Whiffle Ball, Day of Learning, Zoo

On Saturday we went to a garage sale down the street from us. Nico found a whiffle bat and ball for 50 cents that he bought. Then we went to both of the Saturday markets in downtown Boise to scope out spots for me to do henna. Oh, and to enjoy ourselves. Nico got a balloon animal and we watched a magician do magic tricks. Guy bought coffee from a local roaster and Nico got a free bunch of radishes just for being a kid. We came home and ate radishes.

Then I dropped the boys off at Memorial Park with the whiffle bat and I ran to the Co-op, then came and picked them up.  

Then we visited Brianna for the last time. While we were there, Nico asked her if she wanted to join us for pizza and she said no she had a lot of packing and dishes to do. So Nico said: "How about Daddy and I can help pack and you and Mommy can wash dishes?" And that's what we did! She still wasn't able to join us for pizza because her parents came into town that night.

We said goodbye to Brianna, then went to the Library. After that we came home and ate lunch. We had pizza that night and I then I left the boys at home to go see Allicia at her roller derby game. My voice was hoarse afterward from all the cheering. She is really good.

On Tuesday Nico brought his Day of Learning project to school. He carried it in front of him, the trifold Open so that everyone who walked by would see it. And it worked. Someone said as she was passing, "Cool project!"

That night there was an open house at the school so everyone could view the projects. There was only one other 1st grader that had participated, but lots from other grades. Guy and Nico went.

When Nico started out to work on his project, this is how it went down:

"I'm not going to fill up all the space"

As he's writing info about the Purple Martin in his lab notebook: "I think I'm just going to do 5 birds."

As he's writing info about the Purple Martin on the project board: "Actually, I think I'm just going to do one bird."

I was very proud of him! He got to present his project to his class, too.

Today was the Father's Day zoo trip. Guy met Nico's class at the zoo.

 Kookaburras! How did we miss these last time? Guy told me that Nico sat and stared at them for 5 minutes.

Nico has been coming home with all sorts of things from school, folders, notebooks, books that his teacher was giving away, summer reading packets... it's getting to be about that time. One more week and it's done!

Grandparents Russell, Tea, Bird Bingo

On Friday Nico's class had a Mother's Day Tea that I attended. They had the classroom all set up and I sat across from Nico at his desk. He pulled out his journal and we read through the entire thing while we waited for the other mothers to arrive.  I can't wait to share some of his journal entries with you all when the journal comes home at the end of the year.

When everyone was there, Mrs. Smith went around the room and each child got to introduce their guest and tell the others why they're special. When it got to Nico, he said "My Mom is special because I love her so much!" And while he was saying "I love her so much" he pretended to faint and laid down on the floor.

After everyone went around, it was time to serve the food. Nico asked me what I wanted and then he went and told Mrs. Smith and she handed Nico my order. I ordered one fruit kabob. After all the moms got their orders, the kids got theirs. Nico ordered a fruit kabob as well and also went and got each of us a glass of apple juice.

After eating, we got to open our gifts. Nico made me a cut out of his hand with clay, signing "I love you" with a rose between his fingers.

It came in a sweet bag.

He said to me this week: "Mommy, when you die... and then when I die, and in heaven, I will come find you because I love you sooooo much!"

Later on Friday we got to see the Grandparents Russell because they came into town!! They came over and hung out until Nico's bedtime. It was so sweet to see Nico snuggling with them! They brought Nico a Bird Bingo game and we played it that night, too!

Saturday morning we drove over to GG's house to visit her. It was the first time Nico and Guy had seen her new place living with her sister Pat. They have a pasture that lines their backyard and they often see horses back there close to the fence. We didn't see any this time, I am sure we'll catch them on one of our visits. The Grandparents met us at GG's house and we played another round of Bird Bingo with everyone, then headed home for lunch. After lunch we headed off to the Aquarium! 

We spent about 45 minutes there and then drove over to where the Grandparents were staying so we could take a dip in their hotel pool. Here's Nico and his sweet new spiderman towel!

Then we ventured back home with everyone and made pizza for all of us. 

It was a VERY fun and full day and I'm so glad we were able to spend that time with them! We will see them again in June when we *FLY* out there!

On Sunday at church I applied henna to someone on stage during the sermon. The tattoo illustrates the sermon, which was about clothing yourself with inner beauty instead of with fancy clothes. 

After church we went over to the Grandparents Salisbury house armed with our Bird Bingo game, and played a blackout round with everyone. Uncle Jonny, Aunt Alanna, and Lexie were also there! Oh fun was had!

