My little paleontologists

One really cool investment we've made was an annual membership to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.  We must have gone at least a dozen times since first joining last year. 

Additionally, Tristan has taken a keen interest in dinosaurs, and other animals (especially the reptilian sort).   I am not just talking about "I love dinosaurs" phase.  This kid has studied dinosaurs and watched numerous documentaries on various dinosaurs.  And he's only six!

He can tell you the three periods of the Mesozoic era.  He knows what therapods are and what traits they typically have.  He can name numerous species of dinosaurs and tell you that a Dimetrodon is not a dinosaur (not commonly known, by the way). 

So, I don't mind calling him my little paleontologists.  In fact, we like to encourage his current passion by purchasing books and looking up videos on the internet. 

During our last visiting to the museum, we visited the gift shop.  It is hard to leave empty handed with two kids.  However, when we spotted these dig/excavate a dinosaur "fossil" kits, we just had to get one.  Well, then Melayna wanted one, too.  So, we purchased a smaller version for her.

We headed home and quickly went to work.  It was messy.  It was dusty.  It was fun....for about fifteen minutes.  Then it was a lot of work.  And it was taking too long.  Of course, Mom and Dad had to step in and help them out.  Before we had to step in, I couldn't help but take a few pics while they were concentrated on their work.

Unfortunately, I didn't get any after pics because everything was so dusty and dirty.  I didn't want that to get into my camera lens.

Soccer Buddies

Back in December, I took advantage of an online deal (I can't remember if it was Living Social, Groupon, or Deal of the Day).  It was for a company called Soccer Buddies.  It included a season's enrollment (once a week classes for approximately 12 weeks) and a t-shirt.  We decided to enroll Melayna in their classes. 

She's loved the experience.  She likes her coach.  She likes to do Red Light, Green Light. She likes to kick the balls around. She likes....you get the idea.  She just likes it all.  Unfortunately, her time is just about up and we cannot afford the full price to re-enroll her for the Spring.  :(

Here are a few fun moments we had at Soccer Buddies.

St. Patrick's Day hiking

My family and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather here in Colorado.  One nice, family friendly "hike" is Garden of the Gods.  It isn't a hike with respect to trails since a good portion of it the path is paved; however, it is a beautiful walk and one that isn't too hilly for the kids.  They loved it!  My dad came along, and having grandpa around, just makes things much more fun.  We meant to go to the parade, but between our hike and haircuts for the boys, we weren't able to make it on time.  Maybe next year. :D

Here are a few of my favorite pictures:

 

 

Snow Day

This winter has been fairly mild compared to the past number of years.  We've had very little snow with little accumulations.  So, when it snowed this past weekend and didn't melt by noon, the kids and I took advantage of our sloped backyard for some sledding fun. 

I also took the time to do some photo editing in PSE 8.  I had fun playing around with various actions.

At the gym

So, I'm currently on a treadmill at 24 Hour Fitness and I'm writing this post.  I am starting to come down with something so, today, I am taking it easy.  Plus the mayor is coming to my work at 3 and I would rather not be too sweaty when I return. 

Anywya, I am doing this to keep my mind occupied.  I am super stressed and I feel like a weight is holding me down.  I want to scream and breakdown.  I want to fall asleep.  I want to cry.  I feel so out of control, like nothing I do can move or shake this burden.

It is nearly every aspect of my life, too.  And I feel hopeless.  It seems as if I take one step forward and two steps back.  There are so many directions I want to go and no idea which path to take.  Such is life.  This is how it will always be. 

Well life goes on in the Hooper household.  We will celebrate my husbands 31st birthday this week.  My son is doing well in school.  My daughter is the crazy little daredevil she always is. 

Sorry for my rant.  My workout is almost over which means I must depart. 

Until next time...

Another year over....

2011 is quickly coming to a close and a new year will arrive in its place.  This year has gone by so quickly, I really just don't know how to take it all in.

Here are a few of my favorite moments...

Vacation in Lincoln to visit the girls on Spring Break

Our wedding

 

Summer fun with the kids!

Jacey turned 8!

 

Tristan started Kindergarten 

Melayna turned 3! 

 

 Target Practice

 

 Halloween!

 

Christmas time

Tristan's 6th Birthday

Angry Birds Birthday Party! Part 4

I can't believe this is taking me four posts!  Anyway, the kids had a blast with the games (covered in post 3) and the edible Angry Birds game (covered in post 2).  I don't think I have ever put so much effort into a birthday party before.

I didn't get any pictures of the food set up (I was just so busy working on everything that day).  But here was the line-up:

• Chicken Tenders (we were going to do Chicken Wings, but figured those would have been too messy)
• Boiled Eggs (I was going to deviled eggs, but glad I didn't.  The kids loved the eggs!)
• Pigs in a Blanket
• Bird Poop dip (recipe here) with graham crackers
• Bird Food (gummy worms and cheese puff balls)
• Veggie Tray 
• Bird Bath Punch (orange sherbet, Hawaiian punch, and ginger ale)

 For party favors, I used a few ideas I found online to create my own bags and favors:

• Solid colored bags using printable faces found online (printables found here)
• Golden Egg (plastic eggs on Oriental Trading Company)
• Filled with a few Angry Birds stickers (found sheets of them at Walmart and cut out individual birds and pigs to fit in the eggs)
• Scroll of Angry Birds cutouts (found here) with an egg shaped label with instructions
• To find the download link on the site linked above, just above the first picture is the following line: Download your very own Paper Angry Birds.  But Download is in a color that matches the background.  Hover your cursor over the blank spot where the word download should be and click.
• Good luck bird and pig made of pom poms, glass beads, wiggly eyes and felt
• Inspired by this blog
• Difference: I glue them on glass beads.  Years back I made good luck bugs for elementary students at a school I worked at.  By putting the glass bead on their bottoms, you can toss the bug any which way and they always landed on their "feet"  I took that concept and used it with the birds and pigs.

 

 Overall, Tristan's birthday was a success!  He was quite pleased with everything.