Showing posts with label spring break 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spring break 2011. Show all posts

Monday, May 23, 2011

spring break 2011: up in the alley....

so, yeah. these photos were taken nearly a month ago now. *sigh* perpetually behind lately...but, i just have to share them---not so much because i have awesome commentary to go with them, but more because my kids are just a bundle of adorable with a side of awesomesauce! :)
i mean, really, doesn't this outfit have awesome written all over it? earlier in the day---this was the day that Kate married her Prince---the girls were decked out in their flower girl dresses. and that's how we went to get spidergirl's allergy shot. but we came home for a quick lunch before heading out to open bowling at the alley and when i asked her to go change her clothes spidergirl returned with quite an ensemble. :) i just smiled.

ashlyn thought spidergirl looked cooler than the coolest in her get-up, so she went on a mad hunt to accessorize her outfit too. she needed just the right pair of nerd glasses to go with her only hat--which she's become quite attached to.

i just love their sense of individuality.

most days they are bickering and just nit-picking at each other over every little thing, but this day in particular, they made me wish i grew up with a sister. they were so sweet and gentle and kind with their words. lots of "way to go" and high-fives being swapped.

and i love her innocence right now. i want to bottle her up and keep her this age FOREVER, and ever and ever! most days she seems so grown up and independent...and almost a 1st grader. but i can still see my baby in these pictures.




she couldn't decide on her approach--whether she preferred to just shuffle up and throw it down with all her might, or use the roller-coaster apparatus (or whatever it's called) to help improve her chances of making the ball do what she wanted it to do.

ashlyn on the other hand had absolutely no issues...i mean, look at that form! she's got it down! even though a few times i thought she was going to fall forward right smack on her face. she's somewhat uncoordinated---a clutz is what my dad likes to call it. :)

after every ball thrown, she then stood there just like this, still as a crane, hands to her face, waiting with baited breath to see the results. just a brief (and rare) moment of stillness. she's just a wee bit spazzy and dramatic....but even moreso when bowling is involved. LOL.

didn't you know that contorting your body toward the angle you'd like the ball to go will in fact redirect it? no? ah, well. it doesn't really. but just after this shot, she was jumping up and down doing cheerleader herkie jumps over and over because she got herself a STRIIIIIKE! booyah!


no wait.........it's FACE!


that's what she says when she's done something super awesome. she gets all sassy and up in your business and says "so, there. FACE." hahahhaa. i promise it's super funny.

spidergirl on the other hand, is cool as a cucumber, soaking it all in. this was the stance she fell into after every release. just watching it roll.

she was always watching to make sure *i* was watching. "did you see that mommy?" and all i can think when i look at her is....gosh, she's adorable & how'd i get so lucky?

i seriously believe that she was put on this earth just to make people smile. she has just the right amount of quirk, an abundance of self-confidence, and the ability to strike up a conversation with anyone who crosses her path---just like her dad.

i'd say, bowling was a super successfull outing with my little kitty fairy (spider)girl.....

and my super awesome, nerd-glasses wearing, sidekick who is growing up way too fast.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

boing! boing! boing!

this is your next installment of Spring Break 2011. oh yeah, baby! (said in my best Austin Powers impersonation)

we finally did something we've been talking about forever and made our way over to World of Bounce in Grove City, OH. this place is definitely not easy to find, but definitely worth the effort and cost---and an incredible way to end up with worn out kids if you're looking for an early bedtime. :)


if you're looking to go yourself, be sure to check their website, as they have some odd hours for open bounce. cost is $7 for the first child and $4 for additional siblings. adults always bounce free with paid child admission! bonus!

i have to admit, upon first walking in to the facility and looking around the bounce room, i thought it looked super lame. but, it only took a few minutes of hearing their giggles and seeing their smiles before i changed my tune and thanked my lucky stars for such inexpensive new-to-them spring break entertainment. it really wasn't lame at all.

