Fall

I figured since soccer is almost over and Halloween a week ago, I should maybe upload some photos. My parents were here for about two weeks to show off their new car and make our family envious.

Fall is here. The weather is cooling off. One week in the 70s, one week in the 80s. We could really use more of the cool pleasant weather. It is getting dark so early now. Partly because the days are shorter, partly because of the time change last Sunday. The kids are exhausted (and crabby) in the evenings. As for me, at least I can finally get up in the morning! A's birthday is in 8 days and I have absolutely no plans for her yet. We are going camping that weekend and the next weekend the in-laws are coming. This weekend her Dad is working. We are too busy! Perhaps we could plan something while they're here. She wouldn't reallyknow the difference, except that her preschool recognizes all the kids on their birthday. Hmmm... what to do?


Cheerleader again!



Chef (Linguini)

Veterinarian


N's team will be in the playoffs on Monday. They are currently ranked second in their age group.

Watch it! What a little bruiser!

Hey, Mom, Look at meeeee......

E gets the training wheels off her bike

E learns to ride a bike

Thank you, Daddy!

The girls go to the pumpkin patch

E looks for her pumpkin

A finds her way through the corn maze

Useless information:

E's favorite ice cream flavor: Pumpkin

N's favorite: Rainbow Sherbet

A's favorite: Cherry

Mommy's favorite: Spumoni or Cookie Dough

Daddy's ?

Conversation overheard in the car between sisters...

"You weren't alive when Hannah was born."
"Uh huh, I was in Mommy's tummy."
"Well, you can't see out the belly button. It doesn't have a hole, there is skin covering it!"

E's version of a formerly popular Charlie Daniels Band song...

"The Devil went down to Georgia, 'cause he was looking for a solar system".

It was so cute, I didn't have the heart to correct her. Well, that and I could always use a chuckle.

N lost his first soccer game of the season on Saturday. E's team kicked butt. E and I spent some quality time together and with the Girl scouts. First a trip to the pumpkin patch, then a luau. I was a little disappointed with the food. Expecting tasty Hawaiian food, I received a cold hot dog, handful of nuts and some chips. You win some, you lose some, I guess.

School is going well. N is working his way to learning all his multiplication tables. His father promised him the Grid game he's been saving for when he learns them all up to 12. The way the teacher does it, it is nearly impossible to pass 2 numbers a week, so he is slowly learning the value of patience!

E. is rehearsing for her concert next week where she will perform Colors of the Wind. A is really maturing. She wants to help me do everything, including cleaning the toilets! Let me rephrase that, especially cleaning the toilets, I think it has something to do with that little handled brush or something. Anytime there are tools involved (like the duster), she is raring to go. So I went to Toys R Us and bought her a little kid broom so she could help out with the sweeping. Today the girls polished all the stainless steel in the kitchen, wiped the counter and wiped the glass door while I did the dishes. Ah....Now... to perfect the technique, so I don't have to redo everything!

Fundraisers...

Ho hum. I'm tired of fundraisers. Now that I have two school-aged children, with all their associated activities and ever-expanding circle of friends, they are starting to multiply. We have double school fundraisers (double meaning times two children), next year it will be triple. Then we have boy scout popcorn, girl scout cookies, girl scout book drive, jog-a-thon, hit-a-thon, kick-a-thon, and the school supply drive. When goods are involved, I usually try to buy things I can use or eat, which means I can add about five pounds of weight to my figure over the next few months. So when it's all over, I'll let you know whether the "Katydids", "Sweet Indulgence", "Chocolatey Triple Delight" and "Gourmet Caramel Corn with Almonds, Pecans and Cashews" are any good. Incidently, if you're interested in the boy scout popcorn (who couldn't use a little of the microwaveable stuff?), drop me a line or make a comment and I'll hook you up. Time is short and I have been procrastinating.

I guess we won't be attending the 2016 Olympics. I was really hoping they would be in Chicago, the kids would be old enough to know what was going on by that time. Since we have friends and family in the area we could "pay them a little visit" and swing up to Milwaukee to visit friends and tour the big breweries. Oh well..

On a more positive note, today I called Thermos to replace the lids for our daughter's Funtainer straw bottle. She dropped it today at preschool. This is number four broken lid for our family. Most would say, why bother? But I really like the cups, I only wish they were a little more durable. If the cup is dropped on a hard surface while the lid is open, the lid usually breaks. My older daughter dropped one at school with the lid closed and the bottom piece of plastic broke off (we superglued it back on). The reason I like these cups is the built-in-straw, they don't sweat at all, and the fact that they stay cold 12 hrs plus (about 10 times longer than our Camelbaks). The (little) kids like the pictures of Barbie, Hannah Montana, Hello Kitty, Batman, Star Wars, Disney Princess, Bratz (why couldn't they have called them something else) and the list goes on, although my son recently informed me that he was too old for Batman (waaa), but he'll still continue to take it to school. I thought about it, and bought him a different "Think Green" one on Amazon.com. A little bigger, and a lot more grown up. Perhaps my children are a little eccentric, but my experience has shown that they drink about twice as much of anything if there is a straw in it. I wonder if this is common with other kids? With the hot weather here, it's important for them to keep hydrated. To my surprise, the replacements were only $2 apiece (so I ordered 5) with $3 flat shipping rate. Hopefully these will last me till the kids outgrow the whole straw-thing.

