Outdoor Movie Night

As one of the prizes for the Cougar Chase, we gave away "family movie night" passes. We were the host for this party. My friend Jeana loaned us her outdoor movie screen and we supplied the house and yard...

and food! I rented the popcorn machine and then we had donuts, brownies, twizzlers and drinks. It really seemed like everyone had a great time - we had about 65 people in total - and now...the race is FINALLY over! This was the last event!!! It was a great way to end the duties of the race and a great way to spend the evening with friends.

The next phase for more than just them...

My parents came into town last week on Wednesday evening and left this morning. It's a strange visit in a way because I know I won't see them in person for a few years. They leave for a mission to Porto Allegre, Brazil in August. We had a great visit, but it was hard to say goodbye. They are really good about writing, blogging and skyping, so we will know what's happening and even see them, we just won't see them in person for a while.

They have a blog called 'The Next Phase' that they started so people could easily follow their adventures while in Brazil and I realized today that their "next phase" adds a new phase for us as well. We wish them nothing but happiness, fun, fulfillment, joy and a little adventure...but we will miss the face to face visits during this next phase.

Who doesn't love a good project?

And someone to do the project with? One of the great things about my dad is that he will always do projects with me. I love a project and he knows that. So, whenever he visits, he always helps with a project, or two, or three!

Greg had wanted to turn a little space in the utility room into a work space and we had planned to do it in December, but it just didn't work out. So...6 months later I got to do the project with my Dad for a Father's Day gift for Greg from my parents and myself.

We built this work table and put the shelves in. It was a really fun project and very satisfying. I can't believe how different the room is now and how much bigger it seems with this space in it.

No, it's not the 80's, but this wall has some serious throw back to it! My parents brought these sconces with them on this visit. I made these in 7th grade (1986), and got an "A" on them! They were in our dining room in Stafford for years...and now they are in the little work room. Greg loves stuff like this, so they are the perfect decoration!

My parents also helped us in the backyard on this trip. They dug out some beds and we planted wild flowers. And in an unexpected project I called my dad out to help me get a 1" root out beside the garage to have it turn into a 3 hours digging and ax wielding adventure in the rain!! He was great about it and indulged my desire to get everything done - now - today - even in the rain!

Thanks for all the help and for always being willing to spend time with me doing one of my favorite things...projects!

A birthday and roller skating

My little Zach is 7!!! I can't believe how big he is...and what a great kid! His birthday happened to fall on the same day as the Cougar Chase roller skating party and so we celebrated there.

My parents have been in town visiting this past week and they came along to the party too. My mom and I decided not to skate (we took lots of pictures), but my dad put roller blades right on and was out with the kids. This was Ava's first time skating, so he was working with her on the carpet first.

Andrew has only skated once before - in the Good Will - with a pair of clip on skates - just zipping around the display in the middle of the store. So, this was a pretty new adventure for him too. He did great.

When Greg got off work, he put some skates on too and round and round he went!

Ava really had a great time and got much more confident through the night. She was really fun to watch.

At one point in the night they got out these special seats for races...they are toilet seats bolted to a frame with wheels. It was fun to watch them try to steer and have a good time trying to get around the rink.

It was easier said than done!

They also did races where one person pushed the other...here is Zach pushing my dad!

I just love this guy. He is silly, sweet, fun and wonderful. Happy Birthday Zach!

Father/Son/Grandfather camp out

This weekend was our ward's annual Father/Son camp out. My parents are in town and so my dad went with Greg and the boys and made it a Father/Son/Grandfather event for our family! They did the camp out at Bruce's farm again this year. It's such a fun place for the kids (and fathers). I loved this picture of all the tents!

Here is some of the gang hanging out near the camp fire in their pajamas...

I think Zach is pretending to sleep in this picture...Greg assured me that he was definitely wide awake and having a great time!

The next morning the kids were playing baseball...

And of course riding the dune buggy!

Greg was in charge of the activity since it was an Elder's Quorum responsibility. My dad was really able to help Greg out...allowing Greg to help with all of the games and motorized toys! It sounded like everyone thought the activity was a huge success and had a great time...there isn't anything better than that for a Father/Son campout...except a Father/Son/Grandfather campout!

Riding in style!

When I was working on the fundraiser for the race, Connie and I were talking and she shared some of the great ideas her school did with their fundraiser. I thought that the limo ride was one of the best ideas I had heard. Our committee decided to take the idea and run with it (no pun intended).

We decided that the top 4 fundraisers and a friend would be picked up from school and go to Subway in a limo. They had 2 hours to ride around and be together riding in style!

