Last vacation photos ...

 I know, you all are probably sick of seeing our vacation photos so ... these will be the last ones.  I took tons and love them all.  Here are a few photos from the airport and from our 1st night in San Diego.

Waiting to check in at the airport.  They are both so excited for the plane right.

He's sharp isn't he?

A cute one of K on the plane.  She cried during our decent because her ears had "bubbles" and were hurting.  Poor thing.  She couldn't figure out how to swallow.  The kids loved having their own TV's (Jet Blue) and of course the snacks.

We were starving when we got into San Diego so we went to Old Town for some mexican food.  Such a cool area and we found the best restaurant.  The kids loved the chocolate churros for dessert.

The kids were extra lovey at dinner so I had to get some pictures.

 Sweet.  Daddy's girl.

Aaaaaah, vacation.  Cartoons and relaxing in the morning.

Coronado

Hands down my favorite part the entire trip was getting to see my dearest friend, Dyan.  (even though I forgot her birthday recently ... sorry Dyan)  I have missed her so much ... we had such a good time just hangin' out and can talk for hours about anything.  You don't find friends like that very often.  Our kids and husbands get along great too.  I'm so thankful to have her in my life.  She is always there for me.  Thanks for your hospitality guys.  We wanna come back next year or you guys need to get up here!

The private access beach (military) right across the street from them has tons of shells.  (yes, right across the street ... jealous)  The kids couldn't wait to go over and look for some.  A silly picture of Brian and I.  If I lived there, I'd walk on the beach every day and possibly even run.

The girls made leggings out of sand.  I couldn't believe how warm the water was.

A great picture of the girls.  Ahh.  Priceless.

Dyan and I.

K was attacking M and wouldn't stop kissing her... in fact at one time was nibbling on M's cheek.  2 peas in a pod ... those girls.

M was on the hunt the entire time for sand dollars.  He found 28 of them!

M and D.  Having a great time looking for shells and yucky stuff.

We let them stay up really late.  The adults were outside by the fire and the kids were in the house hanging out.  Funny story.  Dyan asked me if the kids would be afraid of a Goosebumps movie.  I wasn't sure what they were and said I didn't think so.  Well, my kids were terrified.  K kept coming outside to sit on Brian's lap and at one point M sprinted out of the room and into Brian's arms.  Both kids were so scared.  Her kids loved them.  My kids are the biggest chickens ... I'm not kidding.  We still don't let them watch Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. because we think thats what started making them so afraid all the time.  The funniest part was that Monte (Dyan's husband) gave her such a hard time about it and told her she should have just played Poltergeist for the kids.  You had to hear him tease her ... it was so funny.

More later.

Time Management

The days have been so busy.  It was a rainy day today so instead of going to Apple Hill like we'd planned, we hung out around the house.  It felt great.

Instead of working on this heaping pile of laundry...

I painted a Santa and Mrs. Claus bobble head.  I am in the Christmas spirit already.  I just love everything about the holidays.  I picked these up at Michael's for $1.30 each.  Quite the steal, I must say, and paint was on sale for .77 but I already had most of the colors I needed.  I should have tacked the gazillion things that needed to be done around here but sometimes you just have to do things you enjoy ... to keep sane.  Aren't they cute?  The kids love them.  Sorry for the poor picture.  K had her hand in there to show how the heads bobble.  She keeps making Santa and Mrs. kiss and then makes kissing sounds.  Should I be worried about that?  Too funny.

Off to do laundry and some work for M's classroom.

Homework Time

I've found an ingenious way to get M to sit down and do his homework!!!

M used his money from the tooth-fairy to buy a pair of handcuffs from Walgreens.  I couldn't resist this photo-op and we both got a great laugh.  Now he'll stay seated.

Vacation - Legoland

So I have a little bit of time so I'm going to post some of our pictures from Legoland.  We had a great time ... M was beside himself the entire time.  I can't even tell you how long he spent looking at the cities that were built out of the Lego's.  They had San Francisco, Chicago, NYC, DC, Las Vegas, New Orleans and a few more.  I was so amazed by the details.  I went on a field trip with 60 1st graders today and am too exhausted to write. 

This picture says it all!

Wow.

Picture - Bottom right.  M has a devilish face because he's trying to ram into K and I while in our boat.  Stinker.

He's going to kill me for the princess photo!

