Gymnastics

Grant and his buddy Caden have been taking gymnastics classes together for several months now. The last class of his last session, Miss Angie did a Circus theme. Grant was scared of the clown pictures and refused to do that part of the circuit (I can't blame him, I thought they were scary too!). Here he is crawling across the bars like a some circus animal.

Next they were supposed to do a forward roll through this circle of flames. You can tell from the picture below that Grant wasn't too sure about this either. He told Miss Angie it was too dangerous!! hahaha!! It wasn't until she explained to him that the ring was a hula hoop and the flames were made of felt, that he would do it. And...he would only do it with her help.

Yeah, he did it!!! Grant loves gymnastics most days. Somedays, however, he wakes up and tells me he does not want to go and he tells me to "get my money back!" By the time he is there doing it though, he always has a good time and doesn't want to leave. We are two classes into a new session, one level up. After this, I think we are going to do some more sports stuff - t-ball, golf, etc.

Grant's Preschool Graduation

On Thursday, Grant had his graduation from preschool. It was really sweet. They kids had graduation caps on, they played the graduation music and gave each of the kids a graduation certificate with their picture on it. They even got to throw their caps in the air. Grant thought that was pretty cool but we quickly realized they needed to be careful or someone might lose an eye.



Grant with his preschool class of boys - Wesley, Caden, Grant and Roy

Caden and Grant

Grant showing off his graduation certificate

Daddy even surprised Grant and came all the way from work to attend his graduation. Grant was so excited to see him. Then Daddy took us all out for a celebratory lunch - what a fun day!!

Grant with his teachers Miss Hillary and Miss Holly!

Grant had so much fun at preschool this year and it was fun to see how much he learned and matured throughout the year. He is getting to be such a big boy....not my baby anymore. We love you Grant and are so proud of you. Now it's off to Miss Dawn's preschool next year.

Little Musicians

The kids love music and musical instruments.  It's not often that we open up the "pretty piano" and let them play, but I did on this particular day.  They were all enjoying it.  Even Morgan couldn't help but balance herself enough to reach up and bang on the keys.

Look at that smile! 

Mama's Girl

Last night I had Enrichment night at church. I am on the committee and so I needed to go early to help set-up, etc. Chris offered to take all the kids and though I hesitated, my better judgement got the best of me and I let him - with the agreement that I would be home by 8:00 p.m. to nurse Morgan and put her to bed. It wasn't that I didn't think he could handle all three kids, I just didn't think Morgan would do well without me. I have only left her one time (with Grandma and Grandpa) to take Grant to a doctor appointment. She screamed much of the time I was gone. Anyways...I had hoped that it would be different this time as she was with Daddy. I told him to call me and I would come home if he needed me.

The phone never rang so of course, I thought I would come home to a happy baby.........NOT!!! She was screaming and out of breath from huffing and puffing. I guess she did fine when they went to the grocery store but once they got home and realized I wasn't here, she flipped out. Chris said she was crawling in circles around the kitchen trying to find me. Apparently she cried for a whole hour until I got home. Then ....it was into Mommy's arms, clinging for life....and she stopped crying.

It breaks my heart that she was so sad and I wasn't here to comfort her. I felt bad for Chris that he tried everything but couldn't get her to calm down. I love him for trying...and he wasn't even frazzled. What a good Daddy!!!

So....for now....I guess Miss Morgan will be coming with me, my little shadow wherever I go :), unless of course, it's for a short time. Grant and Loren were much the same way til I weaned them. At least I will always have company - haha!!!! Most people think I'm crazy but I don't mind. They are only little once....she's my baby...and pretty soon she will grow up and not want me around. Gotta love this girl....crying or not!!!

Can't wait to see what happens on Monday when I put her into her crib for bedtime.......ughhhhh...wish me luck...and strength!!!

A FUN MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

We had a super fun, relaxing Memorial Day Weekend. Saturday morning we attended the "Rods and Relics" Car show in Downtown Lincoln. Have Car show...we will come, that's our motto. haha!!! Seriously though, the Sly's love cars and my kids are no exception. We had fun walking around, looking at all the cars and telling the kids (at least a hundred times), "Look, but don't touch!!!"

Grant loved going up to all the motors and looking at them. Daddy of course, had to give him all the details about each one.

Here is Morgan, at her very first car show, getting a look at the motor on this beauty, haha!!

Daddy just had to show Grant this Pantera. He was explaining to Grant how the motor is in the back of the car like our Porsche (too bad our Porsche still has no motor in it!)

Dad and the big kids looking at all the cars. I really was there too, I was just pushing Morgan in the stroller!!

Check out Grant's new shades. He got these for Easter but had to wear them today because they look just like Daddy's new sunglasses.

After the fun car show, we headed to the park to fly some kites. It was a perfect day with just enough breeze going. The kids were so excited that we finally got to play with the kites they got for Easter from Grandma and Grandpa Ols.

Loren had a Barbie kite and Grant had a Spiderman kite. The challenge was keeping them far enough apart that they wouldn't get tangled. That proved to be a huge problem. We had so much fun though.





Even Morgan had to get in on the kite flying. She was smilling so big and thought it was pretty cool!!!

We were even lucky enough to have a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Ols over the weekend. We ate at our favorite BBQ restaurant (while trying to not to overeat our WW points), shopped and had a good time. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for coming. The kids always love company!

Grant thinks Grandma's purse is the best. You can always find some treasures in there and the kids are always digging in it - or wearing it in this case.

Firestation Fun

This past week Grant's preschool (along with my friend Dawn's preschool) went on a field trip to the Lincoln Firestation. I was lucky enough to be able to tag along and bring the girls too. I thought Grant would be wound up, so excited and ready to touch and climb on everything but he was actually the complete opposite. He was being very tentative and wouldn't let me leave his side the entire time.

Grant and the other boys in his preschool class - Caden, Roy and Wesley

Grant and Loren posing by the firetruck. You can really get a feel for how big the rigs are when you see the kids standing in front of the wheel.

They first got a tour of the firestation which included the offices, the state of the art gym, their living quarters including the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and family room. Grant was most impressed with the room that housed the fireman's gear.

Boots and hats - Grant's all-time favs

After we toured the firestation, Fireman Cory drove the firetruck around to the back of the station and showed them all around the firetruck. He opened every comparment showing them everything from hoses to first aid equipment, to axes and saws. Grant loved looking at all of the tools.

Me and the kiddos

I think the highlight of the morning was when they pulled out the firehose, hooked it up and let the kids shoot out the water. This was the one time that Grant and Loren had no problem leaving my side to take their turn. In fact, Grant kept getting in line again and again because he wanted to do it more. What kid doesn't love a hose!!

Caden, Loren and Grant - buddies!

Grant getting yet another turn with the hose.

After the hose demonstration, Fireman Cory put on all his gear and came out to show the kids what he would look like if he showed up at their house to fight a fire. I was really glad they did this so that they kids are aware of how they look. Grant and Loren were both scared but I made them go over and see that it was just the same nice fireman that we were talking to earlier.

Then fireman Cory peeled of his helmet and face masks to show the kids that it was just him and to ease their concern. I realized that my kids really need to be exposed to things like that more often.

Here is Grant holding the fireman's coat, seeing how heavy it was. I wanted him to try it on but he wouldn't - go figure, especially since he is the KING of dress-up at home. His buddy Caden put it on though and Grant thought it was pretty funny, he was laughing hysterically.

And then of course, Dawn put it on - doesn't she look fabulous!!!

All of the preschool kids with the fireman!!

It was such a fun time and although my kids seemed terrified while they were there, they really had a good time and have talked about it a lot since then. Can't wait to go again.