Pioneer Family Pizza Night

Last night was our Family Night at Pioneer Club. We had Pizza Night which obviously consisted of pizza but the kids got to put on the toppings. We bought the crusts all ready to go, sauced them and then lined them up n the counter for the kids to have at it. I actually think they did very good. I have to admit I was a bit worried how the pizzas were going to end up looking after the kids added their toppings (I was thinking back to crazy hair night and for us club people and parents who attended, we all know how that looked).

Here is Colby and a few kids that are in my class adding their toppings. Colby of coarse, cheesing for the camera.

Braden was very serious and intent on where the mushrooms went on his pizza. Such determination.
Another look of determination, this time with cheese. Cordell was precise on his cheese placement.
These girls were enjoying each others conversation as they decided what to put on their pizza.
The Carpenter family worked together to create their master piece for our event.
Once the pies were topped, we had to cook them and while that was going on all the kids found something to entertain. Some went to the kids room to play, some ran around, mine sat at their table as long as they could waiting for their pies. They really just wanted to scarf their pizza so they could have dessert, mom's fruit pizzas. Yeah, I made two fruit pizzas and two cookie dessert pizzas which consist of a cookie for the crust just as the fruit one, but then strawberry jam spread on it, shredded white chocolate for the cheese and circle cut out fruit roll up for the pepperoni. They were cute and all of it was gone at the end of the night.
Here is a group that found the stacking cups to keep them busy, including my daughter Bre which is the one sitting and facing the camera.
The boys got their turn on the cups too.
After food, Jennifer and Gay took the kids to the old sanctuary to play a relay game while many of the parents helped the remaining club leaders clean up. It was such a great night and actually the best one I think we have had. At least since I have been a part of club. Thanks to all parents who helped, donated food and to my fellow club leaders.

I love piggies and we have a challenge!

I truly love piggy tails! I wore them much while I was young and my girl actually let me put her hair up the other night, in a long time. My dear girl friend's little one (Miss Rachel) has made it to the piggy tail club and I adore seeing them on her cute little head every Sunday. My Miss Madi has been asking me since the other night, to see my picture of me when I had my piggies. She enjoys my stories of when I was young and I adore telling them to her. She is growing up so fast!

Me when I was 3 or 4........................... Madi this past weekend

We started a challenge today, a stop sucking the thumb during the day challenge. For those of you who have been around Madi ever since she was so little, your probably have a look on your face like.......
OK, maybe more of a surprised, shocked look. Yes, we are going to try to progressively make the habit disappear. We started with a band aide on the thumb as her "mander" as she calls it which is reminder. She has 5 chances a day (for a week or two). If she doesn't get 5 frowny faces on her chart, she gets a sticker (tonight she got a sucker), the next two days she has to get stickers to get her sucker on Friday. We will keep you posted on her progress. As for today, she made it the whole day without it getting to her or her sucking on it or even trying to take off the band aide. She did outstanding as far as mommy is concerned. She is my sweet girl!!!!

Presidents Day at the Children's Museum (this is a long one)

Presidents Day, our kids had the day off from school except Bre. She goes to the city school, so I guess you could say them there country kids had the day off. After having already decided we wanted to take them to the museum, I did some research and found that they offer free days on particular days and by george, one of those days was right around the corner. We just saved a bundle! Here is the crew nice and early, just loaded into the van and ready to head south. It was a surprise and suppose to stay that way until one evening at the dinner table DAD let it totally slip!


This is a beautiful blown glass display that is right in the center of the walk way that takes you from floor to floor (four floors let me tell you).
This is in the Carousel and Dreams area. It has three play houses, one is an ice cream parlor, one a house and the last is a tree house complete with some contraption that allows you to look out over the area electronically. The kids couldn't really explain it to me and I couldn't get up there to see it myself. I also couldn't get all the kids to stay up there and wait until they were together to get a picture. Her is Miss Madi and her side kick brothers.
Miss Autumn poking her head out as well. After playing a bit in the houses we moved onto the carousel. Now, a few weeks ago we took the kids on a carousel in Fort Wayne at the mall and when the ride began to slow down, my Madi began to cry because she wasn't done and her ride was NOT over. She was ever so excited when she saw this ride up on this floor of the museum. She could hardly wait.
She did experience a bit of upset feelings when she found out her brother would be riding on the buck though and not letting her. The girl just can't have it perfect you know. She did enjoy though and flashed me a sad look when this ride too began to slow down. Good thing there was so much to do that would distract her.

