Why I Blog

I blog to preserve memories for my children and also because it's a hobby that I enjoy. I started working on my blog book several months ago but somehow all of my hard work was lost and couldn't be recovered by Blurb. Well, my Mom is retired now and enjoys doing things like this, so she made the book for me. I just couldn't bear to start it again because I was so frustrated. She finished this about 2 weeks ago and I couldn't be more pleased ... I've read it over and over. Here it is.

M's homework from yesterday. He had to write 1 - 10 five times and continue writing above that if possible. His Teacher said he's doing great other than his handwriting. Brian has horrible handwriting also and struggled with that in elementary school. It took him a LONG time to do this. He really had to focus and concentrate - he even holds his mouth funny because he is concentrating so hard. He's also very easily distracted while doing his homework ... "Mom, why do we have windows up there? Mom, that's a strange light over there, huh?" A million questions. I can tell he's learning and his writing has improved. Today he told me about ABABAB patterns. Each morning when we get to school his Teacher is calling kids over to work with them one on one on their sight words. That impressed me.

Funny story ... Brian packed M's lunch for school on Tuesday and put the empty container back in his lunch box and the sandwich in the refrigerator. I drove him to school yesterday and assumed it was there. When I picked him up he said, "Mom, I don't like squished raspberries and all I had for lunch were Cheez-It's." I asked why he didn't eat his sandwich and he said, "Because it wasn't in there!!!" Then he said when he opened up the container (with his animated voice), "What the ... ?" We giggled so hard over it and couldn't wait to call Brian to tease him.

K has a "Beach Party" at school tomorrow and is so excited. I hope she sleeps tonight. It's been rough. Worse than having a newborn. I better get to be now!!

3's of me

3 names I go by:
Melissa
Missy
Nurse

3 job I've had in my life:
Answering Service Operator (very briefly)
Pizza Delivery Driver
Registered Nurse

3 places I've lived:
Coalinga
Santa Rosa
Sacramento

3 favorite drinks:
Coffee (of course)
Diet Pepsi
Margaritas

3 TV shows I watch:
The Mentalist
Criminal Minds
Reality TV

3 favorite restaurants: chains only
Olive Garden - but just for the soup and salad
PF Changs
BJ's

Proud Mommy

M told me that his teacher has started to give Cheetah Bucks (Cheetah is the school mascot) to kids that behave well and he got the first and only one that has been given out so far. You can use the Cheetah Bucks to buy prizes when you get enough. I asked what he did to earn it and he said, "I just sat a read quietly. Not really read but I looked at the book." I'm glad to hear he's been being so good in school because he has been quite the stinker at home lately!! He loves throwing out the fact that he's in Kindergarten now. The other day I asked him how he knew how to do something and he looked at me and said, "Of course I do ... I'm in Kindergarten Mom!" A few random pictures.

He and K run laps around our stairs to get "exercise."

Our latest craft project. I've been on a crafty kick lately. K was old enough to participate in this one. I'm going to get another foamy project for us to do while he's in school because he tries to take over and doesn't let he do much unless I step in. We still had fun though.

Just cracked me up.

While at Target the other day, I stumbled upon the neatest teaching tool. Simple but they work. They are sets of post-it notes with sight words and the alphabet. Each set was $1 and you can find them in the office section. M got the sight words and K got the alphabet. She already knows all of her letters and sounds but I thought she would enjoy putting them on the wall. She LOVES working on letters and constantly asks me what signs say and to be quizzed on letter sounds. M had a great time with this also and has gone back to try to read them again. Getting him to sit down at the table to work on reading and writing is like pulling teeth!! I guess I'll have to try other techniques to get him interested. We'll try to work on these once a day.

Here they are. Click to enlarge.

More later.

Trauma

We've been a Trauma Center for a little over 2 weeks and let me tell you ... it's been absolutely crazy. Don't get me wrong ... it's been fun so far but it seems as if we are getting a lot more trauma patients than we anticipated. The other day, during day shift, they got 7 trauma activations in 30 minutes. What?!? Granted ... most of the activations are limited (meaning ... they aren's really that bad but could be based on mechanism) but it still involves a lot of man-power and documentation. At least on my shifts, we are also getting more walk-in trauma than we used to. Did word get out to the gang-bangers that we are a Trauma Center now or what? I've also had an increase in the number of sicker patients in the last few weeks. Last night I was in the trauma/resusitation room and I had a code, 2 trauma's (all limited and fine) and just as I was getting off a stroke alert.

