Wheat Harvest 2012

Wheat harvest was VERY early this year!  Isaac and Isabella didn't want to miss out, so we went up on Sunday, June 10th, the last day Dad was cutting. (Isaac especially didn't want to miss out of course.)  We drove straight to the field and dropped them off after a few pictures.  (I do say it was nice not to have to sit up in the field and wait for them to take their turns! Instead we went back to the house to visit with mom!) They both took turns all afternoon riding in the combine and riding in the tractor.  Isaac also got to take a load of wheat in the semi to town. 

Sand and Water

Isaac and Isabella LOVE playing in the water and they LOVE playing in the sand box. You put the two together and you have created hours and hours of enjoyment! This is how they spent their morning today playing in the sandbox with water. First of all they created streams, waterfalls, and lakes. Then they turned it in to Hawaii. I think in the end there was a massive flood and the entire sandbox turned into what looked like an ocean.

Killdeer in the Driveway

Killdeer decided to build a nest in our driveway this spring. Isaac and Isabella named them Chirp and Chirp Up. Each time we left to go somewhere they needed to roll the windows down and make sure they didn't get ran over by the car. Isaac also put orange cones out when they were riding their bikes to insure that the eggs didn't get smashed. On Father's Day all four eggs finally hatches. By the next day the parents had move the chicks to another location. I think they moved them over to the tall grass across the road.

4 Killdeer Eggs Blended in Perfectly with the Rocks

Leave me alone.

Isaac's oragne cones to protect the eggs when riding bikes.

Get away!

One of the four babies. 

It's Been a LONG Time

Okay it has been a VERY LONG time since I posted. SORRY! I'm none with my math leadership class from K-State and so I will try to make up for lost time this summer!  I was also VERY busy this spring completing my application for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Science Teaching that I was nominated for.  It was an extensive application with 15 pages of narrative written on the prompts that were given, 10 pages of supplemental materials to support the narrative, two page resume, 45 minute videoed math lesson, and many other numerous forms to fill out. I spent many late night up until midnight working on my applicaiton that was due on May 1.

The good news is it was time well spent!  On June 5th at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, I was named one the the three state finalist for the mathematics award! I now have to wait a year to see if I am a national finalist.  I have a 33% chance!

Here is a little bit more about the award.  The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the nation's highest honor for mathematics and science teaching. They are presented to educators who show a high degree of knowledge, innovation, skill and leadership. Elementary and secondary educators are recognized in alternating years. This year, elementary educators are being recognized. Kansas had 13 mathematics nominees and 11 science nominees (a list of all nominees is attached). Each of the state finalists receives a $500 award and will go on to compete for a national finalist title. Two educators from each state, one in the area of mathematics and one in science, may be named national finalists next spring. Each of the national finalists will receive an award of $10,000.

Just Being Silly

After church one Sunday afternoon in January I captured the little ones just being silly!

Kansas Day

I signed up to bring treats for Isaac's kindergarten classroom for Kansas Day at the end of January.  I took an idea from my sister Karla that she had made for one of her kiddos.  It was pretty easy to create this sunflower.   I made a brownie for the middle.  Then, I cut it out into a shape of a circle, and added some frosting and chocolate chips to the top.  Next, I just opened up  some Twinkies to use as petals for the sunflower and I was done! 

You should check out Isaac's classroom's website http://christyboerner.wordpress.com/.  There are a lot of pictures of Isaac and his school work. It is kind of fun to see him in his classroom!  This is Isabella's classroom blog to check out her in action, too. http://carrieskids.wordpress.com/

Valentine Cookies

The decorator

You can always use some sprinkles.

KSU even looks better with sprinkles.

Isabella LOVED the red frosting!  She used it on LOTS of cookies!

Matt's Creations

Isaac's - the letter was done by Matt

These were mine

Today we spent the afternoon making Valentine sugar cookies.  This little ones had a blast decorating and eating.  Matt seemed to be the one that wanted to add a lot of details to his cookies.  I on the other hand just made mine simple.  That was probably because I had rolled them all out and baked them before the decorating.