It's a record.

Apparently, we've shattered the long-standing record for snowfall on this date. By some accounts, Anchorage got 22 inches in two days. We had clear streets, brown grass, and T-shirt temperatures (okay, so it was only in the 40's, but in AK that qualifies as T-shirt weather at the end of winter) only two days ago. And then, we were whomped with heavy, wet snow. So, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or, in this case, make snowmen.

A Big Show

I did a fun show this Friday... My friend Charity and I got together to share a spot at a boutique. It was fun to work with her and I got some good feedback on some of my new designs. We are doing the Friday Flings (local craft and farmer's market) this summer, so it was good to have this experience as a warm-up. We had the best booth in the place on Friday, I am sure of it. Not just that I am prejudiced, but it really was lovely. I so appreciate all the help from my family to afford me the opportunity to try this adventure.

Bowling Field Trip

Not that I have anything special to write or any amazing photos to share, but I have to share these snapshots to prove it actually happened: 160 Kindergartners + 14 (only!) bowling lanes + a few hours = pure excitement and a little pandemonium.

Arctic Habitat Tour

Casey's Kindergarten class has been working tirelessly for weeks on learning all about the Polar Regions of the Earth. They participated in a school-wide "Habitat Day" presentation. With the direction of their amazing teacher, Mr. Schaff, they transformed their classroom into a representation of Polar Habitats. It was so fun! Casey learned a lot about biology, ecology, geology, and geography. Here's one of the great crafts they produced to help create their display. This little figure of Casey is atop a Popsicle stick, just to give some size comparison.

Casey was a tour guide to all the visitors who made their way through the school. (The hallways were packed with families and friends who had gathered to enjoy the show.) Casey, and her classmates, met us at the door with this list of some of the features of their display. She then took each of her tourists on a detailed tour of the "region."

One of the stops on our tour: A real Polar Bear hide and skull. Casey told us that Polar Bears have webbed feet... Who knew? Notice her cool "Northern Lights" shirt? They made them in class to wear for the day. Details, details.

Casey at the South Pole display... She was simply thrilled to share all the new things she had been learning about. One of the penguins in the background is the Macaroni Penguin. I did not believe her at first that there was such a thing as a Macaroni Penguin. Turns out, she is right!

More Polar Region Tour

So, to make these terrific fish prints, the kids painted a fish. I mean, literally, they put paint on a Red Snapper, and used it as a stamp to print on their paper. Then, they labeled the eyes, fins, mouth, gills, and tail. To cap off that part of their learning process, they dissected the fish to observe internal organs. Casey said it was stinky but told us all about how tiny the heart was and how the gills worked. Very cool.

One of their experiences: To graph "How big are you compared to an Emperor Penguin" with their classmates. Casey, apparently, is taller than an Emperor Penguin.

One of the very best parts of the tour (in my opinion) was a great video the class created. Each student presented a part of their expertise and Mr. Schaff recorded it and put it all together in a smooth format. The video was cycling at a listening/viewing station... Here Casey and Abby watch and listen. Mr. Schaff promised to let us have a copy of the video, so hopefully I can post some of it sometime soon.

Casey and Mr. Schaff @ the South Pole. Casey loves going to school, and we love sending her there, knowing that she is in a wonderful learning environment. We will be sad when she's not in Mr. Schaff's class anymore, and are hopeful for Abby to be in his room in a few years.

Polar Studies

Check out the post "Arctic Habitat Tour" for more information on this event... Here is a super cute display of Casey's class as Eskimo kids. Really cute with them all together.

Casey won a drawing at the end of the Habitat Day shows... For winning, she got to take home the Macaroni Penguin! She loves it. She has set up a cool display of all her Polar Region creations in our dining room. It's pretty sweet, actually. She is giving tours, so call for an appointment if you'd like to visit! :)

Things to remember:

Some random stuff I don't have photos to illustrate but want to remember:

*Last night, when I was putting Abby to bed, she started fussing about something. When I asked her what was wrong, she began to cry. "I don't want to get old, Mommy. I just want to stay the same age I am right now. I want to stay 3." It was so endearing, and I still don't understand how she came to be concerned about getting older. I promised her that she could stay 3 until she wanted to turn 4, and that settled her down. We talked about it this morning, and she remembered the conversation and still insists that she does not want to be older. What a sweet little girl.

*This morning we were enjoying a late breakfast of bacon and pancakes, talking with the kids about what Chris and I learned at Stake Conference last night. All of the sudden, Brian figured out that if the grown-ups went to Stake Conference on Saturday night, that must mean that we were all expected to attend Stake Conference on Sunday morning. He, being a 7 year old who does not adore sitting through 2 hour meetings on metal folding chairs, instantly asked if it was Stake Conference today. When we told him it was, he said (straight-faced): "You know, I think I am bringing up a real wild cough today." Chris and I burst out laughing, and Bri proceeded to explain how this real wild cough has been waiting for today to show itself.

