Hollywood Bowl Summer Sounds for Kids

Last summer we went to the Hollywood Bowl Summer Sounds for Kids performances and had a great time. I posted pictures from it and a lot of people asked me about it. The tickets for this summer are now on sale and so I thought I would share the information with anyone who might be interested. If you are, let me know and I'll tell you when we are going so maybe we can see you there!

Here is the info:
This year we leave behind the SS Global Harmony to explore ethnic Los Angeles — its musicians, the neighborhood they reflect and the world music that informs them. Explore the music that is right here, where diverse cultures influence and enrich one another in one of the most exciting cities in the world. For SummerSounds 2009, director Debbie Devine — joined by colleagues from the educational theater troupe The 24th Street Theatre — will take you on a journey to discover music, dance and art from the dynamic cultures of Brazil, Mexico and India, AND where to experience them right here at home!

Click here for even more info and to buy tickets:
http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/summersounds.cfm

A Day of Science

Today we had fun with science at Biology Day! A biology teacher who teaches high school level biology classes to homeschoolers has her students plan a series of classes to teach to younger kids once a year. It was so fun! The kids rotated between twelve classes all focusing on different animal classifications. The highlights were the frog dissection (the kids got to dissect their own frogs!) and dissecting the owl pellets. Tanner was very impressed with the mole skull he found in his pellet! What a fun, educational day! Hooray!

Insects

Mollusks

The Ins and Outs of Amphibians

Tanner was happy to watch, but decided not to actually touch the frog!

Hoofed Mammals from around the world
These girls were so cute. They had costumes and accents to teach about where the hoofed mammal came from!



Worms!

Reptiles

Tanner already loves science and today just affirmed his desire to be a scientist!

Hunter had fun too! He actually did a good job listening to most of the classes. The last few classes we decided to take a walk-hence no owl pellet pictures!

California Fun

Yesterday afternoon,

We went rock climbing...

We met overgrown chipmunks...

We danced...

We went surfing...

And we enjoyed the beautiful spring weather.

All thanks to the many Adventures that are to be had in California when you have a Disneyland Pass!

Pass the veggies, Please!

I have been putting forth a diligent effort to eat my "Five a day" servings of fruit and vegetables. Fruit is not the problem, it is the veggies! I am not the type who can down a bag of baby carrots. I don't really like raw veggies, unless they are dripping with ranch dressing, which pretty much defeats the purpose of eating them. So, I have had to hide the veggies in my regular food. I decided to get creative and it has worked out really well. And, my regular meals taste a lot better with these yummy vitamin packed extras.
Here are a few ways I have added extra veggies to my family's meals:

Veggie pizza: I cut up whatever fresh veggies (zucchini, asparagus, corn) we have and add them to the sauce. Of course, I make it on a whole wheat pizza crust and use cheese sparingly for extra nutrition. So easy and delicious!

Vegetable packed lasagna: Again, add some chopped up fresh veggies to the tomato sauce. Add frozen spinach to the cheese mixture. Wala, extra veggies and nobody knows they are there! I am a whole wheat nut and use whole wheat noodles for extra flare!

Tuna/Chicken Salad with some extra color: When I mix up canned tuna or chicken for a sandwich, I add chopped up carrots and cucumbers. Delicious!

Turkey Wraps: I have discovered a love for fresh green beans! I will steam a bunch for dinner and then refrigerate the leftovers and put them in my turkey wrap for lunch the next day. My turkey wrap includes: turkey, thin layer of cream cheese, and cold green beans wrapped in a whole wheat (of course) tortilla. Yum-O!

What do you do to get your five a day?

Eggcellent Weekend!

Another weekend, another busy two days!

Saturday: Party Time!
Patrick (my cousin Brenda's son) turned 5! His party was at a Pump It Up Jump house in Indio. Everyone had a great time.

Happy Birthday Patrick!

Easter Sunday: Church and Family.
After church, my dad came over for lunch and he spoiled the kids with Easter baskets full of toys and candy. He also taught Ladd how to cook that Trout he helped the boys catch. It was delicious. I tried cooking it earlier in the week, but decided I cannot cook something that still has its head attached. We will leave that to the menfolk...

Then, we went with my mom over to Heidi's house for more good food and fun.

All the Hoyals!

There is a group of big cousins and a group of little cousins and Tanner is smack in the middle of both groups. I love that he plays well with all of them, any age!

Hunting for Eggs

This kid loved the idea of plastic eggs filled with candy!

He couldn't get enough!

Kickin' back with his basket of treasures.

Happy Easter!

We wish you all a Happy Easter. We are so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for His miraculous atonement that allows each of us to return to Him. We feel of His love each day and know that He loves all of His children. Please enjoy this video, created by our Church, to help us remember the true meaning of Easter.

First Class Treatment

I flew up to San Francisco this weekend to visit my sister, Monica, and her fiancee, Brad. Brad had a box for the San Francisco Ballet and so we got to see the ballet in style. We even got a backstage tour during one of the intermissions. The ballet was beautiful. They did three programs and my favorite was "Within the Golden Hour", the ballet that Brad happened to sponsor! It was a wonderful afternoon.

We spent the rest of the day eating , sightseeing, and more eating. It was fun to spend the day with my mom and my sister, and finally see her condo.

The Cook Girls ready for the Ballet!

Our gracious hosts!

This is an old cathedral that had the most beautiful doors that had scenes from the scriptures on them.

On Sunday, my sister took us on a driving tour of San Fransisco. Seriously, I don't know how anyone can drive there! The streets are so narrow and steep and every other street only goes one way. Monica is an awesome driver- I would not have been able to do it! We saw her school, (University of San Fransisco), the Golden Gate Bridge, the Full House opening credits house and park, and lots of other cool things. It was a nice get away and I felt more ready to take on my week after a weekend away!

A beautiful, clear day in San Fran!

The University of San Fransisco sits atop a hill over looking the city. It is a beautiful campus and all the hills make for a great workout. No wonder Monica is in such great shape!

Back on the Homefront...

While I was gone, my dad taught my 3 boys how to fish. Tanner was so excited and neither of the boys cared that I was leaving because they knew they were going fishing with Grandpa! They went to a trout pond in Mount Baldy. Everyone had a great time (except for the three fish that are now in our freezers!) and now I need to learn how to cook Trout!

Two and a half!

Hunter turned 2 1/2 on Sunday. Here is an update on this little munchkin's goings-ons.

-He still happily sleeps in his crib.
-He gives the tightest hugs and the sweetest kisses.
-Like most two and a half year olds, Hunter is Mr. Independent!
-He loves motorcycles, dinosaurs, and skateboards.
-"Bam Bam" is his nickname because he is so strong and likes to bang things around.
-I don't have exact measurements, but Hunter is taller and "sturdier" than most kids his age.
-He likes to eat: oatmeal with raisins for breakfast, PB and J for lunch, pot roast and rice for dinner, and anything sweet! He has been totally off milk and most dairy for awhile which has helped his bum rashes and runny nose tremendously!
-He gets into everything. Since the egg incident on Saturday, he has: dumped almost a full jar of salt into cookie dough I was making, took a handful of butter out of the container and had himself a little "snack", and has learned to take off his pants and diaper and will not keep them on!
-Even with these two year old moments, Hunter is still the cutest little guy and we feel so blessed to have him in our family!

We love our little "Bam-Bam"!