Reading for Gold!

Our elementary school hold a read-a-thon every year from October to March where the kids have to read lists of books.  If you turn in 8 lists, you get a gold medal!  Here is Luke with his favorite kinder-buddy, Maverick.

Luke's very first gold medal!

It was extra special because every single student in Mrs. Karlquist's class earned a gold medal.  That is pretty rare.  What a great, great class!

Luke and Mav admiring their gold medals while I admire the gold-medal readers.  Hurray!

Then it was Caleb's turn.

Another gold medal for Caleb!

Guess what?  Mrs. Hatrung's class also earned gold medals by the entire class!  Both my kids classes earned 100% gold medals!  But its not surprising since they are in my opinion the two best teachers at that school.  We really lucked out this year!

Congrats Caleb and Luke.  You both are super readers!

That Hat!

Just taking a moment to show off my favorite 8 year old in his favorite crazy hat.

Oh how I love that darling little boy! Oh that face!!!

Luke's Magical Birthday

We thought and though about the very best way to celebrate our youngest son Luke's 6th birthday, and to show him how much we love him and how much he means to us, out of the goodness of our hearts, we decided to take the whole family out of school and spend the day at Disneyland!

(Yes, I know, any excuse to go to Disneyland, but we figured a birthday was as good excuse as any.)

But it was actually Luke's special day, and that made this visit to Disneyland all the more special.  When you wear one of these birthday buttons at Disney, you get special attention ALL DAY!    Strangers call you by name and tell you happy birthday!  Who wouldn't love that?

Before we left, Grandpa & Grandma gave Luke some birthday cash, and he declared right there what he was going to do with it - buy a Lotso bear at Disneyland.  And as soon as we arrived he would not be happy until he had his furry fuchsia villain from Toy Story 3, who already looked dirty when we bought him and truly smells of strawberries.  Lotso really is a lovable bear - he just needs a little TLC from an adoring 6 year old.  Welcome to the family, Lotso.

It was a gorgeous, gorgeous spring day and the weather was perfect!

We decided to start the day at Disney's California Adventure park.  We LOVE that place!  Always less crowed than Disneyland, though on a day like this it really didn't matter.  We just walked onto all the rides anyway.  Goofy's Sky School is some crazy dizzying fun.

We loved the swings!  Wheeeee!

On the Boardwalk under the sun.

Speaking of Toy Story, we had a great time popping balloons and tossing hoops at Woody's shooting gallery.  That is one great ride/game!

Then they boys and I took a few spins on my very favorite ride - California Screamin'!  I LOVE being shot like a gun, and then being flipped up side down and the rickety roller coaster feel.  Whoo Hoo!

Unfortunately, that is also the only ride in both parks that Luke is still too small for, and while he and Daddy were waiting for us, tragedy struck.  Notice the tears? Daddy got Luke a popsicle, and when he went to take his first lick, it was so cold that the popsicle stuck right to his tongue like the flag plot in A Christmas Story!  Poor kid.  It kind of freaked him out, and it took several bystanders with Dad to help him get it unstuck.  It was traumatic, but didn't require a trip to the ER or anything, and after the popsicle had warmed up a bit, we convinced him to give it another lick.

Popsicles just should not get stuck to little boys' tongues...

not at Disneyland, and especially not on your birthday!

"Hanging out" on Disney's version of Monterey's cannery row.

A sneak peek at the new Cars Town that will be opening up this summer.  It looks awesome!  Wish our passes weren't going to expire before it opens.  Looks a lot like some of the tiny towns we saw on our RV trip along Route 66 this summer.

We saw everything we wanted to see at California Adventure and the day was still young, so we headed over to Disneyland.

The Happiest Place on Earth is even happier if it is your birthday.

Since it was his day, Luke got to pick what we would do first, and what Luke wanted to do was ride the train.  Luke always wants to ride the train, and everybody always says no, because they think it is a waste of time when they can go on the big rides.  So today was the very first time we all rode the train.

Luke loved it!

Luke also always wanted to take the horse-drawn cart, so we did that too.

When we boarded the driver made an official important announcement: that it was Luke's birthday, so we all sang to him.  He got a kick out of that.

King for a day and his castle (for a day).

