Snow Day -- January 2013!

We had a very fun day last Friday when we got some unusual snow!  The kids were out of school and we made the best of it!!

Here is a picture of our home with no snow... (this was actually taken before we bought the home last summer)

Anyway, I can promise you the front yard is not the easiest to mow.  Yes, it's pretty steep.

However, there are advantages to that...

Turned out to be the perfect place for some sledding!  We had a bunch of neighbor kids join us and it was a blast.  The only bummer was the sun was melting it way too fast!!

Playing Hooky

Well, it has happened.

Our first playing hooky from school...kindergarten, no less!!
Last week 'K' was home sick, pink eye and then a fever and tummy ache.  Well, that sent Miss 'A' into a tailspin.  Having to go to school "all alone" was just too much for her.  She bravely got on the bus and went to school but when the nurse called at 12:30 and said she was in the clinic with a headache and tummy ache I will admit my radar was up.  Since the nurse knew I had another child home ill she practically insisted I come get the other one to avoid further contamination.

She looked pretty down and lethargic when I saw her at the school.  We got home and since she hadn't had lunch she sat down to eat something.  Trouble is she started with her treat, her chocolate coin!  Major Mommy radar at this point!!  I kindly told her that would hurt her tummy more and how about I make her some toast.   She reluctantly agreed.  Well, it was only a matter of a few hours before the mask was off and it was just too much fun to play with her brother at full speed.  I pulled her aside and asked her if she was really sick or just didn't want to be at school.  Brave soul fessed up!  She explained she just didn't like being there "all alone"!!

Inside I was laughing like crazy but of course had to explain the many reasons we shouldn't pretend to be sick when we really aren't.

Awesome thing is, she really does love her big sister!!  She loves being with her and hates when they are apart.  It warmed my heart but what a stinker!!

Welcome to Virginia!

This is what we did yesterday!  We don't even have very many trees in our yard but we filled 12 yard debris bags with leaves.  There are many yards around here that are completely covered with leaves!  Leaf clean up is big business -- and a lot of work!  The best part about it..... the blue sky and dry leaves!!  Hooray for the weather here -- we love it!!  It is so wonderful to have the kids playing outside, we just didn't have many of those days in Oregon!!

I'm back...hopefully!

I know it has been an obscenely long time since I've blogged but here's to hoping I can jump back on the wagon and give it another try!

There has been a lot going on in our world and I really do want to do a better job at preserving parts of our life so hopefully I can do a better job!!

I'm sure most posts will be as boring as can be to most people but they're important to our family and that's the purpose of the blog so off we go... again!

Off to College

A conversation not to be forgotten...

The background..

Third grade has proven to be a bit more challenging than second grade was! We are entering the world of study guides and preparing oneself for quizzes and tests. I have been working on teaching our eldest daughter some different study techniques that she can begin to use as she transitions to this more advanced learning technique. Let's just say it hasn't all been smooth sailing. However, this conversation has made up for much of the frustration because I have gotten a real kick out of it MANY times!!

K: Mom, I NEED you to come help me study.

Mom: I'm cooking dinner right now. You need to study on your own for a bit.

K: But Mom, I can't! It's too hard!

Mom: K, did you know that learning how to study is a very important skill that you will need your whole life even when you go to college?

K: I will?

Mom: Yes, you will. You also know I won't be going with you to college and that you need to learn how to study on your own. Right?

K: YOU'RE NOT? But how will I do it without you? Why won't you come with me?

Mom: That's part of my job now is to help prepare you. I won't be coming because parents aren't really invited to tag along with their college kids.

Oh man, I was cracking up inside!! I just know this will be a WONDERFUL journal entry to have in oh about...10 years!!

The Happiest Place on Earth

This is the post I've been procrastinating. Why, you ask? Let's just say the experience of taking our children to Disneyland was anything BUT the Happiest Place on Earth. For the sake of preserving memories though, here goes...

In May we embarked on the childhood rite of passage, 1st trip to Disneyland. We planned to drive there in 2 days, relish in the magic for 5 and 2 more days to drive home. It was to be filled with magic day in and day out. The first night in our hotel one child was up all night vomiting, Miss A, that was. In the morning she arose happy as could be and seemed to be fine. Mom was exhausted but we pushed on. The next day we made it to Anaheim and after seeing my aunt we went to our hotel to get some sleep in preparation for the big day ahead. We surprised the kids with new Disney jammies and they were thrilled!



See what traveling does...this one was so tired she didn't move from her self-made pillow perch!


The sleep didn't last long, it was another all night vomiting affair for the same one, Miss A. Crazy thing is she arose in the morning claiming to be just fine. Two nights of non-stop vomiting was taking it's toll on Mom, though! Again, we pressed on and headed out for our 1st day of Disneyland. We pulled out another surprise -- Disneyland shirts and we were off! Let's just say that child #2 and #3 had pretty much zero interest in being there. Being the ages they are this is displayed in lots of tears and screaming!

See -- it pretty much looked like this most of the day!


By about noon it was clear that naps were in order so Mom and the little ones headed to the hotel. After waiting over 45 minutes for our shuttle bus (out on the sidewalk with no shade & 2 small tired children) we got home and put them to bed.

We did manage this picture of the 3 of them:

Upon waking up we headed back to Disneyland to meet up with Dad and K. Well, Dad was not feeling well so he camped out with the little guy and Mom and the girls went on a ride. We managed to wander into a parade, so stayed and watched. Then it was off to another night of sleep.


It gets better. This night there were 2 of them going ALL. NIGHT. LONG. Miss A again and now the little guy (S) joined in! I don't think I laid down for more than a 20 minute stretch at a time. It was madness! I was at the front desk begging for cleaning supplies, towels and all kinds of things. After assessing the situation in the morning we decided the 3 sickies would stay home (Dad, Miss A and S) and Mom and K would go to the pool. Well, that didn't last long and we were back at the room. Within the hour, she had joined the sickies -- I was the last holdout and WORN OUT!! Thankfully Target was right across the street so I was able to pick up supplies for all the sickness. (Wouldn't you know it the Tylenol I thoughtfully packed had been recalled after we left!)

We decided to call the day a bust and extend another day at the back end of our vacation to make up for it. Kids bounce back fast, right!?

WRONG. Another night of vomiting. First thing in the morning we called Disneyland and they were gracious enough to reissue our unused 4 days so we could come back in 6 months. We were packed and on the road within an hour. That 2 day trip there was only 1 coming home. We wanted to be home so bad!

So there you have it -- INSANE! And, we get to go back!! Can't wait! It's actually really sad because what do the girls think of Disneyland? "We don't want to go back that's where you get really sick." That's just not fair, it's supposed to be the Happiest Place on Earth!

A Graduation...

from Kindergarten. Complete insanity to think next year she'll be gone all day! She's ready... but am I? Only time will tell. Anyway, here are some fun pics of the big graduation day! She was so proud to have her family there including a grandma and an uncle!

The AM Kindergarten Class:


Her drawing of what she remembers of kindergarten: The First Day of School


Her teacher telling her, "You are officially a first-grader!"