her new favorite thing.  I also stopped at the Hy-vee Bakery to pick up donuts to bring her class, at her request, and some M&M cookies for our birthday girl and chat and chew group.  She is definitely spoiled but I enjoy being able to do so. 
When she got home from school she couldn't wait to open her presents from us and Jono, Laura and the kids.  We always let the kids pick what is for dinner on their birthdays.  Ella's choice this year was chicken and biscuit casserole and fried zucchini.  She had a great day! 

Ella and Sam playing her new game from the Paines. 

Splish, Splash! Ella's Birthday Bash

Ella decided she wanted a pool party for her ninth birthday.  Pool parties in February require an indoor pool so we headed to the Activity and Recreating Center here in Columbia.  They have a large pool with a lazy river, a slide, and party rooms.  While the weather was actually warm that day the pool was packed.  I think the girls all had a good time swimming and were excited about getting back into the water after not being able to go to the pool for months.  They also enjoyed pizza and cake and just time laughing together.  Ella chose a beach theme to go along with the pool party idea and the girls loved the leis and other decorations.  It was a great way to celebrate Ella turning nine. 

Ella coming around the lazy river with her friends. 

Thanks to Sam for entertaining the girls during lunch.

Ella and her friends!

I had to promise to take a silly photo so I could get the serious one.  Such a fun group of girls. 

Trophy Tour

The Kansas City Royals organization took the World Series Trophy on a tour of Missouri and surrounding states with a lot of Royals fans.  The trophy came to Columbia and the kids and I decided to go and see it.  We had to wait in line but it moved quickly and we were able to get a photo with the World Series Trophy.  KayCee (the W guy) was also touring with the trophy and we had a photo with him too.  It was a fun experience.  Let's hope the Royals can keep the trophy in KC.  

Monster of a Party

My friend Christi planned another wonderful room party for Ella's class for Valentine's Day. Because she also is in charge of her fifth grade daughter's party I get to run the party for Ella's room.  The theme of the party was monsters.  We started with a powerpoint presentation where the kids had to match a monster to the description.  Then the kids were divided up into three stations.  At one station they were able to play with monster play dough while getting their picture taken with a monster mouth for a class collage.  The second station involved them making monster bookmarks and at the third station they were able to snack on monster treats.  They kids all had fun and enjoyed all of the different activities.  

Nacho Average Valentine

Ella chose the "Nacho Average Valentine" this year to go with a bag of nacho cheese Doritos.  For her valentine box she wanted to make a purse.  We saw a purse on Pinterest and thought it would make a cute idea.  We headed to Hallmark to choose the right paper and ribbons to make her creation.  I thought we found some pretty cute supplies.  The example we found had the child's name in glitter, which was Ella's favorite part so we added that too.  I think it turned out adorable and she was proud to take it to school.   

Hero

Ella had hero day at school.  She decided to wear her new Team USA jersey she got from grandma and grandpa for Christmas and be Carli Lloyd.  She made herself a captains armband complete with Carli's name and was ready to celebrate spirit day.  

Globetrotters

John took Ella and Sam to see the Harlem Globetrotters when they were in town.  Sam had such a good time when they went two years ago he thought they would both enjoy going this time.  They loved it!  They came home and couldn't stop talking about all the crazy antics they saw during the game.  John said they were laughing almost the whole time.  They are still talking about it two months later.  

Negro League Museum

Sam decided that instead of going to Union Station to watch the kids ride the train he would hang out with Al, Scott and Aiden who were going to The Negro League Museum.  He had a great time with them.  He told me he learned a lot while he was there.  They also managed to talk Uncle Al in to taking them to Winsteads for lunch and letting Aiden and Sam order the skyscraper sundae, which they finished.  Scott said a lot of that was Sam and a little was Aiden, I am not surprised.  They had a great guys day!  

All Aboard

Christy decided she would like to take Kylie, Cameron and Declan to Union Station to ride the train.  Ella and I decided we would tag along for the day and then maybe I could take the girls to Kaleidoscope after the train and lunch.  After a very round about travel to get to the train, since they were setting up the front half of the room for their New Year's Eve party, the kids all climbed aboard.  The little ones really seemed to enjoy themselves.  They were all smiles each time they came around.  After a second ride for the younger three we looked around at all the model trains that they had set up in the area.  There were some neat displays.  
Next, it was time to keep with the theme and head to a train lunch at Fritz's.  The only problem was once we arrived back at Crown Center we realized everyone else had the same idea.  Christy and Jono decided to take the younger boys to the other Fritz's while my mom and I took Kylie and Ella over to Kaleidoscope.  The girls had a great time creating crafts.  We got there a little late for the session and they were disappointed when their time ran out so we will definitely have to make a return trip sometime soon.  

Trying to get everyone to look at the camera at the same time proved impossible.

Someone is trying to make hers look just like her big cousins.