A few more January pictures

Kyla made this in her after school Kidz Art class.

 

  

Just chilling in the playroom. 

 

 

Kyla got an easel from Grammy and Grandpa for Christmas and we try to write to each other every day on it.  I love coming home from work to see the sweet things she writes to me.  So fun.

 

 

I try to write something for her to see before school (especially if I've worked the night before and don't get to see her in the morning ... thank you Brian). 

 

 

Finally, some rain in Fair Oaks.  We are going through such a horrible drought, I read that we've had the lowest amount of rainfall in 100 years.  Folsom Lake is down 60 feet!  We need it, please keep the rain coming. 

 

 

Lady Lightning and the Tarheels

Kyla is enjoying basketball a lot more than I thought she would.  I think the fact that it's so fast paced really keeps her attention.  She's such a great defender and is starting to do much better on offense as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 Not to be an annoying braggy mom but Mason is just an all around good athlete.  He plays hard and listens so well to the coaches advice.  He's also a good teammate and sport.

 

 

  

  

 

Mason and one of his best friends, Brodie. 

 

 

Such good kids.  

 

Home Sweet Home

Ok, I have to say this.  I know I have more pictures of Kyla on here and may even talk about her more.  The thing is, his favorite thing to do at home now are play Xbox with his buddies or hang out on the iPad.  I don't have as many opportunities to take pictures of him as I do Kyla and I don't think anyone wants to see him playing on the Xbox over and over.  Sadly, as he's getting older, he just kind of does his own thing.  I love them equally. 

 

We love having days at home without basketball practices or anywhere to go.  Nothing better than hanging out around the house in PJ's.

 

Kyla got a Sew Cool sewing machine for Christmas and is really enjoying it.

 

 

Making an American Doll pillow. 

 

 

And a water bottle holder. 

 

 

Mason, putting one of his Lego Sets together.  This is the Star Wars one that Aunt Sharon gave him for Christmas. 

 

 

Now that's a face that I love. 

 

 

Ok, Easy-Bake items may be fun to bake but they taste TERRIBLE. 

 

 

Hard at work. 

 

 

Mason and Jack

We had Jack over for a sleepover last weekend.  It's always easy having him over, he's a good kid and he even includes Kyla.  Hard to believe these kids haven't gone to school today since they were 4 and have remained such good friends.

 

 

After jumping on the trampolines at Sky High.

 

 

Playing Xbox.  Believe it or not, they did step away from the video games.  I beat them twice in a row at Around-The-World.  Jack said, "Your mom's not gonna beat us."  So then Mason said, "Dude, my mom is really good.  She just beat my Dad and I three games in a row."  Loved that.

 

 

And foosball. 

 

 

Reading together ... what else but a Lego book? 

 

 

The Old Spaghetti Factory.  One of our favorite places to eat when Dad is away.  (He doesn't like it much). 

What's happening

Things have been going well around here ... the kids are back in school from Christmas break and things seem to be getting back to normal, just the way I like it.  Although I love Christmas, it sure is a busy (and stressful) time of year.  Basketball is in full swing.  We have practices on Monday night.  On the plus side, the kids have practice on the same night of the week.  The drawback is that Kyla's practice is from 5:30 to 6:30 and Mason's doesn't start until 7:30 and goes until 8:30.  That makes for a long, tiring day for the kiddos.  Let's not forget homework, reading, dinner and showers.  The games are on Saturdays.  Super low key and family friendly. 

Hmm, what's going on with me.  Nothing new.  Work is busier and more stressful than ever.  We're talking about record breaking numbers of patients.  We saw 330 the other day.  Woweee.  It's just too much sometimes.  I love that I only have to work two days a week ... any more around there would kill me.  Still doing Cross fit 3 times a week (occasionally just 2).  Loving it and have never been more muscular.  Even lost 17 pounds.  Busy, busy with my hobbies.  My favorites are painting, scrapbooking (I do it the Project Life way now), cardmaking and reading.  Click on the link if you don't know what that is.  Browsing Pinterest is also a favorite pastime of mine.  I spend too much time on that, for sure. 

Mason has been doing great in school.  During his last conference his teacher gave him a Certificate of Outstanding Citizenship and Academics.  He said that he only gave 3 of them out and Mason was basically a model student and great guy.  Made me so proud.  He rarely needs any help with his homework and usually does it without having to be nagged.  He is currently obsessed with playing Minecraft on the Xbox and watching YouTube videos about Minecraft on the Xbox (as with all 9 year old boys from what I've heard).  The challenge for us is limiting his time on these things.  If I could do it over again, I wouldn't let him get it to start with.  Just one more thing to deal with now.  He has a couple of good friends in school and still gets together with his best buddy, Jack ... his longtime friend from preschool.

