Halloween...

It's funny, but I remember it as a single day event. One day in the friggin' cold that you went out for a few hours and raked in a haul of candy...usually enough to fill half a pillow case.

These days, it seems like a week long event that stretches the fun, and candy, out and really lets you get your money's worth for costume investment. This year, we pulled an Angel costume out of the box - it was $.50 at a garage sale and we wore it for four days, LOL!

It started with the school party -- Then there was the Business Trick or Treat with our friends the Kilian's and the Dents-Saturday morning was ballet, they got to wear their costumes there too --Lastly came the actual day, Halloween and she got to go out with her Daddy...
It was a wonderful week...BOO!

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

It is that time of the year - crisper air and a visit to the Pumpkin Patch!
It was a field trip visit through the class - everyone got to go. Enjoy the pictures:

Everyone hits the potty first and then gets their coats on...Then a quick review of what is going to happen...Onto the bus - how exciting!First was the building with the Hay Maze...Then they got to play with the old fashioned water pumps by floating rubber ducks down the tubesThe hay wagon arrived and they are on their way to the pumpkin patch!SOOOO many to pick from - not a clean one in the bunch (but the kids kept asking...)This was the winner and went home with Sarah!Then there was the corn maze...Will they find their way out?The whole class

This was my favorite shot of the day - the girls "networking" about pillow pets, sleep overs and boys!

Junior Firefighter

Sunday was the finale of Fire Safety Awareness week here and the local volunteer department had their open house.

Hot dogs, cotton candy, free hats and balloons for the kids and more! They got to ride in the bucket truck, use a hose to put out a bowling pin fire and see lots of demonstrations like how sprinklers make a difference and how fast they can get into full gear.

Notice her T-shirt? A gift from Cousin Eric, the Denver Fireman - it made her look like a pro on the hose, LOL!

Enjoy the pictures!

Howl

Howl is the class mascot... he is a stuffed owl. We got the honor of his visit this weekend. He came with a bag of owl books and a journal. We are supposed to write about the visit and maybe, draw a picture or two in that journal.

We decided to do a photo essay of sorts, We took a bunch of shots and I just ordered the 8x10 collage photo to put in the book.

Howl sat outside in the bush for awhile, hid out inside the mailbox waiting for the mail, wore a pink tu-tu and came to ballet class, rode in the shopping cart at the store, played on the swing set with Sarah, and got his teeth brushed. He was feeling a little under the weather last night and we got a photo of him snuggled under a blanket on the couch with a box of Kleenex and a can of chicken noodle soup.

We made some owls on my Cricut Imagine to embellish the journaling we are going to do tomorrow night...it should be cute!

Here are some pictures...Sarah LOVED this idea and should have a blast sharing it with her class...

First Day Of School

It's that time of year again...the chill of fall is in the air, the leaves are starting to change colors and the kiddos are back to school! Share had her first day and LOVED it! She is doing mornings, five days a week just up the street.
We made a fun teachers gift: the fall mums in the pencil vase. She was so proud to take them to school and give the teachers.The first day was soooo exciting! The artwork, the meeting of old friends and making of new, the large motor activities, reading of the book "Don't Eat The Teacher" and more were enough to tire any little peanut out.

The Birthday Party!

We had THREE birthday parties for Sarah this year! You already heard about the "puppy party" where we invited her entire preschool class and the gifts were for the local Humane Society. That was party number one.

On her actual birthday, it was just a special day for the three of us! We did fun stuff in the morning, lunch at A&W, had a playdate, saw the new Shrek movie and had her tomato soup for dinner. She also got to open one gift from us. That was party number two.

Saturday was party number three. It was family and a few close friends. We keep the Puppy theme, served hot dogs and brats, potato salad, watermelon, grapes, chips, soda and had a puppy cake. It was made by our neighbor - was a very moist white cake with strawberries in the middle. The frosting was green tinted whipped cream. That is where she gave it to me and I decorated it with my Cricut Cake. I used the Paper Pups cartridge, cut out four dogs (she is four), added flowers to the corners and used the dog's noses to hold the candles.We had the party at Mom and Jim's (the house we are going to be buying) so it was a pool party - which was perfect for the hot day! You can see a few of the Oscar Meyer frisbees floating in the water...just part of the House Party kit I won!Sarah had to check the temp of the pool before the guests arrived!Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, God Parents, and more were there and this party, she got gifts that she could keep! Fun things for a four year old like crafting items, Disney DVDs, doll clothes, a Lite Brite, play golf set, even a Birthday Barbie!Her "art cart" is now full of great things like beads, pipe cleaners, modeling clay, and craft sticks. She has played a few rounds of golf with her Daddy and sleeps with the new Barbie! She doesn't realize it yet, but my Mom gave her the gift of activity by paying for next year's ballet classes! (Mom rocks!!) What more could a little girl ask for?

Happy Birthday my little Bug-A-Boo!

Class Picnic

Sarah is officially done with preschool! Monday was their last day and on Wednesday, they had the whole class at a picnic at the nearby park. All adults signed up to bring something, the kids got to play like crazy on the equipment and the parents got to set up play dates for over the summer!The park is really close to the school, which means we were able to walk there in less than five minutes. Sarah knows her way around this playground but it was fun to watch her there with her friends.An official sign of summer is when the bubblers are put in to all the parks! This was very handy today as the temperatures were rapidly climbing. There was a veritable feast for all to enjoy! Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ham sandwiches, fruit salad, water melon, sliced cheese trays (we brought one), pasta salad, veggies and dip, chips, cupcakes, Rice Krispie treats, and juice! If someone left there and was still hungry, that was their own fault!

This was really a great way to end the school year and we can all stay connected over the summer through play groups that are set up every Tuesday at different parks over the summer!

Teacher Gifts

It's that time of year - when we show a little appreciation for the gang that helped mold the minds of our little ones for many months. Sarah had two teachers for preschool - they were both WONDERFUL!

Instead of the normal apple route, we did strawberries and will package them up with a note that says "to a berry great teacher". These were pretty easy to make, only cost me some paper out of my stash and a bag of clearance Hershey Kisses. I got the idea from a friend's blog (Thanks Ms Heidi) but found a cut file online - we cut them, scored and embossed them, then stuffed with kisses! Enjoy the video of Sarah working the Cuttlebug and embossing them all - she is a true crafter at heart :)


A few glue dots or adhesive onthe tab...Stick it together...Put a few Kisses inside...Fold the flaps down a little...Thread the hemp or ribbon through the holes...tie it closed...Thread the cord through the hole in the center of the strawberry top...tie it closed...And now, you have a strawberry! Add it to the pile until you are ready to package them!
Miss Lori and Miss Jodi thought they were WAAAAYYY cool! :)