Wicked Comes to Town

This year Paul and I took Olivia to see Wicked.  She has been listening the the soundtrack for several weeks and knew all the songs by heart!  It was fabulous. (Above is a picture of the cast).

The pictures below were found at this site.

 

Swim Lessons

 The girls took swim lessons for the last couple weeks (Vivs at a level 4 and Olivia at a level 5 - this is a notation for me so I don't forget next year).  I was glad that we were able to make time for it this summer!  

Mickey, the Rooster

Mickey, the rooster lived alone in the greenhouse for the winter because he aggressive with the other chickens.  I wanted to get rid of him long ago, but the girls couldn't bare the thought of it unless he went to a very good home.   So finally we posted him on craigslist and found another chicken lover who was looking for this particular breed. The girls loved him up before he left.  Even the cat tried playing with the rooster with no luck of any love being returned.  He was a handsome young lad!

Girls Bake Up A Storm on Their Snow Day

School was cancelled today for the girls (not the boys...they were not happy).  So they worked for hours in the kitchen baking all sorts of goodies, including cupcakes, cake balls, muffins in the Easy Bake oven, and chocolate dipped marshmallows & biscotti.  

 They then made play money and sold items to each other.  The boys were sure happy to see all their creations when they got home for school.  We are all on a sugar high here!

They worked so happily all morning.  They were only sad when they had to clean up their huge mess!

Olivia's Harry Potter Birthday

Yesterday I threw a birthday party for Olivia.  I hosted "friend parties" for all the kids this year (which is a rare treat....I only do this every couple years or so).  She has been in love with the Harry Potter books (she read all seven books in a couple months) so she asked for a Harry Potter party.  With the help of Pinterest and many hours, I was able to pull it off.

This morning when I was out looking for broom stick branches, I thought "what in the heck am I doing?"   I then reminded myself that I am doing this for Olivia because I love her.  This is what us, moms, do!

The party got started by sorting everyone into the four houses of wizards: Huffle Puff, Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw.  I didn't know how much fun the girls would have with just a simple activity.  Then we went on a snitch hunt using the Maruader's Map.  They each found a snitch (a Ferrero Rocher gold wrapped chocolate with attached wings) after searching everywhere inside and out.

Then we played a game of Bernie Bott's Beans, you never know what kind of bean you will be eating.  It could be licorice or skunk spray, canned dog food or chocolate pudding, or other surprising choices.

Dinner also brought some interesting foods, including:  Butter Beer, Herbology Bites (a baguette slice with flavored cream cheese and cucumber), Polyjuice Potion (chili cheese dip) and chips, Hogshead cornish balls (sweet and sour meatballs), witches' wands (Pirouline rolled wafers), chocolate covered frogs, Weasley brother's Fever Fudge, and french bread pizza.  Then we topped the party off with a Harry Potter Birthday cake (made by Aulina, one of Olivia's friends) and icecream.

I could tell the girls had a great time by their noise level!  Corbin told me he was grateful that we only have two girls in our family.  They were LOUD with all their happy noises and singing!

Corbin Takes the Girls on a Date

Corbin was so kind to take Olivia and Vivian on a date to Linder Farms (where he worked the past month).  They were thrilled to see part of the corn maze and to buy a few treats.  Thank you Corbin for being such a good big brother!

Bye, Bye Babies

This summer we bought a billy goat, three does, along with three baby doelings from the owners who originally sold us our fainting goats.  Now we have the complete family!  

The girls say their goodbye to the baby goats who were sold to another goat lover.  Later we also sold three of our wethers (boy goats who can't reproduce) so now we are down to seven goats, consisting of Dumbledor (the billy goat), Oliver (a Nubian wether, and obnoxious clown), and five does.  We are hoping to have a bunch of fainting baby goats in the spring!  

Milky (the black and white goat shown above) was a favorite because he was very sweet to people and like to shake your hand.  Patches was also a nice boy.  However, Milkshake was the least sweet even though he would eat out of your hand, he didn't love people as much as the others.

First Thursday

We had a girls night out to First Thursday - Olivia, Vivian, Tisha, and me.  We stopped by the Art Museum to look around and watch the ballet dancers perform.  It was all very weird to me - I guess I don't appreciate all types of art.  When we were browsing through the museum, Vivian said "What are we supposed to do here?"  I would never pay a dime to go...it's free on first Thursday.  I caught a picture of some weird cave men before I was politely told not to take pictures...now do you call that art?

Then we walked around downtown and enjoyed some chocolate sampling and bought some flavored peanuts, Smoke Jumpers and Afterburners (great flavors).  Then we started hunting for Waldo, who is hidden in several downtown shops!  We got sidetracked at Zeppole's and enjoyed a sandwich (we found a great deal- whole sandwiches are only $2.50 after 4pm). 

Meet Ivy the Gerbil

Meet Olivia's new gerbil, Ivy in her fancy hat!  She has brought some happiness and joy to Vivian's gerbil, Chica.  They are becoming good friends.  Ivy is a fast little lady, when she gets loose she is hard to catch!  The girls are being even more careful to keep their bedroom door closed so that Smokey doesn't find them.  These little things are $15 a pop!

40 Mixes & Bread

 

Olivia made up 40 mixes individually packaged meals today!  She made 10 Tortilla Soup mixes, 10 Chicken Noodle Soup mixes, 10 Chili mixes, and 10 pumpkin quinoa pancake mixes!  For every 10 mixes, I paid her $1.00 (she is earning money for another gerbil). I'm loving all this kitchen help.

Tortilla Soup Mix & Chicken Noodle Soup Mix

 

Vivian is learning how to use the bread-maker.  The first attempt she confused the sugar and flour.  Then the second attempt the salt was doubled.  Fortunately she caught her mistakes before they were baked, so we just dumped it and started over.  The third time was a success!  I hope she makes us lots of yummy bread - way to go Vivian.

Spring 2012 Ballet Recital

 

    Olivia & Vivian are excited for their dance recital!

Olivia is a fossil in the Carnival of the Animals

The girls are happy that cousin, Lacy comes to watch their recital!

Here is the whole gang!  The boys endured the recital, it's not their favorite thing.

Vivian, Emily, & Olivia (I didn't get a picture of Allie - ?)

Vivian is a music student!

Olivia Sang at the State Capitol

 Olivia was thrilled to sing with her fourth grade class along with the fifth graders.  They sang with enthusiasm and energy.  Olivia was grateful that both, Paul and I, attended.  They sang beautifully!

Ballet Recital Jan 2012

 

 Getting ready for the final performance!

 Yeah, Olivia just finished her performance.  This is behind the curtain.

 Vivian's class danced to Hopscotch.  I stayed backstage with them and kept them busy until it was time to dance.

 Friends for a lifetime!

 

 

Last week Olivia and Vivian performed in their ballet recital.  They both did very well.  It was a long day (11 1/2 hours away from home) because of them being in separate performances and rehearsals, but they had fun!

Olivia Turns 10

Olivia with her family!

 

 Tisha and Olivia share this special day!

 Family and  friends celebrate with us.

 The kids are watching Olivia open gifts.

 

Olivia loves playing her new game, Sleeping Queens.  Olivia loves birthdays. We are shopping Saturday with some of her bday money!