On Tuesday, Brianna came over for dinner for the last time before she moves away. She will be visiting every few months so we will get to see her, but not as often as we have been.

Nico worked on his "Day of Learning" project today. It's an optional research and presentation project that anyone at the school can participate in. Nico put together a tri-fold poster presentation about the Purple Martin (bird). He is proud of it, and will take it to school to set up next Tuesday. We are checking out a bird book from the library this Saturday that may inspire him to add more to his poster, but he says he's happy with it the way it is. Fine with me!

Ok that's it for this week! See you guys next time!

Zoo, Brianna, Chipotle, Evelyn

Friday morning was Nico's first chess meeting. He loved it and is excited to go back tomorrow morning.

On Saturday I had a birthday lunch with just the girls to celebrate Grandma Salisbury. We went to a local eatery called Locavore. They have very good food with gluten free options! Happy Birthday Mom!

Afterwards me and the boys went to the library to see if they had any more comics for Free Comic Book Day, but they were out. That's ok, because Nico picked up a few comics to check out as well as some chapter books. He has lost steam on the Treehouse books and has stalled on #14.

Sunday was a fun day. We went to the Zoo with Brianna, who is moving in a few weeks and had never been to the zoo. It was also the first time Nico has been to the zoo in a very long time and it was fun to watch him as he saw the animals. We saw everything, I think, and then drove over to Chipotle for dinner. It was a very good day.

Nico helping Evelyn fold socks.

Nico has been spending more time with Evelyn ever since Aadam and Sam moved away. They've easily gotten back into the rhythm of hanging out.

They randomly wore the same shirt today, not planned.

Picking up Evelyn from school on Tuesday, Nico walks right up to her and puts his arm around her.

Our Monday night date, playing the intense game of Agricola. It took an hour, or more.

We will be seeing the Grandparents Russell tomorrow and Saturday! They are going to be in town for a short visit. Can't wait to see them! Hoping for sun tomorrow so we can venture to the Nature Center after school.

See you all next week!

Kids Fun Fest, Date Night, table manners

Saturday was a fun day, it was Kids Fun Fest at the fairgrounds. I had a henna booth there, so Guy brought Nico and they spent at least an hour wandering around the exhibits and enjoying the bouncy house and surf board. Somehow he came home with 3 new water bottles!

After giving Ivy a henna tattoo. She wanted a ladybug.

Grandma Salisbury helped me at my booth that day. Thanks Ma! It was a fun time!

On Sunday Nico and I went to visit the Grandparents Salisbury to pick up some milk and eggs. It is so nice having them in town so close by, we stayed for a bit and chatted. 

On Sunday at church Nico came up to me after his Sunday school and told me he had invited Miss Kayla (his teacher) and her family over for dinner on Thursday. I apologized to Miss Kayla and told her we would love to have her over once we move. Nico said that he heard Miss Kayla say that she loves turkey burgers, which is what we have every Thursday night. What a sweet boy!

On Monday night Guy and I have instituted Date Night, which is not much more than doing something special and unordinary after Nico goes to bed, like play a new game or watch a movie. On Monday night Nico asked if he could stay up later and I said "Not tonight, I have a date with Daddy!" and Nico's response was "Oh, so you can have another baby?" 

Jaw drop.

I asked him how he associated date night with babies and he said "I just guessed." ????

Tuesday Brianna came over for dinner, we had sweet potato crusted quiche, it was very yummy. We are starting to teach Nico table manners, which I think we should have done a long time ago. I guess it was difficult to see the need before, but with having Brianna over it's become evident that he doesn't quite know what to do. So we had a "training" dinner on Monday night. And surprisingly, he does know just how to behave. Little stinker. He knew just what he should and shouldn't do. So every night is training night now. Table manners are a thing now. Don't test us quite yet ;) 

We are in negotiations for purchasing the car that we are borrowing from friends. We will need one more car and then we can save up for moving out! 

Nico expressed an interest in joining the Chess Club at school, so we signed him up for it and his first meeting is tomorrow. They meet once a week on Fridays at 8AM, before school. This session is just for 3 weeks. He also came home with information about the Children's Race on June 3rd. It's for kids age 6-12, and it starts at the train depot and runs down to the Capitol building, it's just 1 mile. So we signed him up for that, too. He will get a t-shirt and a medal for participating.

It's been quiet without Aadam and Sammy around, but he is playing with Evelyn more now, which is fun! Today was 85+ degrees outside and him and Evelyn played outside after school.

That's it for this week!