Weekend Update

Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. 

Sometimes impromptu soirees turn out to be much more fun than the stress-induced planned parties. 

That's exactly what happened Friday night.  We just planned on having Brooke's friend, Victoria, over for our traditional Friday-Night-Movie-Night activity.  Plans changed.

We stayed after school until nearly 5:30 due to a budget meeting (crazy economic times).  

I wasn't planning on getting home that late - neither were the kids.  They look forward all week long to Friday after school so they can have their play dates.  

We brought our other friend, Monroe, home from school too as her mom was still stuck there facilitating the meeting.  No big deal:  Monroe lives across the street and is very accustomed to coming over.  Then I got a phone call from a friend who's new in my ward looking for a babysitter that's not involved in road show (all the youth were tied up at dress rehearsal).   She  needed a break from the kids . . . long week . . . I am one who completely understands that concept.  I suggested, then pleaded, then demanded that she just bring her two cute kids over to my house since we were home anyway with friends over.  That way she could go to the mall and get a much-needed fix of Godiva or whatever floated her boat.  

As she was dropping off her kids, my RS Pres called and said one of my v.t. girls' father is passing away and to see if I could help out.  Sure!  She lives up the street and I could see her kids (as well as the cousins- my other v.t. girls' kids) all outside playing.  I headed up the street, and had all five kids come over too.  

What to do with THIRTEEN little kids - all under the age of 10?  

I took a few of them with me to pick up some pizza at Tony's, our local joint.

Some got electric guitar lessons from John.  Some danced along with the player piano.

Some played Wii, some watched a VegiTales movie, some played baby dolls, 

some (well one) cute little crawling baby discovered kitchen cupboards.

And some entertained themselves on the stairs. 

I much preferred this to playing football on the stairs (that I sent out back).

Here is my friend Melissa, all refreshed and returned from getting her hair done (and a Godiva fix) playing train down the stairs.

It's important to note Ashlyn's dress-up:  it's a Good Ship Lollipop outfit Brooke used for her dance recital when she was Ash's age!  How could that be?

Turned out to be a very fun night.  Even my niece Domonique stopped by to borrow a book (Twilight) and hung out for a spell (and ate pizza).  If you want a party in Newbury Park, you know where to come!

Saturday is a Special Day

Saturday proved to be just as crazy.  Well, almost.

Victoria ended up sleeping over, I went to kickboxing in the morning, then

picked up Madison's friend to go running, took all the kids to the park, then got them to archery lessons, then picked up In-n-Out for lunch, and Golden Spoon, then home to eat and get ready for the Road Show at 3:00.  Right as we were walking out the door for Road Show, the missionaries called to remind me they were coming over for dinner (gasp!!).  

The house is torn apart, we weren't going to be home until 5:30 - I'd been gone all day and didn't have a plan for dinner.  

Since John was busily trying to get the floor finished, he wouldn't have time to stop for dinner anyway.  Looks like it was time for Tony's Pizza again.  The missionaries were THRILLED to have their own fresh hot pepperoni pizza delivered to them at the church in between Road Show performances.  

I was thrilled to have everything work out so well and everyone was happy.  

After we got the friends home, everyone fed, bathed and put to bed, I was able to clean the house and settle down for a Saturday night movie date with my hubby!  

If you haven't seen Fireproof yet, I highly recommend it.  

I am also grateful for John working so hard to get the wood floor in the office installed. 

Next is the living room/dining room!

Saturday is the day we get ready for Sunday:  Ward Conference!  My third one.  I'm having a great time going to the different ward conferences.  We are handling the entire primary for sharing time so the adults can go to a 3rd hour joint meeting.  3 down, 3 to go.

Singin' in the Rain

Since we have a short rainy season here, when the rain comes, it's cause for celebration!

The kids love to play in the rain.  I particularly love the spring rains when it's warmer and there are bouts of sunshine - just right for rainbow making.

It's raining outside, so go ahead and put on your rain gear and have some fun! 

As kids, we loved to make boats out of leaves or paper and watch them float down the swollen gutters, down the drain, and then we'd run to the bridge to see the boats make their way down the wash.  

Now when my kids dress up and play outside in the rain, neighbors will stop their cars to watch as if they've never seen children playing in the rain before.  Simple entertainment is such a novelty these days.  

  

This was taken one year ago, March 2008:

Christian, Ashlyn, Brooke

Four Years Ago March 2005:

Christian is the baby,

Brooke and Madison

It's also funny to see the rain gear recycled from one kid to the next.

The Happiest Place on Earth (?)

We went to Disneyland and California Adventure on Friday and Saturday

kind of for Christian's birthday and kind of since it's been years since we've been

and kind of because they have a 2fer now where you can go to Ca Adventure with the same ticket.  We spent the night at a Marriott which was a huge hit because it had 2 bedrooms/bathrooms and bunk beds!  

I am happy to report that these troubling economic times are NOT affecting Disneyland at all. 

For a cold, rainy day, there were plenty of people to spend all sorts of money there.  I don't think that Disney is in need of any stimulus!   Geesh!!

