Food, Fun and Parties!

Grandma and Papa Clinger came for a weekend visit and brought cousin Lexi and so we packed as much fun in as possible over the few days they were here. First, we explored the Price house where we learned about different birds, bats and animals. The girls had fun coloring and fishing with butterfly nets in the outside pond.

Next, we walked downtown Blacksburg to the International Festival. We got to sample food from all over the world and see lots of people dressed in their native counties clothes and watch lots of dancing. The girls even got a chance to try on coin belts and dance to the music. My mom and I really enjoyed the festival and wished we had more time and bigger stomachs to try all the wonderful looking food.

But we didn't have a lot of time because Raquel had a birthday party to get to in the afternoon. So we left Grandma, Papa and Lexi and headed out to the back woods of Hiwassee, Va about a 40 minute drive from our house to attend Raquel's friends birthday party. It was a long drive through beautiful country and well worth the fun the kids had at the party. They all enjoyed running around, playing with bubbles, eating cake and riding a horse. Natalya wasn't quite sure she wanted to ride a horse before going to the party and Mike had told her maybe there would be unicorns there that she could ride. She said she would ride a unicorn and so she was excited to go. Well as you would guess there were no unicorns to ride at the party. As we were hanging out waiting our turn to ride the horse Natalya leans over to me and said there are no unicorns just a horse to ride. I told her that was right and did she want to ride the horse. Even though there were no unicorns she was very excited to ride the horse and had a smile on her face the whole time. Marcus loved looking at the horses and petting them but was a little cautious when he was placed on the horse to just sit there. I'm sure it will take him no time at all before he loves them as much as the girls.

After a fun afternoon on the farm we meet up with Mike, Grandma, Papa and Lexi for dinner. The kids were all so tired by the end of the night but Lexi and Raquel wanted to go swimming. We left Marcus and Natalya home and I took Raquel to the pool so she could play with her cousin Lexi. They had lots of fun in the pool together and played for over an hour. That was long enough since we didn't get home and into bed until after 10pm. After such a long busy day the kids slept really well that night.

PRICE HOUSE

Marcus, Natalya and Raquel

Cousin Lexi and Marcus coloring

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

Raquel getting her face painted

Natalya with her world balloon

Raquel in her coin belt skirt

Lexi, Raquel and Natalya shaking to the music

Dancing to the music

Marcus enjoying his gummy bug

BIRTHDAY PARTY

Raquel and her friends waiting to ride the horse

Natalya and Marcus waiting

Marcus hanging out on the farm

Raquel

Natalya

Marcus

Raquel having fun with the bubbles

Marcus checking out the chickens and bunnies

SWIMMING

Lexi and Raquel having fun in the pool

Spring Party

Raquel's kindergarten class had a spring party. After enjoying a day of bowling the kids came back and ate yummy snacks and had an Easter egg hunt on the front lawn. We put names on all the eggs so they had to find their own eggs which made it a little more difficult for them. I think they all had fun helping each other collect their eggs.

Chick Cupcakes for Raquel's party

Natalya enjoying her snacks

Raquel with her friends David and Diljeet

Raquel, Natalya and Hannah checking out their Easter eggs they collected

Raquel also had her last swim meet of the season tonight. Grandma and Papa Clinger were able to make it into town to watch her swim. She has done really well and can now dive into the pool to start her race. As always she had lots of fun participating and getting her treat bag at the end.

Raquel swimming free-style

My Monkey

Marcus is my monkey. He climbs up on almost anything and gets what ever he wants while up there. This is how I found him when I came into the kitchen, perched on the edge of his high chair. We keep his high chair low so that he can climb in to it himself or I can just put a snack on the tray and he can eat it off while standing. I guess he got tired of standing and wanted to sit while eating his snack.

Natalya

I have been working with Natalya helping her recognize her letters and numbers.

She wrote her name all by her self for the first time.

I'm sure she will have it down by the time she attends preschool this fall.

Pool

Its that time a year again when the pool comes out and the kids spend the evenings splashing away. Marcus, Natalya and Raquel had fun playing in the warm water and sliding into the pool on our first night with our new pool.