i wasn't so sure how ashlyn would handle this type of environment because of her sensory issues. new place, loud noises, lots of unexpected interactions.....none of them being on her favorite things list. the photo above is what i call her 'deer in headlights' expression. you can tell she was quite unenthusiastic at first.....but it didn't take long for that to change.

she's old enough now and had enough therapy to know that i'll never put her into a harmful situation. but that still doesn't mean she's able to handle them without trepidation. we're working on it.

spidergirl has become her security blanket in these type of situations. ashlyn is sure to never let her out of her sight and goes into a visible panic by pacing the floor if she isn't close by--meanign within eyeshot. spidergirl is none the wiser and doesn't find it annoying at all. :) i must say, i've enjoyed not having a cling-on.

there were 4 inflatable bounce gyms in the side of the facility we were in, including a racing slide, an obstacle course, a collesium where they could play dodgeball or shoot hoops within the bounce house, and a smaller obstacle/slide play gym. in addition, they had several balancing steps, gymnatics mats, bouncing balls, nerf balls, etc.


non-stop bouncing! boing.....boing....boing!


this picture makes me sing the song "stuck like glue" by sugarland in my head. that's these two right now....stuck like glue. you rarely find them separated.

see what i mean??? i *love* this stage. :)

this is definitely someplace we'll consider visiting again. especially seeing how quickly ashlyn became comfortable with the place. the super friendly supervising staff helped tremendously.

it would be a perfect choice for a birthday party, i think! for the locals that want to visit, plan to bring your own snacks and drinks. they offer a sound-proof observation room just for parents to watch through the wall to wall windows if you don't want to be in there with them. they don't offer a concession stand, but have a few vending machines. oh, and socks are required and they do sell them for $1 per pair if you forget yours.

totally worth the $11 for 2 1/2 hours of bouncing.....and totally worth the battle wounds (aka: bounce burns).

i can't wait to share our pictures from bowling next! spidergirl was a sight to behold.

Monday, April 25, 2011

spring break entertainment...

here's some of the awesome things i've gathered to keep us busy during spring break....i highly recommend all of them. (no, i haven't gotten paid to promote any of them)




Doodle Journal by Klutz - this journal retails for $16.99, but we got lucky and found it at Michael's, during a sale for $5.99. so CUTE!

Do A Dot Art Markers - these retail for $14.99. we got our Rainbow set in one trip for 40% off at Michael's with a coupon, then went back the following week for the Brilliant set with another coupon. well worth the money and they don't dry out like markers do.

Do A Dot Art Activity Book - there are so many of these books, so we picked one that seemed to have a mix of images from all the books. retailing for $4.99, these books have 25 images printed on heavy-weight cardstock like paper and are perforated for ease when tearing out. we plan on using the images in the book as templates and making copies onto our own cardstock. you can get these at Michael's also, or online at Amazon or at CSN Stores.


Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit - i added this kit to our craft cabinet. it comes with the three primary colors which you can mix to make the secondary colors, gloves, rubber bands, and instructions. it dyes 5 shirts---maybe more if they're all kid sized. we have our stack of shirts ready to go and can't wait to share the results.

Beads, beads, and more beads! we've got ourselves lots and lots of beads.


Sharpie, 24ct pk, fine point - who doesn't like a Sharpie? i prefer the Ultra Fine point tip for myself, but ashlyn has quite a liking for these fine point ones. she loves to draw so these will get lots and lots of use.

Low-Temp Mini Hot Glue Gun - they each got their own low-temp glue gun so we don't have burned fingertips. this addition will make crafting so much less frustrating since the glue dries in seconds.

B. Pop Arty Beads - we got ours at Target, but you can also order on Amazon, and are perfect to fill up a tupperware container and take for crafting on the go. (i.e. waiting at the doctor/hospital, long car rides, etc.)

among many other things like:
unfinished wood frames
potholder weaving looms
bendaroos
every color of craft paint you'd ever need
google eyes
craft foam
playdoh
and
my scrapbook supplies :)

it's gonna be a funnnnnnnn week! starting tomorrow.

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