the pearson ANTiCS

monday 2009.10.05
ARTPRIZE . TAKE 3
the b.o.b.

one of the finalists - made completely out of nails!

? don't ask...i don't know...

this one is made of little army men

50 monroe

thursday 2009.10.01
ARTPRIZE . TAKE 2
stop 1 - civic theatre

stop 2 - children's museum. [2nd place] this was very cool in person...the reflections from the mirrors added a movement that is hard to capture in a photo.

stop 3 - wmcat
the kids LOVED the hot dogs!

stop 4 - uica
alexa's favorite [also a top 10 finalist]. i don't know if it was because it was made out of balloons or because it was pink! :)

trying to push the ball all the way outside...

all 2d...i couldn't believe it...

now outside...trying to push it in... ;)

stop 5, after a trip up division - the old art museum
the 1st prize winner [open water] and finalist [field of reeds] - 2 of my favs as well...however, i was scared to get close because the reeds were mechanical and i could just see the kiddos crashing on them. ha!

3rd place...and one of my favs! these were all made out of push pins [red, yellow, blue, black and white] so cool!

these things were all made out of cooked dried rice...??

stop 6 - cathedral square

the sharing tree

stop 7- wood tv studios

sunday 2009.09.27
ARTPRIZE . TAKE 1
we headed down to artprize for our first peek with our neighbors jad and selene, and jason, melissa and baby olivia. rob bliss' paper airplanes drew us down. he was to realease 80,000 planes over rosa parks circle. the show was good, but it could have been better in my opinion. just glad it got us down there - we had a great time exploring with friends! :)

the planes drew in 28,000 people [so i heard]. it was insane!!!

colin with jad

alexa with dad

plane in flight...

colin was trying so hard to catch one. unfortunately, although we were right in the center of the action...no planes were dropped right over us :(

some of the pieces we enjoyed on this day...

alexa with selene and megan

these guys were made out of saran wrap...

the kids loved riding on this one!

we added our names to the ribbon tree...

alex in camo...

recycled art

the infamous table and chairs, and in the river...nessy!

saturday 2009.09.26
BLOCK PARTY
alexa after she got her face painted :)

the kids painting pumpkins...

nola in action

friday 2009.09.25
colin squaring off with our giant praying mantis [#1]

this was #2...much smaller than #1 :) despite no 2's size, alexa and i still did not like him crawling on us, but both had a chance to explore colin...

CALEDONIA HOMECOMING PARADE

thursday 2009.09.24
ALEXA'S PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE
alexa in her class :)

enjoying the playground

monday 2009.09.21

alexa's self portrait :)

saturday 2009.09.18
BE A PART OF THE ART DAY
caledonia hosts this event where local artists are invited to set up booths where the community can particiapate in art projects. in my booth [which also featured graphic i's holiday cards, and tutus] i had supplies available to make bubble magnets.
here are the images...

the kids painting on mrs. price's community canvas :)

painting pumkins

yeah!

friday 2009.09.18

EMMONS LAKE WALK-A-THON

the kids raised money by promising to walk for 30 minutes [20 minutes for kindergartners]...colin collected 7 rubber bands for walking and running around the field 7 times. great job, ct! :)

collecting his rubberbands

EMMONS LAKE HARVEST FESTIVAL

that evening the kids were rewarded for their fundraising efforts with great food, fun games and prizes, crafts and even a horse-drawn wagon ride! here are colin and alexa with nolan.

for some reason, tony felt he had to document this...

monday 2009.09.14

ALEXA'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

she was so cute...and so excited! :)

alexa oustide her locker...she has a pink elephant!!

sunday 2009.09.13

colin saved some of his magic [sleeping] confetti for alexa to use on the eve of her first day of school! :)

saturday 2009.09.12

MIKE'S 40TH BDAY PARTY

COLIN'S SOCCER GAME

what form!

friday 2009.09.11
DADDY DAUGHTER DATE_CRAIG'S CRUISERS

daddy took alexa on her first date :) they headed to "super shake" aka steak n shake and then to craig's cruisers. she LOVED it...the race cars, bumper boats and roller coaster...and especially having daddy to herself!

wednesday 2009.09.09

MEET THE TEACHER

alexa got to meet her teacher mrs. peck today - just loved her! we apparently set the record and stayed for almost the entire time. she loved exploring all of the stations...especially the dress up area!

