Squid Dissection with friends!
IMG_00066.JPG
IMG_00066.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00067.JPG
IMG_00067.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00068.JPG
IMG_00068.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00069.JPG
IMG_00069.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00070.JPG
IMG_00070.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00071.JPG
IMG_00071.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00072.JPG
IMG_00072.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00073.JPG
IMG_00073.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00074.JPG
IMG_00074.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00075.JPG
IMG_00075.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00076.JPG
IMG_00076.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00077.JPG
IMG_00077.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00078.JPG
IMG_00078.JPG 2012-01-20
IMG_00079.JPG
IMG_00079.JPG 2012-01-20
ERCLC
book drop spiders web
Maeven took this pic, she was REALLY impressed with this web! Its kinda hard to see, but it took up the whole front of the book drop!
First time going into the school!
The building is the library and parent lounge...In an old 2-room schoolhouse! Maeven was following along behind us, taking pics, lol! That's me and Shauna going in.
Inside the library
Following Frank Murphy, superintendent, for our tour of the place!
Library
The library is inside an old 2-room schoolhouse. Guess Maeven was impressed with the place...took lots of pics of it. :)
More library pics
Going into the parent lounge
Parent lounge
Games
In the parent lounge, to be used in the room.
Playground
Swings on playground
Monkey bars
Playground
Playground
There are 2 structures
Playhouse
Playhouse sign
Funny, I've looked at the playhouse a ton of times and never noticed this til I saw this pic Maeven took of it!
Playhouse sign
Guess Maeve was impressed with the sign, LOL. Cute, huh? I was told the art teacher did it...she is also homeschooling her own kids, who are enrolled at ERCLC and are in my kids classes with them. Cool family. My kids love her class and I think she's just AWESOME!
Chalkboard walls
Inside the playhouse, the walls and ceiling are all painted with chalkboard paint! Very dusty, but cool!
Chalkboard walls
Chalkboard walls
Looking out of the playhouse
Ping Pong
Have yet to ever see anyone using it...wonder where the paddles/balls are?
Ball thing
Another thing I've yet to see anyone use...I think its too high for most of the kids. At least the days we go...Tuesdays/Thursdays are for K-6...perhaps they use it on Mondays/Wednesdays when the 6th and up are there.
Chickens!
There are 2 resident chickens...one boy, one girl...so of course my kids are happy as clams because they LOVE CHICKENS, and have a lot of experience with them over at Thea's house. They spend a lot of time in the pen, holding them. So cute. They are good with the kids too.
More chicken shots
More chicken shots
More chicken shots
More chicken shots
Science class
They were figuring out how to hold the towel and catch water balloons in such a way that they wouldn't break.
More science class
They were figuring out how to hold the towel and catch water balloons in such a way that they wouldn't break.
More science class
They were figuring out how to hold the towel and catch water balloons in such a way that they wouldn't break.
Swings pic
They were making a map of the grounds in "Academic Adventurers" class and Tyren's team got to do the swings, so he drew a pic to put on the map.
Drawing
I don't remember what he's drawing...maybe his explorer for Academic Adventurers class?
Drawing
Holding an ERCLC chicken
Oh yes, he is happy as a clam.
Caves Activity
This was during one of the classes they had during the "Caves Activity" day...They had all sorts of neat activities about caves and cave life the week that they had a field trip to Crystal Cave. In this one they were showing how caves are made by using different types of liquids on different types of rocks, showing how the more acidic can eat away at rock and form caves.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity.
Rocks at the geology table
Outside during the Caves Activity. Maeven was apparently way impressed with the rocks, as she took pics of like EVERY SINGLE ONE! LOL!
Caves Activity
They were showing how polution can get into the water supply with this demonstration.
Caves Activity
They were showing how polution can get into the water supply with this demonstration.
RATTLESNAKE!!!
This was the day of the Crystal Cave field trip...we were the first family down to the cave (at the front of the group), and just at the end of the trail, right at the entrance to the cave...my family walked within INCHES of this fully engorged rattlesnake!! I saw it and alerted the rangers and they moved it out of the path of the rest of the group...WOW, that was a surprise to see that! They think it must have just eaten a squirrel or chipmunk...I doubt it was moving anytime soon! LOL!
Waiting at Crystal Cave
Waiting to go into the tour of the cave. Maeven, ever the goofball! The guy behind them is the tour guide.
