Incredible Inflatables

 The Nena took the kids and I to the local indoor inflatable house.  The kids always love this and have a wonderful time.  Here's a few pics:

 my fave

 Thanks, Nena!!!

Clyde, Personal Trainer

I left the house for a few hours while Stephen was working downstairs.  The kids had instructions to play quietly, which they followed very well.  When I got home, I thanked them for being so obedient.

I saw an unusual number of stuffed animals in the hallway and when I asked about them, my boy gave me an exclusive tour...

There are two climbing walls in Clyde's workout gym.  One is being utilized by Otter and Bear, while the other was left free for Monkey.

Guinea Pig is burning the calories on the treadmill.

Stitch and Pooh are practicing headstands.

Bear is doing pull-ups.

Big Stitch is weight lifting.

While waiting their turn for Clyde's services and superior exercise equipment, some others are taking advantage of the diversions Clyde left for them in the waiting area.

Sonic is working a cheese puzzle.

Leo and Heffalump are practicing multiplication.

while Hedgehog and Bunny are playing cards.

Game Night

When my Grandmother was living, my aunts, uncles, and cousins used to get together EVERY SUNDAY.  When I was small, they always played games, I can remember how they would kindly let me play, even though that might mean their team might suffer :)

After a while, it just became a hang out time and that was still fun.  I remember pushing Baby Lucy in a stroller a couple blocks to my Grandma's house (which is now Sherry's house) every Sunday so everyone could "oooh" and "aaah" over her.

Well, last Saturday, my Mom had a game night and several of them showed up to play.  Now, of course, Sadie, Lucy, Clyde, and Iris are old enough to play.  And David was there, and my Uncle Ricky brought his girlfriend, Johanna :)

We had a great time playing Pictionary, ImagineIff, BuzzWord, and Taboo.

Here's Iris drawing a crowd as she sketches a bicycle for an AllPlay in Pictionary.  Her team got it.

David drawing...

We watch Rita intently...

Johanna's turn...

Lucy drawing...

Ricky guessing what Mom is drawing...

Clyde's mushroom.  Right before starting this drawing he said, "Now watch careful, whoever sees it first will guess it real fast!"  It was an allplay too, and I guessed it!

Much laughter ensued.

Sissy reading...

Iris drew this shape, we guessed "necklace", "earring", and others.  She just looked at us as we floundered.  We asked her; was there nothing else she could draw to help us?  She said, "um....I can draw it again!"  And she did!  We were all laughing so hard.  It was a big toe.

Thinking faces of Mom, Sadie, Sissy, and Johanna.  Keep in mind they are in deep concentration!!

I like this of Ricky watching Johanna draw :)

These two sillies tried to keep Sherry from leaving.

Prairie Girls

Lucy started her Prairie Girl class during this last fall.  Mrs E from our church offers a sort of living history class for homeschool girls during the typical school day once every two weeks. 

They have learned dances, games, beadworking, crocheting, pioneer housekeeping, traditional songs from the time period, butter churning (Lucy was allowed to be the first one to churn & wore gloves and an apron.)... all sorts of neat things.  They've visited a nursing home to sing for the residents, share with them some Christmas sweets, and show them some of their handcrafted items.  Each of them gave hand made valentines to the others.  And this month they had a Sugaring Off dance which was a nod to Pa's family celebration in Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Now for the picture dump :)

Amazingly, each of these girls has a first name common to the period.

 The nursing home visit.  First they lead a sing-along of Christmas carols and took requests.  Each girl talked to each resident with a sort of show-and-tell item.  Then, they each walked a tray of homemade treats around to offer them.

 The Sugaring Off-  Iris and I dancing a reel.

Clyde was much more game about the whole dancing thing this year.  I tried not to show my shock so he would just keep going and enjoy himself :)

He was so busy trying to make sure he was doing the right steps, he didn't think to be completely mortified that he was dancing with beautiful girls who were much older than him.  Cause...he normally would be.

Lucy, on the other hand, confided to me later that she does not like dancing with boys and that she was just eagerly waiting to have another girl as her partner....well, except Clyde.  Don't know who this young man is, but he was being under appreciated at this moment. ;)

My ALL TIME favorite!!  I happened to have my camera ready as Mrs E told a story over the sound system of a girl whose petticoat fell down during one of these dances.  Ha!!  This picture is especially funny considering that whoever that girl was, she was obviously still covered from neck to mid calf with an elaborate historical gown ;)

 So thankful that Lucy gets to participate in this rare opportunity, Mrs E, these neat girls, and they're awesome mamas!!