Easter Scavenger Hunt clues...

Fun!  Fun!  Hiding eggs and letting them search.  My dad writes clues for an older cousin to find around the farm, so this year, I decided to make my kids find their eggs.  Sarah had clues in every egg, but some also had little prizes like Moshi Monsters and girl Legos.  Shane's had something plus the clue in every egg.  A few Lego guys, boy squinkies, and then a Bionicle split up into the last few.  I found a large, 8 inch egg at Walmart as the final one.

Here are the clues for the 10 year old...(things in ( ) are for clarification for readers)
1.  Letterboxing was fun, you think?  Look in a place to get a drink.  (Letterboxing was a girl scout activity from last weekend's camporee)
2.  Isn't it fun looking for clues?  Look in a place where you'll find shoes.
3.  You found one here, you found one there, now find one hiding in a chair.
4.  High and low.  Short and tall. Be careful going down - don't fall. (on stairs)
5.  You figured that one out "Oh My!" The next one will be found up high!
6.  Funny how it was almost out of reach.  Find the next clue packing for the beach! (where we store beach towels)
7.  Good job!  Don't ever think you can't. The next one is inside a plant.
8.  You're good at this game.  Now can you find one behind a frame?
9.  A few more left around the house! Look out, I think I see a mouse! (computer mouse)
10.  Hello?  Hello? Are you there? Amazing how sound travels through air. (by phone)
11.  HaHa HeeHee. I can't fool you.  Look inside something blue! (My favorite...inside a blown up balloon.  she had to pop it to find prize and clue)
12.  Great searching, of you I'm proud.  The last one RINGS really loud. (by back door alarm)(I had to have Shane open the back door and set off the alarm for Sarah to get it.)  I wish she had more perseverance!

for the 7 year old...
1. This year's eggs must be found in ORDER.  Find the next one on the stairs.
2.  Yeah!  Now look by the door to EXIT.
3.  Are you feeling thirsty for some milk?
4.  Looks like it's gonna rain, better grab an umbrella.
5. Maybe you should wash your hands, they are looking a little green (sink in green bathroom)
6.  Your next clue is by a cross.
7. Maybe it's time for a break.  Want to watch some TV?
8.  OK. Ok. Maybe some piano instead?
9.  Not here either?  How about a snack?
10.  You're good at this game, maybe next year I should PRINT them instead (by printer)
11.  Ooops.  My pencil broke, maybe I should get another... (by pencil jar)
12.  Hurray! You're almost done.  Look by the window to continue the fun.
13. :)

How many?

generations does it take to make a cake for Cub Scouts? 

The plan...Boston Cream Pie

With a Cub Scout Blue and Gold Twist

(Shane's diagram of how he wanted to ice it)

Since this was a "Dad and Lad" cake bake, I wasn't allowed to help.  Steve was on a trip, landing at 1:30, Shane had baseball practice from 1-3, and the event started at 5:00.  SO...

PaPa came over at 8 am on Saturday morning to help Shane  bake the cakes

They cooled during baseball practice

and when Steve got home... they made the pudding, colored the icing and put it on the cakes.

Yes, they even cleaned the kitchen, both times!

 

What a fun day!  Shane is a lucky boy!  

P.S. Memaw bid on Shane's cake, so we finally got to taste it after the banquet.  It was good!  But, Shane only liked the pudding part.

The Price of a NAP...

 So a few weekends ago, while I was taking a nap, apparently my kids were eating everything in the pantry.  Hungry? yes. Sneaky? no.  {Sneaky kids would have cleaned up after themselves so they wouldn't get caught.}  I am glad that they are able to survive on their own.  I am thinking a lesson on the food-pyramid might be needed.  I will have to go back to work full-time when Shane gets to be a teenager.  And yes, they did have to clean up their messes!

Pet Care

Shane is writing a non-fiction book at school about caring for a pet.  He chose to write about Oreo.  He decided on these pictures {his categories...feeding, caring, and grooming} and staged them so he could add them to his book at school today.  Can't wait to see the book.

Turning 7...Skylanders

Shane is into ALL things Skylanders, so that was his theme this year. I also found his things on Etsy. Here is a link to the company I used.  I got the digital invitation, designs for the cupcake toppers, and the candy bar wrappers for his favors.  (As I just went on Etsy, there were many more choices than I had 2 weeks ago when planning all this.)

