Almost here....

....end of school.

Made our summer to-do list.

Items added since:  a trip with the Afework family and a trip to the Becker property.
Items that didn't make the "cut":  Disneyland, Hawaii and Walla Walla.

Started packing for Sun Lakes.  50s night is one of the themes.

Sofia wearing a 50s poodle skirt that was Ashli's when SHE was in 6th grade.

I love the number 5.  I'm making Lilia a "5" birthday shirt.  I've looked everywhere for this font.  Found it at the track today.  Stay tuned.

Night.

Yeeehaw

Lilia had her school party today.  A "hoe down".  Complete with BBQ, a scavenger hunt, smores and cowboy hat making.

I was in charge of the scavenger hunt:  window, car, bike, tree, flower, slide, sandbox, rock, ant and worm.  Some took it very seriously.  P wanted to WIN.  He wanted to finish first.  When I asked him if I could see the ant, he replied "it was over there, but it ran away".  And the worm, "it was over in the grass, but it slithered away".  Wow, at 4.  JH helped out.  He was so patient with the kids.  Made me proud.

I love Mrs. Arata.  She adored Lilia and Lilia adored her.  She will be missed in kindergarten.  Perhaps she'll move up and we'll have her again.

Came home.  Fed kids.  Homework projects on castles to be finished.  I supervised or at least kept reminding them to be on task.

The deal was, finish homework by 6pm and we can go to open swim at 6:30 AFTER I have them tested for swim levels at 6:15.  S&A didn't finish.  So after the 15 minute test, they showered off and we went home.  No playing in the water, no after pool ice cream.  Consequences suck sometimes.

Alex tested at L3, so did JH (Alex wasn't happy about that).  Sofia in L4 and Lilia L1.  The goal is to have them in swim class at the same time, daily for 2 weeks in July while I WORKOUT!  We'll see how that plan goes.

It's pouring outside.  Wah.

Sun

It appeared today.

The doors were open, the kids outside.  Well, at least 2 of them were.

It's June

....already.

How'd that happen?

...half a year gone by.

How'd that happen?

As we wind down the end of the school year, lots to do.  Year end projects.  Year end tests.  Class trips.  Class parties.  And staff appreciation.  End of baseball (yes!)

In can be overwhelming.

Sofia had her chorus concert last week.  A solo.  Brought tears to my eyes.  I never was that secure with myself in 6th grade!  Of course, the neighbors joined us.

Alex had his school band concert tonight.  Lilia stayed at Isaiah's house.  I took the 3 neighbor kids.  A great swap.

I realized I really didn't take pictures of the "performers".  Oops, bad mom.

Next up, a weekend of birthdays, weddings and graduations.

See you when I come up for air.

Sigh

I love the morning sun.
We were teased for a few days...now we have rain, wind and cold.
Come back please!

I say Rave On

I'm loving Pandora, so much I've maxed out my monthly limit.

I have many stations, but one I love...it started with Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson "Relator".

But "they" connected me to a new artist, M. Ward who sings "Rave On" and I love it too.  Okay the video link on You Tube isn't the best, but I just realized it features Zooey Deschane, how very cool, another fave.  Be sure to listen.

I also have my Christmas station.
My Robert Plant station.
Bee Gees.
Abba.
Death Cab.
Cure.
Wings.

Quite a selection don't you think?

188

Today was my day off.
No kids.
It went way too fast.
I thought soon after I should document the day with pictures.
I took 188 pictures.

This is only part of the first 2 hours of the day.

It was hard to remember.  And when I was "out" or when the kids got home, it was even harder to remember to pick up and take a shot.

I've edited, and narrowed it down to 80.

Now I have to figure out how to present the pictures.

But my day went something like this.

6:15 up and shower
6:30 A&S up
6:50 downstairs, lunches made, breakfast
7:15 on the road to Illahee
7:25 home, finish makeup and hair
7:45 JH up in the shower
8:05 time for a quick spelling test
8:15 walking to B&C's house for a ride with Ashli
8:30 the house is quiet, except for my Pandora
8:30-9:45 laundry started, email check, google reader check, FB check, watched Jazzy's video, put away clean dishes, clean kitchen, listen to music
10:00 breakfast.
10:20 check email, check etsy purchase gone missing, more coffee
10:30-12:30 putz.  35 minute talk with Alesia, more laundry, clean my room, go through 5 purses in search for Sounder tickets, FOUND SOUNDER TICKETS!
1:00 lunch it was yucky!
1:20 to Lowe's purchase flowers and scope out potential trees
2:15 at Illahee, talk to fellow moms
2:45 home, snack time, more putzing, laundry
3:45 JH home
blur....
blur....
5:45 start dinner
6:30 clean up, mess with plants
7:00 on the road to pick up Lilia
7:45 distracted with Funky Sister's Vintage show.....oops
8:45 pick up Lilia, she falls asleep on the way home
9:30 back at home
10:00 chit chat with kids.  Straighten up.  Brush teeth.  Wash face.  Floss. Laundry to fold on my bed.
10:30 start messing on the computer.

Whew...I'm tired.