Waiting
Waiting
You can see the cave here.
In the cave
Not many pics inside since, of course, the light was so bad. And even with a flash, my phone takes crappy pics in low light.
In the cave
In the cave
Rock formations
Created by dripping water over thousands of years.
Maeven and the rocks
More rocks in the cave
Maeven in the cave
Pics in the cave
In the cave
Outside the cave
Really pretty waterfall on the way back up, after our tour of Crystal Cave.
Posing by the waterfall
Near Crystal Cave
River by waterfall
Near Crystal Cave.
River by waterfall
Near Crystal Cave.
River by waterfall
Near Crystal Cave.
Waterfall and cutie pie
Near Crystal Cave.
The loves of my life
Near waterfall near Crystal Cave.
The loves of my life
Near waterfall near Crystal Cave.
The loves of my life
Near waterfall near Crystal Cave.
1st/2nd grade Science Class
They were building something out of newspaper...trying to make it tall and have it not fall over.
Planting in Garden class
1st/2nd grade Garden/P.E. class...half of class is garden, half is P.E....Halfway through their time they swap groups. They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
Planting In Garden Class
They were planting landscaping plants in front of the campus.
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
P.E. Class
Science Class
Taking their experiments outside. Balloon attached to propeller.
Art Class
Art Class
Art Class
Art Class
Art Class
Art Class
Art Class
Art Class
Art Class
Science Class
5th/6th grade
Science Class
5th/6th grade
His final product
Owl pic from art class.
Literature Day
Group story telling.
Literature Day
Group story telling. They each took a turn telling part of the story into the recorder.
Gingerbread man
At Literature Day
Gingerbread man
At Literature Day. Tyr's best buddy, Keizo.
Gingerbread man
At Literature Day
Getting ready for group picture
Lining up by height
Getting ready for group picture
Lining up by height.
Getting ready for group picture
Lining up by height.
Group picture
Picture day at ERCLC!! These are ALL HOMESCHOOLERS! And its not even the whole school! :)
Group Picture
I love how they included the younger siblings in front.
Group Picture
Group Picture
Group Picture
Younger sibs in front. The next generation of homeschoolers!
Group Picture
Group Picture
Group Picture
Group Picture
Group Picture
Storytelling on Literature Day
Storytelling on Literature Day
Storytelling on Literature Day
Storytelling on Literature Day
Making homemade books
During Literature Day. Maeven was all over this, of course!!
Making homemade books
During Literature Day.
Making homemade books
During Literature Day
Making homemade books
During Literature Day
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Yup, siblings included! :) We are homeschoolers, afterall, and we are a package deal! :)
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
The blonde is one of Maeven's buddies from school, Julianna.
Julianna and Maeven
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Julianna and Maeven
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Julianna, Maeven & Tyren
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Julianna, Maeven & Tyren
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Bobbi and Nya
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Bobbi is our Ed Coordinator. Nya is her baby daughter.
Bobbi and Nya
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Bobbi is our Ed Coordinator. Nya is her baby daughter.
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Bobbi and Nya
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Grinding Rock in parking lot
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Grinding Rock in parking lot
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Grinding Rock in parking lot
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Grinding Rock in parking lot
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Grinding Rock in parking lot
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Grinding Rock in parking lot
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Grinding Rock in parking lot
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Praying Mantis in bathroom
Almost stepped on him! He was so perfectly camouflaged!!
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Praying Mantis in bathroom
5th Grade Day Trip to SCICON
Art Class
Coloring to different types of music.
Art Class
Coloring to different types of music.
Art Class
Coloring to different types of music.
Art Class
Coloring to different types of music.
Art Class
Coloring to different types of music.
That's Levi on the left, Keizo in the middle, Tyr on the right...3 fast friends. We knew Levi and Keizo before going to ERCLC. Its so cool to see them bond during the classes and play times. :)
Art Class
Coloring to different types of music.
Art Class
Coloring to different types of music.
Science Class
Science Class
Teacher Daniel
Science Class
Science Class
Science Class
Science Class
Science Class
Science Class
Science Class
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Yup, that's the 3 Amigos again...Levi, Tyr, Keizo. :)
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Art Class
Trying out splatter painting after learning about Jackson Pollock.
