Playing

Monday night was game night for our community life. We played Imaginiff.

There was one extra space so we added Pastor Dave's name.

The question came up:
Imaginiff Pastor Dave were a manager of a store. Which store would he manage?
Dairy Queen
Victoria Secret
Burger King
KMart
All for a Dollar
Banana Republic

So how would you answer that?
If you don't know him, he loves a good bargain and likes to go to thrift stores.

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Last weekend we took the girls to the circus.
I have this book. I purchased it from the school when they were selling old books. It was just like the 1st grade reader I had when I was little. I thought it would be a good book to read about the circus.

Just like Janet, Jack and Penny acted out "circus", I told the girls we should pretend circus. So we got out some of our "wild" animals and had a circus!



We made a circus train.
Sophia pretended to be a "dood titten" on the train. And sometime a bad titten too. "I meow dood and meow bad." "But when we go back to Newton, I will be a hooman."

Hannah was a wolf. "When I'm a mean wolf, my eyes are red. But when I'm good, my eyes are green." Al said "this is a high intensity circus!"
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The girls spent some time making necklaces. Hannah made one for her Samantha doll and one for her friend's Julie doll. Then another one for herself and her friend.
Sophia made this necklace to wear to the zoo on field trip day.
We made this one for Papa. You can't see the "K", but this is a KU necklace.
I taught Hannah how to say Rock Chalk Jayhawk, go KU! It was very difficult for her to say that. It would come out Rock Hawk.

"My daddy's team is easier. Go Pack!"

Easter

We celebrated the Voran Easter on Saturday evening at my parent's.

We all read portions of the Easter story. Except Sophia.

Her mommy read her verse, except for one word that Sophia could read - JOY!

And what JOY to know Christ is risen!

Hannah did a great job reading her verse!
I sure couldn't read words in kindergarten!
(but I did know the Japanese hiragana alphabet!)

The girls and their mommy made these Easter cupcakes.

Grandma Lois had hidden eggs outside.








On Sunday, after church, we had the Graber Easter.
Just before we were going to leave for Pretty Prairie, Jill called.
Hannah was running a 101 temperature!
It was so sad that they would not be able to go celebrate with us.

We went to the Prairie Sunset Home to see Allen's Dad.
The rest of the family were also there.
Dad didn't seem to recognize us at all. He didn't say one word the hour we were there and just would look at us with a confused look on his face. But he does seem to really like the workers.

We are so impressed with the staff there. As we were leaving, I saw one worker lean over and give a kiss to one of the residents. It was just so sweet.

There were no little children to hide eggs for this year.

So sad, but we did have 2 older girls who said they would do it. We put some money in some of the eggs.






Sid grilled burgers and we had all brought food. We goofed again, bringing some of the same dishes. We think too much alike. Taco salad and potato salad.


One year 3 of us brought green bean salad. We decided we HAVE to e-mail and each one bring one big dish and decided ahead of time what that one thing is so we don't duplicate our dishes.


The BIG hit though was this:

PEANUT CRISP BARS

Combine in large saucepan and bring to boil:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup light corn syrup

Blend in 1 cup peanut butter.
Add 6 cups rice krispies. Blend well.
Press into buttered 9x13 pan.

Melt package (or two if you want it really chocolatey) chocolate chips in the microwave and pour over top.

Cut into squares before it hardens so it is easier to remove when it is cool.

Flowers

I love spring flowers!

These bleeding hearts sprung up volunteer!

It seemed like this year the nurseries were later in putting out their selections. I was so happy to see them finally put out their beautiful flowers. I may have gone over budget purchasing flowers this spring.

My hostas have really been growing fast - overnight almost!

The spirea just began blooming this week.

We have not had rain for so long. The clouds teased us today - there was a little sprinkle.

They say it might rain tonight.



Hannah was so excited to help me with planting. I gave her a few flowers of her own to plant. She did it all by herself.

"This is the best day ever!"

Sophie wasn't so much "into" flowers. She was too cold. (This has been a chilly spring)

This little monkey enjoyed playing inside instead.

Circus

Thursday was the last day we had the girls. Their parents were driving back that night. So we decided we would sure like to take them to the circus parade in Wichita. But we weren't sure if we'd be able to. Storms were brewing. The sky looked awful! At 4:30 Mindy called to tell us the sky was green in Wichita and that it was rainy.

But by the time we needed to leave a half hour later those clouds had moved to the east and the sun was shining.

The parade was in the Delano district in Wichita.

We had to chuckle at Hannah's princess wave.

After the parade, the girls were able to see the horses up close.

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On Saturday, Jill, Mindy, the girls and I attended the circus. Al was in a golf tournament and Adam needed to work at church.

The girls got to have an elephant ride!

We met our friend Sharon (who used to be our neighbor when they lived in Newton. They attended Grace and we had done family vacations together). Sharon is a Big Sister and she brought her Little Sister to the circus. The girls became friends and shared cotton candy and lots of laughs together.

If you ever go to Intrust, they do not allow nice cameras (so I had to rely on my old one that does not take good photos at all) and you can't take backpacks or your own food. But who wants to pay $4 for water? And food is crazy expensive!

The circus was fun - although it was l - o - n - g !! Three hours! So it was 1:00 before we could eat lunch (at a nearby McDonalds) and the girls were hungry! But it was fun to share the experience with Hannah and Sophia! Their first circus!

I remember my first circus. It was a tent circus down the road from our home in Japan. I was 5 or 6 and I went with my brothers. I was enchanted by it and I think Hannah and Sophia liked it too!