Start your engines

Last night was Chase's first ever Pinewood Derby.  He was ready to race.  He was very particular about how his car was designed.  When they first arrived they were led to the pit stop to weigh in and make adjustments.  They were also given their drivers licence and named their car.  Chase named his car Flash.

While everyone was making adjustments they were able to make a stop at the fuel station and pick up some of the cutest treats.  They had these little race cars that were the cutest!  They also had spare tires, and wheel wells (doughnuts), axles and rods (pretzels), among other cute snacks.  This is where Sadi hung out the entire night...testing everything.

Finally it was race time.  It was a double elimination which meant that you had to race each car twice to move on to the next bracket.  Matt was holding his breath hoping Chase would at least win the first race.

 He did win the first heat, and continued on racing.  There was one car he raced that they had to "review the tape" because the finish was so close, they had to race 4 times.  It was a close one, but Flash won.

He made it to the final race, where again it was so close and might I say it was a little funny to see these boys possibly doing a little praying by the track.

In the end Chase's car won!  A first place win for his first derby.  He also won the award for Cub Favorite car (which all the boys voted on).  It was a good night.

Luckily we got to be his pit crew for the night.  I guess that makes us winners too :)

Unlucky

St. Patrick's day once again meant trying to trap that Leprechaun so we could steal his gold.  Chase and Sadi set to work making a trap that was sure to catch him this year.  What Leprechaun could possibly pass up the Shamrock Saloon that promised free food and drink?   It was a well thought out plan.

In the morning our gold was missing, and all he left at the saloon was a note that read:  I won't be fallin fer yur trick, signed Lucky.

He once again made me crazy by deciding to stop by the bathroom for a potty break.

Besides the tons of clovers he spread all over our house he also left a little something for each kid.  But, they had to decipher whose was whose.  There was one for "the wee one", one for "me redheaded friend", and one for the "giant in the wee little room".

Inside was filled with a rainbow and a pot of gold, along with some green surprises to keep them from being pinched.

They were ready for school and there would be no pinchin' of these two!

I decided to for-go the lunchboxes and dressed up a brown paper bag for lunch that day.

I told them they couldn't peek until it was lunchtime.  I think the anticipation was just as exciting.  Lunch was filled with lots of green,  a rainbow, and a leprechaun joke.

Chase and Daddy had baseball practice after school and it lasted almost all night, so it was just me and the girls who had dinner together.

When the boys made it home we all had a little green dessert together. 

It was a pretty lucky day even if we didn't catch that little green man...next year for sure!

First Hike of the Year

We are getting a mixture of teaser weather....wicked wind and cold, then bright, sunny, high 70 degree days.  Sunday was the latter and we decided to take advantage of it and set out on our first hike of the year.  We headed to Washoe valley and started hiking at lake level up Deadman's Creek trail.  It was a gorgeous day.

At the top of the hill there is a gazebo that looks out over the lake and you can see all of Washoe Valley.  We decided it was a bit easy, and decided to keep going.  I was hoping to see more wildflowers, but sadly they decided it wasn't warm enough yet.

They view was pretty much the same the higher we went, but it was still beautiful.  If you look hard you can pick out the tiny gazebo below where we hiked from.

It was a nice taste of sunny days to come...we hope.

Fieldtrip Finally

This past week Chase finally got to go on his first field trip!  Being in 3rd grade, it has been a long wait.  On Friday the 3rd grade classes went to Reno to the Fleischmann Planetarium.  I got to be one of the lucky Mom's to accompany them.  There is not much to see as far as exhibits go there, but they let them walk through the exhibit hall ( tiny room).  It was a bit crowded, but the kids enjoyed it.

Before the laser show we admired the sun, which is actually the outer dome of the show room.

 Chase was quick to find us a seat next to one of his best buds.

The show was really entertaining, and taught a lot about all the planets...including Pluto.  Not sure the teacher's appreciated the fact they confirmed although a dwarf, it is still a planet.  The kids loved it, as well as the parents.  Then it was time to picnic out front after a quick trip to the gift shop.  We picked up some astronaut ice cream to take home and enjoy....although not everyone got to enjoy it, must have been to good to share.

It was a fun day, and I got so many Mom's who commented how lucky I was to have such a sweet son.  Most of the boys wouldn't even sit with their Mama's (too cool I guess), Chase was happy to sit with me...maybe I'm just still cool.

