The Great Pet Debate

This year the kids decided they needed a new cool pet, since Aunt Heather got a turtle. So the Great Pet debate ensued. Neither kid wanted another dog. Olivia wanted to get a cat or a rabbit. Both were vetoed by Dad. Bradley wanted to get a snake, lizard or frog, and wouldn't you guess that Mom vetoed those ideas too. Dad suggested a pet rock, and the kids vetoed that immediately. Mom vetoed hamster, guinea pigs gerbils and any other rodent before the kids asked. I really don't like the nonstop gnawing, So at this point we were at a loss for what to get. Then Mom had a brilliant idea.... Beta Fish. They are pretty, easy and have a short life span. Bradley was on board, in fact he loved the idea. Olivia's was not. Her exact statement was "But I can't cuddle a fish." So the hunt went on. 

Bradley got his Beta and named him Flare.

We had to find a pet the did not eat any live things (bugs, mice and what not), per mom's request. And a snugly pet per Olivia's request. Birds were brought up and quickly crossed off, because "birds are creepy" per Olivia. So after a lot of research on easy pets, we finally decided on a Hedgehog.

Olivia named our hedgehog Clover

I know you are going to call us out on this pet not being snugly, but she is, as long as it is on her terms. She is very cute and lovable addition.

 

 



 

 

 

Piper even loves her, She loves to watch her for hours.....and NO, I do not think she is thinking food, when Clover is out on the ground, Piper hovers like a nervous mommy.

Valentine Boxes 2014

So at the kids' school, they don't usually make Valentine's Boxes, the school supplies bags and decorations, this way all the kids have a similar bag, they do however let the 4th, 5th and 6th Graders bring in their own boxes. Last year was the first year Bradley made his (a Minion). This year he wanted to top it. He is obsessed with the song "What Does the Fox Say" so we made a fox. Olivia really wanted to make a box too so at the LAST minute after getting permission from her teacher, we made her one too. She didn't get a huge choice on what to do (she had to use the same brown covering as her brother), but her's still turned out way cute. Thanks Pintrest!

 

 

 

 

Olivia's Birthday

For Olivia's 8th Birthday we had an ice skating and hot chocolate party. Here are some pictures of  the party.

Lynlee, Kelsey and Olivia

Lily, Olivia, Amy and Hailey

Olivia and Brooklyn

Olivia, Emmalee and Emily

Jacob and Bradley

Family Pictures

Olivia's Christmas Choir Program

This year Olivia joined her school choir, she loves to sing all the time.This is her Christmas Concert, her favorite song was "Holiday Lights." They got to use flashlights to put on a light show.

Olivia is on the bottom row 2nd from the right. 

School Pictures 2013

Bradley 's 5th Grade Picture

Olivia's 2nd Grade Picture

Holy Alter Ego, Batman!

Holy Halloween, Batman...

This year for Halloween the kids dressed up as Batman and Robin. I saw a girly Robin costume on the Internet a few years back, but the kids didn't want to do this, especially because the year before Bradley was Batman. This year the kids didn't really have any ideas on what they wanted to dress up as, so I suggested this again and they agreed!  

Bradley still had his Batman costume and amazingly it still fit. We did make a few additions: we had to buy a new mask, because we couldn't  find the original. We also made duct tape boots and covered one of Richard's Army belts in duct tape for a utility belt. 

Duct Tape Boots

Duct Tape covered utility belt

I am very proud of how Olivia's Robin Costume turned out. It was mostly a home made costume. I made the green tutu (125 yards of tulle; oh my). We bought the iron on R patch for her shirt and a yellow satin ribbon for her belt. My mom made her wonderful hair bow. Richard made her duct tape boots and bracelets. Her mask was also store bought, but I had to deconstruct it, because it had ribbons and gems on it, and I just wanted a plain black mask. All in all we pulled together an adorable costume that I think is better than my inspiration. 

Duct Tape Boots

Robin hair bow and mask

Holy Duct Tape, Batman...

I also made two trick or treat duct tape bags for each of them. And let me tell you how hard the duct tape was to work with.... It wrinkles and folds on it's self. And it shrinks, which we only figured out the day before Halloween when we tried Olivia's boots on again. Luckily we heated the boots up with the blow dryer and got it to grow a bit. I do love the way both pair of boots turned out. All the kids' friends loved the boots and we got so many complements, but I don't think we will do them again, 

Happy Halloween!

Princess Festival 2013

Olivia and I went to the Princess Festival at Thanksgiving Point with Kelsey, Lynlee, Toni and Nicole. The girls got all dressed up in their princess garb.


Kelsey, Olivia and Lynlee making a scene.

We rode in a pumpkin carriage. Kelsey kept saying "I getting married." I think she was referring to Cinderella, where her and the prince go off in the carriage at the end.

 

 

 

The girls all got story books about the featured princess "Kadesia and the Blue Boy " at the end of the book their were pages where all the Princess, Princes, Queens, Kings and others could sign.

Among many many others we got to meet Beauty...

 



The Little Mermaid (who I think had the best costume)...

 



The Princess from the Princess and the Frog...

 

Pocahontas....

Captain Hook...

 

 

And Prince Charming (my favorite picture of the day)

 

 

 

I am sure you noticed like I did really quick, that most of the princesses here did not have their Disney names (Ariel, Belle, Tiana). I guess it is probably a copy right thing right?

 

There was a lot of activities for the kids to do, like Princess Adventures, stories, magic shows, and hair and nail stations, but the girls mostly liked running around and getting all the autographs. All in all we had a great day!

 

Oh and a BIG thanks to Marilyn who got us free tickets!