Thursday, May 31, 2012

i madonarri



My favorite:



Second favorite:


http://www.imadonnarifestival.com/

A Mighty Long Trunk


J gave Vera a piece of paper with a line on it and had her create an image, which brings up so many memories for me. At my elementary school there was a weekly contest where all students were given the same piece of paper with the same line drawn on it. What you did with the line and the picture you created were all up for interpretation and they would pick a handful to display on that all important bulletin board in front of the office. I don't remember what the prizes were or if I ever won, but it was a cool task.  Vera came up with a very rad elephant.

West Coast Kustoms







The boys hit up the West Coast Kustoms Car Show in Santa Maria last weekend. All was good until both little boys decided they had, had enough. Thankfully, Mr. P came through with the master plan, feed them a funnel cake! That would be two very happy boys licking the plate clean above.

Yes, J did wear a tank top.

Santa Barbara Race


The kiddos and I at the outrigger canoe race in Santa Barbara on May 19.

Keller's Mind


Overheard while Keller was playing kick the ball with J:

"If you say Ahhhh, you get a toy dinosaur. 
If you say  Ohhhh, you don’t get a toy dinosaur.
If you hear that sound, that means you are going to get a toy dinosaur, but you didn’t.
If you miss and you try again, you get a toy dinosaur." 

-Keller

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Video Round-Up


Vera Reading


Love, love, love that she is picking up books and reading them now.

Keller!!!


Thursday, May 24, 2012


Wow, this is the only acceptable picture I have of Vera from her school play. Oh well, my hand waving to her really helps set the scene and gives the picture atmosphere. ;) The play was "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Vera, as the deer, was part of the chorus. You would not have guessed that, by the way that she memorized the entire play and all of the songs, which have been sung over and over at our house for the last month.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Dan Zane

I just found these on my camera! Two weekends ago our crew rocked out to Dan Zane at one of UCSB's Family Concert Series. We have liked the series so much, we are considering the package deal next year and going to every event. The kids have their faces painted + free balloons + sometimes ice cream + a show = success every time. It is interesting what shows the kids really liked and what they tolerated. Ziggy Marley from two years ago is still the best one of all time.

In regards to face painting, Vera's might be my favorite of all time. Her teeth complement the look perfectly. Keller is a Transformer (just in case you needed help with identification). The BiL that lives in Santa Barbara better get that one. 




Monday, May 21, 2012

Cotton Candy...


 ...for the first time!


New Bike Time





Sunday, May 20, 2012

So Keller


I just like the shot!

Open House



Vera's first Open House! We got a tour of the classroom, made extra special due to the fact that she was the Super Star and her painted replica was displayed on the wall for all to see + the 10 photos of our family. I purposely am posting the picture of Vera and her teacher with the bathroom clearly visible. Seriously, I wish that all rooms in my life had an attached bathroom, for people with small bladders or those that have had three kids.

Mrs. D is a sweet teacher and she gets Vera. So much that she says Vera is a mini-her, they both like to be in control of the situation and for things to go as planned. 


During the Open House we got a personal tour from Vera. Highlights included the reading of three journal entries, viewing her favorite vegetable (the artichoke), and her self portrait. 




Saturday, May 19, 2012

Scooter Time


What is up with the tongue?


What is up with our hyper-coordinated Little Dude? Boy has learned how to bunny hop his scooter.

Red




Red is just one of those people that I wish lived closer, like next door. She is a vibrant, kind, and caring friend and I feel so lucky that we got to hang in with her for a bit on Saturday. Thanks for chilling with the Mazzetta Crew, Red!

Favorite Museum


The New Children's Museum in San Diego is amazing! We had been once before three years back, loved it then and love it now. Every two years the museum decides on a new theme and 12 artists are selected to create interactive exhibits that correlate with the given subject. This time around, the theme is trash = recycling, reusing, and trash. Since we are trying to be a bit more green around our house, love the theme.

The twelve exhibits are interspersed with other craft/art activities for the kids. 

Our trip to San Diego coincided with Vera being chosen Super Star at school. In honor of that position, she got to bring Curious George home and on her adventures. He loved the museum as well.



The clay was a big hit.




This was one of the trash exhibits. There were lighted picture boxes that you decorated with broken toys to create 3-D art. Gus was much more interested in eating the broken toys...yummy!





  
                                                  

Monday, May 14, 2012

100 Mice




100 mice fit in a surprisingly small space, that cooler above to be exact. The snakes have to eat and J has found the most economical way possible. He ordered 100 mice online and had them delivered to our house in a cooler with dry ice. The kids were uber excited and a science project happened.

Vera is having very little difficulty with the fact that snakes eat mice, baby mice to be exact. Yet, one of her books from school mentioned that raccoons eat eggs and she had a mini meltdown about the fact that the raccoon is eating a bird's babies. She also recently has started to try to save flies. I swat them and she carries them outside for rehabilitation. She actually told me that a fly lost a leg and so she was teaching it how to walk/fly using the appendages it has left. It is quite the contradiction.