Santa 2013

I missed the first two seconds of the the conversation but jaely starts off by telling Santa she wants a "bow tie that spins..."

This girl always surprises me.

Me: Come on Jaely. It's time to go see Santa. 

Jaely:  is he real

Me:  yes of course

Jaely: does he walk?

Me: yes

Jaely: yessss! I knew it!

Me: what are you going to ask Santa for?

Jaely: a bow tie that spins around in circles 

James in Regards to the Taste of Coffee

It's not ice cream good, but it's not asparagus bad. 

Crushing Creativity

I'll too often we crush our kids creativity.  I'm guilty of crushing mine. Just today my daughter wanted to bake a cake, so she pulled together any ingredients she could find.  Strawberry milk, leftover from Starbucks, water, donuts, and bread. It wasn't until she wanted and egg that she can ask for help.  I rushed out into the kitchen with soap all of my hands from cleaning the bathtub and this is what I found.

I freaked out and grab the bowl to dump it as soon as possible so that it wouldn't be spilled and then I'd have another mess to clean.  Then I became overwhelmed with the sense of guilt because I feared I crushed my daughter's sense creativity. I apologized immediately. Then we decided to bake a pretend cake made out of donuts. Candles and all!  She was so excited it was the first thing she told the boys when we picked them up from school. 

The Empty Pot

After carrying these seeds in my wallet for the last year and a half, I finally decided to plant them. My family moved to California over the summer. This has been a long time coming decision, as my husband has been commuting every other weekend from San Fran to AZ since June of 2012.  This is our third move in 5 years when our home foreclosed on us in the spring of 2009. It was shortly after that, the plant that was in this pot from our very first home died and our marriage struggles began. In the fall of 2010 I lost my childhood friend, and then a year and a half later, Shannon. Shortly after Shannon my husband moved to the Bay area after struggling to find work in Phoenix. The empty pot moved from house to house with us and then finally to California where my marriage after a long year apart has started to heal.  Nikki Rollier gave me these seeds in April of 2012 after I missed Shannon's services. I have stared at this pot since that day at the cemetery with Nikki with every intention to plant Shannon's seeds in it. But it wasn't until I knew I was moving to California and our family would be together again that I felt the time was right to plant them in that empty pot. Two weeks ago I did just that and on my tenth wedding anniversary last Wednesday the first little sprout emerged from the soil. This pot with these seeds is symbolic to me in so many ways. It not only keeps Shannon's memory alive, it keeps my friend Diana Sciola alive, and breathes life into my marriage for me. Shannon was always looking out for everyone's best interest and she is still up there looking out for mine. I love you Shannon.

Olive You Girl

Perfect fit to our family. I'm so happy we have her!!

Busy Bees

Jaely and I have been busy bees. We have done so many things. The jr museum and zoo, runs, hikes, parks, coffee and donuts, lots of playtime with the neighbors, and dance class. All between meal times, cleaning the house, laundry, carpooling the boys and going to the grocery store.  Two days ago she crashed within a few minutes of sitting down in her Carseat. 

Then, last night she put herself to bed she was so tired!  After a short conversation about her being tired and how she is always welcome to go to bed if she wants, I found her like this at 6:05PM. 

Today we went for a run/walk on the trails at the Rancho San Antonio Reserve. It was absolutely beautiful and so fun to do with Jaelyn. We saw wild turkeys, deer, squirrel, and birds nests. A mile into our hike we came across a farm with cows, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens, and roosters!  One of the cows came over to greet us and the other one moo'd like crazy at us. The pigs slept in the mud and we watched a goat scratch its back against the fence saying baaaaa baaaaa repeatedly. It was quite a fun adventure. 

Then we hopped back in the car and headed off to dance. I hope I can keep her up today until 6 so she can put herself to bed again!!

Serious VS Clown

So Jacob is definitely my serious boy and James the class clown. This morning was a perfect example. In the car Jacob said, mom starting next week I have to return my book bag every week. James said, or else you will get expelled. Jacob, No!  James, I know I was kidding. It was actually pretty funny. Even more so Jacob struggles so much with humor with two parents that are sarcastic most of the time. Poor kid. 

Pick up and Drop Off

I wasn't sure how I'd enjoy the start time of their new school. It's always a challenge for us to get out the door on time so I thought earlier would make it worse. Turns out its exactly the same. Still the mad rush to get ready and out the door, however I am enjoying my extra morning time. This morning I was able to go to the store, head home, and print a doc all before nine. I got Jaely ready for dance and rushed to dance only to remember her class starts at 11:15 not 10. Haha!  I'm not sure why I had 10am in my head. 

Pick up is scheduled at two separate times. I thought this would be pain but turns out pick up runs so smoothly and is a piece of cake. There is no pick up line. It's pick up and hop in drive around. So nice. And by dividing the school in half with 20 min in between it makes it even easier. The other day I picked up Jacob, went to the store and made it back to pick up James before he was even outside. 

