N day: June 29, 2010

The kids stayed over at their NeNe's house last night.


(Do you suppose someone has been naughty in this picture? Maybe she just needs a nap.)

Later, the girls had their nails done.


In addition to their handwriting worksheets, the boys each had to write their full name nine times.

What did we eat today? nectarines, mixed nuts, Nutter Butters, noodle soup, and nachos.
(Not all at the same time, though.)

For the day's last project, the kids made a newspaper. E was assigned the news section by editor J; she felt strongly that S should type her words, and that her article should include a family picture.

"Our Family News" by E
(Yes, the last line says, "Si for salsa!")

The publication also included a Games section by T


as well as Comics and a Table of Contents by G & J



(Those vertical lines are staples.)

J even plugged his unwritten, future book


And then everyone went to sleep. Good night!

last week's letters = V+B+S

Last week we took a break from LotD for VBS—Vacation Bible School. The kids had a great time, and all four won a prize for being the first in their grade to say the memory verse to their teacher and a pastor...

...even E, who is only 4 years old.




James 1:5
Now, if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.

Q day 2010

As a reward for good behavior running errands, the boys got drinks at QuikTrip.


E had a hard time being quiet at the library.

Back at home, E and T snuggled up in some of the quilts S has made.


J posed with his collection of quarters.




We had lots of q's in bedtime stories:

A Quilt for Baby by Kim Lewis




E and T found the words "quack" and "quick" in

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey




They also spotted the word "queen" in

The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity by Jennie Bishop, Layout by John Silvey, Illustrated by Preston McDaniels

D day: June 12, 2010

Breakfast = donuts
(J played his DS pretty much all day.)


A Tulsa icon, the Golden Driller


T danced on the Driller


We heard some drumming on the radio as we drove over to Swan Lake to see the ducks.


(We left with our bag of stale bread when we finally saw the sign that reads "Don't feed the waterfowl".)

Next we went over to NeNe & Papa's (encountering a brief downpour on the road) to visit them and their dog.



And there's that DS again:


Bedtime stories:



How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague







There's No Such Thing As a Dragon
by Jack Kent





Another favorite book, with a dragon, of course:

Fire and Stone by Ursula K Le Guin, illustrated by Laura Marshall



After the kids get to bed, C & S will enjoy some Dream Cooler ice cream from Braum's :)

S day: June 11, 2010

Breakfast = sausage, scrambled eggs (with salt), and fresh strawberries (with sugar)

T wore his "Speed Racer" shirt; S wore "SuperMom"

One of today's chores was changing sheets.

J is fascinated these days with the solar system. T gave himself a shiny silver star sticker on his handwriting paper.

Lunch = soup & sandwiches

"Screen time" entertainment included Super Smash Bros Brawl and Sims Agents on Wii; G played Sonic Rush on his DS.

This afternoon the kids had the world's shortest swim. We arrived at LaFortune just as the chlorine pump failed, so the lifeguards politely kicked everyone out of the pool 15 minutes after we arrived.

The boys still had plenty of time for fun on the slides


and splashing little sister


G has peeling skin on his shoulders from his camp sunburn. (G looking in the mirror: "That's awesomer than I thought!")



Dinner = spaghetti (C & S also ate salads.)


Baths tonight in Skin So Soft




Late night movie = Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
space, Star destroyer, snow monster (aka Wampa), storm troopers... and that's just the first few minutes :)

A day 2010

G & E started the day with apples.

All the kids drank apple juice with their lunch from Arby's


Today's adventure: Philbrook Museum of Art


There was an interesting display in the atrium, "Returning Adam", that explained how museum pieces are safely transported to other museums when they are on loan.

T realized that the current traveling exhibit, To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum, contains ancient artifacts. (No photos allowed in there.)

As we went out to the garden, E ran beneath arches.

S admired the architecture.

Back in the air conditioning, T liked the armor.

We saw lots of abstract art by Native Americans.

(How many times in one afternoon can a mom hiss, "DON'T TOUCH!"?)

This piece was E's favorite abstract art:

(We had planned a trip to the arcade next, but unfortunately a few children had difficulty acting appropriately at the museum.)

Movie time = Disney's Aladdin

with Alpha Bits cereal and animal crackers to munch.

C day 2010

J & E changed clothes after swim lessons, then we met our Cunningham cousins at Chick Fil-A for lunch.

Look, a cow!


Next we went over to the bakery for cupcakes and chocolate milk.
(We might have disturbed some other customers sitting in chairs.)


Cupcake, cookie, cannoli--oh my!


T chose a cupcake with a chili pepper on top.

Caution!

On the way home, we stopped to buy a new DS car charger. Later there was some complaining preceeding room cleaning and chores. J & T took a break to play cards.

(This afternoon C cut up our dead cypress with a chainsaw. Does that count?)

Today's television show = Cyberchase

G climbed to the very top of a tree while T had a tennis lesson.

Dinner menu included coneys, corn on the cob, crunchy carrots, and cheesy naan. (S had birthday dinner with a friend: cake and candles!)

E had such a tiring day that she crashed on the couch; S carried her sleeping daughter upstairs to bed.

T caught his cat, then subjected Spot to some "cuddling".

W day 2010

(We got a bit of a head start last night by participating in the first-ever fan wave at the new OneOK field... while we waited on the train that delayed the fireworks finale. Weird.)

T got a little wet this morning at his swim lesson, then we took a turn through the car wash.
Armed with water bottles, we took a short hike at Woodward Park. (There was a little bit of whining.)

We found a waterfall:

We also walked over to the Tulsa Garden Center, where C & S had their wedding fifteen years ago.



Heading back to our car, we saw a water lily in the Rose Garden.


After lunch at Wendy's, we made a quick run to Wal-Mart.


During the heat of the day, the kids watched Wall-E.



Then it was back outside for a brief but intense water balloon war.

Afternoon snack = waffles

Of course, the kids also did writing worksheets and played Wii.

J thought of watercolor painting.


Dinner = Wolf Brand Chili (Don't judge. If you get the "Lean Beef with Beans" kind, it's not too bad.)

J had to have some new medicine put on a couple of warts that the dermatologist froze last week :(


A second movie by special request: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.






Finally, for bedtime story, one of my newest favorite books:
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon,
with wonderful illustrations by Marla Frazee