We were dressed warmly anticipating the rain, which fell consistently for three hours.

This is on the updated Small World ride . . . they changed some of the scenes to incorporate Disney characters.

All Ashlyn could talk about for weeks was seeing Ariel.  Now, they have a Princess Faire where you wait in line (and wait and wait) to be shuffled through to meet some princesses (instead of seeing them out in the park).  They are nice to provide a photographer in case you need to spend more money there.  They also have face painting ($7-15) and a hair station where your little princess can get an up-do for $30.  Luckily Ariel was the first princess (then Aurora and Cinderella).  You never know until you get behind the wall who is going to be there.  It would have been a bummer if we went the whole time without seeing Ariel!  

On the Small World boat.

At the Peter Pan ride.

The next day was California Adventure which was a beautiful sunny day.

Ashlyn loved the Playhouse Disney show.  Leaves and streamers dropped from the ceiling and the show was just right for her.  So many things at Disneyland are scary, but there are a few things that are just right and Ashlyn soaked them up.

Jumping Jellyfish!

The Carousels are another "just right" thing.

Anything Cars or Star Wars was just right for Christian.  He's my little stud with Lightning McQueen.

I Need Your Help

I need to teach a teacher in-service in a couple of weeks and my topic is "Classroom Maintenance."   Basically it would involve tips on how to get your [primary] class running as smoothly as possible.   Would it be helpful if the chairs were set up beforehand (by the previous class)?  Or perhaps having an attendance chart like in preschool?  

Any ideas?  

What has helped your classes run the smoothest and what are things that you think would help other teachers??  

THANK YOU!  I appreciate any ideas!!

Gotta Love Having a Winter Birthday

Happy Birthday Christian! 

The Big Five

You've come a long way . . . 

Yesterday (birthday eve) at Pre-K was "Snow Day" - all that was needed were some mittens as it was a beautifully 75 degree warm day - an interesting way to play in the snow. 

Christian brought a platter of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and pencils to share with his class for his birthday.  The kids loved them, and so did he.  He loved his crown his teacher Ms. Pat made and he loved his class singing to him.   That night, mom and dad took him out on a date for dinner then a treat at Treat Sweets.

The birthday fairy came to visit in the stealth of night filling his room with blue and white balloons.  He was so excited!  (as were his siblings).   He requested blintzes for his birthday breakfast, so we had that, waffles, and oranges.

Then . . . he got to find his first present . . . 

A Big Wheel "Motorcycle" is what he calls it.  I think daddy was more excited that Christian wanted a Big Wheel - he couldn't wait to put it together and we laughed at the memories we both shared of riding our Big Wheels when we were kids - even turning them over to play "ice cream."  Too bad they no longer are made with that rear hand brake. 

This is 8:30 in the morning . . . we all got the bikes out and had fun on our cul-de-sac.  I hope none of our neighbors were trying to sleep in.

After our bike-riding fun, we ran up to the park and played for a bit.  Then we came home to this:

 A water slide in our front yard!!!!!   We called his friends Harrison and Sam to come over and join in the fun.  Our neighbor Monroe came, too, then cousins Spencer, Melanie and Chelsea.

Although it was a beautifully warm day, it got pretty frigid in the water.  We hooked the hose up to the water heater so it wasn't freezing water coming out, but by the late afternoon and the cool breeze, it was downright cold.  

Lisa will have to send me her pictures, but John and I actually got on the slide, too.  It was fun until I hit the bottom (and mine) too hard coming down one of the times. 

He opened another present in the afternoon.  This was a basketball from Ashlyn.

We had a total of 10 kids over for an impromptu birthday party enjoying the water slide.  It was so much fun!

Then we went to Lamppost Pizza Parlor for dinner.  Lisa's family joined in for some birthday fun with the cousins.

Afterwards we came back home for dessert and more presents.  I think he had a fun 5-year old birthday!  

I, however, am a wee bit sad that I will never have a little four-year-old boy of my own again.  Christian is such a sweet and fun and smart kid.  He's my little boyfriend.   I joked with him that he wasn't allowed to turn five, because then he'll be 6, and 7, then 16, then on mission and grown and gone!  He looked at me and said, 

"It's OK mommy, I'll always be your baby."  

My little guy.

High School Musical

Madison and Brooke participated in a Kids Acting Out West production of 

High School Musical. 

Madison played Ms. Darbus, and Brooke played a brainiac.

They had a fabulous time and worked really hard practicing for weeks every Tuesday after school. 

Madison had a lot of lines!  

 "Is that even legal?" 

- the cafeteria scene. 

'Ms. Darbus' directing the kids during detention.

"But soft what light through yonder window breaks.  It is the east, and Juliet is the sun."

Daddy is so proud of his girls!

Her First Class

Ashlyn was so excited to go to her first "school" class. 

I signed her up for a little art class and she loved putting on the paint shirt, 

making a mess painting a wooden box, and making a drum.

And I was glad not to have a mess to clean up!