Vacation - Sea World

A few weeks ago we went on vacation to Southern California.  Our 1st stop was Sea World.  The kids have never been and we haven't been in a long time.  We were a little concerned about the weather - it had rained the night before and was a little drizzly but the day couldn't be better.  There were no crowds, that's for sure ... it was empty.  We especially loved seeing the polar bears and all of the shows were great.  I had to make a few collages, I had quite a few nice photos.

Silly mirrors.  I love M's face in the last one.

The kids played a game and each one a seal (against Dad).  Boy, were they excited about that.  The kids are chasing that poor bird in the other pictures.

The flamingos paraded through on their way to their habitat.  That was a cool sight to see.  We were glad that we made it in to see the polar bears early in the morning because we went back both afternoons to see them again and they were all napping!  It was hard to tell whether we were watching the dolphins or they were watching us.  They kept coming over and looking at us, doing tricks and making their sounds.

Good times.

Petting the bat rays.  At first we couldn't get M to touch them (although he'll touch any kind of reptile) and then we couldn't get him out of there.



The trip was amazing, I'm finally getting everything unpacked because I went to Las Vegas last weekend.  All is back to normal now and we're staying in town for a while.

M lost his 4th tooth ... all of them on the bottom and already has another tooth growing in.  He's been a handful at home but is doing great in school (is that supposed to tell me something).  He has passed all of his 1st grade words, got 100% on his Ch 2 Math Test and is reading Level 2 books easily.  I think he's ready for chapter books.  I get to go on a Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch with his school tomorrow.  I'm excited, I haven't been on a school bus in a loooong time.

K's also doing well in school although she doesn't want to practice letters at home.  She always just says she doesn't know how but knows most of them.  She cried for 20 minutes today because she missed Daddy and Mason.  "I just love my family so much ... why does everybody have to go to work?"  Cry, sob.  "Cuddle me, Mama."  She's sensitive.  If I so much as raise my voice, she'll say, "Are you mad or disappointed AT ME?"  This morning she came in (early) and spooned and cuddled me and then looked at me and said, "You are the cutest Mama on earth."  It's not all roses with her though, after picking M up from school today, we went to the park.  She puffed and pouted because she didn't have anyone to play with.  At one point she was laying and crying at the bottom of the slide.  Ugh.

Working on Legoland pictures ... hopefully will post soon.

Had to post this because otherwise it wouldn't make it into the blog book.

Just tired

Sorry I've been away from the blogging world.  We were on vacation last week.  Came home on Saturday and then I worked Sunday and Monday.  Phew.

My day was crazy as usual ... I'm toooo tired to sort through the 741 pictures I took while on vacation and blog them.  Just can't do it.  Misty is coming into town tomorrow night and we fly out to Vegas on Friday morning so I won't be able to catch up with blogging until next week.  Ugh.

0630 - Wake up and get ready.

0715 - K's already awake, wake M up

0800 - Run out the door to drop M off at school.  It's Walking Wednesday and he won't miss it.

0830 - Check K in at school.  Stressed.  Must be at the dentist (30 minutes away) by 9:15.  In traffic.  CRAZY DRIVER but made it in time.

1030 - Tell the dentist that I have to go.  ("1 hour appt").  Run out the door.

1045 - Made time for Starbucks.  Famished ... haven't had time to eat.

1120 - Drop presciption off at Walgreens (dental stuff) so I don't have to take 2 crazy kids 2 times!

1130 - Volunteer at M's school until 1315

1320 - Drive 3 silly 6 year olds home (carpool).  Pick up K.

1340 - Back to Walgreens to pick up prescription.

1415 - Home.  Finally ... a little downtime.

1530 - Homework with M.  Fun, fun.

1630 - Early dinner.  Nothin' fancy.

1700 - Soccer gear ... shin guards, cleats, ball, water, etc. 

1715 - Out the door.

1900 - Back from soccer.

1915 - Bath-time for 2 stinky kiddos.

1930 - I read to them.  M reads to us.

2010 - Teeth and bedtime.

2015 - Pack lunches and get his backpack ready for tomorrow.

2045 - Ahhh, finally time for ME.

Will blog more next week.  Resting.  Tomorrow isn't any better.

San Francisco with the Woodland Girls

Last week I went to San Francisco with my old co-workers from Woodland Memorial Hospital.  Some of us have moved on and some have stayed there but we have all remained friends.  Our old boss, Bebe even came along (she's on the right).  We took the Amtrak in ... it was so nice to be able to relax and catch up with each other on the way there and back ... and enjoy cocktails.  True friends.  Thanks for always including me!

Group photo.

We went on the Rocket Boat.  Such a blast.  Here's a before shot.

During the ride.  Wind-blown look - not so flattering.

