circle of questions...

A

Who's the VIP?

Last Tuesday was Emily's VIP Day at preschool.  She didn't sleep a wink the night before but nonetheless woke up early Tuesday morning ready to get this thing started.

Grandpa Jim, Grandma Emily, Auntie Jenny, Daddy, myself and the boys all made it to the big day.  Emily invited Grandma and Grandpa Jones and Grandma Patti but they all had to work but she called them after to tell them all about her big day...

 

While Emily did the calendar Jack found his way to the chalk board...

Emily made a VIP necklace to wear and let us all know that she is one of God's children...

The night before Emily decided that she wanted to bring her "pretend" pet bunnies to share since she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up...

Then we got busy singing her favorite songs.  She didn't want to bring her drums or accordion...just her daddy's guitar and the harmonica...

We started with one of her favorite songs...Johnny Appleseed...

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star...

ABC's...

Emily's most favorite song of all times...Down by the Bay...

The Wheels on the Bus...

If You Are Happy and You Know It...

I'm a Little Tea Pot...

The Big Humongous Spider...

Emily and I created a little gift for each student to help them remember her special day.  They each got a little box filled with directions and materials to make their very own instrument, a shaker egg...

One little boy kept yelling out that he wanted to sing Yankee Doodle so we decided to appease him while demonstrating how to use the shaker egg...

  

Finally Emily got out the harmonica and played some notes for her teacher...

Then we began singing another family favorite, Freight Train...

Emily only had one stop so we took some requests from the class...

When we were all done singing it was time for the name cheer and then questions from the kids.  The question video was long so I will post that separately but here's a little clip of my little cheerleader...

we can fill up the days...

Thursday was pajama day at preschool so Emily came home a little extra excited and was in need for some new entertainment indoors.  I quickly cut up a card board box, sewed up some little bean bags and we got to work on testing out our addition skills...

 

 Jack loved the game as well but adapted it to meet his needs... the box became tunnels and tracks for his trains and the bean bags were launched at Emily and I...

Sometimes things like this last a day and then they are put to the way side so I was happy to see the kids still take interest in it Friday morning...

 Emily asked me if she could help me clean the windows.  I am so grateful for such a helpful little girl...

 Then we headed out to Daddy's school to play on the playground for the afternoon since school was out for the day...

Saturday morning Bryan, Charlie and I went RV shopping (no we didn't buy anything) while Grandma Emily and Uncle Mike took care of Emily and Jack.  The kids were super excited to see that Uncle Mike had flown in for a few days and were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Auntie Jenny as well.  The day was full of excitement but somehow I only managed to get a few pictures of the kids eating their well deserved desserts.  In true fashion they took about two bites and left the rest...

On Sunday we headed up to Grandma and Grandpa Joneses for third Sunday dinner and a surprise jelly fish party...

 I hope these two continue to be best of friends forever.  They are the two sweetest girls I have ever met and their power of two is going to be put to good use with all of the boys in this family...

 Jack wasn't very interested in the crafts.  The coup car is his favorite.  I knew I should have bought one of these last year but our stock pile of ride-on-toys is already pretty big and I knew Bryan would not be up for storing one more.  I guess this way it makes for a special treat for Jack when we go visit up north...

 

Grace was killing me with Max's new four wheeler.  She was able to "sneak" on a few times without Max noticing and off she went...

 Back inside we did more crafts...

 Then Auntie Manda made the kids a special treat.  Emily was literally drooling over the gummy worms and blue jelly.  I think Auntie Manda may have made her favorite person in the world list after this yummy treat...

 Finally the kids headed outside and took turns wearing the jellyfish hat...

 After a super fun time in Nooksack we headed back home to visit with Uncle Mike and Auntie Jenny.  Jenny and I made a delicious dinner (flank steak, cod, cheesy bacon mashed potatoes and salad) for all of us and we feasted until our tummies could take no more.  Jack had fun playing "Talking Tom" with Cesar on Auntie Jenny's phone, Charlie soothed his teething gums with Popsicles and Jack even found some time to draw trains with grandma...

On Monday the kids and I headed over to Grandpa Jim and Grandma Patti's house to visit with them while Auntie Jenny did their taxes.  Uncle Mike had to fly back home and Bryan decided to go to work to get some stuff done since there was no school...

 Jack and Emily are now "best friends" and kept each other occupied the entire time...

 Auntie Jenny bought them preschool workbooks and they got right to work.  Emily was reading all of the directions by herself and them completing each task.  I am always mesmerized by her abilities to figure things out...

 We had such a fun weekend spending time with so much family.  Lucky for us Auntie Jenny stuck around in order to attend Emily's VIP day at school the following day (more on that to come) and then she headed back on Wednesday to avoid being snowed in for good (snow pictures on their way as well).  We tried to convince her that God was sending the snow down so that she would have to stay with us but she missed her husband and comfy bed.  I can't imagine why she wouldn't want to spend another sleepless night in this house? =)