Andrew and Zach were all over the challenge to win the limo ride. They each raised $250 - and they did it the hard way! Door to door baby. They had 35 pledges each with an average pledge of $7. I was really proud of how hard they worked to raise money. They were both in the top 4!!! The top 4 actually ended up asking #5 - #8 to ride in the limo with them. It was really nice to get to reward all 8 top fundraisers. Just these kids raised $1800!!!

They really are number 1!!!

Here are the kids in the limo. We asked two of the school's favorite teachers to go with the kids and I think it was really fun for them too.

I thought it was cute to see the trunk. No luggage here or fancy cases, just lots of backpacks!

The kids were all so happy and excited!

My boys are sold on the limo!! Andrew actually wasn't feeling well and so I picked him up from Subway, so his adventure was cut a little short. I know that both boys are ready and willing to fundraise next year...the limo really was a hit! We were so happy with how much money was raised (more than triple from last year) and I really think it was ideas like this that sparked that...I knew all that talking on the phone would pay off some day!

Another one bites the dust...

The school year is over! I was the class mom for Andrew and Zach again this year and with that comes the teacher presents. I just collected from parents who wanted to participate and got a gift certificate for each teacher and then made each of them a necklace. I had asked each of their teachers for their favorite quote about teachers/teaching and I used that for the one side of the necklaces. They both really seemed to like them - which is always nice.

Quite a while ago Tami and I went to a craft store that was going out of business and cut out a bunch of stuff with their die cutter machine. One of the things we did was punch some templates for these little purses. It's the first time I have actually used them and I was really happy with how they turned out. They were the perfect size for the necklaces!

Zach was really sad that school was ending - he really loves his teacher and being in school. His teacher is great with the kids and really makes them feel special.

Here's Zach's 1st grade class...

And then the class with crazy faces!

3rd Annual Congdon Cougar Chase

June 4th was the 3rd Annual Congdon Cougar Chase. I was on the committee for organizing this race and we had a great year! It was my second time being on the committee and we are all really proud of how it turned out.

We had 314 runners (up from 204 last year) and added a 10K to the line up. Now we have a 1K, 5K, and 10K.

Here's Zach getting ready to cross the finish line...he did a great job!

They are a little far away, but this is Andrew and Greg getting ready to finish. Andrew and Greg did the 5K. I was really proud of Andrew. He and Greg ran for about 6 weeks prior to the race to get ready.

Ava ran the 1K and Greg ran with her too.

This is them getting ready to finish!

Here's Andrew and his best friend, Alex...there were so many kids there. It was a really fun event. We had 165 kids from the school run.

And here are my boys...who knows where Ava was...probably on the playground (you can see it in the background).

The race was a ton of work, a huge success and really fun! I'll be working on it again next year and we already have some ideas of how to make it even better...

Pioneer Day

Andrew's class had their big end of the year event at Larsmont School. It's an old 1 room school house where classes can go and spend the day and see what it was like to go to school in the early 1900's.

I was surprized to see that there were no desks. I guess that there would have only been benches at the time, but they just have chairs now so that they can be easily moved.

The class spent quite a bit of time getting ready for the field trip. One of the things they did was make these horn books that the kids could write on with chalk. Andrew's teacher really lets the kids do this project. They sanded, prepped and painted.

Here's Andrew working on his times tables...

They also did some readings and recited quite a bit. It was really fun - Mrs. Fisher had collected real stories and little plays that were around in the early 1900's.

We were really lucky with the weather (it was storming in the morning) and were able to have lunch and play all of the games that were planned outside.

Andrew has our lunch...

Mrs. Fisher sent home strict instructions about what to bring (or not to bring) for lunch. She also wanted it packed in an authentic way. It was fun too - and Andrew was really excited.

Here is the group of boys that I ate lunch with...I was the only girl allowed...I felt honored!

Mrs. Fisher is showing the kids how to use stilts here. They had so, so much fun trying to use these. I was sore the next day from holding the kids up while they tried to use them!

Here she is showing the kids how to play jacks...

Andrew was having a blast!

They played a really fun game called Three Blind Mice. Three kids were blindfolded, all of the other kids started by being close enough to touch them and then the teacher says, "go". The kids only have a few seconds to run and then the teacher freezes them. Then the "mice" are set free to find the kids. They all had so much fun. I think they would have played all afternoon!

Here is the whole class. It was a great field trip and was so well planned. It was a really fun thing to do together and something that neither Andrew or I will forget!