Fine Arts Festival

Each year Chesterfield County has a Fine Arts festival celebrating the art program in the schools.  The art teachers select artwork to represent their schools and this year all of my girls were chosen to have a piece on exhibit!  I was SO proud of them!

Here is Anabelle's aboriginal stitchery which is a map of our house & yard.  Notice the pond and zipline?

 Here is Elise's candlestick.  She said she thought it was horrible after she painted it, but after firing it, she was pleased with the colors!

 Here is Sadie's 3D paper art.  She was excited to tell us all about the process of making it.

BOB Competition

Anabelle competed in the BOB competition last week and her team won 2nd place in her school!  BOB is short for Battle of the Books and to enter the competition, the kids have to read at least 10 books from a selected list and pass comprehension tests on them.  Then they're placed on teams that compete with each other based on their knowledge of the books.  The books aren't easy reads either!  We're extremely proud of Anabelle for working so hard for over 6 months to read the books and prepare for this event.  We were all so happy that her team won 2nd!  They called their team The Mystery Meatloafs.  My creative girl made a paper meatloaf to set on their table and fork pins for everyone to wear :0).  She's the one sitting at the yellow table on the left. 

The Big Apple!!

 Highlights of our trip to New York City!  We had a blast!!!

We stayed in Times Square...big lights, insane crowds, and LOTS of honking.  Our hotel view was of  3 illuminated digital billboards. If you left even the smallest crack of curtain open, blue neon would blink all night long.

On the first day, we explored all of the big stores near the hotel.  Hershey World, M& M World, & Toys R Us.  They even rode the Ferris Wheel.

Day two...exploring Grand Central Station (one of my favorite places), St Patrick's Cathedral, American Girl Doll Store (soooo boring), FAO Schwartz, and Dylan's Candy Bar. 

Recognize this?

 We had three meals consisting of pizza.  Rays was by far the best.  I don't think I could ever eat Domino's again.

 Central Park!  It was so amazing, we went twice :0)! On the second trip, we spent the entire day there. We saw the castle, Shakespeare's Garden, lots of playgrounds, the lake, & the fountain.  I wanted to rent a row boat, but they only allowed 4 people. It was still my favorite day.

 Love the bridges

 

 The girls were thrilled to find lots of boulders there.  Danny had fun, too :0).  I was more worried about a sprained ankle.

 

 

 Night life...cupcakes in Bryant park and the Empire State Building!

 

Last day,  9/11 Memorial, walk to Staten Island Ferry, walk to Brooklyn Bridge, walk to Chinatown, walk to Little Italy.  Then...CRASH. 

 Chinatown!  Anabelle wasn't so sure of the chickens.

 Little Italy.  I think I see an extra bulge in my mid-section.

 The 9/11 Memorial.  Very moving~

 The tree that survived and blooms to this day.

 Staten Island Ferry

 A glimpse of Lady Liberty

CRASH!  What a trip!  We feel so blessed to have been able to take our family to such an amazing place.  I can't wait to go back!