Science Class
Science Class
Science Class
Art Class
Coloring to different kinds of music.
Art Class
Coloring to different kinds of music.
Art Class
Coloring to different kinds of music.
Art Class
Coloring to different kinds of music.
Academic Adventures Class
Academic Adventures Class
Academic Adventures Class
Academic Adventures Class
Academic Adventures Class
Tyren's friend Jaida. She asked me to take a picture of her creation too. So cute! :)
Academic Adventures Class
1st/2nd grades
Academic Adventures Class
5th/6th grades
Academic Adventures Class
5th/6th grades
Academic Adventures Class
5th/6th grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
Always a fun time had by all with Teacher Bryan!!
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
5th/6th grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
5th/6th grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
5th/6th grades
Academic Adventures Class
1st/2nd grades
Doing fractions with chocolate!
Academic Adventures Class
1st/2nd grades
Doing fractions with chocolate!
Academic Adventures Class
1st/2nd grades
Doing fractions with chocolate!
Academic Adventures Class
1st/2nd grades
Doing fractions with chocolate!
Academic Adventures Class
1st/2nd grades
Doing fractions with chocolate!
Digging at ERCLC
Out by the garden
Digging at ERCLC
Out by the garden
Digging at ERCLC
Out by the garden
Digging at ERCLC
Out by the garden.
Yup, it was a deep hole they dug!
After Garden Class
The kids just love this particular piece of exercise equipment!
After Garden Class
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
1st/2nd grades
Academic Adventures Class
5th/6th grades playing "Apples to Apples"
Academic Adventures Class
5th/6th grades playing "Apples to Apples"
Academic Adventures Class
5th/6th grades
Academic Adventures Class
5th/6th grades
Academic Adventures Class
5th/6th grades playing "Apples to Apples"
Art Class w/Teacher Sarah
1st/2nd grades...Tyren sharing his art work.
Art Class w/Teacher Sarah
1st/2nd grades...Tyren sharing his art work.
Art Class w/Teacher Sarah
1st/2nd grades.
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
5th/6th grades
Notice Maeven digging in the dirt. Yeah, she's not really into sports anymore than her mama is. :)
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
5th/6th grades
P.E. Class with Teacher Bryan
5th/6th grades
Science Class
1st/2nd grades
Science Class
1st/2nd grades
Science Class
1st/2nd grades
Science Class
1st/2nd grades
Academic Adventures Class
1st/2nd grades
ERCLC toad
ERCLC Fresno Satellite Meeting
ERCLC Fresno Satellite Meeting
Viewing the school video
ERCLC Fresno Satellite Meeting
ERCLC Fresno Satellite Meeting
ERCLC Fresno Satellite Meeting
Science Class
Maeven making a goofy face. I got this pic texted to me from Lex (who doesn't go to the school!) and was like, HUH??? They were visiting!! And I was in the class next door. I had no idea she was there! I was like, wait, that's an ERCLC kid behind Maeven...wait....that's NOW!! Ran outside to say hi, of course, LOL! That was a trip though! LOL!
Pinata making
"Explorers" class, where they "visit" a new country each week...this week it was Mexico, so they made pinatas and tortillas.
Bird Pinata
Maeven's completed pinata. They decorated paper bags and put a couple pieces of candy in them. Not super elaborate but all the kids seemed happy!
Tortilla Making
in Explorers class (visiting Mexico).
Tortilla making
Homemade tortillas in Explorers class!
Tortilla making
in Explorers class (visiting Mexico).
Tortilla eating!
With her good friend Julianna!
Tortilla mashing
with a tortilla press.
Paper airplanes
Exploring air in science class
Throwing paper airplanes
in science class...experimenting with air!
IMG_00090.JPG
IMG_00090.JPG 2012-01-26
Pumping up a balloon
in science class...experimenting with air!
IMG_00092.JPG
IMG_00092.JPG 2012-01-26
Stomp rockets & balloon propellers
Exploring air in science class
Stomp rockets & balloon propellers
Exploring air in science class
Stomp rockets & balloon propellers
Exploring air in science class
Stomp rockets & balloon propellers
Exploring air in science class
Fans & Hair dryers
Exploring air in science class
Hair dryers & fans
Exploring air in science class
Hair dryers and fans
Exploring air in science class
Chinese dragon
shadow puppet...made in art class
Chinese Dragon
made in art class...this semester they are exploring different types of art from around the world.