Holiday Outing Ideas

This movie looks good. Great family holiday outing, though A will definately be scared during the ghost parts. It opens November 6th. Also playing at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood with a live holiday stage show....

It's me or I'm back

OK. So I am guilty, very guilty. I confess I have not made an entry for two months. It's not that I've had writer's block or anything. Actually I've too much to say and too little time to say it in. This is lame, but the TAB key on my laptop is broken which I find very annoying, since I use it so much.

We had a wonderful time in Oregon this summer. We saw old friends (the Raaschs, Mischele, Jennifer and children, Amy, the Dickinsons), caught up with family, met new family, and visited old haunts. We got to be there when Chris and Monica exchanged vows and met our new niece/cousin. The time flew by so quickly. The kids will have some wonderful memories.

After a few last-minute family field trips to the beach and Disneyland, the kids have started school. E is no longer quarantined with the kindergartners. She has been released to roam amongst the wolves in the lunchroom and on the playground. No problems as of yet. A wasn't too sure about the whole school thing this year. The first day she showed up for school in tears. The second day she showed up in her slippers (we didn't notice till we were getting out of the car).

Our evenings are filled with homework, soccer, dance, singing and cub scouts. N's soccer team has played 3 games now and is undefeated. We started our cub scout popcorn sales this week. That should keep me on my toes for the next month or so. N went to the archery shoot with the cub scouts and earned his archery belt loop for the second time. He is trying so hard to memorize his multiplication tables. His father promised him the GRID game he wants soooo badly for the PlayStation 3 once he knew all of them. He realized we have a PlayStation 3 after going to visit Grandpa. Well, that and one know-it-all knowledgeable friend.

N finally got his first real bike today with hand brakes and gears. It's a 20 inch Diamondback Cobra Mountain bike. Now he'll be ready for that big cub scout ride coming up... And V finally got that trailing bike he's been talking about since N was a toddler. Now A can enjoy riding behind her daddy.

A started out her third semester of Fairy tale Princess dance class. After the third class the teacher pulled me aside and let me know she was ready for something more challenging. So we decided to try a ballet, tap, jazz combo class for 4-6 year olds. When A heard the word JAZZ she was raring to go (she's been watching her sister take a jazz technique class).

We expect a drop-in visit from Grandma and Grandpa soon. No exact dates, only guess-timates. the kids are excited regardless.

More to follow...

Summer vacation

The tooth fairy found us in Oregon!

Enjoying a dip in the pool. E was pouty about wearing the swim wings.

In addition, A doesn't like her new swim vest. But, a rules a rule...

We made it to Oregon! Whew! What a long drive. It took us two days with an overnight stop in Willows. And the hot weather followed us here. It's been around 90 degrees all week. We are enjoying our free time, the kids are enjoying playing with other kids, alternating swimming in the pool with jumping on the trampoline, riding in a go-kart, roasting marshmallows around a campfire, choreographing elaborate dance routines, and watching movies on the big screen. We went to OMSI and on a hike at Hoyt Arboretum with the kids' cousins. We went to the Baghdad Theater to catch the film Monsters vs. Aliens and shopping at the Woodburn Outlet Center (no sales tax-yeah). E lost her second tooth at the airport. Wiggle wiggle wiggle, oops! All is well, except the kids missing their daddy. He flew home after we arrived and won't be back until this weekend, when we gather to celebrate the marriage of Uncle Chris and Monica.

Climbing the trees at the arboretum

Go-karting (even funner than Mario Kart)

Pictured here, baby Ramona, our youngest niece at 6 months with her daddy.

Dancing day

Today I woke up early and prepared a big American breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, cinnamon toast, fruit salad and orange juice (coffee and green tea for the adults). You see, I had a European facial this morning. I think I was feeling guilty for such a decadent treat for myself. I don't usually like these sorts of things, but really enjoyed today. I was so comfortable, warm and toasty and the smell of the products was like aromatherapy. There was the sound of a gurgling brook, distant birds and soft music playing in the background. When I got home, my daughter A asked me why they didn't fix my skin. Apparently she thought I was going to have my freckles removed!
The girls had their spring dance recital this afternoon. E has been taking jazz dance and A in ballet/tap class. They both performed their numbers today. A actually did more than just stand in the middle of the stage, even though she did fall asleep in the car on the way to the performance. Afterwards one of the dance moms gave homemade candy to the girls. Really special! Why didn't I think of something like that?
Afterwards, keeping with our family tradition....... we went out to the diner.

