Fall Break in Review

Fall Break started on a Wednesday.  In fact, the very Wednesday that we received our package in the mail.  (Great way to start the fun).  We decided we needed to do some fun things for the break.  It's not easy to think of fun things to do when: 

1.) You aren't familiar with the area 

and 2.) You don't yet have any friends.  

So, we had to improvise.  Here is a lot of pictures of the things we accomplished during the 6 day break:

We did some art.  We used recycle goods to make bats!

 Once the bats were made, instead of hanging them up from the trees outside as planned... we played indoor soccer with them.  I'm thinking that was even more fun.

We explored the canyon.  Look at those colors!  I love seeing the autumn leaves!

 We walked to the only store in town and bought ice cream!

 We played at the park... a lot!  

 On Saturday, we went up "north" to do our supplies shopping.  We decided to make it a fun day, so we left early and stopped at Thanksgiving Point to check out a museum that my awesome cousin, Liz, told me about.  "The Museum of Natural Curiosity".  Thanks to our passes to the Science Center (which we won't be visiting any time soon) we were able to get into the Museum for free.  It was really neat.  Here are a few pictures.

 Brandon was brave and took 3 young kids into a pitch black tunnel.  They didn't like it too much... but they did it.  And I watched from outside.

 In case you were wondering... this is how much the ENTIRE Smithson family weighs.  We all got on together.

Sunday was our first opportunity to visit church.  Until then, it had been conferences and more conferences.  It was nice to sit in regular meetings.  The children still haven't had a regular Sunday, as they have been practicing for the primary program, but at least they got to meet some more kids!

It was a fun Fall Break!

Crafts (Book Club and Valentines Day)

It's getting toasty outside already.  I believe it has been in the mid to upper 70's all week (which is warm for January).  So, we have been doing some crafts, out back.  Wednesday was our monthly book club meeting.  We read The Magic Tree House #5: The Night of Ninjas.  After discussing the book, the kids made some blossoming trees (like the ones in the book) and also some ninja book marks.  It was a lot of fun.

 Yesterday we started some Valentines Crafts.  I let them paint time toilet paper hearts that we will turn into something else, and then a giant heart each.  It was really fun.

My favorite moment was when Melanie declared: "I'm so glad I'm in Camille's family.  She is the nicest mommy and lets me do fun things".  It made me smile that she thinks I'm the nicest mommy, but I have to admit, hearing her call me by my first name made me chuckle out loud.  What a silly girl.

p.s. I'm glad I'm in Melanie's family.  She makes me smile and teaches me so many things.

Building Snowmen in the Desert

School is out and it's time for some fun and family memories.  This is one that poor Oliver missed out on because he was miserable and needed to nap, so I will be doing a repeat soon.  Yesterday, we made SNOWMEN.  In our BACKYARD!  Can you believe that?  And it was in the 70's when we did it.  In fact, the girls didn't have gloves on, and were wearing skirts.  How is this possible?  Well, I made the "snow" from 2 basic ingredients that you can find in most houses:  baking soda and shaving cream.  Mixed together, you get a nice cold powder ready to play with.  It's probably a sad thing that this is how my girls first experienced building a snowman... but ironically, it's about the same size as the first snow man I ever built, and I was in my 20's and married when I did it.  It's an Arizona thing, I think.

Here is Melanie and her first snowman.

 Here is Noelle with her first snowman in the background.

 When the girls were done making snowmen and playing in the "snow", we decided to add some vinegar to add a little excitement to our afternoon.

 Tell me...  do other snowmen do this:

This is definitely a repeat activity!  We loved our "snowday".

Creativity

Creativity is definitely NOT lacking at the Smithson House.  I love to see the different ways that the kids use their imagination.  Here are some recent examples of my girls' creativity.

Yesterday, Noelle was trying to do her hair fancy for a "ball dance" that she was "going to" after dinner.  This was what she came up with.

 Very elegant, Noelle!

Melanie is also Ms. Creativity.  She wanted to make a dress for her stuffed doll, but it was a little harder than she thought...  So instead, she made a dress for a paper doll.

 She may have had a little help in the middle.

Here is her final project!  A beautiful princess with an even more beautiful and unique dress.  Great Job, Ms. Melanie!