pinterest, you've inspired me-again

If you're the type of mother that thinks every piece of school work

is a work of art,

(I do)

if you have a hard time dumping them in the trash,

(I do)

if you have a magnet board & a wire frame FULL,

(I do)

but hate the clutter!

(I definatly do)

Then this is the project for you.

I started with these:

I purchased these long ago when I was too naive to realise

the boat loads of papers the kids bring home from school.

Since I have already started them,

and they have the kids class photos, handwriting & other tidbits

I decided to keep them updated

& just move all the school work to the file boxes.

I found a template to download and print for the file folders

(You can find it in my "done & done-thumbs up" board.)

I did files for each grade & decided to add a few extra ones

like 'scout stuff', 'misc' & 'notes to Mom & Dad'.

I also tucked in their notes to the Tooth Fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny.

Trenton's Mom saved all of his & I love to look at them.

So cute!

After all my hard work I am hopeful I can easily just slip the newest

papers in to the current grade folder & stay organized & on top of it!

(We are all hopefull & positive at the beginning of a new, great idea right?)

I must say it looks all nice & pretty now,

but it looked like this during the process:

Now I need a suggestion for all the 'big' stuff!

I took pictures of them, but have put them back in

the storage room until I'm brave enought to chuck them.

Some of my favorites:



just another day at the zoo

M had a preschool field trip to our local petting zoo on Tuesday.

It was combined with both classes.

We went to the zoo,

and then had a picnic at the park next to it.

I think all the kids had a blast!

M and her cutie pie cousin

Best buddies

Feeding the Sheep.

She had a baby lamb too.

The kids were pretty impressed with the steer.

Feeding the camel.

They told us if you put the carrot in your mouth

the camel will "kiss" you for the carrot!

M was not brave enough for that!

Feeding the baby llama, or maybe it was an alpaca?

The girls

Ms. Pam's morning & afternoon classes

M wanted to take a few pictures of the animals by herself.

These are a few of her best:

swings, snails & stories

We had a lazy Friday afternoon.

Trenton headed up for an evening of bear hunting,

T snuggled up with a Calvin & Hobbs book,

B & M headed to Nana's backyard to swing,

but ended up snail hunting.

What started as one. . .

quickly turned into 3. . .

and before you know it. . .

They were pretty proud!

When nana mentioned getting out the salt

I decided it was time to put the camera away.

My kid-o's would live in my Mom & Dad's tree!

It was nearly dead when we moved into this house.

I never imagined the fun my kids would one day have in it.

Happy Weekend!



imagine if you will

Friday M had her Preschool Easter party

(I know, Easter is over)

Anyway weather didn't permit an egg hunt before spring break,

so the week after it is!

I was a good mama & remembered the camera,

but there was no memory card in it-oops!

So imagine little Miss M running around the park with her

cutie classmates looking for eggs & asking for "under dog"

after "under dog" on the swings.

This morning B & M both had soccer games.

I forgot the camera at home-oops!

I have posted photos of both of them playing soccer this spring

 so if you can't imagine them running

up and down the grassy fields, you can look back at that post.

We went to the baptism of 3 darling kid-o's.

They were so precious, all clean & pure!

I (again) forgot the camera to capture fun kids running around the gym,

friends & family catching up & enjoying yummy food.

And last, but certainly not least,

 T played in a double header this afternoon.

I have given up using any sort of recording device

as the second I focus in on him he drops the ball, strikes out or walks a batter.

So imagine him winning the second game,

getting some great hits to the out field,

making some awesome plays at home plate,

and the best moment of the day: the whole team dog piling the player at

 home plate as he stole it to win the game!

It was a good Saturday!



magic beans

The Easter Bunny brought the kids "Magic Beans."

They were so excited to plant them last night.

And look what popped up in our flower bed this morning!



but Easter's over

Please re-read the name of this post in Mike Tevee's cute little voice for me.

If you (sadly) do not know who she is,

jump on over to my couch & we will have a movie night.

 Anyway. . .

Spring Break has come to an official end &

my children all may go into shock when they have to rise & shine early

for school tomorrow! (I might too!)

It's been a fun & super relaxing break.

The kids had sleepovers with friends or cousins every night,

they played outside for hours in the sunny weather,

we watched a few movies,

they hiked, swam at the pool & rode bikes;

climbed trees, built a fire & played in the (freezing) creek.

We dyed eggs with Nana & Papa.

Papa is the man to call when it's egg dying & pumpkin carving time!

M was really proud of her eggs.

I guess she must have forgotten how the process goes,

 because she peeled her first one and then dropped it into the dye!

All of the 'kids' were so proud of their eggs!

We had the traditional egg hunt at Grandma Packard's

yesterday with the cousins.

We have pictures of the cousins like this from every year.

I love looking at the old ones to see how they have grown
(and multiplied!)

This morning the kids woke-up to treats from the E. Bunny,

& found eggs all over the house.

I may, or may not have dipped once ot twice into their chocolate loot,

and I may have the worst stomach ache as we speak!

(But seriously, do you not agree that Easter is the BEST candy holiday?!?)

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

hey batter, batter

We snuck over to Grand Junction Friday afternoon for

T's first baseball tourney of the year.

I was almost giddy as we loaded up in the car!

Baseball season means shorts, sun tanned legs, snow cones,

oh; and of course baseball games!

The boys did great-they won 1 and lost the other 3.

Only one of the ones they lost was a total blow-out,

they did good hanging tough on the other 2.

We spent the night, ate yummy food, hit Cabela's & Target,

and celebrated my Dad's 60th birthday!

(Thanks for making the trek over Dad, Mom, Stephen, Linz & Claire!)

The camera spent more time in the case then on my face-oops!

Happy Spring Break everyone!

I can't wait to spend my week playing with my little chickens!