This is so true. Click to enlarge.

Rain Sticks

While browsing a blog I stumbled onto a fun craft idea to do with kids. We made rain sticks out of cardboard wrapping paper tubes. Here's a link to the directions I used. There are tons of different websites to get directions but these are the ones I used. We do a lot of craft projects but the kids had a lot of fun with this one. I was able to make this using supplies I had at home. Here are a few pictures.

The finished project. They make a beautiful sound. We used rice but you can also use beans. She is so cute in this one.

A picture of K working on her rain stick. She didn't want her picture taken ... this is the mouth she makes when she pouts. We see it often.

M ... working hard on his.

Cutting out the aluminum foil. He loves using scissors and cuts out all of my coupons.

K ... a little more cooperative.

After they completed the projects, I asked the kids to do a rain dance. It was hilarious. They giggled and danced around with their rain sticks while I tried to hum an indian song. Too fun.

His tribal face.

M funny - We worked on the project last night after I got out of the shower. I ran a brush through my hair but didn't do it. While we were sitting at the table, M said, "Mom, you look like a boy!" Then he began to laugh and said, "You look like Shaggy!!" For those of you that don't have kids ... from Scooby-Doo. He cracked up about that for a while. Not funny. His teacher told Brian that he's going to start having homework this week. We'll see how that goes.

K is doing so well with her letters now. She knows all of the letters of the Alphabet and their sounds. I think I can thank Leapfrog Letter Factory for that one. She LOVES that movie and wants to watch it every time we get in the car. She is going through a scared of everything phase and wakes up with any little noise during the night ... unfortunately we have a dog next door that only barks (only at night). Sooo, we've had some difficult nights lately. I'm going to write a letter to our HOA and if that doesn't help, I'll call our security company to come out and knock on their door every night!! M went through the same thing when he was 3. Luckily, he can sleep through anything now. She's also not eating ... anything. I don't know how she does it. She's never been a huge eater but would at least eat the food she loves - fruit. She doesn't want to eat anything lately and it's very frustrating.

My mom said I don't post weights often enough. Soooo, M is 42 pounds and K is 33 pounds.

K's tall ... I need to check her height. She wears a size 4T (sometimes 5T). I bought 4 pair of shorts on clearance from the Osh Kosh Outlet that I thought she would wear next year. They are 5T but she is able to wear them now! We'll see if they fit next year. She absolutely loves jammies and would wear them all day if I let her. She giggles and gets excited if we see them in a store and always begs me to buy them.

M wears a 5T also. He has a skinny waist so sometimes still wears a 4T. I'm glad he has to wear uniforms at school. It makes it so easy in the mornings. (and cheap)

Gotta go ... K and I are going for a bike ride before I have to go to work this evening. More when I get time.

Jabber

M is doing well in Kindergarten and so far is looking forward to going each morning. Of course, when I ask him what he did that day in school, he says he can't remember but will try to remember next time. I asked his teacher if he was doing OK yesterday when I picked him up and she said he was doing great, "perfect." He definitely seems tired when he gets home from school now. No homework yet. So far he has brought home some completed worksheets from school. A page full of A's, 0's, his name and a coloring sheet with an apple on it. His teacher said she used to be able to send home monthly packets of homework but because of the budget crisis she won't have enough copies to do that so she will figure something else out. Can you believe that? She only gets 1500 copies per trimester. My mom is coming to visit tomorrow and we are going shopping for school supplies to donate.


K is also doing well in school ... she runs in, throws her backpack in her cubby, signs in (by moving the teddy bear with her name on it into a slot) and immediately runs over to play ... then says, "Bye, bye Mommy!" OK, I guess I'll go now. When I pick her up, she tells me all about her day and usually says she had "so much fun." She says she plays with Graham and Olivia.


K and I spent the day shopping at the Galleria at Roseville. Didn't buy much but looked a lot. She was so good ... never complained once. "Just girls ... no boys" as K would say. She especially liked the Jamba Juice and Wetzel's Pretzel's treat as well as riding the Carousel. They also have 2 play areas. That mall is amazing ... they added on and it is almost twice the size it used to be.

I have several blogs that I try to keep up with (or as they say ... blogstalk). Here are a few just in case anyone is interested.


1. Bakerella - you absolutely have to check this out (especially if you like to bake). She makes the cutest cake lollipops. Be sure to look at the Father's Day post in June 09.


