Fun Summer Programs at the library

I have been meaning to post this for some time now, but I wanted to make sure all our fun was covered! We LOVE our library here, they are always full of fun free programs for kids of all ages. It really feels nice and welcoming when as soon as you step into the children's dept everyone knows you and the kids.

This year's summer reading program theme was superheroes. It started with sign up and a fun photo set up in the activity room!

We got to see Ronald McDonald again at the library! This guy is awesome and always gets the kids going.

They even had a family friendly Doctor Who party!!!

And one of our last events for the summer was an egg drop. The kids were given tons of different materials and had to build a craft to drop a semi hard boiled egg down 2 flights of stairs.

They didn't break!!!

Ronald McDonald at the Library

Once again it is time for the library summer reading challenge. This year, because both kids are reading chapter books, the program that counts minutes instead of book titles seems to be working the best for us. They get prizes at 250 min and 500 min. Both kids were at the 500 min mark within the first 2 weeks of the challenge. One of the great and fun things about this time of year, is that every library in the area have fun and FREE events for everyone in the family. This year both kids were really excited about seeing Ronald McDonald again. And let me tell you, as someone seriously afraid of clowns, this one is the tops.

Before the show begins, while the audience trickles in, one of the "helpers" does a few tricks. He even includes the kids. L was picked to help with the spinning plate trick. He was even encouraged to walk around with it, eliciting screams from the audience as it came spinning over their heads.

Then the big guy himself entered the room!

L got picked for one of the first magic tricks/games. He played a sort of Let's Make a Deal type game.

L was cracking up Ronald just as much as the other way around. L ended up winning the game and was proud of his brush with fame.

D was actually called up this year and wasn't even shy about it this time around.

D had to help Ronald tear a few pieces of tissue paper, but tore it too soon. :-)

Ronald turned it into a tissue paper mask of himself for our favorite little red head.

Yikes!!!! Too close!!!!

Summer Reading Fun 2013

Last days of School 2014

Wow, it has been months since I last blogged. Where has the time gone! So the first week of June brought the last few days of school this year. D has finished 1st grade and L has finished 2nd grade. I am still in shock that I have an incoming 3rd grader! 3rd grade didn't seem that long ago to me. Yikes!

Each grade has their own special award ceremony. Each student is giving at least 1 life skill award. These are always fun to find out, sometimes you agree and sometimes you just don't see it. Each time I can totally agree with my kids awards.

D's teacher was sad to not be there for the awards this year, but it was her only chance to chaperon her own son's field trip. We all totally understood.  Funny enough, there was a freak power outage the day of D's awards and the school was running on generators. By mid-day, those were no longer running anymore either.

My little girl looks so grown up!

Looking like a pro walking off the stage.

Normally Adam takes time off from work to come to these, but unfortunately it just didn't work out this year.

My handsome boy!

L's teacher actually got a little choked up talking about his initiative this year and how far he has come in his writing. In fact, he got a nice little belated birthday gift in the mail from her just the other days. It was a really neat tree journal so that he can write about our travels this summer.

This girl was excited about the last day of school even though she LOVES it!

Once again this year I had decked the car out for after school pick up. I used a window marker to decorate the windows, picked up balloons from Dollar Tree, had Kids Bop music blasting, and had bags in their seats filled with candy, silly string, bubbles, books, and water blasters. Kids came streaming out of the school, stopped at my car, and just started dancing. It was hilarious!!!!

We capped off the evening going to the downtown library summer reading challenge kick off party where we signed up, made paper hats, bought tons of cheap used books, and I won free passes to a nearby water park!

Last day of school fun

Last days of school 2013

Summer Reading Fun

We were very active in our local library's summer reading program this summer. In fact, the way our library system is set up, we have 2 different libraries with 2 different programs. So we did both!! We really do love our libraries and are so thankful that they have such amazing free events!

We got to see a magic show put on by Ronald McDonald!

He said he loved having another ginger around! Funny enough over Labor day we went to a parade, and it was the same guy in the parade. He saw D, his face lit up in recognition, and blew her a kiss.

Dino day!! 

The end of the summer reading program for one library allowed the kids to put on forest friendly costumes and sign the log book!

Kid's Garden Club:Learn about compost!