Outdoor Ed With Kaylin

In mid June, Kaylin's class went to Outdoor Education camp at Camp Hamilton. We were scheduled to spend 2 nights and 3 days at Camp exploring the great outdoors. Then we found out that Haley's Renaissance faire was taking place while we were at camp. This was a huge event that Haley and the middle schoolers had been planning for months, so we set it up so that we could come home after 2 days.

Much was accomplished and explored during our short stay at camp. Kaylin rode in a Kayak for the first time.

 Kaylin and Bridget getting ready to Kayak. 

It had been raining for days before we arrived. But we were lucky and avoided the rain. The sun even peaked out a few times.

 Three years ago, I stayed with Haley during her Camp Hamilton time, and there were two things that I despised. The BIFFY's (Bathroom, In, Forest, For, You) and when they decide to teach you about animal skins and the different animals around here. The BIFFY's are basically a wood box with a hole in it and a toilet seat for you to sit on. They stink! Like, really, really stink! I'm talking gagging to the point of almost throwing up, stink! We would get excited to see Honey Buckets and never passed up an opportunity to use one.

 This is the skin of a small black bear. They also showed us dear skin, fox, beaver, and coyote. The fur would shed on us, and the hooves and noses were still on the animal. This is just not my thing at all, so I just sat far away and let the group have at it.

 Our cabin started with 2 adults and 12 kids. The first day one girl left to be with her bestie, and 2 sisters left because they wanted to go home. Kaylin was happy to have her good friend Bridget in the cabin with her.

We sat eight to a table with one adult and seven kids.

 One cabin group was assigned to be "stewards" and help get the meals ready. Here is Caleb demonstrating his steward duties.

 Meatless Lasagna, cold veggies, garlic bread, and milk for dinner. 

Lucas is smiling, but by the looks of his plate, he didn't enjoy the food very much. 

 At free time, most the boys played flyers up, while the girls waded in the water with their boots. Kaylin got water in her boot, so she and Bridget sat on the benches and did some good ol' fashioned hand games.

Cousins. :)

 Our daytime explorer group. We went on hikes and learned about the trees and bushes in the area.

 This climbing wall was over 40 feet. Kaylin wasn't scared though. She wanted to go for the top!

 Until, I had everyone give her a pull to "help her out" and it freaked her out so she wanted to get down.
I felt so bad! She did make it 1/3 of the way, though and that is quite an accomplishment. Sorry, Kaylin!

(Yes, I did apologize to her, and the group. Bad, Mama!)

My favorite part about outdoor ed is getting to have one on one time with her and watching her interact with her friends. 

Thanks for letting me come and share this special experience with you, Kaylin! And, a special thank you to Grandma for helping out with your sisters while we were gone! 

It's All About The Bunny Ears

As you know, I am way behind on blogging! So I am going to be posting some things that happened to us awhile ago.
Here goes...

 The Easter Bunny came to our house and brought some goodies for the girls.

Another sign that our girls are growing up...Not very many toys any more. Just movies and lots of candy.

As usual...The three youngest girls were up at the crack of dawn to check out the loot. They had to wake up big sis, Haley because they felt she was missing out. 

 He brought Pop Rocks! That's right, at 7:30am the girls were beginning their sugar high and you better believe they kept it going all.day.long.

 I put cheddar bunnies and jelly beans in bowls on the table for snacks while waiting for brunch. Payton bit the jelly beans and stuck them to the cheddar bunnies to make motorcycle riding bunnies! haha! Love it!

 I put out a basket of bunny ears and surprisingly the adults were the first to grab them and put them on. Baby sis, Xuan, wore them all day!

      My big sis, Robin, sported them for most the day too!

We didn't get around to painting eggs until Easter morning.

For $5 at Target, I bought an egg spinner that gives the eggs a tie dye look. The kids really enjoyed spinning it! 

It was a little messy, but lots of fun! 

Mushu and Chloe= Not love forever. She barely tolerates him! haha!
(p.s. Proof that Haley even wore the ears!)

Robin made the cutest "birds nests" out of fried chow mien noodles and Peanut Butter, then gave the kids jelly beans and other treats to use as "eggs" in the nest. 

Goo-Goo Xuan decided she needed to get her nails done, and she invited the girls! She got Mani's and Pedi's for all four of them!

(Haley's nails)

This was such a special and exciting treat because Haley was the only one who had ever gone so the three youngest were over the moon with happiness!

(Kaylin's)

(Emma's)

(Payton's)

 When it was all said and done, Linh  and Xuan did some serious online dress shopping. They both have weddings in the near future, and we are super excited!

Sickie

Poor Pay was so upset when I told her she was going to have to stay home today because she is to snotty and goopy to go to school. She was all set to go to school and then have a play date with her friend, Georgia.

Her big sis, Kaylin, offered to make up a special cozy spot on the couch for her and Pay quickly perked up asking if she could watch a movie.

She is now all snuggled up watching "Finding Nemo" with all her favorite lovies.

*Side note:     Kaylin asked me if that was how she acted if I told her that she would have to miss Kindergarten. In which my response was "Ummm.... No Kaylin, you did not get upset. In fact, I think you would be happy to stay home everyday with me and cuddle on that couch."  She smiled and said "Yes, I would."

Christmas 2010

I feel like Christmas came and went faster than ever this year!

We had a yummy Thai inspired dinner at my sister, Andria's house for Christmas Eve. The kids decorated cookies for Santa and played hard until it was time to go home and get ready for bed.

They put on their matching Christmas jams and took the annual pic on the fireplace. They did their sister gift exchange earlier in the day. This year we tried doing a "Secret Santa" style gift exchange with them. They each drew a name and then made or bought small gifts to give throughout the month of December. Unfortunately, after the first exchange, they quickly found out who their Santa was. They continued with the giving, but when it was time to do one gift for the sister exchange, they opted to get a gift for each sister.

Cookies and milk for Santa. Carrots, celery, and water for his reindeer.

A special note from Kaylin to Santa.

A present for Santa from Emma.

A present for Santa from Payton.

The tree full of presents (the ones in bags are from Grandma). Dao picks her up every Christmas morning so she can eat breakfast and watch the kids open their gifts from Mom and Dad.

Kaylin opening her Harry Potter wand, and Em opening her Sounders Jersey. This is the only picture I took while they were opening our gifts!?!?! The following photos are all that I took for the entire day. I usually take a minimum of 100 picture on Christmas. Can you tell I wasn't feeling well?

The playroom was packed with presents and people!

Kaylin game Uncle Dan a Penguin made of Sculpey clay.

Goo Goo Xuan with her sophisticated ladies watch. :)

Auntie Andria wearing her new hat to keep her ears warm.

After Em opened her Sounders jersey, she requested Daddy put his on so that they could be twinsies/matchers.

No snow for Christmas, but it did snow a few days after. Haley stayed the night at her friends and Pay played out for a bit, but Em and Kaylin were out for a couple of hours and built this cute snowman.

I still can't believe that I hardly have any pics from Christmas!