Laura Ingalls Wilder

Kelly's DAISY girl scout troop met up with some 2nd and 3rd grade girl scouts from Dyersville to attend a Laura Ingalls Wilder event to earn a special patch.  There were four components to earning this patch...with the first one attending a historical seminar to learn about Laura Ingalls Wilder life.  It worked out perfect that the seminar was an early release day at school.  The kids learned about how different things were when Laura grew up verses how their childhood is now.  It was very interesting to see what the kids learned!

The other three components were completed after the seminar with the older girl scouts.

**The older girls read two Laura Ingalls Wilder books from the "Little House" Series

**All the girls played two games that Laura played when she was a little girl

(Ring around the Rosy AND Bean Porridge Hot)

**We talked about and compared the differences in toys and birthday ccelebrations and different things from when Laura was little to now.

 The seminar was FULL!  Here are some of the kids raising their hands, to be picked to pick out an artifact for the presenter to tell us about.

 Lauren (a 2nd grade Xavier student) was chosen to pick out an item...while Kindergartners Jessica, Kelly, Sophia, and Laura watched.

 One of the 3rd grade Xavier students taking her turn to read one of the "Little House" books to our group.

 Ring around the Rosy...

 ...all fall down!

 ...again!

 We had 11 Kindergartners from our troop, two 2nd graders, and five 3rd graders.

The Kindergarten group!

(The kids learned a lot and had a great time too!  Kelly thought it was awesome to be with some of the BIG KIDS!  They are all excited for a new patch for their tunic too!)

Katelynn

Katelynn came and spent the day at our house today since she is on spring break this week!  We will have been matched 11 years next month through the Big Brother/Big Sister program.  Our match will graduate in May when she graduates from high school.  She wanted to have a chance to play with the girls....normally we just meet in Dubuque and a lot of times Brian takes the girls home and Katelynn barely sees them.  

Molly and I went to pick up Katelynn in the morning after I took Kelly to school.  (Dyersville schools do not have spring break).  Our day consisted of going to get Molly's hair fixed at New Directions due to her earlier week scissors cutting experience, playing at Asbury park, subs from Subway at home, reading books to Molly, and playing games.)

We picked up Kelly from school and Kelly was all excited because she wanted to go on a bike ride with Katelynn.  They went on a bike ride, searched for "special" rocks, drew with chalk in the driveway, played ping pong, and drew/colored lots of pictures.

Both girls had a great time with Katelynn!  It was nice for us to get to talk (un-interrupted) on our way back to Dubuque last night too.  It is amazing to see how much Katelynn has grown over the last 11 years!

 Katelynn reading a Dora book to Molly in her room.

 Molly pretending to be the BIRD in the book during the story!  Too cute!

 Playing Whac-A-Mole in Kelly's room while Kelly changed clothes after school.

 Ready for a bike ride!

Searching through rocks.....Kelly has ALWAYS LOVED rocks!  They were finding the "special" and really "pretty" ones!

Baby Natalie

Molly and I watched Baby Natalie today!  Molly was such a good helper!

(Emily....my neighbor was with her Mom as she was having surgery at Mayo, so we had Natalie for the day)

Molly LOVED holding her hands and fingers!

Sand FUN!

Today was Molly's library day!  All the 3 year olds had fun at storytime!  Normally, we stay at the library and let the kids look at books, work on puzzles, and play on the computers.  It was TOO nice outside to do that today so we headed to the park! The kids had a blast playing on the swings, play set, and even in the sand.  Molly has such a wonderful play group!

 Annabelle, Molly, and Alaina playing in the sand.

 Molly with her castle

 Chase burying Molly's feet.....

 ...making sure to get the back too!

Molly's turn burying Chase's feet!

**These kids get along so well...I love it!!!

Roller Blades

Kelly received roller blades for Christmas.....she was SO excited to try them out today!

SPRING!

It's going to be a GREAT week!  We are going to enjoy this weather as much as possible!!!

After Kelly & Lexi got home from school at 3:15......all the girls were outside playing by 3:30!  Here they are around 4pm with an ice cream sandwich after school treat!  

I LOVE this weather!

Molly's influenced by Princesses

Miss Molly CUT HER OWN HAIR this afternoon!

We were watching Rapunzel for rest time today and afterwords she was doing crafts.  We have NEVER had a problem with children's scissors before.....well, today Molly decided to CUT her own hair.  I was across the room and saw her do it, but it was too late.  The damage was done!  

**Sidenote....Kelly cut her own hair once too, but she wasn't even 2 yet when she did it!

She cut a nice LARGE chunk out of the front of her hair.  The part where I normally pull it back won't be able to be pulled back anymore!  Uggggggggg.....

When I asked her WHY she cut her hair she said:

"Rapunzel  got a piece of her hair cut off in the movie!"

She is EASILY influenced by princesses these days!  There have been many days that Molly doesn't want to wear her glasses because....

"Princesses DON'T wear glasses!"

 Close up of front....looks like she has uneven bangs!

(She cut off about 4 inches)

Look at that smirk!