Tanganyika Memorial Day

We headed out to Tanganyika this morning with grandma and grandpa Shaffer.  We went before it go too hot.  It was an enjoyable time and grandma did a good job walking.

Sam and Ben feeding a lemur

Star Wars Exploration Place

We all had a great time Friday night at the debut of the new Star Wars exhibit.  We were treated to life sized models and robots

Sam and Ben say "no" to the dark side!

Last Day of School

Mom and Ben went to play mini golf at Exploration Place on Tuesday.  Ben can get through a round of mini golf in about 15 minutes

Last day of school with Sam's teacher Mrs. Roth

Ben's last day of preschool with his teacher Mrs. Lila  

Sam with his buddy Rex

Sam, Ben, Seth and Claire

Sam got his name on the accelerated reading plaque again this year.  Last year, he read 199 books and this year he read 162.  Sam has to follow up his reading with a quiz on the computer.

Lazy Camping

Ben had graduation pictures and pizza Friday before class.  He graduates on Thursday.  I thought eating pizza in their gowns before pictures would have been better.

We decided to go camping.  Our destination......our backyard.  Easiest camping trip ever. 

We watched the Wizard of Oz inside our house before we went outside.  It was very windy Friday night and Ben was scared that a tornado might come get us.  Ben bugged out and went and climbed in bed with Mom.  I did put Ben's Kermit the frog that he left in the tent up in a tree and told him that in the middle of the night a gust of wind must have blown him out.

Tanganyika

We went to Tanganyika yesterday for Mother's Day.  We had a lot of fun and enjoyed the animals.  Sam's left arm is fine, that's a sock puppet named "Sam Jr." that he likes to wear.

Bike Riding and Awana

Just a little over a month ago, Sam wasn't even riding his bike without training wheels.  Now, he's cruising around Sedgwick County Park.  After our bike ride, we went over to Orange Leaf for some frozen yogurt.

Sam and Ben completed another year of Awana.  Sam completed his third year of Spark and Ben completed his second year of Cubbies.

Sam received a nice Awana plaque for completing his third book. 

A busy Saturday

Kristin had Newton symphony all weekend, so that left the boys and I with an empty day ahead.  Ben spent the night with Brooke at Grandma and Grandpa Shaffer's on Friday.  We started the morning off with the "build a project" at Home Depot.  The kids put together a potting plant holder and were given a vegetable as well.  They all three chose a strawberry plant. 

After Home Depot, we went to Buffalo Park for a while.  It was rather warm, so we didn't stay for long

In the afternoon was Ben's preschool carnival.  They got to play games, jump in the bouncy house and eat snow cones.

Sam's Field Day and Weekend Fun

Friday, Sam had his field day.  Severe storms were predicted and they go most of it in before the rain ended it early.  Here, Henry and Sam were holding a ball between them and they had to go a certain distance without dropping it.

We went to the zoo yesterday afternoon for a while, after everyone else was leaving.  A lamb had just given birth to two twin babies.  The white lamb struggled to stand up, but finally got the hang of it.

Ben enjoyed feeding the animals

Show off!

Sam is quite the hockey fanatic.  I decided to get tickets for Sam and I for game one of the CHL championship.  The Thunder lost 5-3, but we got to keep these cool thunder stix!

Sam's music program "Bugz"

The 2nd and 3rd graders had their musical program last night.  Their program's theme was about bugs, ants, picnics  lady bugs, and a stink bug.

Sam had a small speaking part.  His line was, "Wait till they have their food down in place and are settling down just right.  Just when they think how pleasant this is give them your very best bite!

There were several lightning bugs during this song.

 

Wichita Water Works II

It was a beautiful day today.  We took baths this morning and Ben wanted to go back to the Wichita Water Works park.  There are some small ponds/creeks that run down to the river.  In the ponds, there are small minnows, some carp, and today we found some dead crawdads.  The boys wanted the pinchers so I plucked those off.  Kind of gross, but oh well.

Should have worn shorts as the water was a little chilly, but the boys kept inching closer to the water.

Now, it's time to start rolling up the pant legs.  Sam and Ben were enjoying picking up mud and moss. 

Now that they smell like sewer and their pants are half dry it's time to head home for another bath and to wash some clothes.  Sam said it was the best time he's ever had in his life.  We must live boring lives :)