TWELVE LONG YEARS!

Ever since I first met Chris, 13 years ago, he has told me of his most beloved, most favorite drink Frescolita! Even the way he says Frescolita , is like he's talking about a long lost girl friend or something. Well imagine the scene when a couple of weeks ago we met the parents of one of Linden's classmates...who just happen to be from Venezuela....and who just happened to know of a latin market just 20 minutes away from us that sells Frescolita. Well, he didn't weep with joy, but I think he may have squeeled with joy!!! Needless to say, we were there the next day, and Chris bought a FLAT of Frescolita (48 cans, I think). His joy was complete when he also found his favorite Malta - Malta Polar. As for Frescolita....tastes like Cream Soda, LOL :-) Chris is perhaps most proud of Linden who LOVES Malta, just as much as he does!

HALLOWEEN - WHAT A HOOT!

We had a great time celebrating Halloween this year. Linden was super excited to put up our Halloween decorations, and help her dad carve the pumpkins. She had a great schedule of events too. Trunk or Treat at Church, a School Party and Parade, and then the big night itself. A couple of days before Trick or Treating, Linden told me to be sure to call and get a "group" to go trick or treating with, because it would be alot more fun! So the night fell with the best weather ever, and the kids had a great time going out together...Josh was Mario, Brooke was Princess Peach, Mary was SuperGirl, and of course the Queen Cleopatra!

The Mother Goose Olympics

I'm just going to go ahead and say it....I'm sure I'll be saying it again before the end of the school year....here it is.....Linden has the BEST kindergarten teacher EVER! There now I've said it!

I was a parent volunteer for the Mother Goose Olympics. There were a bunch of "Olympic" events, all themed around a Mother Goose rhyme, and after completing each event the kids got to add a star to their gold medal. The Olympics started off with the athletes marching into the library for the Opening Ceremonies, and then passing the Olympic Torch, and being awarded their Gold medals by their teachers. And then it was every team for themselves, we were off to compete. I thought they were all great, but I loved the "Jack jumped over the candlestick" event, where the kids really did have to hop over candlesticks, and the kids loved the "Humpty Dumpty had a great fall" where they got to roll down a little slide. We had a great team of Linden, Sarah, Sean, and Michael, and the kids all had a great time together. Kudo's to Mrs. Blank for such an enthusiastic curriculum for Kindergarten!

A Day at the Cider Mill with Grace

A couple of weeks ago we were at the park with Linden, and she met a little girl named Grace. They had a really great time playing with each other, and so as we left her dad asked if we'd like to exchange phone numbers so the girls could play together again. Our first planned outing was a Michigan Must, the annual trip to the Cider Mill. Linden and Grace had a lot of fun with the amusement activities (inflatable slides and bouncers), especially the inverted bungee jumping. We also went on a hay ride, picked some awesome apples, had cider and donuts, and after MUCH careful consideration Linden and Grace each picked out their very own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. It was a great day!

Quite the Artist

Linden loves her Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Blank. One day, after seeing a pretty notepad my mom had given me with a peacock on it, Linden asked me to draw a peacock for her. I drew the peacock and she did the rest. On the back she colored a big pink heart. When it was done she told me that it was for her teacher Mrs. Blank. I thought she did such a great job that I took a picture of it. I think she may have some of my Grandma Rudd's artistic talents. In fact I've told her that "I think that she has a real talent for coloring" so often now, that she is now saying herself, "well Mommy you know that coloring is my talent!" Kids are so funny.

GREAT Company - Auntie Andrea, Uncle Murray and Brennie!!!

We were really lucky to have Linden's GREAT Aunt Andrea, and GREAT Uncle Murray come and visit for a couple of days on their way to visit the Civil War history sites in the Eastern US states. Linden especially loved Brennie, my Aunt's lovable Irish Setter, and their cool house on wheels (ie. motor home)! Oh and Auntie and Uncle weren't too bad either :-) Linden's highlight was being in charge of walking Brennie, and when Brennie came in with Auntie and went up to her room to LICK her awake for breakfast the morning they were leaving, and of course her ride as first mate in the front passenger seat of the motor home. We had a great visit, and it's always fun to see how much Linden enjoys having company.

Tour of the Promised Land - Primary Activity

When I told Linden about the Primary Activity and that she could go dressed as her favorite scripture character, she immediately said, "I want to be Mary!" So the day came, and we found our pillowcase head dress, and one of mom's nightshirts and she looked so cute. Just as I was rushing her out the door, she said, "I need a baby Jesus, Mommy!" In the mad dash that ensued, we found another pillowcase for the swaddling clothes, and at long last a naked baby for the Baby Jesus. We arrived, and Linden was the only Mary that had remembered Baby Jesus. And for the purists out there, don't worry, I did explain to the Primary president, that Yes, we do know Jesus was not Black, it was just the only naked baby we could locate on short notice amongst Linden's toys!!!!

First School Field Trip

Linden's first Kindergarten field trip was to Upland Hills Farm. I'm pretty sure the best part for Linden was the fact that to get to the Farm, we got to ride a school bus. Linden has been begging to ride on a school bus for the last 3+ years. We see them ALL the time, and everytime she sees one, she will ask "when will I get to ride on one of those?" Of course, knowing that we are walkers (ie. too close to the school for the city to deem us needing the school bus for transportation), I didn't have the heart to tell her it could be a LONG time. Needless to say, finding out that her first field trip would include a school bus was VERY exciting! So here are a few great pics from the outing. Oh yes, and one more thing. On the way to the farm, we sat in the very first row, and on the way back, we sat in the very back row, so we've done it all now!!!!

A couple of things about the farm, first of all a hay ride never gets old! And secondly, Linden got a great kick out of the little billy goat that lived on a little deck and bridge in the rafters of the barn roof, look carefully and you will see him in one of the pics. Also, the little girl with Linden is Brooke from Linden's class. She was our buddy for the day!