Learning about Pumpkins

Avannie has started preschool today!!!  And she loved it!  

First Day of School with her "Happy Face"

First we sang some songs, spun the weather wheel, did the calendar, did some letter phonics (ZooPhonics), and then had the lesson about pumpkins.  How do pumpkins grow?  We read a book explaining the process.  Then: pumpkin counting. story about Spencer the Tiger and his pumpkin, a song about pumpkins sitting on a fence, dissecting a pumpkin and feeling the guts and the seeds, a snack of whole grain/low sugar pumpkin muffins, a craft to make little jack-o-lanterns, and then play time.  

The Class:  Lydia, Jihoo, Avannie, and Tony

 It was so much fun to watch these little kids learn!  Yes, they got side-tracked but it was still so fun!

Avannie is the oldest of the bunch - born in June.  Then Lydia and Tony are in October followed by little Jihoo.

Applefest Half Marathon 2011

Go Joseph and Kelly!  Mile 8 on the famous Wheeler Road, one very long uphill.

Joseph and Rick Hann were this year's Dominators (team name) at the Applefest race in Hollis.  They did great!  They came in under 2 hours - barely - but hey, they reached their goal!  Ricky had the first leg of the race and Joseph had the second.  For each leg, they both ran with a good friend, Kelly Olsen (blue shirt with the backwards red hat).  Joseph said that it was Kelly who kept him motivated.  Thank you Kelly!

It was different being a spectator this year.  With my parents in-town, we jumped in the car and were able to see Rick and Amy (little sister) on Nevins Road.  Then we drove along the race course for a mile and pasted Joseph.  We then drove a back road to get to Wheeler Road, and barely made it in time to see Joseph pass.  I ran along the side for a minute before giving him the "good game".  Then we jumped in the car again to make it to the finish line in time.  We got caught in traffic right in the middle of Hollis for 20 minutes as the police officer wouldn't let any cars go through.  So after a quick feeding for Sadie and watching Joseph pass our car, I jumped out of the car and dashed to the high school to watch Joseph cross the finish line.  I made it!  He finished with excellent time!  And about a half hour later, Amy finished!  It was so fun!

The Dominators