YeeHaw- Kindergarten Rodeo

Thursday, March 8th was the Kindergarten Rodeo in Elliott's class.  I volunteered when Spencer was in Kindergarten in 2014, so I felt like I owed the same level of support to Elliott.  I rearranged my work days that week so I could be there that morning. 

Elliott was the helper for the day so he got to sit in the helper seat.

His teacher gave the class directions, and then it was time to head outside. 

"Pony racing" was first.

I found Elliott's vest at Goodwill for $1.99 two days before.  I walked in, went to the kid's section, it was the first thing I saw hanging on the rack, I grabbed it, bought it and left.  Perfection.

Horse roping

This picture was a total accident, but I think it's pretty cool.  Can you tell what it is? 

It's two of my fingers and my ring. 

Sack races

Panning for gold

Bean bag toss

Taking a break with friends 

Hula hoop toss 

Pin the tail on the cow

Musical chairs

The only thing that Spencer remembers about his rodeo is that he won musical chairs.  Elliott wasn't as lucky. 

I was very careful and deliberate to get this picture. 

Kindergarten Rodeo comparison 

Once the rodeo was over I spent the rest of the day at home working out, cleaning, doing laundry, watching Law & Order SVU.  I don't actually have any idea if that's what I did that day, but it's quite likely. 

Around 3:00 in the afternoon I started getting ready for my girl's night out. 

Another face mask  I texted this to Maryellen and Lauren.  You'll see why in 1/2 a second. 

I took the kids to piano lessons, Michael met us there, then it was off to Mesa where I met up with Lauren and Maryellen for drinks and dinner. 

And then we went to see Simply Three.  It was a great show and we're already talking about going again next year. 

The end of soccer and various other happenings

This is going to be a weird post just because of the timeline. We'll start on Friday, March 2nd and end on Wednesday the 7th.  It was also a fairly boring chunk of time. Whatever.  Let's go.

A bit of backstory before I begin.  A former high school classmate of mine tragically lost her 10 year old daughter in either November or December.  Another classmate arranged it so that once a week for an entire year someone from our graduating class sends the family a little care package.  I was assigned the week of March 5th, so on Friday the 2nd I took the package to the post office to mail.  

I was not friends with this classmate in High School and we are not friends now, so I had no idea what to send.  I finally decided on a fairly generic gift: springtime washi tape and some napkins. 

And of course, a nice card. 

I included our Christmas picture so she has some idea of who it was from. 

I spent the rest of the day, and also Saturday morning and Sunday morning in this exact seat attending a pediatric neurosciences symposium through Phoenix Children's Hospital and Barrow Neurological Institute.  

After the class on Saturday morning I went to a "party" Joni was hosting because she is selling Rodan+Fields now. 

Then took a picture of my manicure before the polish started chipping. 

And worked on the piano decorations a bit more. 

Spencer had his last soccer game of the season on Sunday the 4th.  They came in 3rd place in the league. 

I was able to make it there after my class and watch the second half of the game. 

I also stopped somewhere on my way home from the game, but I can not remember where or figure out where.  But I took this picture there and I remember I took it because I thought this mirror made me look 800 feet tall. 

We had gotten Spencer's soccer pictures the week before, but I didn't take pictures of the pictures until Monday the 5th.  Here they are. 

That week of school was also spirit week for the kids.  Spencer participated.  Elliott refused. 

And I finally got this little display right on top of the piano. 

Tuesday the 6th.  We almost got through a post without a picture of Ginger on her bed.  That would have been a shame. 

Spencer was ten and a half.  We did his picture in his room with his new curtain. 

Wednesday the 7th was Wear Red for Ed day in Arizona because we are pathetic and have the lowest funding for public education in the nation.  

I went all out with my red. 

Up next:

Monday: Elliott's rodeo day.

Tuesday: our first trip to Tucson since we came home after Christmas.

Wednesday: Spring Break and St. Patrick's Day.

Thursday and Friday: Don't know yet but I promise there will be posts.

Ginger, Penzeys, field trip, and piano lessons

Hello again friends.  Check me out sticking to the schedule and getting stuff done. 

Today we'll start on Sunday, February 25th.  Ginger was her normal adorable self.

Elliott and I went to Tempe Marketplace so we could visit Penzeys one last time before it closed for forever that evening.

Devastating

Now I have to drive to way far north Phoenix (which I will never do) or wait until we go to Tucson to get my Penzeys. 

This was my haul that day.

Ginger being adorable that night. 

I made carrots and parsnips for dinner and these sexy legs carrots were in the bag. 

I had a glass of wine to lament Penzeys. 

Apparently all I did that day was photograph Ginger. 

She's always so proud of herself when she can get on the bean bag. 

Apparently nothing happened in our lives on Monday the 26th, but Ginger was still cute on Tuesday the 27th. 

Wednesday the 28th we found two notes that Elliott had written bitching about his brother. 

I also made some amazing grain and sugar free waffles for dinner. 

On Thursday, March 1st (OMG, we're in March!) I went with Spencer on a field trip to the Basha Art Gallery.  I've never been, but I will certainly go back. 

I am done with the Art Masterpiece lessons with his class for this school year, so I got my customary picture with the whole class.  I'll make a comparison collage once I have full access to all of my past pictures. 

The kids also started piano lessons that day.  My friend and former co-worker Jana teaches piano for a limited number of students (she is a full-time school music teacher) and she was kind enough to take my kids on.  She is awesome. 

Six more posts and then I'll be back on the timeline!