Pinata making
Explorers class..."visiting" Mexico...they made pinatas and tortillas.
Outdoor games
with all ages! I love seeing all the big kids playing so well with the little kids!
Outdoor games
with all ages! I love seeing all the big kids playing so well with the little kids!
Outdoor games
with all ages! I love seeing all the big kids playing so well with the little kids!
Outdoor games
with all ages! I love seeing all the big kids playing so well with the little kids!
Outdoor games
with all ages! I love seeing all the big kids playing so well with the little kids!
Outdoor games
with all ages! I love seeing all the big kids playing so well with the little kids!
Outdoor games
with all ages! I love seeing all the big kids playing so well with the little kids!
2011 Christmas
Reindeer treats
Its a family tradition from the Scott family that we put out our shoes by the front door, with treats in them for the reindeers. Something that comes from European tradition, I think? We always put out carrots and oats (dry oatmeal) in the kids' shoes and in the morning, everything is gone except for remnants of chewed carrots and scattered oats. Maeven doesn't believe anymore, but Tyren is still very much in the magic of these traditions still and Maeven helps to keep the magic alive for Tyren. Very sweet to see. :)
Reading the Christmas stories
Even though we are not a Christian family, Adam & I were raised Christian, and in my family (The Scotts), it was always a tradition to read the story of the birth of Jesus on Christmas eve. Years ago I bought a couple cute picture books that simplify the story (yet still portray it accurately) for children with darling pictures, so I have kept the tradition alive of reading the story on Christmas eve. We talk about how many people believe the story literally and some don't, and the children know that when they are grown they will decide for themselves what they believe. They also know that all their grandparents are Christian (my parents extremely devout, as my dad is a retired pastor) and this is a story that is very important to them, and thus it is important for my children to know and respect.
After we read the birth of Jesus story, we read a beautiful picture book of the "Twas the Night Before Christmas" story. Then off to bed!
Last minute work
I've been making photo calendars every year for the grandparents by taking a dollar calendar from Target and adding pics (they're designed w/blank spaces to put pics)...Much cheaper than ordering them premade online, usually. But this year they didn't have them! :( So I had to do a bit more work, (but it was worth it in the end) and make my own from scratch. Here I am doing the last minute assembling of said calendars...sticking the pics on, hole protectors, hole punching, ribbon to bind them together, that sort of thing. It was all worth it! They turned out cute! There's some pics of them later on when they are opened.
Goodies for Santa
Santa's already eaten his oreos (he always leaves some for the kids to share)...(Not sure where his mug of milk went in this pic, it was back later)....and opened his present from Tyren (a bookmark), and read his note from Tyren (something he wrote with help from Maeven...she was very sweet about it...Really refreshing since they'd been fighting like cats and dogs for the entire week leading up to Xmas!)
And Maeven put her deer (bedecked with pipe cleaner antlers & bows/bells for Xmas), with her favorite beanie (aptly named "Beanie") to welcome Santa.
Bookmark for Santa
Tyren made this himself to give to Santa. His idea. He likes to write his name fancy, LOL!
Stockings were hung...
And filled! And the gifts on the trays are from Santa.
Dollar Tree treats!
Thank God for Dollar Tree! This year I had a blast finding all sorts of fun things there for stockings...not sure why I didn't do that in previous years...stocking stuffers were SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper this year because of this! Going to make that a new tradition of mine! :)
In our family, Santa only fills the kids' stockings...and only some of them...other family members also contribute. :)
Maeven's new dragon
Fabulous find at Michaels Crafts. It was a hit. :)
Waiting for Maeven
Always the creative one, Adam stuck the new dragon in the tree to await Maeven's discovery.
Gifts awaiting morning
Some of the gifts...I think a few more were added later after they went to bed. Many were handmade by the kids to each other and us. So sweet!
Our Sweet Baby
Adam likes to string the Xmas lights around our little shrine to Baelin, to include him in the holiday.
And they're UP!
Maeven woke up at like 6am (before the sun was up), and woke me up shortly after 7am (sun not completely up yet)...I sent her back to bed with my iPhone to play games until the sun was completely up. Then Adam & I woke at about 8am...and had to wake Tyren up!! Lazy butt. Here they are, checking out stockings for the first time.