Looks like Dylan and Derek wanted to be king for a day too, but it just wasn't in the cards for them today.  Sorry fellas.

Everybody's favorite: Space Mountain!  You can't even see little Luke next to Dennis.

Lotso hanging out with the cool kids.

Another Disney Cruise - a Disney Jungle Cruise, that is.  No all-you-can-eat soft serve here.

We ended a fabulous Disney day watching a parade in the birthday boy's honor.  OK, so maybe they didn't throw the parade for Luke, but we could pretend.

While we watched the parade, each of my boys took turns getting their silhouettes cut.  I remember getting mine cut when I was a little girl, and I have always wanted to get them made for my boys, and I figured that this was our last chance.  She was amazing - just used scissors and black paper.  She said she has been doing this here for over 30 years, so she quite possibly was the same lady who cut mine way back when.  I was so excited to have them done.  They look great, and it is not too hard to figure out who is who.  They are already hanging up our family room.

What a great day we had!  So glad Luke had a birthday so we could have an excuse to take the family and head off to Disneyland one last time.  Nothing like a magical birthday at the happiest place on earth.  Happy Birthday Luke!

Lollypoppies!

A sunny spring day, a boy on the front step with a giant lollypop, and some poppies in full bloom.

These are the moments I am glad I have a great camera!

May the rest of your spring be full of lollypoppies!

The Boy with the Long Legs!

In February, Caleb participated in the track meet at his elementary school.  He was in two events, but the first one was his "Event" with a capital "E."  Any guesses what event that was? (Remember the length of his legs when you make your guess, and that he stands a whole head taller than the other 2nd graders!)

Yes, it was the LONG jump! And when we say "LONG" we mean it. Just look at that boy fly!  Seriously!

It looked pretty darn far to me, but when it was over, Caleb told me he lost.  I somehow couldn't believe that, not from where I was standing.  I knew he was messing with me, or just being humble.

Because nobody was surprised when they called Caleb to stand on the center podium to get his gold medal for the 2nd grade boys long jump.

And then they announced his jump - 7 ft. 11in!

Whoa!  That sounds far to me.  I told him that he could have easily jumped over me lengthwise (though we are not really going to try that.)  I heard them announce the winning jumps for some of the higher grades, and they were not as far as Caleb's jump.

Long legs are gold medal legs.

Well, those long legs helped him get pretty far in the 50m run, too.  He won his heat,

but ended up coming in 4th in the final.

But that's ok, because that boy can jump!  And he has the gold medal to prove it.

Great job, Caleb Long Legs!

Cabe is a Cub!

Caleb is a cub scout!  He has been looking forward to it his whole life. 

Cabe loves being a cub!

He is coming right along and has already earned a ton of belt loops.  Above is a poster he made about the flora and fauna we saw on a cub hike at the oasis.

But around here, the most exciting thing about being a cub is the pinewood derby!

Caleb and Dad worked hard on their car, spending many hours in the garage together.  But when it came time for the troop derby in February, let's just say, Caleb's car just had the need for more speed.  It was not a successful, and Caleb took it pretty hard.

This is a conversation Caleb had with Dennis right before the race:

Caleb: Dad, what if we loose?
Dad: Well, then we will be good losers about it.
Caleb (with all seriousness): Dad, I am NOT a good loser! We better win.
He was right, though.  He was not a good loser.

But all was not lost - the stake derby was the very next night, and so Dad and Caleb went back into the garage and went to work - basically rebuilding the whole car.

Whatever they were doing in that garage late into the night paid off, because they got the 2nd place trophy at the stake derby, barely missing 1st by the narrowest of margins.  Whoot Whoot!

But, there was still another shot at greatness - the Date Festival derby.

This time, though, they didn't change a thing about that wining car.

At the Date Festival, Caleb's car not only got first place for Cub Scout division, but against all the winners of the different divisions, he also won Best Overall!

Not bad for a first year cub scout.  

And it's a good thing, considering how Caleb is NOT a good loser.

(Now, if only I could convince them that they should quit while they are ahead and not have to do any more pinewood derby cars, at least not until Luke comes along.  Fat chance.)

Cabe the Cub is the man with the speed!