Ava's Great Idea!

Ava's Bus Partner / Friend, Meaghan got a new book bag for Christmas that rolled kind of like a suitcase.  It was not however, a suitcase.  Ava got this bright idea one day, to use her actual rolling suitcase as her book bag.  I was thinking it was odd, but knew why she wanted to do it so I allowed her to take it to school. She was so proud that day, walking to the bus and showing it off to Meaghan.  I couldn't stop laughing to myself, but didn't let her know. She also was extremely excited about showing it to her class mates. 

This went on for a few days and finally, one day, I asked her what the other kids at school were saying.  She was pretty irritated as she told me that they were all telling her it looked like a suitcase.  I reminded her that it was in fact, a suitcase, and this seemed to irritate her too.  She continued for a few more days, to take it to school.  It was a bit bulky to get up the bus steps and though she acted as though it didn't matter to her what the other kids thought, I think it may have a little bit.  Finally, one day, her daddy told her he thought it was a bit silly and asked her why she did it.  She decided the next day, that she was done and wanted to take her real back pack to school.  :)  Guess the phase was over and that was that.  Knew i had to capture the memory before she was done with it.  So cute to see her walking so very proud with her suitcase as her book bag. 

Muddy Sunday at Justus House

Jason and Tabb decided it was time for Micah to get his four wheeler out and really put some miles on it . . so they invited us to their house on a Sunday afternoon to ride four wheelers and to have dinner with them.  We were all really looking forward to it, but then I got sick and was not going to be able to go.  However, Laura, being the sweetheart she is, called me and asked me to send the kiddos along with Micah and told me to stay home and rest.  I was sad to miss the fun but I actually did sleep ALL day.  I got better very fast due to that extra uninterrupted sleep.  So, I will portray the events of the day the way I remember them being portrayed to me.  Sounds as if, while Westin was napping, the boys went for their first rides.  Ava and Christian wanted to ride along, so Ava was Tabb's riding buddy and Christian was Daddy's.  Tabb informed me later that Ava is much like me and that she talks all the time. . .followed by squeals and shrieks during the ride.  He said she was talking and talking and talking and then got really quiet.  He knew something was wrong, and when he asked her, here she had bumped her mouth on the four wheeler and was trying to be brave.  She did have fun though and before long she started to TALK some more.  She actually got to liking Tabb as her riding buddy that she wouldn't ride with anyone else, not even her own daddy. :) 

At one point, if I have this right, Tabb and Ava drove over a tree in the middle of a big muddy creek water area where the water came up half way on the four wheelers.  I guess they got stuck and Ava panicked a little, as a first born, bossy orderly child would. :)  Jason must have come to her rescue and helped save her and so he is one of her heroes to.  Micah said he had a blast and would love to do it again and I am DEF. going next time. I feel I really missed out.  Laura sent home some dinner for me, because she is always thinking of others.  It was delicious.  As soon as the kids came in the door, they were talking fast and trying to talk over each other to get out all the fun they had.  They were really muddy, and as I was bathing them, they were STILL TALKING!! What a great memory. . .can't wait till I get to go next time!!!

Christian's Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten Registration has finally arrived for our little guy that has anticipated it for a long time now. . .for over a year now. :)   We had his appointment set up and he was ready to go days before it was time.  He was ready for SCHOOL.  We started the day with putting Ava on the bus and then we headed to Denny's for Christian's favorite. . . Softball Pancakes to celebrate his big day.  Every time we offer to take him wherever he wants to eat for breakfast, this is always his choice.  He had softball pancakes there once and now it is his favorite breakfast nook.  :)  So off we went to get him pancakes and sausage.  He was so hyper and excited, he wouldn't even make a normal happy face at the camera.

Then it was time to head into the school office area to register him and get him tested for Kindergarten.  When we arrived, he jumped out of the vehicle and started right off, no need to hold our hands or be timid about the whole thing, he was off and on his way.  He thought we were leaving him there already and so he turned around at one point, slightly irritated that we were still following him.  He smiled and waved and said "goodbye mommy and daddy. See you later."  ahhaha, we had to inform him that he was not staying that day, just registering.  I sort of like how the picture below shows him leaving our shadows, representing us, walking behind him as he is heading off bravely into the big giant world ahead of him.  :)  He did sit and get and get tested to get into kindergarten while we filled out the necessary paperwork.  He tested very well and I cried when they showed me his scores.  He was going to be alright in this world without me.  They were def. proud and happy tears.  Then it was time to head out to the bus and take our private tour.  He was pretty excited about that too.