So nice!  No more 20 min lines!  It helps too that so many kids walk. They only drive if they don't live in the immediate neighborhood!  That's the way it should be. 

California had been good to us so far!

First Day at a New School

The day started out great. Healthy breakfast,  teeth brushed, and new uniforms on. We even made it to school on time.

School was good. James said it went well. He made a friend. Wyatt. 

He said everyone calls them brothers because they look alike. Lol. Jacob had a little tougher time. He's my mammas boy. He said he didn't make many friends. I tried to explain to him it takes time. They had a good lunch. James had PE. They do not have music. It was cut with the budgets. The PE teachers rotate schools. 3-5 has it at his school on Monday and Tuesdays. Not sure about Jacob yet.

James' class is just learning cursive. He learned it last year. So the teacher said she will give him sentences instead of letters to write. 

I like their teachers. Jacob's is strict. The office staff is nice. Didn't really have interaction with James teacher but she seemed really nice. 

The environment is completely different. Doors are outside. They hang up their backpacks outside PE is outside, there is no gymnasium. We had no school supplies to buy. The school provides everything. 

They both started at 830. Jacob is done at 231 and James is done at 251.  I have to wait 20 min after  Jacob for James to get out which kid of stinks. But gives me a chance to see how Jacob's day went before James gets in the car. Wednesdays they are out early at 142. But not until Sept. James finished his homework for the week in an hour. Jacob had one sheet of homework. It was all about him. It gave him a chance to hear his new address for the first time. It also asked what his favorite vacation was and he said the family reunion in Kansas City. I thought was pretty special. James agreed. 

Jaelyn and I had a great day. Yes she misses her brothers but I think she definitely enjoys having the place to herself too!

It wasn't even five minutes after we dropped the boys off she was into tagging things up again.  Today it was herself. 

They are all set and ready for school tomorrow!!  Looking forward to it. 

The Countdown Has Begun

"These are the socks I'm going to wear until we go to California with daddy. So, I'm going to leave them on."  The countdown is on!!  Only 6 more days of wearing those socks Jaely!!!

Road Trip 2013

Tuesdays

Tuesday nights....  Completely different than Mondays or Thursdays. This bunch is full of energy, fun and sarcasm but also a whole lot of determination and competitive spirits!  Thank you for the laughter and excitement you brought me each and every week. I already miss you!!

My Sympathetic 3 Year Old

My baby girl experienced her first signs of sympathy tonight. While watching Tinkle Bell the Secret of the Wings.  Tinkle Bell met a sister she did not know she had. They were forbidden to see each other due to the dangers of the trip back and fourth so they had to say a final goodbye. As I watched tinker bell shed tears my daughter became choked up and could barely get the words out, "Mom tinker bell is sad."  She wiped tears from her eyes for Tinkerbell. I held her tight as we finished the movie with joy in my heart that she has love and compassion for other people and things.  I love that little big heart of hers. 

Jaely Writes Her Name

Jaely wrote her name for the very first time on her own without asking what letter comes next and she did GREAT!!

Happy Mother's Day 2013

I've had the best Mother's Day! Slept in, Jacob made me coffee, Jaely brought me her gift she made at school, James brought me ice water, delicious lunch at Carrabbas with my beautiful family, napped while my hubby cleaned, and now having a relaxing evening with baby girl already in bed!!  Thank you JPs for an incredible day. 

Chunky Monkey

Happy 7th Birthday to my (no longer) chunky monkey. Golly, I sure do miss those rolls! :(

Goldfish to Jellyfish

Jaelyn's First Field Trip

Arizona Puppet Theater to watch Peter Rabbit!

Happy Easter 2013

Poor Jacob tripped on his shoe laces last night and scraped his face up on the pavement. He said it hurt to smile :(.

Jaely was very excited to wear her Easter dress.

James was exhausted after waking early an eating Easter candy!!

So Proud of James

His poem was selected for publishing!!

Swimming!

I rolled over all by myself and floated!

Happy Birthday James!!

9 years old and go Niners in the super bowl.

Dance Dance Dance

Jaely started her first dance class today with her self-proclaimed Best friend, Kara. It was seriously too cute!!!! I'm loving being a mom to a little girl. It is the best.

Ski/Snowboard Trip

Boys hit the mountain for the first time in their life James on snowboard, and Jacob on skis. They did great. Jacob took a lesson in the morning and joined the rest of us in the afternoon. He took the level 1 class and by the end off his lesson, his instructor said he did so well that next time he will need to take level 3 or level 4.  James did not get his gear in time to make the morning lesson for his first time on a snowboard, but picked it up very well all on his own. Josh has only been on a snowboard a few times in his life prior to this trip and he did great as well.  It was a fun day. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing my kids enjoy one of my childhood favorite winter things to do with my family.