LEGO in style!

 This weekend we took the kids to see the LEGO movie. We decided to really treat them and take them to a lunch/dinner theater complete with leather recliners. Doesn't get much better than this! LEGO movie and eating pizza in a leather recliner! We told them not to get too used to it!

Loomin Away

For Valentines Day we bought Grant a Rainbow Loom. For those not in the know, it's a contraption you use to make bracelets. Once Grant had a basic lesson on using it, he started cranking out the bracelets. Then he wasn't satisfied with just the basic, he wants to look up tutorials online and follow right along. Orders are coming from all over the country! (Thanks Farrell clan!)

 He wanted me to take a close up of the bands on the loom - show everyone how I do it!

Gotta love the tongue and concentration!

Couple more pics from Valentine's Day

 Our heart cake this year - strawberry and coconut with cream cheese icing

 Grant's "Love Monster" for his valentines at the class party.

Great Kids

I have a couple of stories to share with you about our kiddos.

First - Beckett

Beckett is thriving in school and we are so proud of him. He had a rough start, but now he is the one the teacher pairs up with new students. Today he proudly told me about his new friend Tanner. He showed Tanner where to put his folder. He helped Tanner sign in this morning. He tried to teach Tanner the songs in music class. He always tells us that he loves school. And this weekend we were driving towards his school and he loudly announced that we were almost to "my school!"

Here is an example of his writing. This is one of his valentines. He has come so far - it has finally CLICKED!

And finally, a story from last night. At 3 am I hear
"MOM! I found my helmet!"
"Beckett, what? It's 3 am."
Yea, I know Mom. But I found my helmet! It was under my bed!"
"Beck, you need to go back to bed."
LATER....
"Beckett, why were you up at 3am?"
"Mom, it was my bones. I wanted to go back to bed, but my bones just wanted to play!"

I mean, what do you say to that???

Now - GRANT

He is thriving in Kindergarten. He is reading books for 1st graders. He is doing beginning multiplication. The other night at dinner, he whipped out fractions:

Grant - "If you have 3 halves, then it's like you have 1 whole and 1 half left over."
Roger - "That's right! How many 1/4s are in 1 1/4?"
We explained what a quarter is and he said
"Oh! You would have 4 1/4s in a whole with 1/4 left over."

In the car this weekend -
"Mom, how much is 25+25+25+25+25+25?"
Messing with him I said - "50."
"Moooommmm, no. It's not 50! It's 150 because there are 4 25s in 100 and 25+25 is 50!"

Unbelievable!

And now for a funny story on Grant.
"Mom, guess what you say to girls you like?"
"I don't know Grant."
"You can say 'Hubba Hubba.'"
"Um no, you don't ever say that to a girl."
"Yea Mom, if you like a girl then you can say 'Hubba Hubba' to them."
"Well, if you do that then they won't like you back. You don't ever say that to a girl!"
Seriously...where did he come up with that one???

Everyday he comes home with books that he makes at school. The latest is a napkin book. Inside a gingerbread napkin was 4 pages about his gingerbread man. And today I found an amazing book about Star Wars...full of illustrations and a basic story to go with them. Here are pictures of the book:

Thinkery

The kids and I were off school the last few days for winter break.  We decided to take advantage of the time and headed to the Thinkery - Austin's new children's museum.

After all our visits to the Indianapolis Children's Museum, I went in with pretty low expectations. I don't think we will ever find anything like Indy's museum...and after our visit to the Thinkery I am pretty sure we never will.

The first floor was fun - full of gears, paint, planes and light. The second floor though - a real bummer. They have an amazing outdoor playground, but it was closed because the ropes and platforms were wet. Of course, Beckett didn't let the little yellow barrier stop him and he made it half way up the playscape before an employee stopped him. Roger and I decided not to claim him at that point. :-)

The kids had a good time and it was a fun way to spend the day. But we probably won't be going back anytime soon. Just not worth the price. Bummer.

 Grant funneling water.

 The boys discussing their plane designs.

 Roger and Beckett designing their magnetic structures. I love Beckett's face. :-)

 Making vegetable sculptures. Well, actually Beckett chopping up the veggies. Grant is making a sculpture/animal.

 Grant working with the gears.

 I loved this structure he made.

 And Beckett enjoying getting wet and covered with paint.

 In heaven.

 Our first stop - I had such high hopes for the Thinkery when I saw all this cool stuff. Oh well.

 

Grant's cool motorcycle

Quick video of our visit. It starts with the kids testing out their foam planes in the air launcher. Then we headed into the light room...shadow shapes and Grant hula hooping in front of a projector.

 We have had a CRAZY winter. Lots of school delays and cancellations for ice/sleet. This was Beckett and Riley on one of those days. Unfortunately with bad weather comes wind, so we have been stuck inside a lot lately. :-(

One of the nicer days we headed to the park. I was talking with another parent and heard Beckett running over yelling - MOM!. I turned to see this face.
"Mom! I tried jumping over a mud puddle and I missed!" :-)
"Oh Beck, are you OK?"
"Yea Mom, do you have a towel?"

Gotta love his go with it personality!