monday 2009.09.07

MEMORIAL DAY

spent the day relaxing and catching up...

i tried to capture so many pics of them in their matching ny shirts...and no luck. this one at least cracked me up. sun sneezer :)

probably the last swim of the season :(

colin helped dad clean the van...thank you boys!

sunday 2009.09.06

TUBING

the gates were so sweet to invite us out on their new boat for the afternoon! although miss nola was a bit tired, the kids had a blast tubing and hanging out with friends. tony even took a try at wake boarding...so much fun - thank you guys!

colin, alex and hudson

tony and colin with juston and hudson :)

wednesday 2009.09.02

messy baby...

i was so excited when she turned around and tried to stand up in her seat [as i think back at how frustrated i would get with alexa doing this when she was 6 months old...i can't help but laugh]

DUTTON SHADYSIDE

some fun a the park :)

colin was so sweet pushing his sis...

tuesday 2009.09.01
my nola photo shoot [her first time with a spout]

F.M. GARDENS

daddy as a plant...

alexa as a butterfly...

tj chatting with the kids, tube style

i tried to get them all... :(

tj was drawn to the sculpture...

we found it!!!

monday 2009.09.01

alexa's chalk art - her first house!

and her name... :)

saturday 2009.08.31

we found alex in the hall like this when we went up to bed [sorry, honey]

saturday 2009.08.29
GRANDMA AND GRANDPA HAMLIN'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY

the guests of honor

daddy and colin

grandma ruth and alexa

colin with myron

nola...

we also celebrated grandma hamlin's birthday!

the kids cutie cards

friday 2009.08.28
NEIGHBOOR NIGHT AT DAIRY DISCOVERY

the kids enjoyed beating up uncle tom :)

wednesday 2009.08.26

silly girls :)

tuesday 2009.08.25

MILLENIUM PARK w/grandma pat

the little mermaid

monday 2009.08.24

friday 2009.08.21

tuesday 2009.08.18

monday 2009.08.17
COLIN'S FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!
colin on his first week: "it was great to be at kindergarten! i loved it! my friend nolan was in my class from last year preschool. i love playing with some gears. they were fun! my teacher called on me to use her magic wand. i pointed on the numbers on the calendar at school. i had an assembly about bucket filling and bucket dipping. if you did something good to somone, your bucket filled up. if you do something bad to someone, your bucket lowers down. i was a very very good bucket filler. my lunch was great! i ordered it from school. it was fun at kindergaten. the bus wasn't so fun. i rode the bus home and then we walked up our street to our house. "

colin walking down the path to his pod

entering his room...all by himself [can you believe we were early!?]

the girls waiting for colin's bus to arrive!

yeah!!! here it is!!

and here he is!

celebrating his first day at steak n' shake [he wanted to go there because they have cottage cheese]

sunday 2009.08.16

tj and alexa on the swings!

daddy and colin slip n' sliding

colin received a pouch of magic confetti at his orientation from his teacher, mrs vangessel. what a great idea! the confetti was to be placed under his pillow the night before school starts and would magically help him sleep better! : )

saturday 2009.08.15
BON FIRE AT PAPA TOM AND GRANDMA DEB'S
nola was cranky a second before i took out the camera. she just loves the silly thing!

tj and alexa running in the squiggly sprinkler

the kids loving the watermellon [colin gave it a thumbs up... :)]

grandma deb presenting vicki with a birthday cake!

alexa and mitchell

the slip n' slide was a HIT!
mitchell

colin

alexa

ready to warm up :)

uncle gordy decided to try too...ha! :)

the boys couldn't get enough of tammy... :)

alexa playing volleyball with daddy

tj blowing bubbles

uncle zip pulling "princess" and "the prince of bubbles"

a long ride home. :)

friday 2009.08.14
KENT COUNTY YOUTH 4H FAIR
the girls with the goats

tj recovered from the baaaa :)

colin and alexa's first roller coaster ride!! i don't know how this happened, but alexa loved it and colin did not. i feel like we don't even know them!

watching the ultimate cowboy show

thursday 2009.08.13
ORCHARD HILLS
the elmhirst's were kind enough to invite us to have a refreshing afternoon. here are colin and alexa playing in the pool with avery.