Like Mother, Like Daughter

K is hooked on Starfall.  It's a great website for little ones but I am wishing I wouldn't have let her get started .... she's on MY computer all the time.  After she got the hang of using the mouse she told me she didn't need me in the room anymore.  "You can go now, Mom."  Stinker. 

Disneyland 2010

We just got home from our family vacation --- we surprised the kids with a trip to Disneyland.  We left last Friday and as far as the kids knew, we were going to see Brian's parents in Southern California.  As we entered the parking area at Disneyland M looked up and saw Mickey decorations and then read the Disneyland logo.  (I was video-taping them at the time ... talking about different things)  When we told the kids where we were, M began to do his happy dance and K smiled but seemed in shock or something.  I can't wait to watch the video again.  We spent 5 days there ... just the right amout of time if you ask me.  We spent about 3 1/2 days in Disneyland and 1 1/2 days in California Adventures.  We all had an absolute blast ... too many fun things to even talk about. No crowds at all either ... the longest wait in line was 25 minutes or so.  Not bad.  I was worried that the kids would be afraid of the bigger rides but they loved it.  K was tall enough to go on everything (at Disneyland) but Indiana Jones.  They both loved Space Mountain.  M kept his hands up for the entire ride (on the 2nd time) and K asked if we could go on it again.  We had nice weather, it was a little chilly but didn't have any rain until the last day and only for about 15 minutes. 

One of the highlights from our trip was M getting selected for the Jedi Training in Tomorrowland.  We were determined to get M picked and planned to go back to all 4 shows that day if needed.  They told the kids to yell and wave their arms around if they wanted to get picked but that's just not M's personality.  He stood up and raised a quiet hand (maybe with a few small jumps) and got picked second.  We were so excited for him.  Later in the day (after Jedi Training) we asked him if he wanted to go on Star Tours and he looked at us and said, "Yeah, I'm a Jedi!"  He also asked if that was the real Darth Vader.  Too funny.

He was so nervous at first.  He's learning his moves here.

He went on stage and fought Darth Vader.  WOW ... it was so cool.

The huge smile after it was all over.  He came running over to us with his certificate.

I took over 800 photos and had the most difficult time deciding what to post so I made 2 slide shows.  I'm going to post a couple of my favorite photos also ... I just can't help it.

 

This time there were characters everywhere.  The kids had their pictures taken with 20 different ones.  We only saw a few last time we went to Disneyland.  Here's a slideshow.

Mommy's Little Helper

I asked K if she wanted to wash the dishes for me and she said, "Oh, course I will."  Although she made a big mess with the water, she did a great job with the dishes.  I hope she remains as enthusiastic about helping with dishes when she's a teenager 10 years old but I doubt it. 

After all the hard work she needed a "coffee" break (hot cocoa). 

Funny thing ... the other day K asked me if I wanted a Bumpit for my hair.  I guess she saw them on TV.  Are those awful and just not me or what?  Also, she calls me Mama Cakes now and thinks it's the funniest thing ever.

We're busy, busy around here getting ready for our vacation next week and I can't wait.  We're going to have so much fun.  TTYL.

M's Valentine's Day

M sat down Thursday night and wrote out all of his cards.  He had no problem reading and writing all of his friends names.  Towards the end, he got a little sloppy but who cares.

About half-way through, he called for some help so Dad stepped in to spell the names for him.

M had a Friendship Party on Friday.  Brian and I were both off so we were able to attend.  Here's a cute photograph of M with one of his buddies.

I was at one of the tables helping the kids make a bookmark.  Boy, was it stressful!!  Some of the kids needed a lot of help.  I think by the end of the activity I was covered with glue.  Thank goodness Brian was there to help!  He's patient and wonderful.

They listened to a book while the parents set-up the food.  M's in the front row.

Passing out his cards.  He loved this part.

Another one of M handing out his 3-D Dinosaur Cards.

Whew ... am I tired.  I worked a 12 hour shift on Saturday and then doubled back (with 4 1/2 hours of sleep) for another 12 hour shift on Sunday.  Brian worked today, so Misty and I took the kids to Bouncetown.  I'm so ready for bed but want to watch the Olympics.  M loved watching the snowboarders earlier today.  We were all yelling, "USA, USA."  It was a fun evening.  M's been so sweet to me.  He made a necklace yesterday for me for Valentine's Day on his own.  Today he's told me 2 or 3 times how much he loved me and that he was lucky to have me as his Mom.  Where did that come from?  I don't know but I love it.

K's been a little bit of a stinker and testing me more and more lately.  It's just her age.

MOMS Club Valentine's Day Party 2010

No time to write now but I wanted to post a few pictures from the party last night.  The kids had fun as always. 

M and K making cards.

M and one of his friends rockin' out.

K and her crush.  She absolutely loves J ... he goes to preschool with her and she is constantly asking if he can come over.  She talked about him often, kept track of him all night and even made him a card.  At one point I looked over and they were holding hands!  They stood there awkwardly holding hands while everyone else danced around.  Later, I asked her if she grabbed his hand and she said yes.  Am I in for it or what?

I'm not sure but I don't think big brother liked that they were holding hands.  For the next song, he stood in between them and held each of their hands.  Ordinally, he wouldn't touch her and especially wouldn't hold her hand ... even if I begged him to.  It was cute.

