Spring Break Staycation Day #4

Spring Break Staycation Day #4
Day number four required us to do at least 2 normal activities. Laundry and gymnastics.

So, after gymnastics we headed home for lunch and cleaning. Once the house was somewhat picked up we went to a place called Color Me Mine.

The girls picked out a piece of ceramic. Ella picked an egg; McKenna picked a sea shell. We picked some paint colors and had at it!

It was interesting to watch the girls. McKenna definitely had a plan for her art. She picked specific colors and prethought what she would paint.

Ella didn't have a plan as much as an approach. She picked a few colors that she thought were "pretty, girl colors." He colors slowly blended together as she painted.

It is definitely a place that we will return to. They offer a 21 plus date night! Maybe I can convince the hubby!

Spring Break Staycation Day #3

Each morning the girls practically wake up begging for their "ticket" explaining the days adventure. This was one of their favorite aspects on the staycation.

Today's adventure included a trip to the Minnesota Children's Museum where Clifford the Big Red Dog was visiting!

At the museum we always enjoy working in the classroom. Ella and McKenna primarily enjoy painting at the easel.

Of course, we cannot walk by the face painting booth without stopping.

As usual, Ella LOVED delivering the mail all of the mailboxes.

There are several more staycation pictures and adventures to share. Keep checkign back!

Spring Break Staycation Day #2

After church we enjoyed a fun play date with our friends, Lauren and Anna! For lunch we enjoyed McDonald's chicken nuggets and fries. After lunch we went right to the art cabinet. The girls decided to make I Phones. Yes, I Phones. What does that say about young children today. (Or, what does that say about MY children?) Seriously, the girls drew a You Tube icon on their phones, texting options, phone book lists, then they "texted" each other (by writing out little notes on paper and passing them around the table). Crazy.

Then the girls played in the playroom for a while. Once I had cleaned up from lunch and I Phone creations, we put on play clothes and headed down the street to the park. It was a nice day.

Once back, the girls immediately went to their dress up clothes and put on play makeup!

For dinner each girl made her own pizzas with English muffins .

I wanted to get Lauren and Anna all cleaned up before I brought them home. We managed to fit all four girls into the tub. We added a color tablet and they had a pink bath! They all described the bath as "squishy!"

Vacation, Staycation, Nocation

Spring Break has hit us quickly! Arthur has a ton of work to do. Between framing, new photographers and school, money, and a few other reasons going on a vacation was out of the question. So, instead, we did a lot of fun activities. We went on a staycation.

It's a word that McKenna and Ella quickly assimilated into their lexicons.

I planned a few activities and made "tickets" for the girls. Each morning will bring a new ticket with a new activity. This also allows me to change things up a bit midstream, if I need to.

So, read on if you care to!


Spring Break Staycation Day #1
Today we went to the Mall of America and rode several rides at Nickelodeon Universe. We met the characters from The Wonder Pets. McKenna rode the "grown up" roller coaster and the Log Chute (where we got much wetter than we anticipated)! We enjoyed meeting Mammy and Papa at the food court for lunch. The girls also had a blast building things at Lego Land.

Lunch at the food court.

You can't really tell, but we are somewhat wet here. We had just got off of the log chute. Ella was with her Mammy and Papa.

Building at Lego Land

Waiting in line to meet Lenny and Ming Ming of The Wonder Pets.

Ella wouldn't really hug them or greet them. She just observed and that was enough for her. Though, she did say that Ming Ming was pretty soft. Lenny? Not so much.

The Things They Say

McKenna often tries to "mother" her sister (or anyone else within a stone's throw). She'll repeat my words with a "mother" tone in her voice. She'll quickly remind Ella of what she should or shouldn't be doing. Generally, my response is this, "McKenna, you are not her mother. You are not in charge."

Today McKenna responded with this, "I wish I were in charge, for just one day."

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my grandmother and uncle! I pray you have a blessed birthday and find the joy that God has given you.