Friday night we went to the Daisy Girl Scout end-of-year party. E received a pin for completing her first year. Here's a picture of her group.

Tonight, after the kids were asleep my hubby and I watched Hancock. Tomorrow we're off to Disneyland. After spending Mother's Day there, it's only fair we spend Father's Day as well.

School is out!

Awards ceremonies, end-of-year barbecues and parties are over. Now it's just me...and them.


Swimming lessons have begun! And this, the year I don't have to get in the pool.

Lesson One: "Talk to the fishies"


Lesson Two: "Listen to the fishies"


Lesson three:"Kick the fishies?"


Lesson four:"Swim with the fishies"


And after our first day in the water...

...a little celebrating.

On a more serious note, I saw this article in the news. Family Christmas card photo in Czech ad. How crazy is that! Bloggers beware.

Monday was Halleluiah Day

N: "Mom, tomorrow is Halleluiah day."
Me: "Halleluiah Day? What does that mean?"
N: "We're supposed to dress up. It's spirit week next week, mom!"
Me: "Your (public) school is hosting that? How are you supposed to dress for Halleluiah day?"
N: "You know... island clothes or beach clothes!"
Ok...duh. Now I get it. Halleluiah day...aka Hawaiian Luau day.

I'm really looking forward to Friday...it will be 80s day! Now that's totally awesome!


Conversation in a bathroom. (A is on the potty).
A: "Mom, look! I pooped a star!"
(Well, actually it looked more like an asterisk and I thought I'd spare you a photo.
Me:"How did you do it?"
A had a quite detailed explanation which I really couldn't understand.


May 23-24th, 2009
Memorial day weekend N "crossed over". I know what you're thinking, but no, not to the other side. He was advanced from wolf to bear rank in his cub scout pack. We had a weekend science-themed campout. The boys built their own magnets out of nails, copper wire and batteries, experimented with a military thermographic camera, mixed up a batch of slime, created geysers with mentos and soda pop (make sure you're outside and in play clothes if you try this one), played with catapults, and each den made and launched their own rocket. Meanwhile the girls made arts and crafts and wandered aimlessly around the ranch harassing the animals and looking for trouble. In the evening before campfire, we had the ceremony. With great pomp and pride, the boys of Den 10 accepted the wolf patches they had been laboring toward all year. During the campfire we had a flag retirement ceremony.


Making magnets

E makes a ladybug puppet


The Crossover Bridge (to Nowhere)


A takes a stab at the ropes with the big boys

Rattlesnake among the rocks where the boys were playing


Sunday May 31st
The Singing Stars met for one final performance. This one was at the Community Services Expo. Hannah, Ayla, and Stacey met us. After E sang her song, we snuck on out of there so the kids could play on all the blow-ups and at the science booth. Then we went over to Hannah's for macaroni and cheese and egg-salad sandwiches. The kids always enjoy bouncing on her trampoline. E spent the rest of the afternoon with her friend, while I took the other two out for double-scoops at Baskin Robbins.

Singing at the expo

Pinwheels

Having fun on the slide

N finds a friend

Happy Birthday, Aunt Marci!

Friday night I played Bunco for the first time. Thanks Stacey, for inviting me. I feel especially lucky to win $33 my first game!

Saturday was the Daisy Girl Scouts annual Kidnap brunch (they wear their pajamas). N's team had their last game, and end-of-season soccer party. V had to work, so I was on my own, and about 10 minutes later than I wanted to be for everything. But we survived!

E with her Girl Scout friend after the brunch.

N receiving his soccer medal from his coach. He was recognized for his "super kicks". Boy, do we know about those, the hard way!

The coach was presented with gift certificates and a mug signed by all the kids.

A spent at least half an hour making hand prints and foot prints with the pool water on the hot pavement.


Sunday we barbecued under our new patio cover. E had an strawberry ice cream cake and opened her birthday presents. She played with her new karaoke machine.

A-the little Snow White impersonator.

Thursday was E's "real birthday". I took in snacks for her class during first recess. A had a blast with the Kindergarteners. I have a feeling the transition will be easy for her.

We got our Nikon back and it is fixed! It was covered under warranty, so it didn't cost us anything except shipping.

Today we honor Aunt Marci. She is my sister, long distance friend and confidante. We spend hours of our mobile to mobile minutes every month (mostly while she's in the car on her way home from work) sharing the boring little details of our busy lives. I think I do a majority of the talking. (Poor Marci!) Today Marci celebrates her birthday! Happy Birthday Aunt Marci, we love you!