Yay stockings!
Always my favorite part of Xmas, the opening of the stockings...so many neat little fun things in there! (And yummy candy!) This year, in the interest of keeping costs down low, there was a lot more candy in there...but a lot of really fun Dollar store finds as well! :)
Santa's reply
The kids always write Santa a letter and leave with the cookies...and Santa always replies. He's very old, you know, so his writing is very shaky.
The last couple years Tyren has done the letters, since Maeven is no longer a believer (but she encourages Tyren! So sweet!)
It says:
From Tyren...
Thank you for my presents. Love, Tyren
From Santa...
You're welcome, Tyren. Share some cookies with your sister, ok? I couldn't eat them all. Thankyou for them! Merry Christmas! Santa
P.S. Thankyou for the bookmark! I love it!! S.
Emptying the stockings part 1
Stickers, window clings, candy canes, journal/note pad, hot cocoa packets...
Emptying the stockings part 2
candy, candy and more candy...and pencils...and magic worms...
Checking out the booty
Maeven got blenders to go with her gift from Santa...
The annual beef jerky
Adam's so hard to shop for...Its a given that there will always be beef jerky in his stocking. :)
Yay!! Measuring spoons!
I asked for some sturdy metal measuring spoons this year because the ones I have are really flimsy. Adam got me some really cool ones! Yay!
Magic worms
Hands down, favorite gift this year was these little worm things I bought for the kids at Dollar Tree! :)
Fuzzy
Maeven named hers "Fuzzy."
They had SO much fun figuring out how to do tricks with them.
The booty
Maeven's stocking contents, along with empty wrappers. Oh, forgot about the clay...they got clay in there too. Tyren put homemade bookmarks in everyone's stockings (laminated). Found these cute little eraser animals for 99cents at Professor Toy that were also a hit...
Santa's gifts
Prismacolor premier artstix woodless colored pencils. They are not round! You don't need to sharpen them...they are like little cube sticks, you just use an edge if you want a sharper point. Very cool. She's a serious artist, so Santa figured she needed more serious materials.
Santa's gifts
Erasable colored pencils!! Way cool!
Santa's gifts
And a sketch book!! Tyr's turning into a more avid artist lately and is really excited about filling up this book! :)
Santa's gifts
Maeven got a more premium sketch book, made for artists! She's definitely at a level where she's ready for quality materials. She was glad to see Santa knew that. :)
Maeven's gift to Tyren
We try to give the kids cash to buy gifts for everyone each year...this year we just didn't have the money for this. So Maeven spent her own allowance entirely on Tyren (and one chocolate bar for Daddy). I was so proud of her! And Tyren was ecstatic about a Lego helicopter! He said something like "I've been wanting this!!!"
Big hugs for big sister
Tyren thanking Maeven for his gift. So sweet! *sniff*
Homemade gifts from Maeven
Maeven asked me for some ideas of things that I would like her to make me...I told her I'm always losing my bookmarks, and can never have enough. So she made and laminated me a bunch!! So cool!!! I LOVE THEM!!
Only a few gifts left to open!
I see Tyr's gifts and Adam's...and I think Maeven's...
Tyren's gift to Maeven
Tyren also spent his allowance entirely on a gift for Maeven! A Hero Factory robot! (They are WAY into these right now). Maeven was really happy, and Tyr was so excited to give to her!
Zoo Tycoon 2 & a silly Daddy
Maeven made a list and put stars by the gifts she wanted the most. This was the only item on the list that had THREE STARS!
Its an old pc game, and we already had 3 of the games included in this set, but the 2 expansion packs she didn't have yet were what she was hankering for. She's super excited to be able to have jeeps and extra animals for her zoos now!! (And other fun new features). She is TOTALLY into this game right now!!
Took a bit to figure out how to get this new installation to work properly on our computer...I think the game is like 5years old, at least! But thanks to a couple hours of diligent work from Adam (Googling and fiddling), Adam found a hack that got it to work. Phew!! It doesn't like Windows 7, but Adam got it to place nice, FINALLY! Maeven's so happy!
Adam's gifts
Unwrapping his gifts from Mommy & Daddy: Lego Alien Conquest spaceship and a Lego Ben 10 robot that works with their favorite Hero Factory robots! (They love getting different sets and tearing them apart and making new robots and creations with all the pieces!)
