Playgroup Olympic Games

Yesterday morning we had our very own Playgroup Olympic Games! I was super excited about it, and it turned out great!

You need food at a party, right? Well, we had plenty!

We wore these gold medal donuts around our necks as we ate them!

We also had some fruit salad, but I didn't have a catchy name for that, so it went un-documented.

Let the games begin! We had races!

And they raced again! I just love how something as simple as "Run!" can be so thrilling to little kids. I've got a lot to learn from their sweet, simple joys! (But no, I don't plan on taking up running!)

This next picture is from Jane. I LOVE it!!!! 

Next up - the javelin throw. (I taped straws together to make the javelins).  The "throw it in the bucket" part of this event was actually more like "hit the bucket!"

The discus throw. (I love Halle's smile!)

Claire was snagging the Life Savers Olympic Rings the whole time! One time I looked up and saw that she was carrying the whole container in her hands!

Emily feeling her fast heart beat after running and running. 

This little park is right by our house, and Claire LOVES to run up and down this hill when we go there.  But during the Olympic Games, she had some friends to keep her company at the top!

Time to eat!

Baby Jack

The next event was the sidewalk jump. Amanda drew circles on the ground, and the kids jumped (or tried to jump -- or kind of tried to jump) from circle to circle.

Amanda with Jack

Amy

Finally, we had the water balloon target throw! (To keep them in check while everyone took turns, they were told to stand on the line and fold their arms. Too cute!)

At first, they threw the balloons.

Way to go, Hannah! 

Then the really wet fun began! 

Baby Katie with Baby Jack!

The chalk was entertaining for a while.

And then we remembered the balance beam!

To explain the shirt-less girls here - Claire wanted her shirt off because it was wet from the water balloons. Then Emily and Hannah wanted their shirts off, too. Halle kept hers on; she didn't get wet.

The medal ceremony! 

I sure am glad Claire has these fun friends to play with! And I'm glad the moms are such good friends, too! 

Halle and Jack - super sweet!

Jane and Julia (and Hannah, too!)

Claire loves all things baby, and her stuffed frog is affectionately named Baby Jack right now. (Before being named Jack, it was Baby Evan). So she asked to hold Jack. It must be fun to see the real deal when she mostly just pretends! 

And that wrapped up our little Olympic party! We had an absolute blast! I'll have to do this again sometime!

Bugs Galore!

Last Friday Jordan finished his second-to-last semester of nurse anesthesia school! He turned in lots and lots and lots of work, and then we headed to New Orleans! We ate some great poor boys at Parkway Bakery, (which is definitely worth finding if you're in NO and want excellent poor boys!) Then we went to the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium. It was really fun!

They had plenty of exhibits at Claire's eye-level. 

This was in the underground cave. The floor was squishy, leaves were on the ceiling (so it really felt like we were underground), and some bugs jumped out at us! Claire got to sit on the worm with Dad.

In the termite room

Worms!

Who can resist sitting in an empty canoe?!!

Baby gators

Ride that gator!

Caterpillars undergoing metamorphosis to become butterflies. There were tons of them in there!

The darker ones were closer to being ready to emerge. I really liked seeing these.

Then we went through two sets of doors to the beautiful butterfly garden.  Those lights were HOT.

There's a butterfly on a plant to the left of Claire's knee in this picture. 

As we looked, we saw more and more butterflies. 

And just before we left, a big butterfly decided to land on my shorts. 

I'm glad we could spend some family time together to celebrate the conclusion of this semester! And I completely recommend the insectarium and butterfly garden. It was very fun!