Be Mine

K and I worked on her Valentines yesterday.  Her party is tomorrow.  (yesterday was pajama day at school ... I'm not a loser Mom that didn't get her kid dressed!)  We decided to buy each of her friends a little shovel and attached M & M's (her favorite) in a clear bag with ribbon to it.  I wrote, "I Dig You" at the bottom.  They turned out so cute and we had a good time putting them together.  She can't wait for the party so she can have the Valentine gift that she made for herself.  She chose Valentines with cats and dogs on them.

She's concentrating very hard.

I lightly wrote the letters and she traced it.  She WILL NOT try to write her name.  When I ask her to try she just says, "I can't."

Ta-Da.  Why does she look so pale here?  She isn't.

Self-timer portrait.  She tells Brian and I, "I love you all of the time."  Sometimes she'll say, "That (not thats) because I love you."

I just like this one of her.

We made 12 of them. 

Scooter time

Since I've met Misty, we've been hanging out outside a lot more (which has been wonderful).  A (Misty's daughter) rides her scooter often and helped M learn how to ride.  Now he's hooked and both M and K have gotten really good at it.  Misty and I even ride around on occasion.  I'm sure I'll end up breaking a wrist or something!! 

Woo-hoo!  He's since gotten a new scooter.  The handlebars weren't adjustable on this one and were too tall for him.

Not sure what she was saying here ... I'm sure it was something bossy because she has her hand on her hip.

K uses M's old Spiderman Scooter and doesn't mind it at all.

A and M.

She's going to be very good ... she's fearless.

M said a cute thing to Brian while he was tucking him in last night.  He said, "Dad, you're really fun to play with ..... BUT Jack is really, really fun to play with.

The kids were in the bathtub the other day and I walked in with my hair in an ugly ponytail on the top of my head (I had just cleaned my face).  M took one look at me and said, "You're hair is JACKED UP!"  Both kids cracked up.  He is too much.

K said, "Mom, why are all the songs that get stuck in my head the songs that I don't like?" 

M has been tender hearted lately.  We read a book about endangered species tonight and after I was done he said, "I don't like that book ... it made me sad."

I got the cutest video footage of M tonight.  He said the Pledge of Allegiance perfectly and then chatted about everything from the continents, slavery, Abe Lincoln, school, Star Wars and on and on.  We talked for 20 minutes.  I asked him what his favorite thing about school was and he said, "I can't say getting out right?  That doesn't count."  Then he said, "I guess math ... you always get to watch a video."  I'm going to try to interview the kids before bed once a week.  It warmed my heart.

Beware.  I'm going to vent now.  Why do I feel like I work and work around here all day and yet my house is always a cluttered mess?  Everything is disorganized.  I'm tired.  Very tired.  I guess I need to start working out again because I am just exhausted all the time.  I look around and I just feel overwhelmed.  I would love to have more time to PLAY with my kids but I feel like all I ever do is housework and chores.  I have so many things that I would like/need to do but there's never enough time to get to it.  I'm going to try to have my kids pitch in a little more ... they make messes in every room and just leave it.  I'm just in a bad mood, I guess.  Frustrated with feeling rush, rushed all the time.  I know, I know ... my problems are little in the grand scheme of things but I just had to vent a little.  I'll be better tomorrow.

Movie Night

Brian was at work last Thursday night and we were ALL tired and grumpy so I decided we would have a movie night ... Cyr style.  I wanted to lay in bed by the cozy fire so I set up our airbed.  The kids thought it was so cool.  They ran upstairs dropped their pillows off the balcony, I popped the popcorn and we had a relaxing evening.  M cuddled me the entire time which he hardly ever does anymore.  We watched The Tale of Despereaux which was just OK.  After the kids went to bed, I watched my shows. 

Sunny San Diego

My wonderful husband allowed me to get away for the weekend to go and visit Dyan in San Diego.  I got a screamin' deal on airfare a few months ago.  It was $50 plus taxes so it ended up being $70 round-trip!  I hope they have a deal again ... I want all of us to go this time.  Brian said the kids were easy and he went over to Scott and Misty's for dinner both nights so he had adult stimulation.  That helps so much.  Thanks Misty and Scott.

Dyan and I had a relaxing weekend which was just what I was looking for.  We were able to catch up on gabbing.  That's what I love about Dyan.  We always have so much to talk about.  It's a lot about nothin' really.  The weather was beautiful ... I'm guessing a high of around 70 degrees.  The weekend went by too fast for sure.

We went on a whale watching excursion the first day and saw 5 gray whales.  Dyan got a little sea-sick so we had to go up to the top (and freeze).  I looked over at her at one point and she was as white as a ghost .... I told her to sit and breathe and not to talk!  Turns out we had the perfect spot to see all of the whales so it worked out and she felt better in the fresh air after a few minutes.  Dyan has a better picture of this one.  After she sends it to me, I'll post it.

Monte (her husband) was great.  When we got home from whale-watching, steak dinner was ready and on the table.  We also had potatoes, salad, corn and bread.  Later that evening he drove us to and picked us up from Mr P's Pub.  They had a rockabilly band so it was a fun evening.

We went for a walk on the beach to collect sea shells for my kids on the 2nd day and saw wreckage on the beach which she's never seen before.  I jokingly said, "What is that?  A shipwreck?"  Well, that's what is was alright.  It was a gaming ship called the S.S. Monte Carlo and it sank in 1936.  The recent storms have washed away the sand that usually entomb the ship.  Here's more of the story if interested.

A self portrait.

We also saw the movie, "It's Complicated" on base on the 2nd night.  Can you believe they are free on the naval base?  If you like a good chick-flick, go and see it.  Brian wouldn't have liked it but we did.  What a great time ... back to reality with laundry and cleaning now.  I wanna go back!!