Some more of the things they say

McKenna has been asking lots of questions about Native Americans. Here 's a sample of one of our cnversations:

1. Mom, how do Native Americans go potty?

My response: Just like we do, of course. In a toilet in their bathroom.

2. Mom, (looking at me like I am stupid, stressing and elongating each syllable) they live in tee pees, ya know. They don't have bathrooms.

The things they say....

I was upstairs and the girls were downstairs with Daddy. I heard some yelling from Ella, "You messed it up!"

So, I walked down and found Ella in the bathroom, looking in the mirror rubbing water on her hair. She looked very perturbed.

"Ella, are you fixing your hair?" I asked.

"Yes!"

She walked out of the bathroom saying, "I want to look beautiful and I don't want anyone to mess it up!"

Wordless Wednesday

Get your green on!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Here are some ways that we will celebrate today:
wearing green
putting green in our hair
having a Shamrock shake
eating green cookies (we made them yesterday)
eating an Irish dinner of slow cooked corned beef, potatoes, cabbage and carrots with Rye bread

How do you celebrate? You at least wear green don't you?

Scroll Down

I have added more to Ella's birthday posts!

The Things They Say....

The weather here has been pretty random over the past 2 weeks. Most days it is between 32 degrees and 45 degrees, dropping lower at night. It has been a bit more on the sunny side. There are small, teeny-tiny, signs that Spring is coming. However, today was a different story. Windchills below zero and actual temperature resting at a big ZERO degrees. It's March!!!!

This morning we ran to the van. Once we were all settled I said, "BUURRRR! IT'S TOO COLD!"

"I thought the coldest days of winter were over mommy?" McKenna needed to interject her 2 cents.

"Well, Spring is a big trick, if you ask me. One day it's warm and the next day it's cold."

Ella looked out the van window casually and said, "I fink (think) da (the) Devil did it."

Happy Birthday Sara!!

Today is my sister's birthday! Happy Birthday to Sara. To see some awesome pictures of her click here.

A few words about my lil' sis:

Hard working
Loves Jesus
Smart
Clever
Caring
Discerning
Likes the last word (she probably won't appreciate this!)

A fond memory: She totally mortified our Nana by putting panties on her head. And now, I have published it on the internet! It was sooooo funny! Happy Birthday Sara!

An interview with my children:

A few things you should know before reading this:

Ella was playing dress up while answering this.

McKenna over thought each answer. Our family's word for cuddle is "snoogle."

1. What is something I always say to you?

E:I love you

M:

2. What makes me happy?

E:McKenna and Me

M:your favorite candy

3. What makes me sad?

E: when you don't have us

M:when we don't listen

4. How do I make you laugh?

E: do silly faces and give us the "look"

M:tell me jokes and tickling

5. What do you think I was like as a child?

E:I bet you would have a summer dress and straight hair and walk through the apple orchard

M:I don't know

6. How old am I?

E:7

M: 31

7. How tall am I?

E: you don't look so tall

M:I don't know how many inches

8. What is my favorite thing to do?

E:clean

M:go to WI Dells and visit with your friends

9. What do I do when you're not around?

E:sad

M:visit with your friends

10. If I become famous, what will it be for?

E:being graceful

M:jumping

11. What am I really good at?

E:teaching us

M:snoogling

12. What am I not really good at?

E:going under the table

M:don't know

13. What is my job?

E:to clean up

M:teaching

14. What is my favorite food?

E: vegetables and fruit

M: fruit, vegetables, potatoes, tacos

15. What makes you proud of me?

E:I don't know

M:I don't know

16. If I were a cartoon character, who would I be?

E: Jessica

M: Isa the Iguana

17. What do you and I do together?

E: hug and snoogle

M: color and play games

18. How are we the same?

E: we have brown hair and we both have skin;

M: we both have blue eyes

19. How are you and I different?

E: we don't have the same underwear

M: you are big and I am small

20. How do you know that I love you?

E: I'm naked....because I'm special

M: because we snoogle together

21. Where is my favorite place to go?

E: stores

M: shopping