Royal Wedding Book Fair

I was chair of the Scholastic Book Fair this past week. With the timing of the Royal Wedding, I used that as the theme. The teachers had afternoon tea for their sneak peek, the kids guessed how many jewels were in the container for a contest, and we all enjoyed wedding cake on Friday morning.

Thanks to Vera's House of Bridal for the loaner.

Lots of books were read and enjoyed.

Easter

Looking spiffy. They actually fought over who got to wear the bow tie. J finally won, with the promise to S that he could wear it for the Spring Concert at school.
S helping trim radishes. I won't be surprised if he becomes a chef. He loves to help with the cooking.

Teaching my niece, Z, to make mashed potatoes. She was a big help.

All the cousins on the hammock.

J checking out her basket. Everything was fun for her.

And the big guys were less thrilled.

Book Signing at Williams-Sonoma

We met Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge, AKA The Beekman Boys.

They signed their book, The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Gentlemen Farmers.
Waiting in line, we saw a group of prom kids, and I firmly explained to them that they should never, under no circumstances, ever take their prom date to the mall... and to never wear anything but a classic black tux. Ah... these little life lessons.

My boys meeting "the boys".

They asked about the llama, Polka-Spot, their favorite animal on the farm. We have loved watching their show on Planet.

Brent and Josh were so gracious and lovely.
And they liked my orange coat.

Eleven Kids = One Awesome Birthday Party

J turned 9 last week, and we hosted 11 boys for a Nerf Gun Party.

April 16 and it snowed!

Oreo Cake and the birthday boy.

Favors and personalized water bottles.

Make a Wish!

This is the aftermath.

Fancy Nancy Party

My niece joined in the party. She will go to the school next year, and she had a chance to meet some of the girls. Every young lady took home a fancy fuzzy blanket.

A very Fancy chandelier.

Things to make you Fancy; boas and rings and bracelets, oh my!

Last weekend was the Fancy Nancy party that was my donation to our school auction.

It was a great success!

Favor buckets, waiting to go home.

Flowers and feather centerpiece, and cotton candy towers.

All the Fancy Young Ladies!

My talented sister came to take pictures, and my great friend, Jean, with assistance from her daughter, came and gave a French lesson. It was a delightful afternoon, and I am already planning next years party.

ah...okay.

On our way to school, I was quizzing J on his science test he has today, reinforcing that if he finishes a test early, that he spend the extra time to look it over again. Check his spelling, look for punctuation, etc. Then he says "That's what Grandpa Vonny always says." Me: "He does?" J: "Yeah, like when you go to a Japanese restaurant, you eat Japanese food. Or you go to an Italian restaurant, you eat Italian food. You don't eat just macaroni and cheese." Me: Silence for a beat, "Am I missing something? What does eating in a restaurant have to do with test taking?" J: "I don't know, but Grandpa always says that." Ah...okay. At least he is listening to something.

Lotta Books

Today was the CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center), at the UW, spring book sale. The boys and I went, and one hour, 36 books worth $598, $104 later, we have hours of reading enjoyment ahead of us!