The spaceship he wanted!!
He loves this thing!! He's been talking for months about how he wishes he could get some Lego alien sets! This one even comes with a light up brick!
Playing with her new dragon
Maeven is all about dragons right now (as is evident by her recent dragon-themed birthday party)...She was quite happy to receive this dragon as part of her gift from Mommy & Daddy (along with the Zoo Tycoon 2 game).
New robot
Opening his new Lego Ben 10 robot. Still don't know what Ben 10 is, but they have cool robots! They are simpler than the Hero Factory robots, but compatible pieces. We had never seen these until I was at Professor Toy and saw them in the Lego section. Very fun to get him something I knew he'd like that he'd never even seen before! :)
Magic cards
Adam just started playing Magic the Gathering card game again, so I got him some new cards as part of his gift.
Other part of Adam's gift from me
Along with the Magic cards, I got Adam a hanging hook rack thing to hang his hats on. That thing was tricky to wrap! We cut open a cereal box and wrapped it around it.
Ta da!
Adam's new hat rack.
Opening gifts at Auntie Alisa's
After we finished opening gifts at home, and ate a quick breakfast...we got dressed and headed to Adam's family celebration at his sister Alisa's.
Grampa Fred & Cousin Mando
Hanging out, watching gift opening. Adam's dad and his sister Alisa's son, Mando
Cousin Jack & his drum major Spiderman
We were all making fun of this Spiderman...You squeeze its legs and this stick thing its holding spins. I called it "Thigh master Spiderman", but then we decided that stick thing looked sorta like a baton that a drum major holds, LOL!
Spider Sarah
Auntie Sarah (Adam's sister) being silly with Jack's new mask.
Grampa Fred w/Buddy
Grampa's favorite buddy, Buddy. :)
Auntie, Gramma & John
Adam's sister Alisa, mom Eloise, and Auntie Sarah's boyfriend John (who the kids adore...he's so silly!)
The Gang
Uncle Tim giving Tyren bunny ears...Maeven, Tyren and cousin Jack.
Opening magic kit
I think this was a gift from Grampa Fred.
Auntie Alisa & cousins
Alisa and her 3 (grown!) kids. God they've grown!! From left to right...Monique, Mando, Alisa, Amanda
Oh and Tank, the dog in the foreground.
Gramma's ready to hit the sauce!
Part of our gift to Gramma was bloody mary mix!! What does THAT say about us? Or about her?? LOL!!! ;)
Playing dodge ball
We got Jack & Ian (brothers, and my kids' cousins) a little dodgeball kit...comes with 2 vests with velcro targets, and fuzzy foam balls to throw at each other. Ian wasn't there yet (Andrew, Adam's brother & Ian's dad, was still picking him up from his mom's), so Jack & Tyr played for awhile with these. :)
More dodgeball
More gifts
More gifts
Cheesy Uncle Tim
My brother, cheesin it.
Worm tricks
Outdoor dodge ball
Auntie Sarah took the boys outside to play ball...I came out to help supervise. They had a hard time hitting each other, LOL!
Auntie Sarah's turn to get hit
Auntie doesn't dodge well
Hit her, Tyr!
Got her!!
They had to get CLOSE to hit that darn target!
Tank the slobber machine
Alisa's way cool dog. EVERYONE loves Tank. He's huge, like a, well, a tank...but oh so gentle and sweet. Though drooly.
The infamous homemade photo calendar
Eloise checkin out her gift from us.
Every month has a pic of Tyr and Maeve from that month in 2011. I even put all the important dates on the calendar for 2012...family birthdays and such.
Deep in conversation
Eloise, John and Tim (aka "Waldo")
Christmas socializing
Christmas virtual socializing
Uhhhh
Dunno what I was doing here.
Posing
Cousin Jack and Reindeer
More Christmas socializing
Christmas socializing with the Muppets
Watched old episodes of the Muppet Show the whole day! Really fun and nostalgic!!
Say cheese, Alisa
Look at how cute that pic turned out
A cute pic of sisters looking at a cute pic. With Buddy the dog. Buddy #1. Fred's Buddy is Buddy #2.
Alisa & family's Christmas tree
Tyren's new duds
Auntie Alisa got Tyren and Maeven new robes! Tyr put his on right away and didn't take it off again!
