Seth's Archery Competition

At Seth's school, they give the kids the opportunity to participate in different after school activities. Seth chose to do archery. He had a competition in Salt Lake yesterday. While he didn't get a hat or plaque, he DID manage to hit the target every single time...I think that is a HUGE feat itself, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been so lucky!

Again!

So, just a few days ago, I posted about how the "Pyperisms" were becoming fewer and farther between. wouldn't you know it, she came up with another one!

Pyper was doing her homework on Saturday, and she came running out to me and said, "Mom, have you seen the Bionical pencils?"
Me: "The Bionical pencils?"
Pyper: "Yeah, you know, the Bionical ones, they have that writer stuff that you click out?"

She meant MECHANICAL pencils. I really should correct her, but she is just so dang funny!

A Pyperism

It's been a while since there was a "Pyperism". She's getting bigger and they are getting fewer and farther between, sadly. But today I asked her to get something for me...

Mom:" Pyps, can you run grab me ...."(I actually can't remember what I asked her to get!)
Pyper: "Sure!"
Mom: ...waits for a very long time..."Pyps, did you get lost?"
Pyper: "Oh, sorry Mom, I just got side distracted!"

Oh what a funny gal she is!

Two Girls and Their Dolls

Last year for Christmas, Bugga got an American Girl doll. Pyper loved it and asked Santa for one this year. He delivered. They have had lots of fun playing "American Girls" together. Mrs. Claus made sure there were lots of clothes for both dolls this year, but must have ran out of time to make them a little jacket. It's been quite chilly here, so I rummaged through my fabric stash ad found some fleece and whipped up some jackets for the dolls yesterday. Bugga  got an Air Swimmer for Christmas this year (it's pretty cool), and it came with a helium tank to fill it.  She decided to fill up a balloon for her and Pyper (because floaty balloons are COOL!). Then they decided that it would be very nifty if their dolls could have a balloon too. Being the resourceful mom that I am, I pulled out the smallest balloons I could find, filled them up, tied on a string, and VOILA!

 I was "the bomb diggity"...at least that's what Bugga told me. Pyper said I was "the best mom EH-VA!" Who knew a couple of balloons would make me so awesome!

Bugga and "Kiera" and their balloons...

Pyper and "Sally" and their balloons...

Bugga's Orchestra Concert 2011

At the elementary school, the 4th and 5th graders can take an after school orchestra class. It is sponsored by the Mountain West String Academy, and there are 16 elementary schools throughout the valley that participate. Lyra thought that it sounded like a lot of fun, and decided to play the violin. After a few "concerts" at home and many days practicing (I'm happy to report that no earplugs have been involved!) she had her very first performances this past weekend. On Friday, her class performed at school. They did a great job! I am a great mom and there were no batteries in my camera, so there are just phone pictures of that one.

She's the second from the left on the back row. The one with her music stand so high that you can't see her face!

Then On Monday night, she had another concert. Only this time it was at the Kent Concert Hall and all of the students from all of the schools were there! This time I made sure the camera batteries were fresh! First, Bugga was pulling some pretty silly faces. She said she was looking for us and had decided we weren't there! Guess we just dropped her off and decided to go home! That girl, she makes me laugh!

The first song they played was called Largo. I think they did a pretty great job! I must say, I was very surprised! All of the kids on the stage are first year students. The ones down in the orchestra pit were the second year students, but I don't think I got a good shot of them.

Then they played Hot Cross Buns and then Lullaby. Lullaby is Lyra's very favorite song they play. She plays it for us often at home.

The conductor and the kids thought that maybe if they played Lullaby again, they might get more applause. So they did! And they did indeed get more applause!

 

After the first year students showed off their skills, it was the second year students turn.  Sorry, I didn't record them, I don't know any of them! You'll have to wait until next year to see that! BUT, the end of the concert was both the first year and second year students playing Here We Come A Caroling.

We made sure she got some flowers, since all great musicians get flowers at their concerts!

Then we all stuffed ourselves at the Pizza Pie Cafe with Grandma and Grandpa. Lyra even said it was ALMOST as good as Golden Corral, which her very most favorite place to eat! I think the Oreo pizza may have had something to do with that!

Way to go Buggy! We are very proud of you and love the sounds of beautiful violin music you play for us!

My Little Shepherd Girl

Tonight was our Ward Christmas Party. It was a "Night in Bethlehem" and you could dress up if you wanted to. My kids dressed up as shepherds (in other words, they wore their bathrobes!).  None of the other kids would let me take a picture, but I got a cute one of the Pyper-shepherd with Santa!

Do you think that shepherds had Hannah Montana Snuggies?

Halloween Festivities!

We had a ton of fun for Halloween this year. I sewed and sewed and am proud to say that I finished all four costumes with a whole day to spare! That is a record for me, I'm usually frantically sewing at 2 am on Halloween. It was so nice to get a full night's sleep that I may try it again next year!  The kids all got to wear their costumes to school, which they thought was awesome. And, once again it made for an easier Halloween. We got them all ready for school in their costumes and then when it came time to Trick or Treat, we just had to touch up their makeup! WHOOT!

Last year we found an edited version of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" on television.  Ever since then, Hannah has wanted to dress up as Magenta.  Surprisingly, quite a few kids at school knew who she was.

Seth was Harry Potter. I even crocheted his scarf! It's a step up from the dishrags I normally do! His favorite part of his costume was the wand that actually lit up. He had fun casting a "Lumous" spell!

The front of Bug's skeleton...

...and the back. This was my favorite costume of the year. We just used a freezer paper stencil and dobbed  white paint onto a long-sleeved black t shirt and black leggings. Then we dobbed on some glow in the dark paint. The back of her costume was the best I think!

Once again, Pyper was a fairy tale character, Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She was pretty excited to get to wear makeup to school!

And for our disgusting Halloween dinner we had...

flesh worms (pork loin wrapped in bacon and baked), bloody monster eyes (stuffed shells in marinara sauce), severed fingers (lil smokies with onion fingernails attached with ketchup "blood"),  witches brew (apple juice with a few drops of green food coloring and some dry ice for a spooky effect), and a kitty litter cake.  The cake was so gross looking. We had a couple of friends join us for dinner, and as David was scooping some cake out for one of them, he about puked. Which means that my gross dinner was a success!

Then we did some Trick or Treating and watched some TV while in our sugar comas! It was a great Halloween!