Disney Movie Night: Beauty and the Beast

A week ago we did our Beauty and the Beast movie night. 

We had a "French" picnic. 

Chicken salad on a big baguette, grapes, sparkling cider, and eclairs. 

Afterward, the girls painted on these paintings that have Belle, Aurora, and Cinderella.

The summer that didn't turn out the way I thought it would

Long title.

I had major plans for this summer. 

We usually do what we call "summer school". Last year was highly successful with our art program. This year I was focusing on writing. I planned out the writing schedule, made books for the girls to write in, and planned books we would read to demonstrate what we were learning each week. 

I had such plans. 

I was so excited. 

We did it two days. 

Yep.

We moved into our new house at the beginning of June just as summer started. I then spent the first month getting our house in order. 

By the time we got around to 'starting' our summer it felt half over. 

The girls had become used to a more lazy approach than we have ever had. 

They had watched a lot of tv, they had played a lot of video games, they were sleeping in longer than they ever have in their lives.

I felt tremendous guilt. 

This summer was slipping away and I had nothing to show for it. 

I made sure they were at least doing their reading program. 

Every day that they read for 30 minutes they could mark off a space on a chart I made. 

They each had a certain number and kind of book they had to read. 

Maddy was reading as we have finally got serious with her reading lessons. 

But that was it. 

That was the only productive thing.

We didn't go on more than one or two hikes. 

We didn't go to any museums except the treehouse. 

We didn't even go to any movies at the theater.

No amusement parks. 

We did have park time but as the weather got horribly hot that lessened as well. 

I felt like a failure. 

Those of you who know me know that I am a very scheduled and organized person. 

I like my schedule. 

I like to have a plan. 

So as you can imagine this was so foreign to me. 

A few weeks ago I imagined just doing writing every day. Getting really serious about it so that we could get through the whole program so I didn't have to admit that we had abandoned it. 

Then I decided something. 

I was going to let it go.

Like Elsa. 

I let go of my expectations of myself and the kids. 

I let them help me decide what we were going to do each day. 

Which led to a lot of time at the library and playing Mario.

But it worked.

And they had a lot of fun.

So, there it is. 

Sometimes we have to let it go. 

Sometimes we "fail" at what we are hoping to accomlish. 

Sometimes we don't live up to the summer pinterest board. 

But it's okay.

Note: if you haven't been around for a few days- I did a major blog update. Many posts under this one!

Ninja turtle game

I wanted something to teach Maddy manners. Something that she would enjoy. Something she would want to play. I wanted a Ninja turtle game. But there was no such thing. So I created it myself. 

I titled it What do heroes do?

I made the game spaces and little sewer passages that went either up or down (kind of like chutes and ladders) and made a pizza for the end. 

Each space has a question or a scenario that will lead them forward or backward in the game and gets us talking. 

I made the turtles and April with little wooden pegs and sharpies. 

It has been a hit!

A boy (and girl) get married

Days after my nephew Alex got home from his mission, his brother Tyler got married! 

 

We were so excited to celebrate with them.

We were able to attend the wedding ceremony at the Salt Lake City temple. The girls hung out in the waiting room with family. 

We made it outside just after they came out. 

Maddy had some change with her and kept going up to Sydney and giving it to her. It was pretty cute. 

While they were taking pictures in front of the temple, Maddy had fun dancing around.

My brother Brent, Tyler, and Karen.

This is out of order. But... when Maddy was giving change to Sydney it ended up getting me one of my favorite pictures.

Doug had to head to work so the girls and I went with my parents to the family and friends luncheon and then home to rest for a while. That night we went to the reception. 

It was a lot of fun. They had a dance floor and the girls had a blast dancing the evening away.

Abi dancing with Grandma. Abi insisted on wearing her dress up glasses all day.

Exploring the "back yard" of the reception center.

Daddy/ Daughter dance...

dancing with Uncle Brent.

Disney Movie Night: Aladdin

We had our Disney Movie Night for Aladdin just days before hearing about Robin Williams. 

We are so saddened for him and his family and for all of us that will miss him.

We are glad that he left behind so many wonderful movies that we can share with our families so that our kids will grow up knowing who he was too. 

For our movie night we had chicken and pepper kabobs, cous cous, 3 different types of hummus with flat bread, Jafar's so twisted fries, and Genie in a bottle drinks. 

For dessert we decorated our own magic carpets

Then we got out some trays I bought after our last sand activity (to try to contain the sand a bit) and the girls made charms with sand.

After that Abi built a Lego set that looks like it could have been Aladdin themed. And Maddy built a palace with her duplo's.

A boy comes home!

A couple of weeks ago we got to go to the airport to welcome home my nephew Alex from his mission to Bolivia. 

We made a sign over the few days leading up to his arrival. 

Here Abi hides behind it..

It's pretty safe to say we were all very excited to see Alex!

Maddy taking a turn with the sign.

And it was so exciting when we finally caught a glimpse of him!

Here he is with my brother Brent, his dad.

The happy parents!

Brent, Karen, and Alex.

We are all so proud of the man he has become.

Disney movie time: Mickey Mouse