Easter.....

This year Easter was super low key.  I'm finding that the older my kids get, the lower key holidays are. Presley had an Easter egg hunt at her preschool.  It's always fun to watch 3 and 4 year olds discover that there is candy in the plastic eggs.  They would probably be thrilled just finding empty plastic eggs.

I did dye hard boiled eggs with my kids.  This is one holiday activity I would like to ban for the rest of eternity.  It's messy.  And nobody in this family will eat hard boiled eggs except me.  And I'm not a huge fan.  So it becomes wasteful.  But I did it anyway.  And I'll probably do it every year until my kids leave the house.  Because that's just what mom's do.

The perk of being the youngest child?  The only one to get new Easter clothes.  Which she picked out herself.

Easter Sunday the kids did get baskets full of copious amounts of chocolate.  And I did hide 10 plastic candy filled eggs for each kid in the basement.  No pictures for proof.  But it happened.  My kids aren't as deprived as it might appear.

Pinewood Derby....

Jack took home grand champion at the pinewood derby this year.  Second year running.

Trouble might occur next year.  Landon will also be competing.  This could get interesting.

Honor Society....

Ethan was offered the opportunity to join the Junior Honor Society this year.  Good grades, service, and positive nature all required.  I imagine this is only the first of many of these types of events I'll be attending for this particular child of mine.

I feel the need to mention that he was also offered the chance to attend Joseph Baldwin Academy this summer.  It's a 3 week class at Truman State University in Kirksville (our old stomping grounds).  He'll be taking a computer class.  The students live in the dorms and attend class daily.  In order to complete admission for this opportunity, he was required to take the ACT.  As a 7th grader.  Scores came back.  He got a 25.  Yep.  25.  This kid is crazy smart.  Shawn and I are making big plans for him to achieve a full ride college scholarship.  He totally has all the makings.

Ombre.....

Kennedy told me a few months ago that she wanted an Ombre.  (I was hoping she didn't mean a Spanish male.  She didn't.)  It's actually a hairstyle.  Or a specific way to dye ones hair.  Where it goes from dark to light.  The pictures I saw made it look like someone had lightened their hair and let their roots grow out.  To each his own, right?  My friend Nikki happens to be a hairstylist.  She agreed to take on this task.  

This is Kennedy's before shot:

 During the process:

After:

Nikki did such a great job!  She blended it well.  It didn't look like the horrid pictures I had seen online. I loved it.  And decided I wanted it myself.  Only.  Kennedy and I having the same hairstyle?  Not.  Cool.  So.  I'll wait.  Probably until it's completely out of style.  I have to say that Kennedy looks way too grown up in these pictures.  She's growing up so fast.

Jackson's Paradise Park Field Trip.......

The entire second grade visited Paradise Park for a day of fun.  Paradise Park has learning centers that teach science, gold mining, miniature golf, a maze, and rock climbing.  I was able to go as a chaperon.  It's so fun to finally be able to volunteer at events like this because I don't have a new baby to contend with.
Our group started out with a science experiment involving s'mores.  They got to eat them when the estimation portion was over.

Miniature golf for a bit outside.

 Rock climbing was Jack's favorite part.  Not too surprising.  He rocks.  (no pun intended)

We had a picnic lunch outside under a pavilion and then spent some time running relays on the lawn before loading the bus to head home.

I love spending individual time with my kids and watching them interact with their peers.  They are only going to let me go on these field trips until they decide I'm not cool anymore.  Maybe they'll always think I'm cool.  But I doubt it.

Landon's Kindergarten Fishing Field Trip.....

Landon's Kindergarten class went on a fishing field trip.  It was to a fish hatchery, so the pond was stocked.  But that didn't mean it meant for easy fishing.  We were split into groups when we arrived.  I was in charge of Landon and one other boy.  Most parents had only one or two kids in their group.  This was a well supervised event!
First we were allowed to explore inside the hatchery museum for a bit.  They had some huge fish tanks with large fish to observe.

We were then given instructions on how to use the fishing poles and rules regarding the actual fishing procedure.  It was a beautiful day to fish!

We had zero success in the actual catching of fish.  But I enjoyed spending time with this little guy.  We  put our poles away and had a picnic on the lawn.  Landon wanted to take a picture with Nella.  He likes her braids.  Landon loves the ladies!

The kids weren't allowed to ride home with the parents, they had to ride the bus.  His teacher took this shot of him on the way home.  Nothing like fishing to make a boy tired.

Kindergarten Performance.....

Every year the kindergarten puts on a musical performance.  Landon had a leading role with the shaker instrument.  Cutest Kindergartner in attendance!