Classic Fun Center

Kaden's preschool went on a field trip to Classic Skating in Layton last week.  I've thought about taking the kids there, but after the ice skating fiasco (see previous blog if you missed that), I didn't want to take the kids until they were older.  But then it was his field trip.  I got my little sister, Natalie, to come over and babysit the girls so I could focus on Kaden and help him have a good experience rollerskating for the first time.

What I didn't know was that in the 10+ years since I've been to Classic, they've expanded it from just the rollerskating rink.  It's a kids paradise now.

Slide!

Obstacle course

Punching bags (well, they were after Kaden got to them...)

I couldn't believe how much fun it is for little kids!  Kaden and his buddies from class played at the Pirates Cove for about an hour, and then I was the mean mom and forced him to try rollerskating (when else will it be free?).  He was so, so nervous and kept referencing the ice skating incident, but I assured him this wouldn't be the same.  Mainly because my attention was solely on him.

I got a video of him, but I'll upload it to Facebook instead of here because I'm worried about space issues.  But the video is hilarious.  He uses the walker thing like a 90 year old man; scoots forward a foot, then slowly skate-slides towards it.  But at the end of the video, Kaden looks up with a huge smile and says, "I'm getting really good!"  That made it all worth it. 

After a painstakingly long 15 minutes to go ONCE around the rink, Kaden wanted to get back to the Pirates Cove.  As he was taking his skates off, we saw his teacher, Ms. Brinkerhoff, lacing up.  She was nervous-ish and talking to another teacher about how she didn't want to fall on her face.  With confidence from his time around the rink, Kaden walked over to her and pointed to his walker, saying, "Don't worry, Ms. B! It's EASY!" (I laughed at that.) Then he said, "Do you want to use my walker?" Cutest kid ever!

 

Ms. B is the green shirt furthest on the left.

She got a few helping hands and only fell down once.  Everyone was laughing the whole time we were all there.  I can't decide if the kids had more fun or if the adults did.

Make-Up Classes

Kaden's preschool has a policy where, if you miss a class, you are allowed to do a make-up class in it's place.  The great thing, though, is that he can do ANY of their classes as a make-up class.  They offer so many that I was excited he's had to miss a couple of days this past school year.

The first class I had him do was an art one.  He LOVES drawing and has a lot of natural talent for it (seriously, he's already better than me, but maybe that's not saying much...my stick figures even need help).  He loved the class and learned all about drawing lighthouses that day.  They used paint, markers, and pencils and drew lighthouses with each tool.  It was really fun for him.

The other class I had him try was a tumbling class.  He's a big ole' ball of energy, so I knew he would enjoy it.

Pretty good jumper

He was trying to do a back bend unassisted

Learning the right way to do a cartwheel

He had tons of fun.  We'll have to get him enrolled in a gym-type class over the summer.  Soccer's ending and he'll need an outlet.  :)

Davis County Symphony

About eight months ago, my mom was invited to be a featured performer for the Davis County Symphony's Spring concert.  She was SO excited!  She even convinced my older sister, Suzanna, to join in with her viola that she hasn't played in twelve years.

My grandma and grandpa Ozminski

My Aunt Ellie and her granddaughter, Sophie, who was pretending to be shy.

My Uncle Aaron (my mom's younger brother), and his son, Lance.

 Aaron's wife, Kristy, and their daughter, Leigha, couldn't come because they were at Leigha's dance competition.  Aaron has played the trombone as well for a long time and after my mom's performance was telling everyone that that's the hardest solo he's ever heard and my mom did amazing with it.  :)

My mom greeting her dad and step-mom.

My youngest sister, Natalie, with Suzanna.

I snuck a picture of Sophie.  ;)

Kent and his family.

Lexi and Taliyah

My mom came out for the second song (there were five total) and did her thang.

I tried getting Suzanna, but all I could see were her eyes from where I was sitting.

Ten minutes into the first song, the kids were BORED.

My mom and Suzanna did awesome!  My mom memorized her entire fifteen minute piece.  Sadly, I had the whole thing memorized as well since I listened to her practice it nearly every day for the last six months.  Shane did, too.  

Funniest part of the whole night was when the symphony started their last song and all of my kids suddenly perked up.  Kaden whispered loudly, "Mom!  They're doing the Little Einsteins theme song!!"  It wasn't really the theme song, but it was one of the classical pieces Einsteins uses on their shows.  Sadly, again, I knew the words of the song the Einsteins put to the classical piece and was singing along in my head.

