Seth at Patrick Engineering

Seth got to go to work with me on April 25th, Take Your Sons & Daughters to Work Day. We had a great day together. During our drive to work, Seth paid a lot of attention to the other cars and trucks on the highway and let me know whenever we passed someone or if he wanted me to catch up with a car.

Once at work, Seth met the other 5 people in our office and then we started on some projects we planned for Seth that were related to engineering.

The first was a 4-Wheeled Balloon Car. This involved making our own car that was powered by air from a balloon. It was made using a water bottle for the body, straws and bbq skewers for the axles, Life Savers for the wheels (held on with sponge pieces) and a balloon. Seth blew the balloon up then let the air escape, which propelled the car forward (although slowly).

Photo taken at home that evening

 The second project was a Gum Drop Dome. Seth made this with gum drops and toothpicks. First he made a base with 5 sides, then added toothpicks to form triangles up from the base. He made sure to  arrange the whole structure into triangles so that the dome was sturdy and strong.

Dome head

The finished gum drop dome

For lunch, my co-workers and we went to Rooster's. Seth liked the mini corn dogs, but didn't like waiting for the food :) When we arrived back at work, my co-worker Becky brought in a Dairy Queen ice cream cake for dessert!
After lunch we made another fun project - a Hoop Glider. This one was really simple, with just a straw and paper. It glided through the air with ease. One of the engineers in my office then made a paper airplane to race the glider. They both won several times.

Seth then took a "work break" to work on his homework from school. One of the problems involved making a graph of birth months of friends and family. He asked everyone in the office for their birth month and noted them on the graph.

Seth spent a lot of the afternoon reading 2 books to my co-workers and playing with the hoop glider, paper airplane and gum drop dome (he made it into a ball by adding more toothpicks and a gum drop). Everyone at Patrick Engineering was happy to have Seth in the office with us. He was a lot of fun and said when he grows up, he might want to work where Mommy works.

Seth with the finished projects

April Fool's Day Dinner

In the spirit of April Fool's Day, I once again made some fake-out food for dinner. Last year the fish sticks were on the menu, and Isabelle requested them again. We also had bugs and grilled cheese to eat.

Bugs, grilled cheese and fish sticks, aka, hot dogs in crescent rolls, pound cake with orange colored icing and kit kats covered with icing and graham crackers.

Mmmmm

Parker's idea of a peanut butter-chocolate "sandwich"!

Parker's 2-Year Pictures

Parker just had his 2-year pictures taken. We went to JCPenney at the Tuttle Mall. Although Parker was a little shy, he did a great job, especially when the photographer made him laugh with an Elmo doll!

After his pictures, he played in the mall's play area. The theme is the solar system so they have planets to climb on and a rocket ship. Parker had a great time here!

As he's about to slide down the meteor (in the previous photo)!

Piloting the rocket ship.

 Then we went to rest and have cookies.

We also rode up and down the elevator and escalator one time each. Then Parker got to throw coins into the water for the first time. He thought this was so much fun!

It was a fun day!

Double Digits

It's true.... time flies! Isabelle turned 10 on March 9th! These past 10 years have proved to be full of joy, laughter, excitement, fear, nervousness, tears, smiles, songs, hugs, kisses, love and just about everything you can imagine. Having a daughter brings something new just about every day! We're very proud of the young lady Isabelle is becoming.

Isabelle's day started with breakfast in bed.

Followed by her presents from us - a set of nail polishes and an alarm clock / radio that also docks and charges her iPod Touch.

Grandma Diane and Grandpa Clyde visited us in the morning.

Diane & the Birthday Girl

Isabelle opened a Lego Friends set from them plus two smaller Lego kits.

Grandpa Steve and Grandma Barb visited in the afternoon.

Isabelle opened a Butterfly Dreamlites and a unicorn Pillow Pet from them.

Isabelle requested, as usual, a "Caffeine Cake" from Grandma Barb. Isabelle doesn't like traditional cake, but she loves this one!

Here we are with our Birthday Girl!

And a goofy shot...

That evening, we had a birthday party for friends. The theme was a dance party, so our basement was decorated with a disco ball and a "scene banner" along the walls.

The girls had pizza from Zanzi's then had a good time dancing and playing their own games. Here they are running around the pole.

I made an ice cream cake again this year, a copycat recipe of Dairy Queen's cakes. It was delicious, although I admit the decoration could have been much better!

Time to open gifts from friends. Most of the gifts were gift cards. Rowan gave her a book, Out of My Mind, that she's really enjoying.

Seth got to hang out with Rowan's brother, Holden. The boys had a great time together!

Erika, Faith, Sara, Isabelle, Rowan, Hailey

And of course, a goofy pose

Happy Birthday, Isabelle!!

Safety Patrol

Isabelle is on Safety Patrol at school. This is something only 4th Graders get to do. They cross students at one busy intersection in front of the school. She loves it!

Here she is wearing her safety badge. I'm pretty sure she will be noticed in this bright green coat!

Upward Cheerleading

Isabelle participated in Upward Cheerleading for her sixth season this year (5th for basketball). She had a great time with her coach (Angel Ison) and all the girls on the team really got along well. The team was made up of 3rd and 4th graders. Isabelle made a couple of new good friends - Taylor and Tristya. The Upward colors change every season, and this time they were blue & gold.

Isabelle is second from the left.

At the beginning of each game, the cheerleaders and players run through an Upward banner and along a line of cheering parents. Isabelle was always the first one out, since it was alphabetical.

Seth in the tunnel - he got a lot of high fives from the players

Parker and Isabelle after the tunnel

Parker and Seth like to play together and have snacks during the games

At each game they performed two half time cheers. Here's a clip of one - Isabelle is the furthest in the front row (it was so crowded, I couldn't get any closer to record it).

There were also 2 Upward events at church this season. Stay tuned...