My mom and mother-in-law did a great job at changing everything over from pink to blue in the short time between the parties.  THANK YOU!!!

Shane's friends were singing a funny version of "Happy Birthday" and he was so tickled.

 

That boy loves his brownie. (Just like his Daddy.)

Here are most of the Skylanders in case you are not lucky enough to know them.  Sadly, I know their names and powers.  We have the Wii version of the game.  When you place the critter on the portal, the thing appears on the screen and it is your character in the game.  You can change the characters based on what is going on.  He got many of the critters for Christmas, but having a Jan 16th birthday, made it hard to find them once the craze caught on.  I put many of miles on my van running around town looking for the new ones.  (We found a brand new set in Utah at a Best Buy!)

Here is the colossal bounce house that we had.  We rented from K&B rentals, which had a really good price.   It had an obstacle course, a bounce room, and a slide.  In order to get the bouncy, my kids had to agree to have their parties on the SAME day (different times).  It was a crazy, busy day, but once it was over, I was really glad we did it this way.  Now I have 11 months off before planning next year's parties. ;)

Snow Buddies

We recently went to Salt Lake City, Utah for a ski trip.  On the last day, we rented snowmobiles in Park City and went for a guided tour.  There was so little snow, we had to travel a ways up to drive smoothly.  The metal skis on the bottom do not make a pretty sound when driving over dirt.  The guide said that they had about 18" low compared to most years.  Along our way to the top of this mountain, there was this cliff that the guide took our pictures on.  It really was safe, but the pictures look like we were falling over. 

 

Here you can really see how little snow there was.  This should have been fully white and beautiful.

 Shane's choice of activity was to simply play in the snow.  This is as much powder as we ever saw.  He and Sarah enjoyed going up and steam-rolling down.  Ski bibs are so great for keeping you warm and dry.  Glad we sprung for them this year for the kids.

Oh yes it is...

This is not what one expects to find in their sink, unless you have a Shane of your own.  He decided to see what would happen if he put poo in the sink and left it for a period of time.  He wondered if it would dissolve.  Now, I love his questioning mind, but not in MY sink.  I told him, we could have just left it in the toilet and made a sign, "please do not flush, science experiment."   He later used gloves and did clean out my sink for me.  Whew!  The fun of parenting never ends!

Ghost Lantern

Fun at a Cub Scout campout.  They decorated ghost lanterns instead of carving pumpkins.  Love it!  We put colored glow stick in them on Halloween and they were too cute.

All things Star Wars

Shane got some new art, too.  We had his name made at Legoland in San Diego while we were there this summer.  I finally got it framed and up on the wall.  He picked out the glitter mat b/c he thought it looked like stars.  Love It!

One last hurrah!

Kids having fun during our last visit to NRH2O for the season.

Oreo's birthday

So, our little cat, Oreo turned one in August.  The kids gave her some wet cat food as a treat.  This picture is blurry of Shane, but it was too funny not to include.  I love how he is trying to make her "smile" and look at the camera. 

She enjoys her new climbing tower and perch.  She scrathes on its post, which is a great alternative to our couch. :)

Snow Cute

 

Here's one from kindergarten.  I <3 snowmen!

art

OK, so these are from LONG....ago. 

Shane made this at Heritage Christian preschool sometime in 2009. 

The words say: Shane is a Child of God.

I am 4 years old.

My favorite color is blue.

My favorite food is pickles. 

Not much has changed except that he's older, taller, and has longer hair.

Sarah created her name with bingo-dobber type markers.  So fun! 

They blew through the workbook that went with these cool craft must-haves.

Pack 717

Shane joined cub scouts this year as a Tiger Cub. Each month there is a pack meeting where they receive all of the awards that they have earned that month. Because Papa was a scout master for nine years and Rob and Tim are both Eagle Scouts, we invited them to Shane's first pack meeting. Shane received patches for helping to clean up Christ's Haven and  participating in a flag ceremony.  He was so embarrassed to have to stand in front of the group to get his patches. 

He also received his Bobcat rank.  For this award, Steve had to pin the patch on upside down.  Once he does a good turn, he can turn it right side up.  Tradition WAS that the boy was turned upside down and the patch was pinned on as normal.  This is no longer allowed as it is considered "hazing".  Well, I wanted pictures of Daddy holding Shane upside down, so after the meeting, we took Shane out on the porch and let Steve put it on while Papa held him.  They were all giggling so much, it was fun to watch.