Ike's Big Day

Happy 2nd birthday to our great little guy!!

Licking the beater is one of the great birthday privileges.

He walked around all day saying, "Ike birthday ... Ike birthday!"

Never smile at a crocodile ... but I suppose smiling at a crocodile cake would be ok.


Flaming nostrils too! Poor kid actually ate an entire frosting covered candle before I realized what he was chewing on. That's gross kid!

Gage and Sunny woke up early, wrapped a couple of their own toys, got the birthday boy out of his crib and had an early morning birthday celebration together. I swear, they get more excited for Ike's birthday than they do for their own!

Happy birthday Ike!!

PrimaryQuarterlyActivity

Our last Primary Quarterly Activity was just SUPER!

Theme: Book of Mormon Stories (that my teacher tells to me)

Take home items:

Nephi's boat

Mini Liahona

The Brother of Jared's clear stones

Stripling Warrior Headband (pictured later)

"The Brother of Jared"

Retell the story of the Brother of Jared who built ships that were “tight like unto a dish.” Tell them of the stones that were lit after the Lord touched them with his finger. You could turn off the lights and let the group feel how dark it is without any light. Then shine a flashlight on a handful of the clear stones to help them visualize what they may have looked like. Turn on the lights. Have the children draw themselves on a piece of paper. Fold the papers and put them into a #10 can. Place a few stones into the can and then “seal” it shut. Have the group hold a part of the large blue sheet. Help them gently roll the “ship” around on the “waves” with the object being not to let the can fall off the edge. Help the children pick out 4 or 5 clear stones to take home. Wrap the stones in the fabric squares and tie them off with string.

(Rolling the Jaredite's boat across the great waters)


"Army of Heleman"
Retell the story of the 2000 Stripling Warriors. Using paints, decorate “warrior headbands” to wear. If some finish early, organize a “soldier training camp” and have the children do jumping jacks, sit ups, push ups, and marching drills.

"Nephi's Bow"

Retell the story of Nephi’s bow engaging the group with questions as you go. After the story, make two rows of children facing the wildlife images on the wall. Let each person practice their hand at archery with the toy bow and arrow sets. When everyone has had a chance to practice, organize a competition seeing who can hit closest to a designated target on the images. Use small stickers to help you keep track of where shots hits. If there’s time left over, have a distance competition.

"Nephi's Boat"

Retell the story of Nephi building a boat even when he didn’t know how and his brothers were telling him he was foolish. Fold paper boats using the origami guide on the chalk board. Extra adult "folding" hands are helpful for this station (thanks Elders). You can color the boats too if the children want. Then float your boats in the shallow tubs of water using straws to blow them from one end to the other. Have boat races to see who’s ship is the fastest.

"Lehi's Tent"
Set up a large tent in the chapel overflow room. Invite the group inside and zip the tent door closed. Once inside, retell the story of the Liahona in your own words. After the discussion, open the tent door to find a golden “Liahona” on the ground. Follow the clues (slips of paper tied to the ball) on a scavenger hunt. Remember, the Liahona only works when we are being obedient and reverent (a great tip when trying to remain reverent while walking through the church house). The final clue will lead you to the west coat room. In the dresser drawer will be a treasure box with a take home “liahona” (wiffle golf ball painted gold) inside for each member of the group to keep.

"Christ in America"

End the activity by combining together in one room. Show the film of Christ visiting the Nephites and blessing the children (I think it's called, Behold Your Little Ones, or My Joy is Full ... not sure, but it's only a few minutes long). Then invite the Bishop (or member of the bishopric) to bear his testimony and share his feelings about this great Book of Mormon event.

Since this was our summer activity, we handed out freezer pops as a treat while waiting for parents come.

Total Cost: about $20
Totally awesome and totally fun!

Eat Pie, Love Life

-Tom's Cheery Cherry Cherry Berry Pie-

Steve bought me a pie. Not just any pie mind you, but this pie which just so happens to be a 2009 Food Network Pie Challenge Best of Show Winner! This award winning pie is made in a small town bakery cafe just up the road from here. Their motto is:
"Eat pie, love life."
...words to live by...
We all had a piece of this amazing "Tom's Cheery Cherry Cherry Berry Pie" and set the rest away on the counter where we have been quietly polishing it off in small bites everytime we walk past ... which, let's be honest, has been mostly me.

p.s. You can't judge me like that until after you've tasted it! You'd eat the whole thing too if your family wasn't looking!

Ballet shoes ... check.

Ballet shoes ... check.
Pink leotard ... check.
Frilly tutu ... check.
Hair pinned back ... check.
Smile on ... check.
One little girl, giddy with excitement ... check.
Ok ... I think we're ready for the first day of dance class.

I'm so unappreciated...

I thought of a great song while vacuuming this morning. 
It goes a little something like this:
(sung to the tune of "If I Had a Hammer")

If I had a vacuum, I'd vacuum in the mo-or-ning.
I'd vacuum in the evening.  All over this la-and.
I'd vacuum up Legos, I'd vacuum up GI Joes,
I'd vacuum up Barbies and Polys and little baby dollys
Aa-all over this l-a-a-and.

Second verse:

If you want to save them ... rescue your to-o-oys,
then here's my suggestion.  Listen to my pla-an.
Pick up your Legos.  Pick up your GI Joes.
Pick up your Barbies and Polys and little baby dollys
Do you ... un-der sta-a-a-and?

I sang it to Sunny and she lowered her head,
glared at me and said quietly, "I hate it."
Ha!  Every one's a critic.
Gage's didn't like it either. 
I'm so unappreciated in my own time.

Flint C.M.

Loved this fabulous hands on Children's Museum in Flint.

Einstein?  Fitting I thought.

A royal coach!  Even more fitting.

Hey, it was Bullwinkle the Moose, I couldn't help myself.

Some light grocery shopping.

Then a stop at the pizza parlor.

Where's the fire?

Oh, here it is.

Dress up theatre.

Yikes, what a great place!

Back to School Specials (people that is)

Here are 2 back to school specials you won't want to miss:

Good luck this year in 2nd grade Gage ... and in ???nd grade Steve!