2. Sheye Rosemeyer - a photography blog but she also talks a lot about her day-to-day life at home (being a mommy and the loss of one of her children in a tragic accident).


3. Jordan Krogman Photography - she has decorating ideas as well as photography tips. I've been following her blog for about a year and a half. I feel like I practically know her. She also happens to be an RN.


4. Creative Junkie. Just funny. Check it out.


5. Creative Mama. The best crafty ideas (Andi ... you'll like this one)

What's a post without a photo, right? Brian's sister Sharon gave the kids the greatest book. It's called "Too Many Toys" by David Shannon. It's a great book which talks about how kids have too many toys because they get toys for every occasion and how hard it is to get rid of their toys even if they haven't touched it in months. (so true) Well, at the end they talk about making a toy out of a cardboard box. M and K kept asking Brian to make them some so here they are. Super-Dad or what?

Airplane. He used a lid from a coffee can for the steering wheel.

Robot helmet ... Brian said he was out of ideas by this point.


Rocket-ship.



One of K in the airplane. They love it.

M goes to Kindergarten

M had his first day of kindergarten today. He woke up bright and early this morning and told me he had a dream about kindergarten last night. He was eager to put his uniform on and get out the door. I love it that my kids aren't scared or apprehensive when in new environments. He proudly walked into school and his classroom, put his backpack and lunch in his cubby, found his nametag and quickly took a spot on the rug (just as he was supposed to do). I was proud of him. His teacher seems very nice.

Daddy did his hair this morning (with gel).

Showing off his new lunch-box. He wanted a metal Scooby-Doo one but we couldn't find it so he settled for a metal Transformers one.


Is he ready for a Gap Ad or what? This is real excitement. Adorable.

Showing off his Star Wars backpack. That was an easy decision for him ... he loved that it had several compartments and is totally into Star Wars right now.


Couldn't help but get one more.

Walking through the hallway at school.

Welcome to Kindergarten.


Learning the rules of the playground.

When M got home from school I had a special treat for him ... chocolate chip brownie bars (watch out Martha Stewart). He was excited about that for sure. He wouldn't say much about what he did at school today (typical guy) but seems happy that he gets to go back tomorrow. M ... we love you and are so proud of you. Keep being a good boy and a nice person.

Vacation in Yosemite

We spent last week in Yosemite National Park celebrating the 40th wedding anniversary of Brian's parents and stayed in the same cabin we rented last Christmas. It's a perfect location ... approx 10 miles from the gate which is still about 45 minutes from the valley but you can't stay much closer unless you stay in the park. Brian's sister and brother-n-law, his Aunt Sharon, cousin Mayci and of course his parents all met us in Yosemite last Monday and we stayed until Friday morning. We did a lot of sightseeing, hiking and hanging out together. M and K loved hanging out with "cousin Mayci" and even talked Aunt Sharon and Mayci into spending another night. They played from morning until night ... we hardly saw them while at the cabin. It was a great time. I took tons of pictures so here are a few of them.

The view from Glacier Point. Breathtaking isn't it?

A nice one of Brian and I with Half-Dome in the background.



The kids in the bathtub - they were filthy after our day of hiking. I figure this will be the last time they can all take a bath together without being uncomfortable.



M and K with cousin Mayci.



Bridalveil Falls - I didn't realize it was going to look like the water was pouring onto M's head! They are so cute together.



A nice family shot.



Love it. Glacier point again.



K loved hangin' out in the backpack. This will be the last time she can use it because she's getting too big.



On our last day, we rented a pontoon boat at Bass Lake. The lake is absolutely gorgeous and the water temperature was 80 degrees. Thank goodness because it was chilly outside. Of course, it had to be the coldest day of the week. We barbecued, had s'mores and went for a ride on the tube. K kept yelling, "Go faster!" That girl has no fear.



M loved it too. He giggled and laughed the entire time.



Yahooooo ... a good picture of K and I.



Brian's sister Sharon took an awesome picture of M and I in the water. I couldn't believe how warm it was. Thanks Sharon.


A few more.

Leaving you with a beautiful shot of Half-Dome.

Happy Anniversary Brian

7 years ago today I married my best friend. Thank you for doing all of the little special things you do for me to show me how much you love me and for being such a wonderful father to our children. I love you so much.

Lake Tahoe Golf Course
August 3, 2002

We're getting ready to leave for Yosemite - no time to write now. Talk to you later.