Hanging out in the pool

Enjoying an after dinner treat in the pool

Tub Buddies

Marcus and Natalya have fun playing together everyday.

They especially enjoy spending time in the tub.

Barbie Party!

Raquel decided on a Barbie birthday theme for her party this year. We had fun coming up with things to do for her celebration but ultimately decided on a little barbie make-over party.

Once all the girls arrived and colored a few barbie pictures we played pin the glasses on Barbie. For prizes the girls got their own Barbie glasses. Then it was time for our mini make-overs. With the help from a couple of neighbors (Kathy, Kaitlin and Julie) all the girls got their nails painted complete with stickers, make-up with glitter and their hair done with flowers and bows. All the girls had lots of fun and were very excited to be able to wear make-up. After cake, ice cream and present opening we sent home 6 very happy girls.

Raquel & her Cake

The Barbie Cake

Alexa, Gracie, Grace, Hannah, Autumn

Natalya & Raquel

Showing off their fabulous make-up and hairdos.

Eating cake & ice cream

Opening presents

Alexa, Nora & Raquel

and the happy mom during

the party.

We're Famous!

We're famous! Not really but our picture did make it into the local newspaper.

Bonfire!

We had our first bonfire of the Summer. I guess technically it is only Spring but its been such great weather that it has been like summer. Our neighbors had some wood that needed cutting up so Mike offered to help. They then invited us over for a bonfire with hot dogs and marshmallows. The kids had fun roasting their own hot dogs and playing by the fire.

Mike showing the girls how its done

Tom, Autumn and Raquel roasting dogs

Marcus enjoying the chips

Roasting more hot dogs

6 yrs. old

Our little girl Raquel isn't so little any more. She turned 6 yrs. old today!

She enjoyed her birthday with some of her favorite foods. Donuts for breakfast, sticky rice for lunch and tacos for dinner. Raquel thought it was pretty neat to go to church and get sung to in Primary on her actual birthday. She finished off the day with a bit of present opening.

We sure love our big 6 yr.old girl. She is always willing to help, loves to swim, color and go to school. She is a great big sister and very helpful with her siblings. She is learning to cook and loves making cookies with her dad. Raquel loves being in Kindergarten and riding the bus to school everyday. She loves playing with her friends Gracie and Autumn but also really enjoys just being home and playing with her sister and brother. She is very sweet and caring and just a great kid!

Raquel and her plate of donuts

The birthday girl opening her presents

On Tuesday Raquel helped make pink cupcakes for her school class.

The girls were all excited for pink but all the boys had to think twice about eating pink frosting.

Here are a few questions I asked Raquel on her birthday.

Favorite food : Sticky Rice

Favorite treat: Chocolate Chip Cookies

(that she makes with her dad)

Favorite toys: Barbies

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Movie: Rapunzel

Favorite Day of the week: Sunday

(because it was her birthday day)

Favorite Activity: Coloring

Favorite Place: Home

When I grow up I want to be: A cowgirl

I wish: There were unicorns

I dream: about unicorns running & I'm riding on them

My favorite vacation: Going to Grandma's House

Best day: When its my birthday!

SciWorks

On our way home from Chapel Hill we took a little pit stop in Winston-Salem to have lunch and enjoyed the SciWorks Center for a few hours before heading home.

Enjoying our after lunch ice cream cones.

Up, Up we go!

Playing the floor piano

Static electricity

Natalya looking at her hair sticking up.

And Raquel's hair sticks up

Mom's hair sticking up from the static electricity.

Pool and Park

Day three while in Chapel Hill the kids and I explored the NC Botanical Garden, Played at a local park and swam in the pool.

This is the hairdo that Raquel gave Marcus.

She used the water out of the fountain in our hotel lobby while eating breakfast to style it.

THE BOTANICAL GARDENS

Since it was so early in the year there wasn't much to explore and see at the botanical garden but the kids and I found a little kids area to enjoy the warm weather and play for a while.

Playing with the natural wooded blocks

More block building

Digging in the sand box.

This is how Marcus would play, never getting into the box just reaching over the sides.

THE PARK

The kids all had fun playing at the park

SWIMMING

Marcus

Natalya

Marcus having fun with dad

Flying Natalya

Soaring Raquel