Picture yourself here

On Saturday we spent all morning taking a tour of the University of Nevada with Kelsey.  Our main goal was to check out the dorms and make a choice on which one she liked the best.  It was a little weird thinking that in just a few months she could be living here.

After the tour ended we decided to really get a "taste' of college life and went for a bite to eat at the Downunder Cafe where the students can use their swipe card everyday to eat.  It is a buffet style cafeteria with all kinds of food.  We tried to sample a little of everything (although there was tons to choose from).  The food...pretty good!  You could definitely not try hard to put on the freshman fifteen here.

It was a fun day, although I'm not sure if we excited her or scared her.  It is a BIG campus! 

MR. CARSON HIGH 2014

Friday night we spent the evening in Carson City at the Mr. Carson High pageant cheering on 2 of our kids.  It isn't often that we get to see 2 of our kids perform on stage and never has it been the oldest and the youngest so it was really special.  Sadi attended the Carson High cheer camp a week ago where she was asked to perform at the Mr. Carson High pageant that Kyle was going to be a contestant in.  She was thrilled and ready to rock her high V.

 Her performance came during the first half of the show, and she did a great job.

Kyle was one of 27 contestants in the Mr. Carson High pageant.  If you don't have these where you live, it is an all male pageant that basically makes fun of pageants.  The theme this year was superhero's.  Each contestant chose a superhero to perform as.  Kyle being original was "Mighty Miley".  He had even had the pony tails, it was hilarious!

I was surprised at how much they kept it identical to a real pageant.  There were introductions, and an interview.  The lady dressed as bat woman here conducting the interview portion is the math teacher at Carson High.  I loved that even the teacher got into it and kept it very entertaining.

 During the interview Kyle challenged her to a twerk off, the audience was in hysterics.

 They also had to perform a talent bit.  Kyle did a dance number using some of Miley's moves...including the foam finger (he kept it clean).

Part of the dance included the song wrecking ball where he actually swung out on a wrecking ball.  It was sooo funny.  I'm pretty sure his talent blew every one's out of the water.

 Kyle made it into the finals.  They narrowed it from 27 to the top 10, then top 5, then top 3.....

It came down to the final 2, Kyle and one other contestant.  They kept the audience laughing all the way to the end as they held hands and prayed they won.

 Then the winner was announced....number 16, Kyle Denning!!

 Then the crowning of the new Mr. Carson High 2014. 

 The kids were so excited their big brother won.  Here is our two winners on stage.

So happy for Kyle, he did such a good job and really kept the humor in the show as all the contestants did an amazing job.  Here he is with his cute cheerleader escort and girlfriend Paris who is a pageant winner herself (Miss Teen Nevada). 

He was awarded some nice prizes including an all paid for Prom package, $200, and lots of other freebies.  Hope he uses his reign wisely..ha!

Today you are you, that is truer than true. -Dr. Seuss

Last weekend was Dr. Seuss's birthday.  It has become somewhat of an expected party around here.  To be honest I had completely forgotten about it, and it was not even on my radar.  When the kids came home from school on Friday Sadi told me it was Dr. Seuss's birthday soon...like in a day.  I quickly threw something together.  Of course the morning had to start with a little reading of Green eggs and ham.

Do you like them, do you Chase? 

Sadi liked them...for a minute.  They were doused in ketchup, and although they taste the same as regular eggs, somehow they just weren't.

I had scattered different Dr. Seuss quotes throughout the house and put books up for them to read, some with a little snack.

The most exciting part for them was the "search".  There had been a note left for them which read:

 

Thing 1 and Thing 2 are hiding from you

They could be hiding here or there,

They could be hiding anywhere!

If you find one you will see

how fun and tasty it will be.

 

This kept them busy all morning.  They were on the hunt for those things.  One of them was hiding in the shower, and the other under the table. 

Once they found them, each thing had a treat, and it was yummy as could be (or so I heard).

It's a fun way to get the kids to have a reading day...without them knowing it.

GAME OVER.

Chase started basketball in January.  He was on the Devils team.  His team finished out the regular season and it was time for the playoffs.  With our team ranked 4th and it was a single elimination, we thought we would be knocked out in the first round.  Not the case.

Playoffs started Tuesday night with another game each night until you lost.  Guess where we were Friday night...at the FINAL playoff game. The Devils shut them out, and won the Championship.  Victory is sweet...literally.

Of course if you win there is another night you sacrifice celebrate with the team.  I love watching Chase play, but when you're overlapping two sports (basketball and baseball) it becomes a little much.  We're proud of our little champion and his team.