 

Playdate at Our Favorite Pedersen Boys' Farm House

 Jason and Westin moved into a farm house for the time being, and last week was the moving week.  There was fun to be had every night.  Jason did a little bit every night of the week before he moved, so Westin would get used to traveling over to the farm house and so he would feel a part of the moving process.  This would hopefully make the transition for Westin easier.  So, we came out to see them one night and see what we could do to help.  We brought some pizza from Domino's of course, and since the furniture was not moved over yet, we decided to have a picnic in the middle of the dining room, right on the floor.  The kids thought this was the BEST idea ever and though Jason kept teasing them about NOT GETTING ANYTHING on the floor, ;)  The kids' excitement was contagious. 

Not sure what the kiddos are doing int his picture, but they were having lots of fun. 

So much to do at this special place.  The sandbox was a hit, of course and Westin had all of his trains to play with in the sand box too.  Also, I have a sneaky feeling that the cows will not go hungry here, as Westin learned to feed them and, I am sure they will actually fatten up a bit from the extra love and attention and FOOD they will be getting. ;)  I was pulling him around in the wagon and he had a big smile on his face and said, "chelle, the cows lookin' at me!!!" He was so excited about this fact.  The kids and I sang to the cows and that brought more curious cows over to the area we were singing.  They were a great audience.  :)

There is a ton of area to ride around on bikes and riding toys and that was what the kids did for the majority of the evening. :)  The weather was bright and warm.  Such a great evening for some outside fun.  At one point, Christian was pulling Westin around in the wagon with a tractor riding toy and a rope.  This didn't last long, but Jason and Micah were discussing whether or not Westin was lazy or smart.  We all decided he was smart, for wanting to ride and not having to do the work. :)  He was very sweet, as he gave us two tours that night of his new house.

Celebrating Dr. Seuss Target Style

Tammy called me and said that Target was celebrating 100 years of Dr. Seuss and they were having a story time reading for kids.  She was planning to take Ty and invited me along too. I thought this would be a fun activity for the kids to enjoy together.  My dad brought Reece over and we headed to Target with the kiddos.
 When we arrived, they had tote bags for the kids with snacks, drinks and coupons.  The tote also had sticker mustaches, which the kids had fun wearing while they were listening to the stories. 

I love how in the above picture, the boys are looking for their loot in the tote bags, probably checking out the food source and Ava and the little girl on the side of Reece are interested in the story. :)

Spring Park Day

The kids had a day off school for spring break, so we threw together a random picnic at Municipal Park for the kids to get together and hang out. I orchestrated this picnic BECAUSE Ava was home from school, but she was so excited that on the way to the park she said, "wow, it is so great that my Bumbaugh's had this day on a day I was NOT in school!"  She had no idea that if she had been in school, so would have the majority of the crew that came. :)  Then she said, "oh mom, this the greatest best day of my life EVER!!!"  hahaha.  She is dramatic but loves life.  Christian was excited too but he was more excited about eating everyone else's food.  The cousins always do well with playing with the younger kids, (meaning my kids).  Ava and Christian think the world of their older cool cousins that do lots of fun things with them and laugh at everything Ava and Christian do or say.  Being with these older cousins help to boost my kiddos egos and self esteem.  They climbed rocks with them and climbed trees with them.  They played on the iphones and ate lots of food.  Christian found a woman, randomly and struck up a conversation with her.  We were all watching and finally Fawn went over to get my animated son, that was using his hands to help express whatever he was saying.  The lady informed Fawn that he was telling her he had to go POOP!!! So I had to drive him to the Wendy's down the road and he ended up not pooping anyway.  Then when we came back, he disappeared for awhile.  When we spotted him, he was walking, or maybe even proudly strutting, away from a huge tree.  His pants were pulled up really high above his waist and the shirt was stuck inside his pants.  He obviously had peed somewhere, so I had him show me where.   He showed me, and the spot where he had decided to pull his pants down and pee was right in front of a table of people, who obviously had seen the whole thing.  WE couldn't stop laughing, as I was trying to tell him how inappropriate that really was. :)  What a day.