My First Pinterest DIY Project...

Jon and Joshy are at the farm for a few days working (except they are actually snowed in today)! So, I had some time to do a project...yeah!! I should have taken a before pic, but previously this wall was filled with art created by the boys. I love being able to display their art and it makes them so proud to hang it up.

But...it was getting a bit crazy. So, I found a great idea on Pinterest and made my own version! I picked up old frames from Goodwill, spray panted them and distressed them a bit with metallic paint, used foam board covered with fabric and attached their art with push pins. Easy and looks SOOO much better :) Caleb came home from school yesterday and loved it...I knew my little artist would :)

Popcorn Words

I have been helping Josh learn some sight (or popcorn) words these last few weeks. I thought it might be wise to give him a good base of English words before he starts Spanish Immersion Kindergarten next year. He has been doing great and for the most part seems pretty enthusiastic about learning them. We add a new card each day and review all the previous words. He keeps them in this little box :) The added bonus is that he gets a new Matchbox car for each 10 mastered! I would like for him to have 50 sight words under his belt by the time school starts...we will see!

Here is a little video of him showing off his skills on his current words...we are so proud of him! Gotta love the yogurt on his lips too :)

A Day in a Child-Sized World...

The boys have just finished up a long break from school for President's Day. We took advantage of the extra days off to take a mini-vacation! We drove to Watertown to play in the water park and stay in a hotel (a favorite for the boys)!

We had so much fun in the water park and we had the place to ourselves...even better :)

The next day we left after lunch for Brookings...our destination was the Children's Museum of SD. We have heard such good things about this place and we found out first hand that it was all true.

Our first stop was the auto repair shop...Josh loved changing tires, adding fluids and rolling under the car to change a muffler!

The next room was a little woodland room complete with costumes a lots of little puppet animals. Josh chose the dinosaur and Caleb was too big for the costumes...he had to wait for the Kids Live Theater for ones his size...we will get to that room later :)

Our next stop was the water room...

Then off to art and music rooms...

Next stop...Oscar's Cafe...a FAVORITE!

Jon and I ordered off their deli menu and Caleb made us a delicious lunch and some coffee...

Joshy brought us some dessert...yummy!

We both LOVED our food and the great service at Oscar's Cafe!!

Next, was the Prairie Room...complete with clouds to climb up that were two stories high. Josh said that this was his favorite!

There was a sod house and tee pee to play in too :)

Caleb fit into the lazy cowboy role quite well :)

Josh and Caleb prepared a pioneer meal together...cute!

After playing pioneers, we were off to the farm...

The farm had pigs, cows that needed milking and hens laying eggs to collect.

There were also crops to harvest...pumpkins, tomato's, corn, potato's and carrots. Josh was busy rushing around to harvest food for the sorting depot and then they went off to the grocery store :)

Caleb helped to stock the fruits and vegis and then they went shopping...this was such a realistic and fun store!

Time to check out!

We spent a ton of time in the farm and grocery store...our last stop was Kids Live news studio and theater!

Josh and Caleb both did a weather forecast and they did some goofy plays...

"Argh, Matey!!"

Caleb, as usual, was quite animated. We was sooo funny and loved this little theater with costumes, lighting and sound effects :)

The kids had an amazing time here and we will definitely be back to this child-sized world :)

I Heart You...

Caleb and Josh got busy preparing Valentine's for their class parties. Caleb decided to make his own this year :) Aren't they cute?!

Josh had his party on the 13th and was so eager to show me all his cute cards and sweets. He also enjoyed all the extra crafts that he made at his party!

Caleb's party was on the 14th and then they both get a nice long break from school for President's Day...yeah! But before that, Josh and I used our new Baby Cakes donut maker that Jon and I got them for Christmas.

Josh was amazed at all the donuts. He said it was like "donut heaven!" We dusted a few in sugar and frosted the rest. It was a cute Valentine's Day treat!

Of course, we had to sample a few of the ones that did not turn out all that pretty...plus a few more!

So, this is how they turned out. Josh did most of the decorating and sprinkling. He did really well :)

When daddy got home from work, we did our usual "heart trail hunt." We have done this for a few years now and the boys like following the candy heart trails to their little gift bags...sweet :)

We love you and hope you had a Happy "Heart" Day too :)

XOXO

Super Bowl at the Farm...

Anne knows how to throw a Super Bowl party and we have MISSED them the last 5 years since we moved to Sioux Falls. So...this year we decided to make a quick trip up north to enjoy the weekend and game together. It would have been even more exciting if lets say...the Cowboys were playing and the Cowboys WON! But, that would have been nothing short of a miracle this year!

So, we were off! Jon drove Blue McQueen to Anne's place (this is Josh's name for Grandpa Joe's blue Corvette)! That was better than any football game by far to him :)

We had an amazing warm day, so we decided to take a peek at the mommy-to-be cows and some babies! Cassidy took us around...and we realized that Josh has never seen a calf close-up before...shame on us :)

This mommy was a bit nervous with the unwanted company, so we stayed just long enough for a picture :)

We also took a look in the shop and birthing barn...Josh LOVED Uncle Stacey's new pick-up!

The game was close and down to the wire (so I heard...I was visiting in the kitchen!)

Thanks for hosting a fun Super Bowl party...we may not wait 5 years before we do this again :)