Take Your Child to Work Day

April 25th was Take Your Child to Work Day. Every year since Leila has been born I have wanted to bring her to school on that day, but have resisted the urge. But this year she finally came with me to school for WHOLE day! She was so excited and I figured it would be a great experience for her to have prior to starting kindergarten in the fall. She finished morning work just like the others students and I even called her with a reading group. Here is one of her morning work pages: 

I listen to Leila read ALL the time, but (get ready for some bragging!) it was extra special to hear her with my first graders!! She read this solo story completely correct with an appropriate fluency rate!!!! This is unit #21 of #38...meaning that the district expectation is to complete 38 units by the end of first grade and Leila is already at least half-way to reaching that goal before she even starts kindergarten! Hey, at least I warned you that I was going to brag! Needless to say, my heart was bursting with PRIDE!!

Leila made friends with everyone in the class and my kids were ten times better at listening and following directions for the day. I think they wanted to impress Leila. One of her favorite new friends was Miss Cameryn. Leila stuck by Cam like glue.

Lunch time in the cafeteria:

Since it was a special day, we stopped at Menchie's on the way home for a froyo treat. Yum! It was so much fun for me to have my girl in class with me all day. A great memory for this mama.

Hockey Hubby ~ Part 2

 I mentioned earlier on the blog that Chris had signed up for hockey lessons. He is in the middle of the session and learning a lot! We have quite the full Tuesday night around here, but I have come to really enjoy the busyness of it! After school I pick Leila up and head straight to dance, then home for dinner. I make dinner for her and Chris and while they eat I jump on the elliptical. He starts her bath, leaves for hockey and then I finish the bath, getting her dressed. I quickly pack a sandwich for me and oreos for both of us. Then Leila and I head off to the rink to catch the last 45 minutes of hockey practice. Both of us have made some bleacher buddies. Leila loves running around with Jessica and her brother Jericho and I enjoy talking with their mom, Jen. It is rather exciting to watch Chris and the guys out there on ice dressed in all that hockey gear!

It's Official!

 Chris was told in late March that he had been selected as Puyallup School District's secondary Teacher of the Year, but he had to wait until the school board meeting on April 22nd to be officially recognized. It was a very nice presentation. Brian Fox and Brian Lowney both said such kind and truthful things about Christopher. Along with Leila, me and his parents, some of his colleagues came to cheer his on too. Chris was given a plague and has had several articles in the local papers regarding his honor!

Unfortunately, both of our family pictures were too bright for Leila.

Impromptu Picnic

We called up our friends, the Neeleys, one Saturday in April and scheduled a spur of the moment play date at the park. While the kids were crawling all over the play structure the weather was pretty decent but by the time we sat down for a picnic, the clouds had rolled in and it was chilly. Luckily all of us are used to cold spring weather and we were just thankful the rain held. We walked the trails too and had a great time enjoying our friends!

Friends : Leila, Edith and Elliott

Gettin' Ready!

In the fall, Leila will begin kindergarten! Oh my goodness!! We have been talking quite a bit about the exciting news already...even though it is still four months off. We were asking her what kind of backpack she thought she might want and guess what she asked for?!?! A Wings backpack! Of course, we were thrilled...we expected a princess or Strawberry Shortcake pack, which would have been fine, but we were surprised to hear, without hesitation, that she wanted a Red Wings backpack!! We found a youth sized pack on JC Penney's site and it arrived a couple weeks ago. Love it!

Last Show

Our last show to see for SCT's 2012-13 season was Adventures with Spot. I really can't say enough good things about these amazing shows! Our Sunday matinee shows have become such wonderful memories and we truly look forward to each show months in advance!! It is a long wait for the fall and the return of SCT productions!! 

After the show, Leila talked with the actors, like usual, but she also wanted to talk with the tech guys. She wanted to know how the moon and stars were made on the set. The man told her it was a gobo and then let her take one home!! Oh, man. This child was so excited!! Only the daughter of a theatre director would care, let alone know about a gobo!!!! She is always so interested in the "HOW" side of theater...she might end up in the tech booth! Her first comment after the man gave her the gobo was of Austin (one of Daddy's students). She is so excited to share her gobo with her light board buddy, Austin. 

 After the show, we walked around a little bit. The weather was much better than expected!! We even dug out our sunglasses!!

Hockey in OC

 Following three days of Disney fun, we spent our final night in CA at the Duck Pond. We had hoped that the Wings would be in town playing one of the CA teams, but we missed them by a week. Instead we watched the Anaheim Ducks host the Dallas Stars. I was glad to see the Stars win...although I don't really love either team. The game was fun though and it was neat to see another arena. We have now been to four NHL arenas: The Joe (of course, hands down, this is the coolest place to see a hockey game. I mean come on, it's Hockeytown!), Rogers Arena, Staples Center and The Pond. Chris thinks we should try adding to that list next spring break. Sounds like fun!!

 As always, Leila enjoys watching some of the game, coloring, eating some candy, watching some of the game, coloring, eating some candy....etc.

Disneyland ~ Final Day

By day three in Disneyland we had already seen and done a lot of things! We spent some more time in both parks. We spent the early morning in Fantasyland before it got too crowded. We practically walked right on Storybook and during the ride we saw this little family of ducks!

 Another spin on the teacups!

Midmorning Chris got a text from his friend and costumer, Peggy. Her daughter works in the park at the Jedi Training Academy. She was working that day! We headed right over to the next show and thanks to Peggy and Jenni, Leila was chosen to participate!! I don't know who was more excited...Leila or her Dad!?!?!

Learning the ways of the Force with Terra Kia (Jenni).

 Bom, bom, bom. Bommmm bom bom. Bommmmmm bom bom. That is Vader's music - in case it doesn't read well. :0)  Thank goodness Leila was sent to battle Vader and not Darth Maul...he is too scary looking! Disney has it figured out though. The littler kids battled Vader and the older ones Darth Maul.

 After she defeated Vader, the Jedi trainer kept her onstage to fight off some storm troopers. She was the only kiddo that got to do that!!

Knockin' them over with a Force push!

The young padawans:

 Thank you, Peggy and Jenni. It was such an experience! A memory we will smile about for all the years to come!

 The last meet and greets of the evening featured the Big Mouse himself!

Leila had saved her Minnie dress to wear the last day and she wouldn't meet Minnie until she was wearing her dress (Interestingly enough, this is not a dress up costume. We got it at Old Navy in February because it reminded us of Disneyland.).

Leila's first time riding the Astro Orbiters and the last ride of the trip.

 We took a walk through Pixie Hollow on our way out of the park.

Ten minutes after smiling for the picture above, Leila fell asleep, with a cookie in her hand, and was OUT for the night. What a fabulous visit to Disneyland.