Manly Men

Since Jakob was a little guy, he has enjoyed dressing up (in his sister's dress-ups), so we finally got some boy dress-ups for them to play with. But of course the girl's influence was there as nollie has his fancy necklace on.

Reading Parade

Nolan thought the band was fabulous!

Since I didn't get any great shots at the parade, here is a close-up

I finally got his attention for a picture

Jakob ignoring me, but his teacher Mrs. Mark smiled for the camera!

Every year at Hershey ECC the first and second graders have a reading incentive program with a big reward at the end of the year. Each month they bring home a calendar and when they return it to school get a something (this year it was a gold medal). One year was people in the community & a parade, the next year was Hershey Park 100 year celebration carnival day and this year the Olympics. Jakob's class were sprinters , had to dig for a red,white, & blue outfit. WIth each gold medal they got a new book, so Joe brought home 8 new ones!! Oh, I just noticed my friend Carol's hand in the picture. Hint to anyone who loves me...besides a new fancy camera, I really want a great photo program, scanner, and external hard-drive. Then all these blog pictures would look even better and I could crop out Carol's hand.

Yes, I forgot this post is about Jakob. We are so proud of the work he has done this year. He has come so far in Kindergarden...maybe "they" are right when they say summer boys might do better being held back a year, lesson learned. With that being said, he really has improved and shows way more interest in learning and is enjoying being able to read some.

HOT MAMAS!!

Anna and Emma had their dance recital last Saturday...it was a busy week with lots of rehearsals and late nights. One day I was putting the girl's makeup on before a rehearsal and Jakob said oh HOT MAMAS!! Who knows were he picked that up?, he said his teacher Mrs. Mark said it to another student. Funny, Sam saw this and said Hot Mamas, he remembered and now says "Sam, Hot MaMa!", lets hope not. The recital theme was one hit wonders. Emma's ballet class danced to Earth Angel. I had put her red lipstick in her bag incase it wore off before she danced, when she came out it was apparent she had been putting more & more on as she waited. It was pretty funny. Anna's tap class danced to SummerTime Summertime, she enjoyed sitting on the beachchair pretending to put on sunscreen at the end so much. Chris and I went without the boys, and got third row center seats last minute so it was nice to be so close. FYI this is the only time I will let Anna wear some TAN pantyhose!

Oh MY!

A favorite hang out spot to people watch

What were we thinking????

yes, I did get turned into Student whatever for my off the shoulder dress...Kara and I

were the DJ's for some dance. Nice black roots, now I have gray ones perhaps those

were better??!!

Memory Lane

My college roommate Kara emailed me some pics...yikes, that was a long time ago, fall of 1992 my second year at Ricks!! Such happy memories for me. I've always known I have a large head, but my date must have a smaller than average one b/c my head looks enormous!!

The Spring Concert

Anna began taking viola (the smaller cousin to the violin and has a deeper sound) at school last November. Here is a bit of the Fourth Grade Orchestra's Spring Concert. The fifth graders also performed and I think another year will bring great things. I will be so sad to leave this school because ther are many opportunites for the students, hopefully we can find a place that we all love!

Birthday Boy

After getting cleaned up

Messy ! Messy!!

Yummy! Of course he really only ate the frosting.

Yikes! What is that?

Henry Nolan Painter

Looking so sweet and cuddly. This is my favorite picture of him!

Here he is all 8 lbs. 10 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. May 7, 2007 at 1:20 pm

Sweet baby Nolan celebrated his first birthday on Wednesday. This past year has gone by so very fast. I am happy that Nollie is a part of our family. He has a calm peace to him and his so very loveable. A laid back boy, no wonder he was 9 days late!!

Fudgy Oatmeal Bars

So I have been in a baking mood lately and since I have this new cookbook...been trying out some new recipes. This one is great and fun for kids to help with as well, lots of hands on. Jakob loved making this one.