Kyla has been doing so well in school also.  She isn't struggling in any area.  Her teacher raved about what a good student and nice person she is during her last conference.  Neither of them even needed conferences or progress reports this trimester.  She's learning fractions in school and needs a little help with it on her homework but is catching on.  Video games aren't an issue ... she does love watching Sponge Bob Squarepants on TV though (it's awful).  Kyla is easy going and rarely has ups and downs.  Luckily, unlike a lot of the other girls in 2nd grade, she is drama free and doesn't really get into any of that nonsense.  I hope it stays that way. 

Brian is busy with his classes at Sacramento State and work.  When he finds the time he goes fishing or plays on his guitar.  He takes great care of us ... such a good man.

Random Photos

Brian's happiness ... being able to walk down to the river in the mornings and fish.

 

 

My happiness ... a real fire in the fireplace, my iPad and a cup of coffee. 

 

 

Brian and Kyla went ice skating at the Folsom Ice Rink.  I love that they have Daddy-Daughter time. 

 

 

Kyla Claus. 

 

 

Kyla is becoming quite the artist - she loves drawing.  This is me. 

 

 

Wearing my sunglasses.  She told me to wait a minute while she made fish lips.  Not sure where she learned how to do that. 

 

 

What happens when Kyla gets ahold of my phone.

 

 

One of the more difficult Cross Fit workouts.

 

 

My sleepy littles. 

 

Ventura

I flew down to Ventura, CA to visit my sister, Carol and her husband Johnny.  I haven't seen them in a few years ... I feel awful even saying that.  Such a shame that we don't get together more.  I'm going to try to do better with that.  Now that my kids are older (and I have such an understanding husband) we should be able to see each other more often.

 

1st night we went out to dinner and watched a movie at home.  Of course, I fell asleep.  If I'm not playing on my iPad and I'm horizontal, I'm going to be sleeping ... unless its a great movie or one of my favorite shows.  Just can't help it.  Sorry. 

 

 

They took me sightseeing on Saturday.  We visited The Cross.  Such a beautiful place atop a small hill. 

 

 

I love this one.  She reminds me so much of my dad. 

 

 

My sweet niece, Jazmin.  She's Mason's age is such a great kid.  Love her.  She's so cute, she takes her American Girl Doll with her everywhere. 

 

 

Tony's Pizzeria.  Yum.  Has been there about 50 years.   

 

 

Visiting the Ventura Harbor. 

 

 

I love all the colors in this photo.  Such a chilly day. 

 

 

 

 

 

Silly girls. 

 

 

We have to get together more often. 

 

 

Wine time - the guy photo bombing us is Carol's friend and owner of the bar. 

 

 

It was such a relaxing weekend.  No worries or kids to tend to.  Smile.  We watched several episodes of Mob Wives, watched football, ate, drank and just talked.  Can't wait to do it again.

Trixie - Trouble Maker

The other day, I was in my bedroom and I heard something sounding like water.  At first I thought Brian was taking a shower in the spare bathroom and then I thought, "Why would he shower in there?"  Then Brian came into the room and heard it too.  It took us just a few minutes to figure out that Trixie had somehow turned the water spigot in the backyard on full blast.  She had just enough time to dig a big muddy hole in the ground and play in it!!!  What a mess. 

 

Happy New Year!!! 2014

Well, I've been so stressed about this blog lately ... it's starting to feel more like homework than a hobby.  My problem is that I have too many hobbies ... I have too many things that I enjoy doing and not enough time.  1st world problems, right?  I'm about 5 months behind in 2013 and never finished 4 months in 2012.  I don't know how I'll ever catch up.  I think for now I'm just going to try to stay caught up with 2014 (I've said that before, right) and I'll start working away at 2012 and 2013.  I don't want to quit because I just love looking back at the finished project ... the Blog Book.  I just love it ... and I also love looking back at my old blog posts.

Anyway, we had a nice and quiet New Year's Eve.  Tim and Jenny had a little get together so we went over there for a while.  Brian had to work on New Year's Day so we came home around 11:00 pm.  Such a bummer we missed the ball being dropped (just kidding ... I've never understood what all the hype is about with that, I'd rather be snoozing).  They had a fire pit outside that goodness because it was so cold.  Brrr. 

My New Year's Resolutions.  Probably some of the same ones I've made over the past few years.  To eat better and just in general, take better care of myself.  I'm doing so much better on the workout part of it ... have been going to Cross Fit 2 - 3 times a week for months.  It's amazing to see myself getting so much stronger.  Love that.

Spending more quality time and less screen time with the kids is another biggie.  I'm realizing how fast they are growing up.  Makes me sad to think about, they are going to be out of the house before I know it.  Boo-hoo.