Creatures Around Our House

The kids have had a fun time collecting creatures outside around our house.....mainly roly-poly's and sometimes worms.

I love when kids say things that aren't really the correct words. For example: A couple times Kayla called worms "rattlesnakes". And when we found a tick on Kayla, Austin kept referring to it as a "tick tack".  And another funny one----during the stormy season we talked a lot about the weather and Austin would ask questions about "Earthshakes and Tormadoes".

One day after school we found this turtle in our yard which I'm sure was pretty terrified with our dogs running around by it. We took it over to my mom's house and enjoyed watching it come out of its shell and walk around. Although we had to keep a distance or else it would hide back inside it's shell.

We enjoyed watching it explore the backyard but after keeping our eyes off the turtle for 10 minutes,  he crossed the yard and quickly found an escape under the fence.

I didn't know turtles could move so fast.

Fun at the Zoo

At the end of April, we made a trip down to the Tulsa Zoo. After we got there we found out it was Earth Day so there was lots of people there.

 The boys at the big Earth at the beginning of the zoo.

 The kids scored big as they were giving out Krispy Kreme donuts.

 Boys being Monkeys

 More monkeys

 During this visit we saw lots of turtles in the water

 We also got up close and personal with this camel....luckily he didn't spit at us although he was close enough to

 And of course we had to stop and see the goats at the petting zoo

 This baby goat was so funny sitting in the hay feeder. He is actually pretty smart.....gets to enjoy a nice shady spot and all the food he wants.

 Looking at the baby pigs......the were actually kind of cute....for pigs.

 Kayla and Kambia-----best of friends.

 Connor on top of the wall climb

 The zoo has a new sea lion exhibit which was pretty neat although it must of been nap time for the sea lions cause they didn't budge the whole time we were there.
Next time we'll have to go during feeding time.

 Giraffes enjoying some lunch

Klayton being a big helper

We LOVE the zoo!!

April Door of Fame

Here is the kids' artwork for April.

Austin: large fireant, painted butterfly, easter egg basket, tank pictures, flower, jelly-bean graph, life-cycle stages of a butterfly, colorful chich, and the girl with a basket. He came home with 2 Warrior Thumbs-Up Awards this month--one for "leadership in the classroom" and one for "awesome hallway behavior." Good job Austin!!

Kayla: popcorn tree, dinosaur picture, easter egg basket, painted butterfly, firetruck picture, matching shapes worksheet which she did perfectly,, and the paper with cutout blue/pink pieces which is apparantly a horse according to the title of the paper. 

This month at school, Austin's class had an incubator full of eggs that they observed for several days until they hatched. Then they had 9 baby chicks in their classroom that they got to feed, hold, and watch for a couple weeks. This month Kayla went to the Firestation with her MDO class and had a great time.

Austin came home with this book that he put together. He drew his own pictures for every page of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and did a very good job.

Thunder Up

On Friday, April 13th, we headed down to OKC along with several family members and friends to watch the OKC Thunder play the Sacramento Kings.

 First we stopped at Bourbon Street Cafe for a very nice and very tasty dinner! Even though we were rooting for the OKC Thunder we still made bets on how many points Jimmer would score.

Unfortunately it was raining that day and none of us (except Mike) came prepared with umbrellas so we walked swiftly from dinner over to the arena holding magazines over our heads (wish I had gotten a picture of that). After buying Thunder t-shirts we settled into our seats to watch.

Teams warming up before the game. 

 Craig and Glen

 Thunder mascot getting us pumped up

 Me, Kelsey, Kristi, and Alexis

 Dave, Mike, Jeff, and Jeff

Kevin Durant taking a free-throw shot
Thunder wins 115-89.........it wasn't much of an exciting game at the end due to the point spread but we still had a good time and are glad they won!

Going to the Dentist

On Thursday, April 12th, Kayla had her first visit to the dentist. I set up this appointment just because I thought it would be a good idea to introduce it to her so as she grows up it she will be used to it and hopefully cooperative.

To my suprise she did FANTASTIC!! She got right up in the chair and let the dental hygenist clean, polish, and floss her teeth. She opened her mouth big and wide and did whatever the dental hygenist asked her too.

