spring break

The girls had two weeks off for Spring Break this year.

Two weeks!

I put together little gift bags to send with the girls to Nana's:

(aka: working-mother guilt packages)

I just found lots of little crafts, books, and activities, wrapped them all up and stuck notes on them indicating which day to open them.


I've loved getting phone calls every day with "thank you Mama for the craft!" and seeing what they made when I get home. :o)

I also got them each a workbook: math for Mariah & Mallory, writing skills for Arissa. I got them a grade ahead of the one they're in (1 grade for Mallory, 2nd for Mariah, and 5th for Arissa), hoping it would challenge them. They each felt a little proud that I thought they were capable of doing work meant for the grade above them. :o)

Spring Break is supposed to be warm and sunny beachy weather. But with one or two exceptions, it was kind of mostly cool and cloudy (which I prefer!). But I hear in other places there's snow on the ground, so I guess our version of "Spring" isn't so shabby. :o)

We packed up the car one day and headed out to put this thing to good use:

I love that kite.

I've had it since I was maybe Arissa's age. I've always loved the colors and even though it's simple, it's been a really good kite.

We took turns flying it....

....except for Mariah, who did this:

....and I wanted to join her....it was cold! It was super windy, which is good of course for kite-flying...but it was just so super chilly for us.

My poor sweet kite was no match for those winds.

He was fragile already, due to his age and materials....we could tell he wasn't his old self because although he'd catch wind and float way up, he'd spiral down a few moments later.

And then, eventually, he broke and wasn't structurally sound enough to keep flying, and had to be laid to rest. :o(

So we got in the car and drove to Seaport Village to check out the kite shop there.

On the way, we saw this sign (which ever-observant Arissa pointed out)

and we all had a good laugh:

:o)

At Seaport Village we just bummed around.

And spent every last penny (literally) that I had, on this:

and this:

Those kids have never met a carousel they didn't like!

:o)

Same with Jesse and this:

:o) j/k