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Our snow melted enough to make a snowman!  Emma was SO excited… both to make one, and to have it be as tall as her!  :)  

Emma's K teacher is great and I knew she had lots of fun things planned for Dr. Seuss's birthday – I was surprised to greet a cat off of the bus, though!  Of course Emma absolutely loved it.  And we have been swimming in Dr. Seuss books around here… and loving it!

Just a few of those things that made me smile this week:  

Emma's little notes on my shopping list (and pretty much everywhere else…)

Emma's selection of library books… I'd smile every time I saw them.  

the kids on library day… I love that they love to read so much!  

Made my bed… went downstairs… came up to this.  Decided to ignore the "please don't play in the bed I just made" talk we had JUST had, and to smile.  Found one straggler that night on my pillow.  Smiled again.  

 

Zach was beyond excited for his first Blue and Gold Banquet.  I was talking to a girl whose husband is in scouts about it the morning of, and she asked me if I knew what was for dinner.  I didn't… hot dogs.  Then she said, "Yeah, I guess 'banquet' means different things to different people."  Love it.

There was a "fellers cake bake" – so the cake was made and decorated by Zach (with Dad's help).  He was so proud of it – including his award.  Can you tell?  

For some reason (I blame the wii), Carter has been fascinated with boxing.  He boxes with his animals, they box with each other, he tries to box with Emma and Zach (I am not such a fan of this.)  When we had balloons out for Nate's birthday, they of course were boxing gloves.  And the best thing of all is the way he boxes… a few "punches", then he yells "knockdown!" and dives onto the floor like he's sliding into home.  He will do this for half the morning on his blankets that he carefully places out… all part of the game.  And then the other day when Nate asked Carter what he wanted to be when he grew up… "A boxer."  Why???   "Because I love it!"

Not really, but good enough.  Sidewalk chalk, bikes, fleece jacket instead of a coat (for Zach at least), running races…  it was a good afternoon, even if it wasn't quite as warm as advertised.

Announcement from the office yesterday at the kids' school:

"We know that tomorrow is going to be a warm day.  However, you may NOT wear shorts to school.  If you wear shorts to school, you will be sent to the office where you will have to call your parents and have them bring you some pants."

When Emma told me this I couldn't help but laugh.  True, going from a low of -30 last week to a high of 50 today is quite a temperature change, and could make you think it is "warm" – but to have to make an announcement to keep kids from walking out the door in shorts is hilarious.  

Just FYI:  when Zach left for school this morning the temp was 41 (and with the wind chill it was 33).  Still no convincing either child to wear a coat today.   Guess that groundhog was right… spring must be on it's way!

 

Nate had a good birthday… for a grown-up, anyways.  He worked and was on call and was really tired – but he got his favorite dinner and he had his cherry cheesecake all to himself (no one else likes it…) and Emma and Carter made him bags full of "balloons" (which were actually like paper links from a paper chain… Emma's invention…)  Other present highlights included a card from Zach, and airplanes made out of paper and crepe paper from Emma and Carter.   And honestly,  how does a grown up birthday get much better than that?  

1:00 – drop off Emma at school since we hadn't finished our errand in time to catch the bus.

2:15 – Carter and I head back to the school to help set up for the science fair.

4:30 – after the kids get home and have a quick snack, all of us head back again for Zach's P/T conference at 4:45 and Emma's at 5:00, and to look at the book fair with the kids' valentine $$.

5:40 – we are still at the school, waiting for Zach to decide on his book fair purchase, when Nate calls from work, wondering about meeting us and asking me how I realistically plan to drive home, make and feed the kids dinner, and be back for the school science fair at 6:30.  I recognize his wisdom and I load the kids in the car, take them through the drive-thru at Wendy's, and let them eat in the car in the school parking lot, finishing just in time to run in to the science fair.  (I really think I have no concept of time…)

7:30 – we finally leave the school after making 4 trips there in less than 8 hours and thinking that there must have been an easier way.  

What made it worth it???

the kids loved 1) Wendy's for dinner, 2) eating in the car, and 3) everything about the book fair

Zach and Emma both had great conferences

Emma LOVED the science fair.  She had been working on her project for weeks – her idea, her experiment, her poster, HER typing – she couldn't wait to tell the reviewers about it.  And Zach had a good time telling his school friends about his project, too. 

And Carter ended the day feeling like HE went to Gage, too!  

Never knew what a hit these mailboxes would be… the kids check them every morning now!  

It was a "melty" day… and I couldn't convince Carter to come in after taking Emma to the bus.  He was doing something very serious out here in the gutter puddles for more than half an hour…

Emma, doing a ladybug craft she got as a valentine from a classmate… it may have been her favorite one – and for my candy girl, that is saying something!

It is easy when you're 2 to confuse gluestick with chapstick… and to be a little confused about where to apply it anyways.

And the fondue tradition that has endeared Nate to Valentine's day after all these years… Zach entirely into dipping this time around, and Emma eating more than she usually does in 3 days.  

Did I say already I LOVE this day?!