Kiwi Crate

Have you heard of Kiwi Crate?   Check out their site if you haven't already.  For Christmas my mom and papa bought each of the kids a crate and also one to share.  What I love is everything you need (with the exception of scissors and things like water) is in the box!  Each box makes several crafts centered around the same theme.  The kids getting all the supplies out and ready.

 

 

Sydney coloring the papers to decorate the tops.   Her crate was colorful inspiration.  Sydney's box included the tops, and supplies to make stained glass windows (with tissue paper, there may have been something else I am having a hard time remembering ). 

Griffin's crate was a pirate them, which is why he is wearing an eye patch.  He made a pirate hat, eye patch, a parrot, treasure map and decorate a  treasure box.

seriously the cutest pirate I have ever seen

 

 

We have one more crate reserved for a rainy day.  I was very pleased with this product and would recommend kiwi crates to everyone with kiddos who like to craft.  Also the site has craft and DIY ideas that you print. 

Snow 2014

Well sorry it has been so long since I have posted, I was having some sort of issue with blogger and when I tried to log in it would shut down. I just happened to try again and it worked this time.

 

  Last week we had cold temps and finally some snow. I figure hey if it is going to be cold we might as well have snow. The kids have been waiting to use this snow tube our neighbors bought them last winter. We probably only got between 1-2 inches but it was enough, especially on the fairway.

 

 

Sydney and Bill

 

Griffin and mommy

 

snow angel

 

cold and ready to go in

 

 

Sydney smelling the snow

 

I was glad I captured this moment, my girl laying down in the snow, completely at peace.  I am going to frame this picture for sure, it is a favorite already.

Hard to believe that this little snow had the kids out of school 4.5 days last week, yup that is the south for you. 

First Grade

Introducing our first grader....Sydney Hall!  Wow when did our baby girl grow up? I truly feel like not that long ago she was just a little baby.  She is so grown up and mature.  She is the best big sister (95% of the time).  She is getting a big girl, mature, beautiful face and losing that baby face.  Today was a great day.  She helped me pack her lunch and we took a few pictures at home.  (pictures are a but blurry due to me dropping my camera on vacation, yes I need a new one FAST)  We took Griffin to daycare and met Bill at the school. 

Little brother wanting to be part of the excitement.

We met her teacher, Mrs Knapp and looked around her classroom.  We took a few more pictures.  (I did have Bill take a few on his IPhone just in case my camera was as messed up as I thought). 

We gave our baby girl hugs and kisses and told her to have a great day. 

When I picked her up this afternoon she said it was a good day.  She was on red, which is the best color in first grade.  She is excited about being allowed to buy ice cream on Fridays and also being able to go to computer lab.  We are excited for another year of learning and growing.

School Lunch Ideas

We are gearing up for back to school and I am going to make an effort to provide Sydney with healthy and yummy lunches.  Sydney is not what I would call a picky eater but she is my pickier eater (does that make sense).  Last year I packed her lunch some of the time and then she ate school lunch when groceries were low or when I did not have things she wanted.  I know the school offers fruits and veggies but she can be picky about these and often would tell me she did not eat any of the fruits or veggies offered.  We have been trying to eat less processed food which is more work for me and some weeks it is just challenging.  I have been trying more recipes to put in my go to menu options that are not processed and healthy. 
So these are some of my ideas for Syd's lunches:

Muffin:  poppy seed (I will share recipe in next few days), pumpkin chocolate, banana oatmeal and zuchini with chocolate chips

Bean dip and chips
egg salad with mini triscuits
pimento cheese with triscuits
trail mix

meat and cheese roll ups
whole wheat bread with PB and nutella
yogurt
fruit- maybe kabobs
carrots with ranch or spinach dip

You can actually subscribe to this blog for a menu.   My goal is to pack my children a nutritous and yummy lunch that will give them the energy they need for their day.  Do you have any suggestions?

5 years ago- Sydney and Sam

Five years ago a picture very similar to this one made the Montgomery Herald newspaper.  We were attending the Candor Peach Festival and a photographer noticed Sydney and her friend Sam (weren't they just adorable).

Hard to believe it has been five years and these two kids are 7 this year!

a favorite

This picture is a favorite of mine.  It was taken in December of 2009 at a friend's wedding reception.  I do not remember posing but we must have been to capture this moment.  I have this picture framed and sitting on my desk, it will always be a favorite of mine. 

Swim Lessons

Our club offered swim lessons (for free) so we signed both kids up. Sydney is a fish already but we really want her to learn some actual strokes. Griffin is basically swimming under water on his own and is fearless.

 

Our lifeguards are so sweet and they have gotten to know the kids as they have grown up, we appreciate them so much.  

Sam's Party

This year Sam had his birthday party at the gymnastics place and boy did we have fun.  Sydney challenged me to the bars...... my arms were sore the next day. 

Of course Bill had to prove he could do it too!

Ellie in the pit with all the kids

Sam, 7 years old

Sydney is a monkey and loves to hang and swing.

 

We were happy to celebrate with Sam and cannot believe how times has flown since we first met.

July 4th

Once again my parents came to watch our kiddos for the week of the 4th! This is such a fun tradition.

Our club has a hot dog lunch and games for the kids.  Bill and Sydney in the water balloon toss.

Griffin tossing balls into stars

Snuggling and waiting out the rain

Sydney on the high dive ready to compete for the smallest splash

it was rather small

the judges gave her a 7

My mom with Griffin

Grandpa spraying the wild man

Off the high dive for the biggest splash

cannon ball

The kids had to collect pop cans off the bottom of the pool, Sydney picked up 13!

Then they collected coins, she is quite the swimmer

Fourth of July bbq and cheesecakes!

It was a great day and we were thankful to have family to celebrate with. 

My mom posted pictures of bowling and delishi fun on her blog and here is a peek back at 2011, wow how they have grown.  Here is 2010 pictures.

Sydney's kindergarten graduation

Sydney's kindergarten graduation - welcome

Mrs Fearnside and Ms Graham, so excited yet sad to let the kids go

Sydney and Mrs Fearnside

Sydney was given the Milky Way Award "for setting an example for others by having quality work that was OUT OF THIS WORLD." 

Me and my girl, wow when did she grow up

Bill and Sydney (he used more Kleenex than I did)

Sydney and Kylie

Sydney and Noah

hugs goodbye

The kids performed a few songs and the teachers put together an awesome video presentation (too long to upload- but I do have a DVD copy).  We have become great friends with Mrs Fearnside and her family because the girls played softball together.  We are not saying goodbye to them, just kindergarten.  It was an awesome year, Sydney loved school and I thoroughly enjoyed being one of the class mom's. 

Summer academics

I planned a summer curriculum for Sydney, nothing too rigorous just some work sheets, crosswords, word scrambles and games to help keep her sharp on all her skills.

 

We have some card games that work on spelling and also math skills.

I used these sights for worksheets and games.  We are also reading and working of some sight words.

www.abc.net.ua/countusin/
mathfactcafe.com
pbskids.org/whiteboard
http://www.lessoncorner.com/puzzles

Do your kids do any work over the summer?

Videos of Softball

 

Sydney is getting better and better at softball especially her hitting skills.   We are finished with the season but may have a tournament coming up this weekend.  These two videos will always remind us of her first season playing ball.

Syd

my girl sitting across from me at the dinner table

so grown up

so funny at times

so sweet

so creative

there is no one like her, my Sydney