Songs by Ava

By Ava
Scooby Snack (sung to the tune of Jingle Bells):

Oh jingle bells,
oh jingle bells!

Spied a trail of crumbs;
(be)cause I'm a Scooby Snack,
Scooby Snack,
Scooby Snack today.

(the "spied a trail of crumbs" sounds more like "spider crumbs")

Words from Cinderella (only managed to write down one verse of her song as she kept going and going; singing & dancing):

"Cinderella keeps an eye on Sleeping Beauty...Cinderella dancing around the room...."

She also said that Monsters eat a lot of Pomegranates.

Hmmm....

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Cute Ava-ism

So...

Here's a little background (otherwise I'm not sure how funny this would be):  Ava has a friend called Carissa she plays with while she's in the babysitting room at the YMCA.

Ava started swimming class this past Thursday.  One of the girls in her class looks an awful lot like Carissa but is NOT (it's Julia).

So, while we were enjoying some "fine dining" at Culver's Ava said:

"There's a girl in swimming class named Julia but she doesn't know her name is really Carissa.... It's Carissa but she thinks her name is Julia."  (or something very close to that; don't you hate it when you don't have a notepad or recorder?)

Funny girl, no?

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Little Geologists...

Oma got Annika a super cool Geology Kit for kids for Christmas.  We studied the rocks with our magnifying glass.  We did a few experiments- we saw if they floated in water and what they did if exposed to vinegar or soda pop (Diet Coke).   Annika recorded her findings in the notebook that came with the kit.

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Come Warm up your Bones!

We visited the Conservatory at Olbrich Gardens in Madison this past Saturday.  Such a pleasant way to warm up the old bones after minus degree temperatures! 

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Bee, B-E-E, Bee

Annika was in her first spelling bee today.  I think she was really nervous about it initially.  It was held in front of the entire elementary school (kindergarten-4th grade).  Those participating in the spelling bee today were either winners or second place alternates of their own class spelling bee.  I'm proud of Annika - she lasted two rounds.  I've been telling her that spelling gets easier when you read, read, read!  (and no, we didn't study the spelling list over the holidays).                    

Annika was very timid in her responses.  I think the judges had a hard time hearing her.  Like the face I captured on the boy sitting directly in front of Annika? 

Annika with her friend Paige- who also participated in the spelling bee. 

At first I was really worried how Annika would react to being outed after two rounds but she didn't have any issues at all.  I think it was a relaxed, non-threatening atmosphere where the kids could see what a spelling bee is like.

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Gimme that Tooth!

Just a little wiggling help from Daddy....

and out it came!

Annika's new smile!

Do you remember my post wayyyyyyy back in October about Annika's shark teeth? (I mean she had a permanent tooth coming in behind her baby tooth).  Well...nearly 2+ months later it's gone!  Annika was a very brave girl.  She let her Daddy help her finally get it out.  The permanent tooth is more or less fully in so it doesn't look like she's got much of a gap.  She was extremely excited to finally lose her first tooth!  I think most of her friends have all lost at least one by now.  I think there's another permanent tooth coming in behind a different baby tooth on her lower jaw.  Hmmm...wondering now if we'll need to have a talk with the dentist or just let Mother Nature take her own course.

I'm now wondering what the going rate is for the Tooth Fairy these days?

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Balloon Drop 2009

Look at all those balloons above!  Our local YMCA had a fun family-friendly  New Year's Eve event.  The kids were all anxiously waiting for the balloons to drop at 8:45pm.  (in)Patiently waiting for the count-down to start!

Some of the balloons had candy and gift certificates to our local Burger King (which we never, ever visit) in them.  Oh, the popping noise!  Annika handled it all pretty well which really surprised me.  (she generally hates loud noises)

Jason & Christina prancing twirling on the dance floor.

A bunch of happy kids!

I'm trying out a new blogging editor I just found.  I can't tell yet if I like this one better than the old one.....

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My Resolutions for 2010

Here are my Resolutions for 2010:

1. Not make New Year's Resolutions!

2. See above.

:)

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Happy New Year!

I don't know about you but we've been having a blast here!

We had friends (Jason & Christina) come visit us this past week. Fortunately, they have a daughter (Claire) that is nearly a year older than Annika. That meant all the girls had fun playing together (along with a few squabbles thrown in just because).

Here's me reading a story to all the girls on our guests' first night.Christina helping the girls make the photo mobile we got for Claire as a Christmas gift. Naturally we put photos of us in the mobile- so she will remember us even when she's back safe & sound in Oklahoma.
Annika and Claire working really, really, really hard moving an old, long forgotten, truck tire.

They were determined to move it to a different snow pile. Christina and I went out to get the mail after these photos were taken and when we got back- guess what? They really HAD moved that tire all by themselves! Hooray for teamwork!

Claire working on some craft project.

Annika and Claire had many discussions centering around what they wanted to be when they grow up. Apparently, they both want to be scientists. Amazing! Annika decided to write it all down......

Christina battling Jason at Air Sports on Wii Resort. Go Christina, Go!

Two friends- Claire & Annika.

Claire & Ava

We spent New Year's Eve teaching our lovely guests how to downhill ski at Sundown Mountain. They did great for being first-timers! Complete & total bummer that I didn't manage to take any photos! Sigh....

Later that evening we celebrated at our local YMCA- they had inflatable bounce houses, a dj playing fun kids' music, face painting, open swimming sessions and lots of other fun activities that were just perfect for entertaining our three girls. They also had a photographer that took our family photo...it's ummmmm...how to put this nicely? Not the best quality. I used a photo editing program to make it slightly better.

Here's a first- we were actually AWAKE to ring in the new year! Our usual way of celebrating is to sleep right through it.

What else did we do this crazy week?

Well, we broke in a new & very fun sled I just bought...I'm not sure who enjoyed sledding more- the adults or the girls. I know I really liked getting a turn on that new sled. Mark got on his downhill skis and Jason gave them a try as well. And yes, I forgot to get out the camera since I was too busy having fun.

What else did we do?

Christina and I got to spend a day in Madison-sans little girls. We even got to be pampered at a spa for a few hours thanks to generous gifts from our loving husbands.

And just so you don't think us older girls had all the fun: the guys got to see some boring ol' movie in 3-D in the theater (I'm probably going to get a talking to about that statement) and play video games to their hearts' content. Oh...and they cut down a tree so that we now have excellent dry firewood.

Happy New Year!

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