Stuff

This post is a little random.

Just thought I should warn you.

First of all, when I was packing our Ogden house, I made sure to wrap each of my expensive-ish food dyes individually because they were going into a huge box with other stuff and I didn't want any of them to explode and ruin everything else.

Shane mocked me.

He wanted me to just throw them all in one bag and call it good.

Shows what he knows.

Yep.  It would have been ALL over if I hadn't wrapped it!  OCD pays off!  WOO!

In other news, we're still going strong with soccer season.  It's absolutely FREEZING at every game (they are Wednesday nights, so the sun goes down and everyone shivers on the sidelines).

Kaden is the tall #12 in the middle not wearing the green thing.

See him rubbing his hands together?  He wasn't cold, he was excited for the 2nd half to start. ;)

I was unpacking this morning and found a dance costume from when I was seven!  I'm so, so glad I kept this all these years because Lexi is LOVING it.  And she's carrying around the picture of me wearing it as well.

 

 

Ari had to get in on the costume, too.  :)  Then they made me blast Michael Buble so they could dance.  I love my girls!

Parks all around!

Our new house (which I will eventually blog about with pictures, but it's gotta be clean first, so it might be a while...) has a lot of parks really close to us.  Back before this second winter began, there was a really warm day where the kids and I walked to a park that's about half a mile from here.  I thought it was close enough to not be a problem, but next time I'm bringing the double stroller.  The way there was fine because they were all so excited, but after playing for a while and getting tired, all I heard the whole way home was whining and crying.  I had to carry Ari the entire way and Lexi was mad/sad I wasn't carrying her, too.

 In Ogden, I would be 100% sure this random guy was digging a grave.  But here, I'm sure he was just a city worker doing his job that didn't involve dead bodies.  I love this new area!!

We have a small park (really, it's just a community playground without bathrooms) about a block and a half away from us, but the kids prefer to go to this park since it's huge and has two play structures.  It's gonna be a fun summer!

Easter

Easter weekend (also our moving weekend...more on that later) started for us on Friday with dinner and an egg hunt at Shane's parents' house.

Kaden, Lexi, Ryley, and Ari ready for candy!

Ari still needs a little help.

The kiddos with their booty.

 Shane's mom had gotten each grandkid their own basket and filled it with a whole bunch of non-food items (and still some candy, of course) and the kids loved all of their new stuff!

Ari with her new sunglasses.

Saturday we headed to my dad's house for another hunt.

Sunday the Easter bunny came and, thanks to the movie Hop, Kaden thought that the Easter bunny should hide eggs rather than just putting them in his basket like years past.  Thanks a lot, Hop, for all the extra work you just created for me!

Their baskets (from left: Kaden, Lexi, and Ari's)

Spot an egg or two or 36?

Easter morning!

 I took a bunch of pictures of them doing the hunt I left for them, but I'll spare you even more pictures of them picking up plastic eggs.  They each had their own colors, which made it easier to hide Kaden's eggs the hardest.  ;)

Our friends, Danny and Steph, always buy the girls their Easter dresses (and Christmas dresses) and Kaden a present as well.  Kaden got a Power Rangers action figure this year (he LOVED it!) and the girls' dresses were darling!  Thanks Steph!!

Kaden was pouting because I wouldn't let him hold his Power Ranger guy up.

There we go.  Happy kid again.

Don't you love their dresses?!

 We got SO many comments at church about their dresses!   My little princesses.

 Some of the family came over later for yet another egg hunt (this would be #4 for my kids if you're keeping count).  Again, I'll spare you the pictures, but here's one with the cousins in it.

The kids had a great Easter and I'm happy knowing that Kaden knows exactly what Easter is really about.  Next year hopefully Lexi "gets" it.  ;)

RC Willey

We needed some stuff for our new house (the washer and dryer as well as a bed for Lexi couldn't wait), so we headed to RC Willey's outlet center in West Jordan last week.  We pulled up and Kaden said, "The hot dog place!"  How sadly pathetic are we? 

(Plus, there were no hot dogs that day.)

Anyway, we were able to get what we needed (more on that later) for some really good deals.

The kids trying out mattresses.

Ari loved this bed (she didn't get it).