enchanted island winter fun

Enchanted Island in Phoenix was having a winter wonderland event this weekend.  It is a cute park with kiddie amusement rides.  The boys always have a good time when we go. This weekend for winter fun they had a snow mound and some snow tubing! Fun!

 

 

 

 

Ethan on the snow slide

Hudson on the snow slide

Nannie went tubing down the snow slide too!

polar express and grandpa's visit

This month, Grandpa came to visit! The boys were so happy he was here.  It has been awhile since they have seen him.  Although we were sick in one way or another while he was here, we made the best of it.

Excitement building for the train!

Waving to Santa at the "North Pole"

Grandpa most of the trip, he wasn't feeling very well.

Reindeer bells from Santa!

Grandpa brought with him the best gift ever, a recordable Christmas book from Hallmark. Grandma, Grandpa, and my sisters all read a page of the book to the boys.  Brilliant!

It was so fun to hear each of their voices and to watch the boys listen and pick out each person reading to them.  They really loved it. Really a cool idea for family members far away to connect.

santa sightings!

We have been seeing Santa all around town!  HO, HO, HO

At Bass Pro Shop

At Ethan's Elementary School

At Polar Express

At our community's Breakfast with Santa

cartoon lesson: action dogs

  

Last week I taught action dogs for my cartoon class.Hudson wasn't into coloring so much this week.  Purple is his new favorite color so, he just stuck to that!

Ethan Age 6

Hudson Age 4

day at the children's museum

We scored some free culture passes this weekend for the Children's Museum of Phoenix.  The boys had a great time.  They loved the market shopping area.  It's usually too crowded to get in that section we we usually skip it but, it was nice and quiet this past Sunday and they had a great time shopping, checking out and putting everything back on the shelf.  Of course, the ball room and texture cafe and noodle forest were big hits also.

Recycled Items Fish Art

Crazy Climber

They have this new climber that we had yet to see and it was really cool! I joined in the fun and climbed through it also. Hudson exclaimed "This is the best place ever!" while we were there. It truly is a place of wonder and fun for kids.

first grade presentations

This month, Ethan had 2 presentations at school.  First one was a habitat performance by all the first grade classes.  He was so excited to be on the stage singing about the rainforest habit.  It was really cute.  Of course, I totally spaced on my camera.  I was so bummed!  Luckily, his teacher sent over a photo of his class dressed as their rainforest animal the Sloth.  

I got to redeem myself that evening.  His school had a Physical Education presentation for all the 1st grader parents.  We watched for about an hour as our kids ran around the gym in groups doing all sorts of activities.  This was put together to give us parents and idea of what goes on in PE class.  This time I was ready to fire away picture after picture!

cartoon lesson: veggie expressions

I started teaching an elementary cartoon class 2 weeks ago.  I need to practice the lesson before I teach it so, my boys help out by being my students.  Our first lesson was face shapes but I didn't get any pictures of that one.  This week we are drawing veggie expressions. Take a look, they came out really cute!

Ethan Age 6

Hudson Age 4

Cartooning is fun because it's quick and expressive.  The kids are enjoying the silly nature of the subjects and that we can get 3-5 images drawn each class is cool.