Kayla got to pick a sticker, a toy, and new toothbrush.

And the best part.....NO cavities. Hurray Kayla!!

Happy Easter

 The kids had plenty of practice this year hunting for eggs. They enjoyed a hunt at my mom's house. (along with their friend Ethan)

 Kayla and her Joyschool friends (Buddy, Talmage, & Josh) enjoying their easter egg goodies!

At school, Austin had 6 eggs hidden with his name on them. I think he was the first kid in his class to find all 6 of his eggs. Notice his cute painted easter basket he made in class. 

 Opening his eggs with his classmates.

 It was a busy Easter weekend with our trip to Kansas City but luckily the Easter Bunny didn't forget about us. Sunday morning the kids found their baskets on the couch.

 Austin was excited about his bubble gum machine.

 Kayla was thrilled about her Dora the Explorer purse.

 Time for church......I love this picture of the 2 of them!!

 After church we went to Craig's mom's house to find our easter baskets filled with candy.

Then we went to my parents house for a yummy Easter dinner.

 Next was the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Papa Dave's house. These boys are getting excited.

 And their off......

 To the front yard.....

 These kids found plenty of eggs.

 And the big kids managed to find a few themselves.

 

Like I said...plenty of eggs.....and candy....the kids were in heaven.

 Happy Easter!!

Kansas City Day 2

On Saturday we woke up and enjoyed the hotel's continental breakfast. We didn't have to leave the hotel early which was nice. Here are the little girls passing the time by coloring. At 10:00 am we left and headed to Crown Center.

There were lots of stores but the Crayola Store was pretty cool. There was a giant color wheel made up of thousands of crayons.

Pretty impressive.

There was also color pads for the kids to draw on.

As well as a large chalkboard.

It looks like the boys are comparing their chalk to see whose has the biggest one.

We found a train conductor built entirely out of legos.

The kids also enjoyed look at the blue water fountains.

For lunch we ate at Fritz Railroad cafe.

Table #1

Table #2

Table #3

And here we are with our train conductor hats on.

Kelsey putting in the order for our lunch

The fun part about this place are the trains that ride around on tracks above the tables to bring your your food.

Lunch is served.

Next we stopped at an exhibit called Animal Tales and Trails.

It was a super colorful playland and the kids could have stayed here all afternoon long. It was a great place for them to get their wiggles out.

 Going down the slide

 Some camel riders 

 Kambria the baby kangaroo

Austin on the monkey bars 

Kayla moving the elephants trunk back and forth

Our last stop at Crown Center was at the Kaleidoscope. Hallmark sends all of their left-over materials to this place for kids to come and create artwork (and its all for free!)

 Austin and Kayla painting butterflies

 One the things the kids loved most was making puzzles....Kayla coloring her soon-to-be puzzle 

 Kayla turning the puzzle maker

 Austin turning the puzzle maker

The finished product

 As soon as Austin made his puzzle he immediately found a place to sit down and put it together.

 Even the adults made some puzzles

 Very nice!!

We had a great time at the Kaleidoscope.

So far it has been the "purrrfect day".

One last stop.......

The whole reason we took this trip was to go to the Kansas City Temple open house. After temples are completed there is a open house which allows anyone who wants to go inside and tour the temple. For the last year I have been watching the internet excited for its completion because I thought it would be a great opportunity for my kids to go inside the temple and hopefully leave knowing that the temple is beautiful, peaceful, and that it is important. 

From the words of the primary song:  "I love to see the temple I'm going there someday.

To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen, and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God. A place of love and beauty.

I'll prepare myself while I am young, this is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple, I'll go inside someday.

I'll covenant with my Father, I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place where we are sealed together.

As a child of God I've learned this truth--a family is forever!!"

I do love to see the temple. When I see the temple it always reminds me that I am truely loved by a Father in Heaven and that I am here on earth for a purpose that is far greater than I could ever image. When I go to the temple I feel peace and I feel joy.

Peace because I know that Heavenly Father is in charge, He answers my prayers, and He will help me always. And Joy because temples make it possible for me to be together forever with my family!

And surely there is nothing more joyous than that!!