Daddy was with the girls while mom.......
was with the boys. After taking their picture, the horse next to them was open, so I my self got to have a ride. I love carousels and always have since I was a little girl and my Grammy and grandpa would take me to Pier 39 and I would always get to go on the carousel. How exciting it was to go and I would go by myself so it was even more exciting feeling so big but every rotation always looking for their faces and waiting to wave to them. Next stop, the science area with the most exciting part for our kids.......
the water table. What kid doesn't love to play in water, splash and soak their regular clothes? Our kids do and boy were their sleeves sooo wet. As I have made tradition from way back, I took a self picture. I have made this something Rodney and I do now when we go on vacation or adventures. It will be good when the kids can take our pictures, but I have always enjoyed trying to figure out where to hold the camera so I would cut any ones head off. He's such a good sport and we have actually ended up with some pretty good pictures.
Lego Land display. This was amazing! They had this huge dragon made from the tiny Lego's, they had a life size horse with night on him made of the block sized Lego's and they had
a life size armor made of the small Lego's as well. It was a knight/kingdom theme if you couldn't tell, complete with a video game where you could build a wall around your castle, then aim a catapult and launch it virtually.
Ok, now to many this little model of a town will just be kind of "eh", but to those who are from Madison Indiana or are married to someone from there this is cool. This was a replica of Madison from sooo long ago. I actually forget the date and didn't write it down. It was some time in the 1800's and when trains were main transport (aside from boats). This was unexpected and such a delight. I was able to get a picture of a sign they had that said something about Madison station computer desk that Rodney will be putting as his wallpaper on his computer.
After our stroll through Madison we ran into some ferocious, huge creatures. The dinosaurs were cool! Madi was kind of taken and the boys and Rodney loved it. I enjoyed it as well and actually snuck away to a cubby hole that was a part of the display where you crawl in and pop your head up into this bubble, then Rodney got the kid's attention and I waved to them. They were really intrigued how I was there. They got a turn too.
Ok, almost through our day. Wow, I am almost getting as tired blogging this as I was this day. This picture is actually (stick with me) the floor where the blown glass piece is sitting on, but is the ceiling to the room below. It was such a beautiful display of colors and it took all you had not to just throw your head back and get lost in the sea of it all.
Our last stop was the planetarium. I took this picture right before the show would begin and can you tell how tired this crew is? Wow. Madi fell asleep before the show started (basically as soon as I was done with the picture taking). After we left the museum, we took a drive through the city (Colby and I love to see the city so much and I have a feeling the rest do to). We then took a drive towards home, stopping in Kokomo to have dinner at the Cracker Barrel. The kids were so good even with being so tired. We stuffed our selves so much it was crazy and everyone except the adults and Colby fell fast asleep the remaining portion home. What a way to celebrate!

A new look!

I got my new glasses today and I am very excited about it. Let me tell you all a little bit about where I am at right now with this whole glasses thing. Obviously I have been having issues seeing and was beginning to get headaches. I bought my self some Walmart reading glasses and have been using them for about a year and a half now. I had the opportunity to go to the eye doctor and have an exam. Here is the thing....... I am at the time of the exam, only 27. I have been dealing with getting gray hair ( and I'm not talking 1 or 2). The eye doctor tells me "bifocals". Seriously! Now I feel so much older than I am. At first I decided against them and was going with just prescription reading glasses. Well, I came to my senses, got over myself and went a head with the bifocals. I got progressive so there is no line. I LOVE them! I can so see and have a new look on things. The only bad thing, I can really see those gray hairs now. I'll be taking care of those in a few weeks.