spring break, part 2

This week has been more fun than last week. Monday I went to Michelle's music show and tell at her school and that afternoon we went to Toadally Frogs. Tuesday, Ella had preschool and I cooked all day (16 meals frozen). Yesterday, we took our poor Gabrielle to the doctor (she has an ear infection, poor baby) and then Ella and I watched a movie and had a picnic on our floor while we watched the movie. We also went to Michelle's math night at school where we played fun math games. Today friends are coming over. Monday we are going to a friend's house. Tomorrow, Michelle is going on a field trip to go swimming (indoor) with her after school program.


Ella and I had fun picknicking on the family room floor while watching a movie. Then we curled up and cuddled. (Gabrielle slept through the entire movie. Poor sweet baby wasn't feeling well.)


The kindergartners at Michelle's school had a music "show and tell" on Monday. These are shots of Michelle and her class. They practiced using their "singing voice." They used rhythm sticks and also hopped, skipped, clapped and walked to the beat of a song. They sang some fun songs that taught high and low, loud and soft, fast and slow. It was engaging and fun. Michelle loves her music class, although she told me later that a lot of the time she was just mouthing the words, because she had a little bit of a cold and couldn't sing well.

I love her school! It is filled with student work on the walls. Every student from 3rd-6th grade learns to play violins. I love the dual immersion program and she is so excited to be learning Spanish right along with English.

It was so interesting because last week we went to observe at another school because we are probably getting a new set of reading materials at my school next year. So we went to a school in the district that has these reading materials. The people at the district wanted us to be really impressed and I think it backfired. The school felt so sterile. Few of the classrooms had student work on the walls. There were few books in the classrooms. The lessons seemed so boring...even to me. I must say that the kids were well behaved, but it did not seem engaging at all. It was so sad. We will probably get the materials, but I know that even if we do, we will have an engaging school that celebrates diversity, student writing and has literate rich classrooms. While it is critical that kids learn to read and write well, I think it is also important that we engage them and make learning exciting so they will want to continue to learn. Does every kid in my class love school and love learning? No. But I hope most do. I'm so glad that Michelle's school makes learning fun. She loves school (at least most days.)

toadally frogs

Monday was family free day at the Uof U's museum of natural history. (Apparently, the first Monday of every month is! Awesome! We'll be returning.) Right now, along with their regular exhibits, they have an exhibit called "Toadally frogs". The girls and I had fun searching for and seeing all the frogs and learning some cool facts about them. Here are a few facts for your reading pleasure.


Did you know that some frogs do not have tongues? They just reach out and grab their prey with their hand and then shove it in their mouths.


Did you know that all toads are frogs but not all frogs are toads? In other words, frog is the big category and only some frogs are toads. Usually toads have stubby bodies with short legs and warty, dry skin. Also, most toads lay their eggs in long strands rather than clusters.


Frogs live almost everywhere in the world and scientists are very worried about how many frogs are disappearing. They are considered a landmark species that signals declines in the environment and problems in the ecosystem.

Different frogs make very different sounds. They had cool little phones where you could listen to about 8 different frog sounds.


Frogs rarely drink water. They absorb water through their skin.


Many cultures have stories or beliefs about frogs. In many countries frogs are considered lucky. In Japan (I think?) they say they see the "frog in the moon" rather than the "man in the moon." Of course, in other countries frogs are connected with witches and magic.

Take a look at this amazing frog as it climbs the wall! (and Michelle's amazed look on her face!) Some frogs have toes like suction cups to help them climb. Other frogs have webbed toes to help them swim. Others have toes like a rake and others like a glove. Each frog has feet and toes that are adapted to it's needs.

One type of frog (I don't remember its name) is much bigger as a tadpole than as an adult. It actually shrinks as it matures.

Michelle's favorite frogs were the red ones and the poison dart frogs. Ella liked the blue ones. I was amazed by the cool frog that was climbing. This was a cool exhibit. I'm glad we went. We then wandered around other parts of the museum and saw some of the dinosaur bones, the gems, etc. There was a cool exhibit about insects but my kids were getting hungry and tired so we didn't stay.

photo shoot

We had a little impromptu photo shoot with the girls (and Chester) last night since they were wearing their matching jammies from Nene.

too soon

Gabrielle is getting too big too fast. Today she has been pulling to a stand by herself. I know that means that cruising and walking aren't far off. The good news? I was able to capture her pulling to a stand to grab a toy! The bad news? My baby is gettting too big and soon I'll have 3 kids to chase around! :(


A big smile as she notices me with the camera, right after noticing her favorite toy on the couch.


Grabbing on to the couch to help pull herself up.




Here she goes!

And she is up!

spring break

So spring break so far hasn't been quite what I had planned. Gabrielle has had a cold and been fussy for the past two days. Ella has a little bit of a cold too. Today, Michelle's school called. She had a fever and a bad headache. So we've spent the day vegging on the couch. Between sick kiddos and snow and rain and Michelle having school, we haven't done much.but it has been nice to be home...to read, relax, scrapbook, play and do puzzles with Ella and cuddle Gabrielle and watch in amazement as she crawls everywhere.

silly sayings

3/30: Ella: When I get bigger I don't want a husband. I asked why. She said she is scared of husbands. She only likes daddy, my husband. She has reiterated this several times this week. When I ask why, she says because she doesn't know her husband. I figure it's okay if she doesn't want a husband right now...she is only three (almost four).

3/22: Ella: This meat (carnitas for tacos) smells like Chester's breath.

3/15: We were talking about jobs Michelle wants to have when she grows up. Alfredo asked Ella what she wanted to be. Ella responded enthusiastically, "I want to be a banana."

2/15: I love this streusel cake Mommy. This is my twoth. (meaning second)... this was funny because I've heard her say second many times before, but she obviously overgeneralized the rule for ordinal numbers...fourth, fifth, sixth, why not twoth?.....

2/10: Michelle's new song (which I guess the credit actually goes to a boy in her class at school): We will, we will rock you. Sock you. Push you in the toilet. Hope you enjoy it." (followed by giggles.)

February and March 09 Reads

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
My Enemy's Cradle by Sara Young
Final Theory by Mark Alpert (I liked this a lot.)
Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole by Jerri
Nielsen
An Unlikely Mormon by Glenn Beck
Knit 2
Looking for Salvation at the dairy queen
Mormon Myth-ellaneous
Red Dragon Codex by Rebecca Shelley and R.D. Henham (this was written by my neighbor...so fun!!!)
Roommates Wanted (not my favorite)
The art of racing in the rain (This was very good.)