Ah ... that was fun.

Versatile Blogger

I signed on today to find that I had been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award! Thanks to {SHE}, a follower of my blog.  She has gorgeous photos and yummy recipes.  Be sure you check out her blog too!  Thanks so much.

As part of the Versatile Blogger Award, I must share 7 things about myself. So here goes:

1.  I absolutely hate to run ... I'd love to be able to run 5 miles.  Just 5.  I haven't actually started training yet though.  Brian has talked me into a 5K in April but I don't think that will be tooooo hard ... we'll see.

2.  I LOVE crafty things and wish I had more time to be able to do those things.  I love painting, scrapbooking, card making, knitting (with the Knifty-Knitter), needle point ... all of it.  Michael's and JoAnn's are some of my favorite stores!  I want to take an actual knitting class someday.

3.  I'm scared to death to speak in front of people ... even my co-workers.

4.  I'd love to have another baby.  If only they would stay babies.  They don't sass or require time-outs.  They smell so good and love to cuddle and be held.    Don't worry Brian, I know we're done.

5.  I could sit on the computer all day.  I love to blog-hop.  I should start setting a timer so I don't spend too much time on it.

6.  Coffee and chocolate are my BFF's.  (Best Friends Forever, Mom)  I cannot find the will-power or desire to quit either one.

7.  I enjoy reading but just don't have the attention span to read an actual book.  Seems like I don't have enough time either but I sure have enough time to watch my favorite TV shows.  Reality show junkie.  Magazines are perfect ... I love having subscriptions to my favorites.  I must have adult-onset ADD or something.  Even with instructions on how to put something together, I'll read a few lines and then tell Brian that I can't figure it out.  Maybe because he takes care of things for me.

8.  Extra one.  I am a terrible cook.  I mean that too ... it's no wonder my kids don't eat anything.  I don't even like my food.  If given the choice, I'd choose a bowl of cereal over something I've prepared ANY DAY.  I really dislike it all together.  Maybe someday I'll take a cooking class.  Nah.

Big Time Wrestling

It was such a nice evening tonight, we decided to hang out outside.  We blew bubbles and then laid out a blanket and read a huge stack of books from the library.  M gave me a kiss while we were reading and said, "This is fun".  Well, after we were done reading, the kids started playing wrestling with each other.  Our grass is thick and lush so they loved rolling around in it.  I couldn't help but get my camera out and snap a few pictures.

The sky was so beautiful ... I just had to have a picture of them together.  I had to beg and plea to get this one but then they put their arms around each other on their own.  She's almost as tall as him.

And definitely as tough.  M said, "Man, she is strong!"

I'm sure the neighbors were wondering what was going on.  Just a good ol' wrestling match.  White trash, are we?  Love M's face in this one.  K went in for a kiss.  M's such a stinker.  The other day he said, "I love my family".  Then he clarified ... "Well I mean, I love Mom and Dad". 

Big tackle.  I shouldn't have been encouraging this, huh?

Kung-Fu K.

Funny.  M is on break from school next week but I looked in his folder and saw a homework packet.  Well, since we're going to be gone next week, I told him we needed to get as much done this weekend as we could.  Well, he was a big crab-apple and began to whine and complain about how he didn't want to.  A few minutes later, I was reader the weekly newsletter and told him that the homework wasn't due until the 15th!  He immediately began dancing and singing, 'Who Let The Dog's Out'?  It was hysterical.

A little something about K that when she's a teenager, she'd kill me for sharing.  Well, how do I say this ... she passes gas - OFTEN!  Oh my gosh, several times a day I'll hear a little toot-toot or smell something funny and M and I will just laugh because we know it's her.  How could something so foul come out of her delicate little body.  Wow.  Must be all the fruit that girl eats.  I sometimes have to cut her off and just tell her she's had enough fruit.  Wish I had that problem with M.  The fruit problem that is.

M's doing great in school.  He was part of the "Doubles Club" last week and learned his doubles (1 + 1 ... up to 12 + 12) in 7 days!  They had a little party to celebrate.  I've realized that everything is a party in first grade.  Boy, does he love his teacher.  She's adorable and so good.  He was the Daily Dazzler today and was so excited about it this morning.  He said he got to sit in the big chair next to her and was her helper.  He was also allowed to bring something in to share with the class.  Of course he brought his Star Wars Lego Book.  M's school did so well on their testing last year that they are in the top 3% of all public schools in Sacramento County.  They have the 13th highest API score out of the 404 schools.  Woo-Hoo.