Greenbrier Garden Party

Fun weeknight event at our school garden, sponsored by Whole Foods:

Planting lavender and basil

Making bug habitats

Benji won a garden set in the raffle and wanted to wear the gardening apron right away

Dogwood Festival 2014

Benji could not wait to get to the fair this year

After a few rides, we let the kids play a few games.  Benji and I shot water cannons, and I won him this horse, which Abby immediately fell in love with.  Benji really wanted a snake, though, and Abby popped a balloon with a dart next, winning her the choice of several stuffed animals, including a snake...

Benji looks on forlornly as Abby is leaning towards a unicorn

She offers a trade, but he wants to keep horsie and have a snake

After much begging she relents and gets a snake

Trying to convince Benji of its awesomeness

He is not impressed

After much negotiation, the kids agreed to share both animals.And thus ends this year's trip to the fair.

Fourth Grade Wedding

The Fourth Grade Sunday School curriculum deals with the Jewish life cycle. The culmination of the year is an actual wedding put on by the students, where one set of parents renews their vows. The rabbi performs the actual ceremony, but the kids narrate, say the blessings, hold the chuppah, decorate and provide the festive meal.

Abby in her wedding attire

Reading her part

Time to dance the hora!

Passover

We made our annual trek to Maryland to spend it with the cousins:

All the kids, enjoying each other's company

Abby and Andrew before the seder

Benji's Birthday Poster

This year Benji chose Jack and Annie from the Magic Tree House series, and Pop-pop did a great job, as always:

He loves it!

Abby admiring the artwork

Easter 2014

Easter Morning:

Finding their baskets

The kids made us a "basket" and hid it in the bathroom

It had crafts from them

Benji wrote a card

 Getting Ready for brunch:

All Dressed Up:

Afternoon Fun:

Abby bought herself the chocolate bunny necklace at the Farmer's Market on Saturday

These cupcakes have a Cadbury egg baked into them - too rich for Benji!

Benji's Top Secret Spy Party

Before the party:

Snack table

Footprints leading to the hidden snacks

Obstacle course instructions

For the necessaries

Check-in station

Spy tools

Secret Agent Cupcakes

And we're off:

Abby helping fingerprint at the check-in station

Patrick checks in while Caroline looks on

Searching for bombs in the backyard

Looking for the first clue in the scavenger hunt

They found it (and popped the right balloon to yield lots of red glitter confetti)

Looking for the next clue

We're almost there!

Cupcake time

Josie, Jorja, and Caroline - 3 of Benji's closest school friends

Elliot, Jasper, Jack, Joey and Benji

Patrick and Kiley want in on the rock-climbing action