Space Camp!

Nicholas and Shawn had the very cool opportunity to attend a weekend long space camp in Huntsville, AL with their Cub Scout pack.  They both had a fantastic time!

Connor, Nicholas, & Joey

Saturn V Rocket (one of only 3 in the world)

Lunar Rover Vehicle

5 Degrees of Freedom Trainer

Multi - Axis Trainer

Dad did it too!

Apollo 16 Command Module

The boys made and launched rockets

Fun times in March

March has been full of some fun school related activities as well as some good times with good friends.

We all enjoyed a lovely afternoon of fishing and fellowship with a few families we are good friends with, at one of their neighborhood lakes.  Henry and Nicholas were both really happy to get a chance to use their fishing poles, even though no one caught anything!  OH well, we still had a great time!

A fun day of play with Samuel

Pizza night out with family friends

Grace is now a published author!!!!  Yes, her kindergarten class published a book that includes each child's own writing and illustration in answer to the question "What would you do if Santa got stuck in your chimney?"  She is available for autographs at any time :-)

Henry was so very happy to have Daddy come to school for Donuts with Dads Day.  They not only had donuts, but built a toolbox together and the kids sang several songs for the dads.

Grace carried her shamrock up at the school mass on St. Patrick's Day, when the kindergarten hosted.  She is such a good little rule follower (at school at least) that she wouldn't even look over for a picture as they were lined up before mass.  She was first in line and I guess wanted to be sure she was completely ready to go :-)

Nicholas's second grade class had to each choose an important figure in American history, read a biography about them, and then do a 2 minute presentation about the person to the class.  Nicholas is Ulysses S. Grant (back far left).  He loves history, and his unbelievable memory made this a fun and easy assignment for him.  He got a 100% and I don't think ever got nervous a bit!  So proud of him...

Nicholas' friend Connor invited him to join in the Night At School event he won at the annual dinner auction.  The kids got to have the run of the school from 6:30 to 8:30 with just the principle and vice principle there.  Nicholas said he raced Mrs. Carlin (the principle) through the prayer hallway, they ate pizza and ice cream sundaes in the teacher's lounge, played on the playground and were allowed to do "illegal climbing," jumped in a moonwalk in the gym brought in special for the night, and got to play with the security cameras and intercom system.  Needless to say, they had a blast!

Happy Birthday Henry!

For Henry's 5th birthday we held a party with all his friends at Catch Air (a climbing, jumping indoor interactive place for kids). He chose to have a Paw Patrol theme.  I think all the kids had a great time and it was really a great day celebrating our sweet Henry!

All the kids loved the dance floor, especially Samuel!

Henry had a blast with his best bud Colin

I enjoyed making this special cake for him

Henry with his sweet little birthday party friends

Henry's actual birthday landed on a Wednesday this year so we had a little cookie cake family celebration that day.

Nicholas wrote a story just for Henry.

He loved this new police dress up, especially the hand cuffs (I've lost count of how many times I've been arrested since then) :-)

Also loved his new cooking gear!

The horseshoes were a big hit from Aunt Kelly and Uncle Todd!

Henry Turns 5 Years Old

Dear Henry,

Wow, you are already the big 5!  You continue to be one very sweet, very loving, very silly, very talkative, and very hard working little boy.  You are absolutely full of personality!  You enjoy a good joke and love to be silly.  But you also have a very sensitive side which can make you quite emotional at times.  You have a huge heart and love to be a helper!  Your absolute favorite thing to do is still "yard work" but you also really really enjoy cooking with Mommy these days.  You are eager to sweep the floor, wash the dishes or anything else to be a helper and to spend time with Mom or Dad.  With your siblings, you enjoy riding you bike and scooter, playing with sticks, rocks and dirt in the backyard, putting on shows or parties, and playing any sort of make believe that involves battles or rescues.  You enjoy playing on a soccer team with you sister too.  You know all you upper and lower case letters, can count to 100, and write your name well.  You do not like to color or write much at all, just signing your valentines this year seemed like torture for you!  You are a great eater who likes a lot of meat and potatoes and pastas, but you are good about eating fruits and veggies too.  You always pray from the heart and are very thoughtful when it comes to religion.  Last week you asked us, out of the blue, if Jesus was coming back to earth one day.  I said yes but we don't know when.  You said you wanted to prepare a home for Him for when he does and you have since been diligently building a "home" out of sticks in the back yard where you very happily say you will live with Him.  Henry, every day you make us smile and warm our hearts.  Our hearts just burst with love for you sweet boy!  Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Henry's Favorites at Age 5

Stuffed Animal/Doll - Baby David

Food - chicken potpie

Movie - Swiss Family Robinson

Show - Paw Patrol and Rescue Bots

Clothes to Wear - new Paw Patrol shirt from Grandma and Grandpa

Game - Zingo

Snack - popcorn

Animal - tiger

Song - Paw Patrol theme song

Book - Tale of Peter Rabbit

Friends - Colin Schoenecke, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Alonso, Nicholas, Grace, Samuel, Mom, Dad

Drink - apple juice

Outside Activity - yard work

Sport - soccer

Park Activity - climb, jump and slide

Inside Activity - play police,  and cook with Mom

Place to Go - Chuck E Cheese and Catch Air

Fruit - oranges

Vegetable - carrots

What do you want to be when you grow up?  a miner

Special Moments in February

Here are few special moments in February captured with pictures...

Nicholas read very nicely at the school mass

Nicholas' second grade class visited a local nursing home as a service project.  They sang several songs, played bingo and made crafts with the residents, and then packed up goody bags for each of them.

Henry's PreK class visited a nursing home as well to sing songs and bring some Valentines Day cheer to them.  

Snuggles in the new blanket from Aunt Mindy's family

Henry had his kindergarten testing at Queen of Angels...we cannot believe this is happening already!

A sweet moment, rarely caught on film :-)

Grace was Star Student in her kindergarten class one day so she presented her poster to the class along with 3 other favorite items for show and tell.  She chose Silverlicious for me to read to the class and we even enjoyed lunch together in the cafeteria.