Playground fun with Opa!

The weather continues to be mostly gorgeous, with just a dash of rain here and there.  I'm sure that our Alaskan forests could use more rain, but as for the kids - they are loving all the blue skies and sunshine.  It's definitely not too hard to get them outdoors everyday!  Lincoln & Evan took Opa to the playground yesterday and had a great time.  They report they even convinced Opa to go down the slide.... I have no photo proof, alas!

The Return of Camping Season!

Matt, Lincoln, and Jake headed out to a church campout in Girdwood this past weekend.  The weather was drizzly and I'll admit I attempted to discourage them, but off they went!  Bentley was in the last few days countdown before black belt testing so he opted out, and I decided that sending two small fry plus an older child was probably one child too many.... :)

By all reports they had a grand time!  The tent was NOT flooded, hot chocolate and s'mores were had, a service project was particpated in, and they even managed to get in some biking.  I hope the summer provides the right weather for many more fun camping memories this year!

First Cello Recital!

At the beginning of this month Bentley had his first cello recital.  

He performed with a group of three other students who have been working on some of the same songs.  Bentley's teacher does a combination of Suzuki and traditional teaching methods, but mainly uses the Suzuki books for her lower levels.  Bentley has been working hard to complete book one and is hoping to have it done by the end of the summer.  I'm impressed with his memorization skills and his dedication to daily practice!

Black Belt Testing Phase 1: Completed!

Bentley is testing for his black belt this month.  The black belt test is much more intensive than the lower belts and has both a physical and a written component.  Eight essays (4000+ words later....!) and a selection of written questions that compromise the test.  Bentley has been studying his black belt study book quite exhaustively for the last few weeks, and on Tuesday he went in and took his test.  3 hours later he finished, and thankfully (for me - my nerves can't take it!) he had results the next day.  A 98% - good job, Bentley!

Now on to the next part of the test.... :)

Dance Time!

Viva did five dance classes this spring - two ballet, two jazz, and one modern.  The great thing about the place we do dance is their focus on stage experience.  It is a bit of an undertaking for two recitals a year at the big venue in town, but it's a fun experience for the kids!  Yesterday was dress rehearsal day - the girls are downtown for almost five hours for the dress rehearsal.  Looking forward to the show tonight!

Viva did well with her classes this year so is moving up a level and is going to do a summer dance intensive in June.  Fun times, it's good to have kids that like to be active!

Good-bye Dear Cars

These ride-on cars have been in the family for nine years! Bentley got them both for his first birthday. Obviously both givers knew a good gift when they saw one. Since Kara knew by that time that she'd be having twins, she did not exchange one of the duplicate gifts.

All the children have enjoyed riding on the cars. Many miles have been put on the plastic tires! Bentley even rode one down the staircase much to his parents' dismay. (He wasn't hurt.)

Kara has been threatening to get rid of the cars for the past year. She claims the little boys are too big for them, but nonetheless Lincoln and Evan have both still enjoyed playing on them. Last month while they were playing crash and bang on them (something we discourage!), the steering wheel broke on one of the cars.  The car with the broken steering wheel went in the garbage and the other car was given to Grandma Vicki who runs a daycare.

Here is a last photo of the twins on the cars back in 2008--prior to their first birthday!

Good-bye Dear Cars!

New Seeds VS Old Seeds

Almost two weeks ago on the 29th of April Jake and Viva started some seeds in a flat of jiffy pots. Viva used flower seeds that Grandma Vicki gave us two years ago...or maybe last year. Jake was given some much older seeds. Seeds that I or great-grandma had stored away for a decade or longer. Maybe two decades, possibly three. 

Here are the results of their efforts:

Viva had 24 of 25 pots grow plants: 96% success rate. Jake has had 0 plants grow: total failure. It's my fault for giving him old seeds, but seriously--0%?! We will be visiting a nursery and I will throw all my old seeds out. ZERO?!

Puzzles & Painting

Lincoln has been binging lately on puzzles and painting...and paper airplanes, too. He's always done jigsaw puzzles, but usually it's an activity someone else picks and he agrees to do it. Lately he's been choosing to do jigsaw puzzles of his own free will and sometimes he will do three in a row. He even started timing himself. Oddly enough, Evan hasn't joined him in this pursuit. In the past Evan has been more into puzzles than Lincoln. Things change!

Lincoln has also been doing a lot of watercolor painting. He makes gifts of his paintings to everyone in the house. Evan sometimes paints with him for a little while, but painting isn't his passion like it is Lincoln's!

This is Lincoln's beach painting.

Engineering Time

We finished our formal science program about two months back, so right now we are working our way through a book about practical engineering applications in the world.  There is a lot of great vocab in the book along with hands on projects.  The kids are fans of hands on time, I always find it a bit of a challenge to rustle up the energy for the projects.  So far we've done three.  We've had a 67% success rate.  Spaghetti and tape towers, popsicle stick structures and one project with... potential.  We were supposed to construct chairs that could support 160 lbs out of cardboard and duct tape.  The creative thinking involved taxed the mental comfort level of one of the involved students.... since we're still above a 50% success rate, however, we will bravely continue forward!

The New Purple Belt!!

Viva goes to karate on Monday and Tuesdays so her pace is a lot more relaxed than her brothers' pace - nonetheless, she's making forward progress!  Both she & I were delighted to see her get her purple belt yesterday.  Good job, Viva!

Moose Art

This week we went to check out a homeschool painting class offered at a local painting locale.  The kids had a fun time reviewing color theory and trying some different paint techniques on moose pictures!  Two thumbs up, I'm sure we will go back at some point.  :)

Everyday Life: April

Flying

(We do not encourage endeavors such as this, but before making him stop we took a photo!)

Magformers

More pillow fun!

Legos

Legos (Lincoln's obsession)

Rat-a-Tat Cat (Evan's obsession)

A scripture bag Evan decorated in Primary

Games

Meditating

Reading

Music

Comics

Brain Building

Big Boy Beds!

An era is over.  The era of cribs, toddler beds, and little people mattresses.  Lincoln has been wanting a twin size mattress for a while (it was past time, but I'm a bit slow.... !) so about two months ago I bought him a new mattress.  I ordered it from Amazon (coils and all) and it came compressed in a tight roll that popped up into a surprisingly comfy 7 inch mattress - I love Amazon!

Evan had claimed he did NOT want to move to a big boy bed, but once Lincoln's bed showed up bed envy showed up, too, and Evan changed his mind.  So then we had two mattresses.  On the floor - because I figured if I didn't take at least the first step on the project we would never start.

Now, a month later, we have beds for the mattresses!  The little guys helped put them together and are quite pleased with their half height loft beds.  Next step up will be a fort area underneath their bed.  

Where's Evan?!

Hide and seek time!

Lincoln is quite envious that Evan can fit under the drum.  He keeps trying to shove himself under there himself but it just doesn't work.  :)