*Earlier this week we were sitting at the dinner table, chatting and working on getting through a meal in under 2 hours. It seems like meals take forever with all the dilly-dallying that goes on. Anyway, I told the girls that they were done talking until they were done eating. Enough talk, finish your food. Brian, who was wearing his six-shooter cap-gun in his hip holster, proceeded to draw his cap-gun, fire it twice at the ceiling, and announce: "Don't worry, Mom. If they keep talking, I can quiet them." More hilarious laughter. And now we have a new family rule: Check your weapons at the door.

Shoes. I have shoes.

For FHE on Monday we took the fam to the bowling alley. The kids had had the day off of school, it was wet outside, and Chris had been at work all day. It made for a funky day with us all a little stir-crazy by the time the afternoon was winding down. Anyway, when we decided to just drop all the chores and go bowling, it was just the spontanious thing that got us all out of our funk. We really enjoyed ourselves. We decided that bowling was a great choice for our family as we all cheered for each other and goofed around together.

Abby loved the shoes so much that she cried when we had to turn them in to go home.
"I like these cute shoes, Momma!"

Brian's shoes looked too big for him at first, but it turns out they fit! So, he is growing even quicker than I had thought.

Casey is looking forward to her field trip to the bowling alley later in the week and keeps repeating to herself, under her breath: "I wear size 13 shoes. I wear size 13 shoes."

Valley Lanes

Brian was so thrilled to be at the bowling alley, his first time (since he was a one-year-old toddler). When we were first approaching our lanes, he was too excited to speak, and his teeth were chattering. One of the things I love about this boy is that he has such genuine emotion and has great ways of showing it: Sweaty hands when a book or movie gets intense, tears when he is exhausted (when we see those, we know it is way past time for bed), and chattery teeth when he is really looking forward to something cool.

Casey's kindergarten class is going bowling this week, and Casey had that trip in mind when we took our visit to the Valley Lanes. When we were checking in at the front desk, she announced to the owner that "I'm here to practice, not just for fun." I think we actually accomplished both.

Abby spent a lot of downtime messing around with the little air-blower that is supposed to be used to dry your hands. She made her hair blow in the breeze, and is here pictured trying to "dry off" her elbows which were apparently too wet.

Let the good times roll!

Chris and Abby watching (waiting...) for Abby's ball to connect with the pins at the end of the alley. The computer that kept score for us also recorded our average MPH on each bowl. Abby's overall speed was 0.4 MPH.

Brian's release was a little unorthodox, and he came away with a sore arm. He also came away with a score of 99, including at least one spare. He had a super great time, of course, so that is what matters.

Casey did a great job bowling, and really threw herself into the game... Actually, she literally threw herself into the game a couple of times... The momentum of her approach + a heavy ball = Casey ended up in the lane a few times.

At the end of each turn, Abby would dance a wild little jig. We certainly were entertained by her antics, as were many other patrons. The challenge was to keep her in our area so as to not interfere with the pro-bowlers nearby who were more serious about their scores.

Spring Snow

We had such an early snowmelt this year, and the daylight hours are getting long, and the sun was warming us up so well... Then, though, we were hit by a couple of days of snow. It keeps snowing and melting off during the sunny days, but enough sticks around to require snowgear, caution on the roads, and a bit of a humbug feeling. We are ready for Spring! :) That said, Casey and the other kids made the best of one of the recent warmer days... They used our big push-broom to gather all the slushy snow from the yard to make snowmen. Casey made hers into a Snow Girl, complete with long grass for hair, a carrot nose, and pink sidewalk chalk for a mouth. Brian's turned into a Snow Volcano. I missed getting photos of it.

It snowed yesterday. Crossing fingers for Spring to arrive for real!

The Gnome Mobile!

Family Movie Night this weekend consisted of popcorn and The Gnome Mobile, an old style Disney Classic. I love watching the movies I remember as a kid with my kids. We have also recently enjoyed sharing Swiss Family Robinson and The Lone Ranger television series. Anyway, The Gnome Mobile was a hit, as you can see from the snapshots... I am so happy that our kids like movies like this and laugh at them and get wrapped up in the suspense of simple stories.

le premier avril

The first of April brought a few Foolish antics to our home... Starting with blue milk at breakfast. Chris had poured his before he noticed something was wrong, and then just chalked it up to being tired. Brian thought it was funny but would not actually taste the stuff. Abby wasn't scared, though, and not a drop was wasted. Yeah, I got the idea from Martha Stewart/designmom.com. Not my own idea, but I'll take credit for it from the kids!