Fred and Buddy #2
aka his baby.
Cute Cousins
(Tyr's showing you his dog hood, I think)
Father and son
Buddy=Adam & Alisa's step brother.
Siblings, aka Eloise's kids (most of them)
Brothers Adam and Andrew
Sisters Sarah and Alisa
Only one missing is Brenda!
More sibling pics
Brothers
Andrew's boys, Ian and Jack...My kids' cousins.
Eloise and children
Gramma/Mom and 4 of her children. Minus one sister, Brenda.
Left to right: Andrew, Alisa, Eloise, Sarah, Adam
Age order: Brenda (oldest), Adam, Alisa, Andrew, Sarah.
More family pics
wake up Alisa!
Fred & children
Grampa Fred and his 3 children: Alisa, Buddy, and Adam. (hee hee)
(Andrew and Sarah have a different dad.)
More family pics
Father and daughter
(& dog son)
Lego-like Sorry
One of the kids' gifts from someone...I don't know who, since I didn't see them open it...Later, this was the source of much turmoil and crying at the end of a long sugar filled Xmas day. (Mostly Tyren's tears...he's not really good at playing games yet...has a hard time when it doesn't go his way. Especially after a long day.) Fun game though...perhaps on a different day...
Maeven's 11th Birthday Party (Dragons)
IMG_2626 (2).JPG
IMG_2626 (2).JPG 2011-11-25
IMG_2627 (2).JPG
IMG_2627 (2).JPG 2011-11-25
IMG_2628.JPG
IMG_2628.JPG 2011-11-25
IMG_2629 (2).JPG
IMG_2629 (2).JPG 2011-11-25
IMG_2630 (2).JPG
IMG_2630 (2).JPG 2011-11-25
IMG_2634 (2).JPG
IMG_2634 (2).JPG 2011-11-25
IMG_2636 (2).JPG
IMG_2636 (2).JPG 2011-11-25
IMG_2638 (2).JPG
IMG_2638 (2).JPG 2011-11-25
IMG_2639 (2).JPG
IMG_2639 (2).JPG 2011-11-25
IMG_2640 (2).JPG
IMG_2640 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2642 (2).JPG
IMG_2642 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2643.JPG
IMG_2643.JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2644.JPG
IMG_2644.JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2645 (2).JPG
IMG_2645 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2646 (2).JPG
IMG_2646 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2647.JPG
IMG_2647.JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2648.JPG
IMG_2648.JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2649 (2).JPG
IMG_2649 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2650 (2).JPG
IMG_2650 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2651 (2).JPG
IMG_2651 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2653 (2).JPG
IMG_2653 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2655 (2).JPG
IMG_2655 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2656 (2).JPG
IMG_2656 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2658 (2).JPG
IMG_2658 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2659 (2).JPG
IMG_2659 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2660 (2).JPG
IMG_2660 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2661 (2).JPG
IMG_2661 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2662 (2).JPG
IMG_2662 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2663.JPG
IMG_2663.JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2664 (2).JPG
IMG_2664 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2665 (2).JPG
IMG_2665 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2666 (2).JPG
IMG_2666 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2667 (2).JPG
IMG_2667 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2670 (2).JPG
IMG_2670 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2671 (2).JPG
IMG_2671 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2675 (2).JPG
IMG_2675 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2676 (2).JPG
IMG_2676 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2677 (2).JPG
IMG_2677 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2678.JPG
IMG_2678.JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2679 (2).JPG
IMG_2679 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2680 (2).JPG
IMG_2680 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2681 (2).JPG
IMG_2681 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2682 (2).JPG
IMG_2682 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2685 (2).JPG
IMG_2685 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2687 (2).JPG
IMG_2687 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2688 (2).JPG
IMG_2688 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2689 (2).JPG
IMG_2689 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2690 (2).JPG
IMG_2690 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2691 (2).JPG
IMG_2691 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2692 (2).JPG
IMG_2692 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2693 (2).JPG
IMG_2693 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2695 (2).JPG
IMG_2695 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2696.JPG
IMG_2696.JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2697 (2).JPG
IMG_2697 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2698 (2).JPG
IMG_2698 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2701 (2).JPG
IMG_2701 (2).JPG 2011-11-26
IMG_2702 (2).JPG
IMG_2702 (2).JPG 2011-11-26