2 c. brown sugar
1 c. softened butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3 c. oats (quick or regular)
1/2 tsp. salt
12 0z. chocolate chips
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

preheat oven to 350. Cream together first 4 ingredients. Then add the next 4. Set aside 1/3 of mixture. Press the rest into a buttered jellyroll pan. (wet hands really help with preventing sticking).
In a saucepan, melt chips, butter, & condensed milk. Do not overheat. Remove from heat and add salt and vanilla. (and nuts if using) Pour chocolate over oatmeal layer and spread evenly.
With the remaining dough, pat into circles and place on chocolate. Bake 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy!! Even with the chocolate Jakob enjoyed these...a little something different for him. So give them a try!
We are trying a new cupcake recipe tomorrow for Nollie's birthday. I will post it if they are yummy!!!

Second Grade presentations

Emma's apotasaurus (the dino formerly known as brontosaurus) presentation

Emma as a munchkin in the Wizard of OZ

Emma in the mouse presentation, a poem Grace the mouse

Throughout this year Emma's class has done little presentations...Mouse play, Wizard of OZ, and dinosaurs, and one more but I cannot remember right now nor find a picture. I think I did a post about the mouse play a while back and tried to upload the video, but it wouldn't work so now I am just putting up some pictures. She has grown a lot and I tell you I wish I would have had these experiences b/c I still do not like to speak in public.

There is so much going on in the Spring time, we just had Young Learner's Showcase, where we visit the kid's classrooms to see what they have done all year and art work as well. Tonight is the International Fair. All week parent volunteers visit the students to tell about different countries and tonight there are booths set up for the countries and the kids visit with their passports. I did posters for this all day today (b/c I work better when I procrastinate) I am the poster chair for the PTO. I can do this from home and it is fun, I will do it next year too. Last year I did the Young Learners Showcase and it was a bit much especially expecting a new baby.

Jakob has his reading parade, this year it is the Olympics theme. Last year it was cool Hershey stuff celebrating 100 years of Hershey Park. There are music and dance recitals and I cannot wait until June when we can just do nothing for THREE months!!!

Little something from Mother Nature

A few weeks ago we got a treat, nice SUNNY weather!! Hopefully we will see some more soon as this has been a long cold & icy winter!! The boys enjoyed the sprinkler & Sam's new favorite food Pop Ticles.

Fashionista

Every since Emma could dress herself, she was very particular about the clothing she would wear. If she did not like it, or it felt uncomfortable, she said it was "Noballee". This has gone on since then, and she has gone in phases...the red rubbies, only leggings, eight undershirts (no kidding), tights under pants and 3-4 pair of socks, cardigans always (still), changing her underpants about 10 times a day, atleast everytime she goes to the bathroom, b/c now htey are too loose. It took a million years to find underclothes that met her approval!. Here are some old shots and some newer ones. The last being when I dressed here and put in cute bows. I so miss derssing a little girl. Here latest thing is the rubberband on the waistband to cinch it tight, as the rollover was no longer effective. I have only finally come to accept that is who she is and am finding we are both happier when she does not match (well just according to me!)

the cherry tree

We make our kids take their picture under the weeping cherry every year when it blooms. As usual they were not thrilled as you can see! I was glad I did not miss it as it stared to bud the day we left for vacation.

mini vacation

Washington, D.C.

Anna's tiara

Museum of Natural History

Courthouse

Anna's new friend

Trunk canoe in Jamestowne

Emma planting radishes in the Williamsburg garden

Finally found something to keep him contained!

Fort Jamestowne

scraping the hide

Four little Indians

We had a fun trip to Williamsburg & Jamestowne...we liked Jamestowne better as it was a little easier to see in one day with lots more hands on stuff for the kids to do. I would have liked to spend more time in Williamsburg, but was tiresome for the kiddos!! and the parents as well! Nolan does NOT sleep unless he is in his crib, so there were some long nights! He was happy to be home.