All My Kids 2014

If I think it's hard to get 5 children to all smile,

look at the camera,

 and have their eyes open at the same time,

then adding 6 goats does complicate matters.

Sometimes we have to stop.....

wipe the goat kiss off,

and try again.  

6 Mile Slough Field Trip

^

Today Sarah's second grade class

took a field trip to our 6 Mile Slough.

They have these wonderful boardwalks

in among the trees and up above the swamp.

We looked and saw all kinds of wildlife.

At one point, I noticed a squirrel 

and it seemed he was laughing at me.

I really thought he was laughing.

But it was just a nut.

We had a volunteer walk with us

and she helped us find and identify

so many plants and animals.

We really wanted to see an alligator.

And later on, below the boardwalk,

we saw tracks in the mud from an alligator.

It was cool under the canopy.

And it was cool under the pavilions.

And then it was time for lunch.

Show Time!

Today my oldest daughter left on her Outward Bound trip

in the wilderness of North Carolina.

And my youngest daughter performed in her 

ballet studio's Spring Show.

They both were looking forward to it.

Class Field Trip

Sarah's class had a field trip to our small farm!

For several years now I have had a neighborhood preschool come visit.

In fact, they brought four classes over this past friday.

The kids in that group are 4 and 5 years old.

It is always so much fun.

But what a difference to have second graders here!

These kids asked some very intelligent questions.

And many, many questions about goat poop.

They held the chickens and pet the goats

and fed the horse and then asked more questions

about goat poop.

I guess when you deal with goat poop every day

you forget how fascinating it is.

Locks for Love

Every spring at Sarah's elementary school

they host a donation day for Locks for Love.

Last spring she was inspired by her friend Sophie 

who had donated her long hair.

All year Sarah grew her hair hoping to reach the 10" minimum

and still have hair left over!

So today, during the morning school news,

she took a turn with a handful of other girls,

and climbed up on the stool and got her pony tail cut off.

What a brave, good girl.

I wondered how she would react.

Her big sister has done it twice and the first time for Ranae was hard.

Sarah never stopped smiling.

(But she did tell me that she wants long hair again.)

Recital Time

Sarah played two piano pieces for the recital:

Bittersweet Blues and Carnival of Venice. 

Both are by Nancy and Randall Faber.

Ranae sang On My Own from Les Miserables.

Ranae also played Go The Distance from Walt Disney Pictures'

Hercules arranged by Mona Rejino.

And after the recital there were snacks and friends and lots of giggles.