Dance party!!!

Yesterday, the girls came into my bedroom, turned on my clock radio and the oldies came blarin' out. They promptly decided to change into their bouncy suits and have a dance party. Here is what transpired... (please excuse the status of the bedroom...it was laundry day)

Maggie and her medal

Today was the last bouncy class of the spring session. And while most of the kids in the gym get to show their stuff at the Spring Show this Sunday, the preschoolers got to show off today at the end of class. They did a little floor "routine" and then had a little medal ceremony. After that there were a few minutes for open gym and they got to show us around the preschool gym. Maggie was SO excited about her medal. I signed her up for the summer session too, but she's graduating to a "big girl" class. No more of this preschool business! : ) Anyway, here are some pictures from todays class and her medal.

This is Ms. Kristy, Maggie coach telling the parents what they were going to do.

Maggie's handstand at the end of her routine.

Ta da!

The theme this week and last was "the beach", so you can see all the beach stuff all around. Here the kids are waiting for the medals.

Maggie showing off on the trampoline!

On the bars.

Class is all done. The kiddos are waiting for their papers and stamps.

Here's the medal!!!!



Jumping on the trampoline.

Forward rolling off the bars!

The many faces of Maya

Well, actually it's only one face...covered in peanut butter & jelly. ; )

Toot Toot!

Ok, this probably won't be as funny as it was at the dinner table a few minutes ago. I almost spit out my milk, but that's just me.

Maggie lets out quite a sing songy toot.
Maggie: I tooted. (laughing of course). It sounded like music.
(a few seconds later) Or it sounded like a chicken clucking!

Daddy a minute or so later. Yeah, it did sound like a chicken.

I couldn't stop laughing. It really did sound like a chicken clucking. : )

Guess you had to be there.

Kelly Daycare

The Kelly Daycare is open for business!!!! Well, not really, but yesterday it certainly felt like it. I had Daniel, Megan and Lily for the day and it was quite the zoo. They actually are such good little friends that they play nicely (for the most part) together and the fighting and whining was kept to a minimum.

This is one of my greatest inventions...ok, I didn't invent it, but who knew a piece of chalk could keep 5 kids - 6 if you add neighbor Abhi to the mix - intertained for at least an hour?! The kids rode their bikes on the "race track" on and off all day long. They also did running races, and Maggie did her version of a triathlon, minus the swimming of course...she just pretended. : )

Snack time. The kids have learned that to aviod Bella during snacktime, the best place to snack is on the other side of the street on the curb. We call this "the snacking area".

Maya and Lily having fun with the jump rope.

Next we had a coloring contest. I drew each of the kids a circle on the driveway and told them we were going to have a contest to see who could do the most colorful coloring of their circles. Megan here I actually thought was the most creative...she created herself of course!

Maggie actually did use the most colors...all segmented and nicely colored.

Daniel isn't so much into the coloring, but did his best with Bella supervising.

When they were all done, each one got a prize for their coloring being the "best" at whatever I came up with and they all got to choose a pencil! (leftovers from Maggie's 4th B-day party...)

In the afternoon it got a little stormy and rainy, so we opted for an indoor activity. I found a recipe for scented play-doh and we gave it a whirl. We made 1 batch flavored with Lemonade Kool-Aid, and another with a Berry Kool-Aid. They really did smell good and when they cooled off enough to handle the kids got right to work on their masterpieces. Here's the recipe for anyone who's interested. I found it on the internet somewhere:

2 c. flour

1 c. salt

4 T. cream of tartar

2 c. boiling water

2 T. oil

Mix dry ingredients in saucepan. Add boiling water and oil. Stir over medium heat until it forms a ball. Take it out and put on wax paper until it cools enough to handle. If it is really sticky, add sprinkles of flour until it feels like play-doh.

Suprisingly enough, the little girls, Lily and Maya lasted the longest at play-doh. The others were more than ready to get outside (the rain had stopped by then) to have a popcicle.

We had a fun day, but in no way, shape, of form would I EVER consider doing daycare full time. My own kids drive me nuts enough without adding other peoples' children to the mix!

Wordless Wednesday

Fun in the sun

Today after hitting the gym this morning, we hit Open Gym (as in bouncy class open gym). This was Maggie's reward for getting 50 good stars on her Sassy Chart. It took a while to get there, but that was mostly my fault cuz I always forgot to let her put stars up. Oh well. They invited Megan and Lily to come along also and the 4 girls had a marvelous time swinging, jumping, walking, running, balancing and of course...bouncing!!! Yeah, they spent most of the hour on the trampoline, but really, who wouldn't?! After that was over, Maya promptly melted down getting into the car and was a total wreck through lunch and went right to bed for a nappy poo. : )

The last few days have been sunny and warm and we have taken full advantage!! We went to several different parks and have pretty much been outside all day everyday. Here's the proof!

Maggie coloring herself in on the driveway. This one was especially beautiful...note the length of the pants...one leg was pants...one leg was shorts! : )

Maya ready for a ride! She's gotten quite good on her bike. She can go up and down the driveways now and just cruises around the neighborhood.

Megan and Maggie hoppin' along on the hoppity hops. (Oh yeah, the trucks in the background are the sprinkler guys installing our in-ground sprinklers!!!! Yeah for no more hauling around sprinklers and hoses!!!)

Maggie was quite proud of this rainbow creation. She wrote all the letters herself, and sounded out the words. Translation: Maggie's rainbow letters. (Her name is actually spelled correctly...the G's just got filled in by the rainbow colors.) Isn't that just the most perfectly perfect BACKWARDS S?? : )

At Lake Elmo park on the monkey bars.

Playing a new game mommy found at WalMart for $5. Can't beat it!

What's faster than the speed of light?? Oh, yeah, its Maya on her big girl bike!

Maggie showing off her newest skill, jump roping on one foot! My children are oh so talented don'tcha think?? ; )