Gymnastics

Madison just finished her second year of gymnastics. She has loved it and I can't believe how many neat 'tricks' she can do; but I guess going twice a week, an hour each time will do that to you. She now gets a break for the summer and will hopefully start back up again in August (unless she decides to do soccer instead). She is so good at gymnastics and has learned to do back-handsprings and was working on ariels when the class ended.

She loves to come home and show us what she has been working on. She gets out my work-out mat to practice on, and then teaches her brothers how to do summer-salts and handstands.

Great job Madison, I am so proud of you and all your hard work!

Easter Eggs

Decorating Easter eggs this year was very exciting. Madison decorated hers to perfection, while Max did about 8 eggs before the rest of us got 2 done! Lewis got so excited whenever an egg would come out of the dye.

Soccer

Max started playing soccer this spring. He has had so much fun and was very excited to play. His first game he scored two goals, one for his team and one for the other team! He is #5 in the pictures.

Preschool

Our co-op preschool, this year, has been so much fun. Going in I knew it would be fun, but I have absolutely loved being a part it! In fact, it has been such a success, I have already lined one up for Max for next year. It really has been a lot of fun (have I mentioned how fun it's been?) and it is nice to see how much Tanner and Madison have learned. I am in league with my good friend and neighbor, Megan. Before we began the co-op, Megan introduced me to a book geared towards teaching little people how to read... and now Madison is reading like a pro. Madison and I did the reading book on our own and finished in December. For school we have a specific math book we use to teach from and then we do a lesson of our choice!

Madison and Tanner had a very educational and fun lesson on manners. We talked a lot about the different kinds of manners and then they had a 'tea party' demonstrating how to put these to good use. Who knew eating Cheetos, having 'raisin soup',and eating marshmallows with a fork could be so much fun!

Learning about vehicles was very fun. The internet is amazing and shows you how you can make a dump truck out of an egg carton. Madison and Tanner decorated them with buttons and paint.


This year we learned about Lions, and Madison and Tanner made their own "Lion Mask." Max woke up in time to do the mask. Madison of course wouldn't do a mane because she wanted hers to be a girl, so she did a Tiger.
We had a lesson on color combinations and what happens if you mix them together. Madison and Tanner had a lot of fun mixing all the different colored water together, until it all turned brown!

Captain America on the Throne

Max likes to wear his super hero costumes 24 hours a day. Hence the picture below.

Hitchhiker

Lewis figured out that he can get a fee ride to go around the block.... little cheater!

And She's Off!

I came home from work the other day and my baby girl was riding her two wheeler... sans training wheels. She has been after me for quite awhile to take her training wheels off and to teach her how to ride like a "big kid". Turns out she didn't need much teaching. After preschool last Tuesday (at the Bradshaw's), Megan (friend, neighbor, part-time preschool teacher) and Kinley (Megan's daughter) got Madison up on Kinley's bike (no training wheels) and away she went.

Madison came home from preschool assuring Kerrin that she could now ride a bike without training wheels. Kerrin, being cautiously optimistic, required a sampling of Madison's new abilities before she would agree to remove her own training wheels. Well, needless to say, Madison rides like a pro... over bumps, making sharp turns, starting, stopping, the whole deal. Of course she does have a few scrapes and bruises to show for her efforts, but they haven't slowed her down one bit. She loves riding her bike and seems almost fearless (that part worries me a little bit).

Way to go Madison... I am so proud of you.