First and Last

Today's was Allison's last day at Rainbow Preschool! Allison has spent 3 years at Rainbow and I have been filled with so much gratitude (especially on these last few days) for great teachers, beautiful gardens, and a community of parents that all want to see our kids succeed and grow to be good citizens.

Here is Allison's "All About Me" Page from her last day. I love that she mentions Tim Hortons.

Here is a picture from Allison's first day of Rainbow, and a picture of her on her last day of Rainbow School. Today's picture was taken at the end of the day (which is why her hair is a mess and she's missing shoes).

Train Day

I've been wanting to go to the Kansas City Northern Miniature Railroad since I started making my KC summer bucket list a few months ago. The train runs in a small field next to the Line Creek Park Trail (another item to explore on my list). Our friends, the Meyrings, held their daughter's 5th birthday at the event. They rented a tent and had cake (McLain's) and drinks for us to enjoy before we each set out to explore the face painting, bounce houses, live music, free train rides, games and exhibits.

It was a fun day and I'm glad Nathan had the weekend off so he could enjoy it with us. The only thing I didn't enjoy was when I suddenly felt a shooting pain in my toe. It was so painful, I was nervous to look at it because I thought I stepped on glass. Turns out, a bee had stung me and left behind a stinger.

 

Busy May Days

May has been extremely busy for our family. We typically have at LEAST 4 activities booked each weekend and it's been running us ragged - but with several families moving away, school ending, and special events, it's hard to turn anything down.

This morning was the opening of Sting Ray Bay, a new exhibit at the KC Zoo. It has a large pool with sting rays and tiger sharks that you can put your hands into and pet the animals as they swim by. You can also buy food (a small fish) for $1, and hold it between your fingers at the bottom on the pool and when the stingrays swim by they will grab  it from you. Allison and I were at the zoo at 7:50am and were lucky enough to get food (there is limited feeding). Allison was nervous, but after she saw me do it, she was excited.

We didn't stay too long at the exhibit because there were many people there to see the sting rays. We had 30 minutes before we had to leave for school so we rode the carousel, visited the otters, polar bear, and swans, and played a few tunes before heading out.

 

At lunch time, the parents of kids in the Rainbow room were invited for an picnic. Out of the 20 kids who were at school, 12 parents showed up. The kids were really excited to see their moms and dads.

For the third event of the day, we met up with a group of friends at Loose Park (Nathan had a commitment with work friends) for a picnic. The kids had a great time playing on a popular climbing tree. We only have a few more days with the Moore family, so even though we were tired, tonight was an event we couldn't miss.

 

 

Softie

Nathan cut the grass tonight, and when he came in he said that he would have to cut the front side section another night because a baby bird had fallen out of a nest and was hopping around in the grass. The mother/father birds were hovering around it chirping loudly so Nathan it could wait.

Provider of the Month

Each month, a doctor in Nathan's practice is named "Provider of the Month." Their picture and bio is put up on the bulletin board, they get a certificate, and the team collects kind statements from colleagues to support the doctor.

Nathan brought his certificate home and I'm super proud of him.

Curls

After swim lessons, Allison's hair was especially curly and I wanted to get a picture of it since she usually sleeps on wet hair so her curls are always flat. I told her that if she let me take her picture I would fill up the kiddie pool in the backyard.

 

Allison's interest in the kiddie pool didn't last long, and after lunch we decided to go to Deanna Rose Farmstead for the afternoon. I told Allison she could do 3 things (that cost money). She chose a goat bottle ($1), pony ride ($3) and fishing ($3). I'd never done the fishing before. They give you a stick with a hook and buoy and a bucket of 5 worms. It took me a minute to remember how to fish (that I have to jab these nasty worms onto a hook). Allison was so grossed out that she didn't want to try it so it fell to me. When I asked what to do if I caught a fish, the girl working said to "take it off the line and throw it back." I'm not grossed out by fish but this was not the day I planned. While we were fishing, a blue heron came and stood about 5 meters from us. I've never been so close to one before and it was amazing. I thought maybe he wanted our fish, but our hooks didn't have a barb so the fish kept pulling the worms right off the hook without getting snagged! I guess I didn't have to worry about taking a fish off a line anyway!

 

Sprinkler

It was another 30 degree day here in KC so after school, we got out the hose/sprinkler for Allison to play in. Nathan was home by 4pm (most days he's home at 6pm) so we were able to have some family time before he had to head out for the evening.

Happy Mother's Day!

Allison woke me up at 6:30am to tell me that she had a Mother's Day gift for me. I took it and sat down to open it, but she insisted on "helping me." So she opened the box, pulled out the picture frame and showed me a picture of her in a frame that she made at school. I loved it. It was my first real piece of Mother's Day kid art. Allison then asked, "where are you going to put it?"
"In my room!" I said.
"Hmmm.....I think it would look better in mine." So now my Mother's Day gift is in her room and I don't know when I'll get it back.

I asked Nathan what he was going to get me for Mother's Day and he gave me the old, "You're not my Mother!" But I reminded him that it was "Mother's Day, not YOUR mother's day." He laughed and bought me this shirt from Charlie Hustle (a KC clothing shop) in response. After church (I did not wear this shirt to church) I took some photos with Allison in the backyard. She loves having control of the camera remote.

 

 

 I love this photo because it sums up me as a parent. "Why are you doing this?" I'm probably asking.

Here is Allison after church.