Theme 3...birds

This was a theme I was super excited about, but it fell short of my expectations. I had planned to make these really cool birds nest with twine, but the week flew by so fast. I had also planned on going to a wildlife refuge where they save wild birds, but that didn't work out either.

The kids did each learn a poem about a bird. We went to the aquarium where we did see a bird. They had sea gulls with their sting ray exhibit. We also saw birds when we visited a feed store. They had geese, guineas, and turkeys. The geese were adorable with their fuzzy yellow down.

One interesting thing the kids did learn about birds is that hummingbirds use spider webs, and caterpillar silk to make their webs. It makes the inside of the web like plaster.

Hopefully next weeks theme will go more as planned.

Here is my favorite picture of the week. Neen is inside a little bird egg maze that we found at the Botanical Gardens.

Aquarium

Yesterday we went to the Aquarium. We met up with our friend LaMonica and her baby Kingsley. We met her niece Kyla, and her nephews Tre and Caleb. They have been in town visiting for about a month. They were all three wonderful children with smiles and hearts of gold!! We had such a wonderful time, and hope they come back to visit again next summer! If you would please keep Tre, Caleb and their family in your prayers. They lost an uncle yesterday, and could definitely be lifted up at this time.

Botanical Gardens

Just a few nature shots from the Botanical Gardens. I only had my point and shoot camera yesterday, so I will be going back early one morning before temperatures are in the triple digits to take more photos. Next time I hope to get a shot of the beautiful purple butterfly we saw.

High in the sky...

My Anna loves heights. She loves rock climbing, amusement park rides that go really high, and now she loves sky jumping. The last time we went to the mall she saw the sky jump and begged us to go on. The line was too long so I told her we would go back on a week day and let her fly. Hey, it also goes along with our theme of the week...birds. Well, kind of.

Someone got a new tattoo!

Neen Did!

Isn't that the cutest little tummy you've ever seen?

Anna put it on her, and she didn't quite get that it will take a few days to go away. She wanted it off just as quickly as it went on. That's a good sign right? ;)

Be AFRAID....be very afraid!!

Just a warning! If you come to the Hazelwood house on a summer evening, you WILL be involved in Nerf Warfare 2010.

We have a pretty tough bunch!! Don't ya think?

Theme 2...Dad

This week the kids and I talked a lot about Casey, and why he is so important and special to us. We talked about his role in our family, and how we are so lucky that God chose us to have this man in our lives.

We've missed him these last few weeks. He has been super busy with work! His company just opened their 10th store. This store is in a different city and it has taken a lot of his time. He's off this Saturday and we can't wait to spend the day with him!

The kids and I did make an art piece for him for Father's Day to hang in his office. The kids and I each took a section of the cross to paint. When you are looking at the painting Bub's is on the top, Anna's is on the left, Neen's is on the right, and mine is on the bottom. We used a little bit of sponge painting for the background.

First theme...hot air balloons

The kids and I have been super busy so far this summer! I decided this year we would do a theme each week and our first theme was hot air balloons! The kids loved it! We checked out books from the library, did internet research, made paper mache balloons, and went to the Balloon Museum! Auntie Manda came to visit for a long weekend and got to enjoy part of the balloon fun with us!

This part was pretty messy! Although it was fun, it may be awhile before we attempt it again.

Neen actually did a good job at getting the excess paste off her newspaper. :)

Look at these painters...

they are...

deep in thought!

The almost finished product. I still need to tie the baskets on the bottom.

When a big gust of wind came we almost fell out of the hot air balloon at the museum!

Ha! Ha! Just kidding with ya! The kids thought it would make a funny picture! I think it did!