Friday, June 29, 2012

A Whale of Our Own!

We got a BIG surprise in the mail from Lulu!  She remembered Maddie's birthday and sent out this gigantic gift.  We love it!  Thank you Lulu!!

Piano with Roxanne

 I was able to sit and listen to the kids take lessons this week.  They did super.  They work so hard for Roxanne.  I sure love that lady.  She is terrific with my kids!

Gateway's Bear Exhibit

 The Gateway Science Museum kicked off its new exhibit by bringing in a baby bear from the Kirshner  Wildlife Foundation.  It was so neat.  They also had reptiles.  The kids were not as impressed as I was, but still a very unique opportunity here in Chico.

 Inside the kids loved the hands on room all about bears.  Chandler especially loved the bear rug.

The kids looked at different jaw bones and with the help of a volunteer figured out which jaws matched which pictures.


John loved the dress up section.  He pretended to be a bear.  





 The other room was a bit odd.  The kids could put on headsets and listen to information about how different toys worked.  Mac watched one on the Etch-A-Sketch.  John started to listen to one on a jack-in-the-box.  It did not hold his attention.  This display was a bit of a let down.
Overall, a very cool exhibit!!

Six Flags!


We took the kids to Six Flags.  We surprised them, got up early and set off!  We made great time and arrived just after the park opened.  First thing we did?  Got food.  Boys are sure hungry!!


Mac got a gigantic turkey leg!  It totally grossed me out to watch him eat it.  He wasn't hungry again for a long time...

 Our first ride was on an elephant.  The kids were super excited to try it out.  We all fit on it at the same time, minus Mac who did not want to ride.
 Then we were off to watch the whale and then the dolphin shows.  We all got very wet during the first show, which John did not like.  So, we sat much further back for the dolphin show.  The kids were all amazed.  I think my favorite was when the whale did a flip in the air and hit a ball with its tail.  It was incredible!!
 The kids went on this ride first.  It was awesome - even John rode on it.  I couldn't believe he didn't chicken out in the end.  He is quite the daredevil!!


Then we split up and Spencer and Mac went to the bigger rides, and the other kids and I went to see the sharks, baby animals, and the smaller rides.  We stopped for some ice cream too - by far the longest line I stood in, by the way.







This is a little frog ride that hops around in a circle.  John thought it was great. The other kids not so much...




 They had all different levels of swings.  This is the most tame.  We went on some faster ones later, but these were perfect for John.
 Maddie loved the butterfly house.  They had amazingly large butterflies.  They also had huge poi in a pond.  The kids got very hot inside the butterfly house.


 The walrus tank was sweet!  The walruses came right up to where the children were standing.  It was pretty shocking - John did not want to stand too close to the glass, but Maddie and Ryan got right up close.


We tried to touch the sting rays, but they all laid in the middle of the tank and the kids couldn't reach them.  Ryan tried so hard, it was such a bummer.


 This was the big roller coaster for us.  It only went around once, but it was pretty fast!

 Ryan really wanted to try a water ride at the park.  So, the last ride the boys went on was this one.  Mac and Ryan went on it together.  They had lots of fun together.


 They were very wet!!
All in all, it was a great trip.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Happy 10th Birthday Maddie!!


 Maddie turned 10!  She woke up to birthday presents and pancakes.

 After breakfast Maddie went to her last day of art camp at the Chico Art School downtown.  She had great fun and made some beautiful pieces of art.  She was able to go with a couple of nice girls that really made the week fun.
 After art camp, we went to the movie theaters to see Brave on the opening day.  The girls were all very good.  They all got popcorn and a drink and sat all together.  It was really fun.  Brave was a good movie - highly recommended!  Shelby came back home with us and played.  Maddie and Shelby made their own headbands and put on a fashion show!
 That evening Maddie participated in her first riding show.  As soon as we arrived, Jan had everyone sing happy birthday to Maddie and had her sit in a special chair!  Maddie was so surprised!!
 After the pot luck, the kids were all given numbers and told what to do.

Maddie was fantastic!  She worked hard and showed off all of her skills.  Timmy (her horse) was tough, but she hung in there and kept him going.

 She walked, trotted, and cantered.  She also walked Timmy over a bridge and back.

 At the end of the evening, she received great praise from the judge and a ribbon (that now hangs on her wall!).  Overall, it was a fantastic day!!


Thursday, June 21, 2012

Ryan's Baseball Trophy

Ryan finally received his baseball trophy.  He is so excited.  He says that it looks much more sturdy than his soccer ones, which he broke.  It is up on a high shelf - hopefully this one will last! 

Lake Almanor with the Bairds





 We went to Lake Almanor with our friends, the Bairds.  We all had such a great time that I didn't take very many pictures.  The kids all made terrific sand castles on the beach and took turns going out on the little boat.  John loves Ty.  He followed him around all weekend copying whatever he was doing or saying. 


 Sonny brought this awesome balloon launcher, which is right up Spencer's alley.  The kids had a great time launching them and trying to catch balloons.

 When we got home, Maddie found a surprise left for her birthday by Uncle Steve.  A pet fish!!
 Welcome Herman!!