Random Spring Pictures

SOAR award for 3rd quarter

Hannah's first Battle of the Books team.  I was a co-leader of her team.  The answered questions over 20 books they read over the course of the year and competed against other 4th, 5th, and 6th grade teams.  The won against a couple of 6th grade teams, but ultimately didn't make it to the final four.  Still really proud of their hard work and I had fun meeting with them over monthly lunches.

T-bird serve event where we packed food for others.

I taught first grade in a long term substitute job for Hannah and Olive's former first grade teacher.  One of the highlights- going on a field trip to Arrowhead Stadium.

I got my hair crimped for a girls night to see New Kids on the Block in concert.  It was my favorite band when I was in third grade.  It is amazing how many lyrics I can still remember after about 30 years!

Another fun trip: Hermann weekend with the Chases.

 Best night of the year: school carnival!

Field Day!

4th grade Try-It Night.  Spoiler: she went with the cello.

School Carnival

A school carnival is pretty much the best thing ever when you are 5 and 7.  The girls were looking forward to it all week.  Their favorite thing was a spinning ride.  Hannah spun it so fast we thought Olive was going to get sick, but she LOVED it.   They also loved human bowling, inflatable slide and maze, and (of course) pony rides.  It was a very fun Friday night!  I love our elementary school!

 waiting in line for the bouncy house

Olive got scared at the last minute and wanted me to walk beside her.

School Carnival

Hannah's school carnival was a blast!  There is nothing better (in my book) than family fun on a Friday night.  They had carnival games and bounce houses and photo booths and cake walks and a dunk tank and even a mini train.  I volunteered in the kiddie games section for part of the carnival, which is why not many pictures were taken.  Steve got some of Olive on the bouncy slides.  I remember a time when she barely would do these on my lap.  Now she is a pro!

After I finished my shift, I walked around with Hannah and her BFF.  Her favorite thing was the fake injury booth in the nurse's office.  You could get a broken arm (with sling!), snake bite, or even vampire bite.  Hannah got a run-of-the-mill scraped shin.  It has inspired many fake injuries drawn on with marker at our house.

Meneely Reunion

Our epic weekend continues... after the zoo run and school carnival, we drove to Meadville, MO on Sunday for the Meneely Reunion.  Yes, we are crazy.  What is worth driving 2 hours there and back in one day?  Family and a good park. :)

 

Hannah was in a grumpy mood, so I suggested we should all take an angry picture...
 

 Aunt Marissa, Hannah, Grandma, Olive, Megan, Uncle Casey, Uncle Justin, Grandpa, Steve

 

 

 

 

Her response to "Where's Sisa?"
 

 

 

 

 

 

Men in Stripes: my Uncle Dennis, his son-in-law Jason, and grandson Soren.

Check out how much the girls (especially Olive) changed from last year's Meneely Reunion.  And if you are really bored: 2010 and 2009 and 2008.

School Carnival

After the zoo run we went home and had a nap then hit my school's carnival.  It's free for little ones not in school.  With four bouncy houses and lots of games and prizes, the girls had a blast.  Hannah was very proud of two toy lizards she won.  And did I mention suckers?  Yeah.  They loved it.

 

 

On our way home we stopped at Franklin Park to watch the man with his airplane.  We see him there a lot.  Hannah now wants a remote control airplane for her birthday. 

 

Parkville

The same weekend as Sprint Family Fun Day, we also went to Parkville.  It was the first time for Steve and Hannah to see Marissa and Casey's new house.  Then they went with us to Kansas City Northern Railroad.  Casey works for Union Pacific and I'm pretty sure his job is riding mini trains...so he felt right at home.  Olive tolerated a few rides, then we looked at flowers while Hannah used up the rest of the tickets.

 

Then we took Hannah to her first ever carnival.  It was part of River Fest in downtown Parkville.  Hannah said, "This looks like FUN!"  She was really proud to ride the rides all by herself. Again, Olive was content to just watch Hannah and wave.

 

 

 

 

 

To end our day we ate at a restaurant inside a train car.  Hannah was thrilled.

So was Olive.
 

And we got to watch the real trains pass by out our window.
 

Olive's black bean goatee made me laugh so hard I cried.
 

I love days like this with my family.  So perfect.  When I'm old and gray and my kids are grown, I'll be saying, "Remember that day we took Hannah to the carnival and Olive got beans all over her face?"  I liked high school.  College was even better.  I loved being a newly-wed and starting our life together.  But having a young family is the BEST.  I know my thirties are going to be my favorite time of my life.