Life is good.

After a bit of baseball this morning, I was able to come home and do my most favorite thing.  I putzed.

Made the kids breakfast.
Cleaned the kitchen.
Read the mail.
Planted some seeds.
Played in the yard.
Pulled some weeds.

A couple loads of laundry.

Took a short nap on the couch.

Putzed.  A lot of putzing.

I love days like this, but feel a bit guilty for not doing something major.  Like.....cleaning my closet, which is on my to do list and has been on it for a long time.  I just close the door and fugghet.about.it.

The sun was out, the wind blew the cherry blossoms, Pet Shop Boys was on Pandora.  It felt good.

I took some pictures of my lovelies.  Well, one lovely, the only one that will let me take pictures of her. The boys won't sit still, annoyed by the camera, they run, and surprisingly, I can't catch up ;)

It's May

We've had a few sunny days.  Sunny enough to wear the high heels that were a gift from Easter Bunny.  And nice enough to run around outside, without leggings and to fall and skin your knee.

The cherry trees in bloom, covering the ground like snow.  Hanging out with your friends on the sidewalk, wearing flip flops.

I see a shift.  It's coming.  The constant cell phone in hand.  The journal.  The drama at times.  The teen is on the horizon.  I'm excited and scared.  And for today I'm happy.  There is still obvious affection.  She loves me.  And we are okay.

Hello Sun

Today was a beautiful day!  It actually felt like spring with weather in the mid 60's.  I was up and running errands early.

We found some time to visit Jan's Plants down the road, love their plants, love the ladies, a bit more expensive, but a family run local business.

The kids each picked up a new plant, flower.

{she dressed herself}

The weather was perfect for sitting field side for JH's baseball game.

He batted 1000....3 for 3.  And made some great saves.  I love that he gets baseball even more this year. We had the Afeworks cheering him on as well, good people, they are really good people.

It was a full day.  We didn't get dinner until nearly 8pm and dyed eggs at 9pm.  Next year, better planning and remembering to buy the vinegar.

Happy Easter to all.

Nada

My brain is running full speed as I type.  So much I want to do and so much needs to be done.  I feel like the nocturnal Pinky Lee (JH's class hamster) who spins the never-ending wheel each night, in the dark as the moon shines through the window.

My head is spinning.

Easter is coming.  I'm hosting my family, about 30 people on Sunday.  We are having a BBQ, the first of the year and a nice welcome to spring.  It will be later in the day, which will better allow for church visits in the morning and preparing for the guests.

I'm praying for nice weather.

Back to spinning....

Spring Break 2011

Spring break has nearly come to an end.  As quick as I snap my fingers.  It's done.

This year was the first year I've taken time off with the kids.  I have always felt guilty as family and friends travel to grand places during the break -- Hawaii, Disneyland, Florida -- as my kids sit at home and do spring cleaning.

Then a coworker invited us to spend some time at her family home in Long Beach with her and her two kids (who are the same age as mine, 12 and 9),  I thought hey, it's not Disneyland, but it's also not Federal Way.  We agreed and packed up the van and headed out.

We arrived late Sunday night and had assistance from two soon-to-be friends, unpacking the van in the dark and pouring rain.  As we settled in for the night, I thought about what might be the best ice breaker for the house of strangers....a game of Monopoly.  We played until nearly midnight. And everyone was toasty warm by then, bonding occurred.

Throughout the weekend there were many games of Monopoly, Dominos, Sequence and Speed (I was the house champ, hmph!).

Each morning started with fresh fruit and cocoa.  We sipped the hot cocoa, as we cozied up on the couch, stoked the fire and listened to the rain beat against the windows.

And it rained, rained and rained.  There were five-minute breaks of sun here and there that would fill the living area with a warm glow, but then darkness would follow and the rain returned.

Regardless of the weather, there were walks on the beach, jumping waves and playing in the sand.  I was bundled up as if it was a snow storm, but the kids frolicked as if it was summer.

We'd return for hot showers and more hot cocoa.

Each day we ventured into town for one activity.

We saw Diary of a Wimpy Kid at the Neptune Theater, there was a total of ten people (including eight of us) in the theater.

We visited an amazing bakery and had fresh baked goods, beyond delicious.

and there were bumper cars,

and go-karts,

and the merry go-round,

Thank you Davidsons, we had a great Spring Break!!

Heading to the Beach

Day one of spring break went well.  A bit of sleeping in, a birthday party and shopping.  Tomorrow we're heading to the ocean, post soccer game for a few days.  The kids are so excited.  I hope its all they are hoping for.....

SLC

Last week was Student Led Conferences x 4.  SLC is the new "parent teacher conference".  It's where the student shares their work/portfolio, shows the parents around the room and then there is an introduction to the teacher where we hear more from his/her perspective. 

8:30 JH and Mrs. Marsten.  JH has come a long way this year.  He has a IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for reading, where he is "pulled-out" of the classroom once each day to spend some one-on-one time with the resource room teacher.  JH began the school year reading 50 WPM, his year end goal was 87.  He's at 97.  Wahoo.  He's doing great and has finally taken an interest in reading.  Due to his prior speech issues, he's lagged some in the reading, I'm glad he's catching up and having some notable success this year.  Math is his best subject.  He takes after his mom, hmph.

9:40 Sofia and Mrs. Palm.  Sofia's a straight A student and has been for a number of years.  She truly loves school, not only for the social aspects, but for the academics and PE of course.  But she does have to work at it, and she does spend quite a bit of time on homework.  I can't complain.  Mr. Wood her PE teacher is quite impressed with her drive....her pull-up bar for Christmas has her at seven pull-ups now, up from one at the beginning of the year.  Mr. Wood can't praise her enough and she loves it.

10:00 Alex and Mr. Sangalang.  Alex too has great grades.  3 A's and 2 B's.  He began AVID this semester.  AVID is a college-prep program designed to increase the number of students who enter a 4-year college or university.  The most immediate difference is in Alex's organizational skills and his interest to take more time in finishing his work completely.  Alex loves school too, but it's the social time he loves best.  He joined Sofia in conditioning with Mr. Wood this semester, he's building muscle and can nearly take me down in arm wrestling.  My ego is doing ok.

5:00 Lilia and Mrs. Davis.  Lilia looked so forward for her conference.  She danced around her classroom like she owned it.  She showed us her amazing drawings and stories.  Granted she has had many sad faces this year due to poor choices (talking, not listening, lipgloss in the back with other girls), she is an excellent student.  She reads.  Yes, she can read.   Expectations for a kindergartener are so much different from when her siblings went.  And she also loves to write.  She is quite comfortable with best guess spelling -- sounding out the word and writing what she hears.  I love the notes and stories she leaves me at home.  Mrs. Davis just loves her, and so do I.

It's hard to believe there are only 3 months left of the school year.  Time is moving like it or not.  

I'm very proud of A&S&JH&L.  xoxo