Ambassador

Our little ambassador.  Addi is the model student.  I know if I had a classroom full of Addi's my own teaching job would be perfection.  We'd get everything done.  We'd laugh (when appropriate), we'd be kind, we'd never hear the boys belch, fart, or make weird noises, we'd stand in perfectly straight lines and write in very nice print that everyone can read.

dream status....

but we don't have a room full of addi's in classrooms these days (we have lots and lots of Will's to spice things up!) and so we reward these special little people for being great.

Addi was awarded a classroom ambassador pin at school last week.  Again.  For the third year.  Because she deserves it.

 

The pictures aren't great, but at least there are a few (thanks Carrie!).  Rob and I both missed the presentation because of work (Darn it!)

Catching up with old friends

Rob and I got to catch up with an old friend, Frank Hanzlik, a few weeks back.  It was so much fun.  Frank had just the right words to share about growing older, enjoying your jobs and taking care of families.  It was just a great opportunity to connect with him.

First Day of school ~ September 2014

5th Grade & 3rd grade...where does the time go?

Will Stats:

Teacher: Maestra Viera

Friends in class: Everyone he could ask for: Peter, Mateo, Lily, Malea...all his favorites.

Favorite subject:  Going into school...math.  5th grade math is hard so we'll see how this turns out.

Seat: in the back.  This may change though!

New things this year:  Will's classroom is underground, through the tunnel.  Kind of exciting!  He also has a locker with a combination lock.  It took a few tries but he totally picked it up.  After day 1 he said he was helping his neighbors figure out theirs.   Also, this year they have a PE teacher at school so he gets to have real PE class on Mondays and Fridays.  Charter schools have there good & bads...no PE has been a bad over the years.  

At Recess: Enjoys playing tag and soccer.

Addi:

Teacher:  Maestra Rodriguez

Friends in class: Aanya - but she's moving soon, and Ruby

Favorite subject: English with Maestra Serao this year (finally!)

Seat: right smack in the middle

New things this year:  Addi's teacher LOVES to sing and dance and play music which will be SO good for addi.  

At Recess: she's working on gymnastics routines.  Over and over and over.  

Crater Lake

Rob, Kenedi and I had to drive down to Ashland to pick up the big kids from their Aunt Lyndsey & Uncle Brooks vacation.  Since we'd made the trip, we decided to travel East to Crater Lake.  Rob had gone right when he moved to Oregon but I've never been.  It's a drive off the beaten path, windy roads and really pretty country.  Kenedi had her first 'forest pee' as a I hung her buns over a log in the middle of nowhere.  She was pretty impressed with herself.

Crater Lake did not disappoint.  It is BEAUTIFUl.  So blue.  Crystal clean waters and breathtakingly large.  We learned about the history of the lake (no rivers in or out and the water collected is from rain or snow only.  It's DEEP! at almost 2000 feet and it's the deepest lake in the US) and hiked around parts of the rim.  Will and Addi were very nervous about falling over the edge and down the mountainside.  Climbing on rocks was out of the question and we stayed on the safe paths.  Mr. Cautious, Will would yell loudly if anyone got too close to what he felt was the edge.  He was yelling a lot.  Russell came on this adventure and got really dirty rolling around in dust and playing with other dogs.  He also was not interested in posing for pictures.

Here we are cautiously close to the edge!  We entered the park on the south side which means we saw the large island really well.  We couldn't see the small rock island too well from our view point.  

Kenedi talked Daddy into buying her a silly hat that matched with Aunt Lyndsey.  She wore it well.  We also forgot to pack Kenedi's overnight bag so she was stuck with a new Walmart outfit that she rocked!

These three gems are so fun!

We had hot chocolate at the lodge and then headed back home.

Kissum and Tuma

Kenedi has created the names Kissum and Tuma that she assigns to people when she wants to play.  She'll says something like 'you be tuma and i be kissum' and then will proceed to play according to these people.  We have NO IDEA where the names came from.  none.  her little imagination made them up.  Tonight Addi was Tuma and she was Kissum and when i told everyone to go brush their teeth, Kenedi turned to Addi and said'night Tuma see you ttmorrow!;

Words from Kenedi

One of my coworkers once said that 2 1/2 years old is like the baby trap...it's the perfect age that makes you want to have a million more babies because of just how cute 2 1/2 year olds are.  And oh my...kenedi does not let you down.  Her chubby legs and fierce independence.  The way she sucks, sucks, sucks on her binky for comfort.  Her long hugs and sweet kisses.  And now...her cute sayings and little thoughts that she speaks mostly clear enough for us to hear.

Last night when we were sitting down to family fun night (Will's idea) which involved a game of Monopoly, Rob told Kenedi not to touch any of the pieces.  She responded without a thought 'Can I watch then?!' in the sweetest voice ever.  The 4 of us awed over her for minutes.  

Today, as she was standing on her stool painting in her book with a wet paper towel and she calls to will 'Will come play with me?  Sit by me?!' and I almost died.  How articulate this little lady his.  And Will stopped and sat down with her. helped her paint which was equally as cute.  

The birds and the bees

So many damn questions!  So many.  That's what my kids are all about.  It was inevitable that it was going to come...honestly I should have had this conversation years ago.  But I didn't. So while Rob was out walking the dog and Kenedi confused her vagina for a penis...and Will corrected her...we went for it.  Not the whole deal...just information.  I was honest, upfront and asked all of their questions to the best of my ability.  I laughed.  They laughed. and it got a little silly.  Rob walked back in the door just as Will was comparing us to chickens 'laying eggs and everything'....  It was a good start.

Ambassadors

Both kids were awarded ambassador pins this morning at their morning meeting at school. Ambassador are students that follow rules, behave well in class and are good representatives of the school.  So proud of both of them!

Snow Day!

We don't get them often around here but when we do...Man they are fun.  We got released early from school on THursday-after everyone did their snow dances the night before.  The car ride home was LONG because traffic was so bad.  Immediately all the kids ran to the back yard to make snow angels and just play.  They tried sliding down the slide on towels.  Will stayed in shorts to brave the weather but eventually ended up in pants.  I love snow days!  So calm and quiet.  Just a nice break from the normal and always fun to have school off!

We made it home safely!

sheer joy!

Lots of snow angels.  Will is getting so big!

 

growing up

Last night I was taking a shower after dinner...sick and not feeling well the shower went on and on as I soaked up every last bit of hot water.  As I was leaning against the shower door I looked out over to our ginormous soaking tub, trying to think of the last time it was actually used.  Felt like years ago and then suddenly I saw Will and Addi splashing around...maybe 5 and 3 years old.  Will was kicking Addi, she was crying....that's usually how baths ended in the big bath tub!

Time flies with kids.  So fast.  I remember Will's sweet little pudgy face just like it was yesterday.  And Addi's round chubby cheeks...I loved those cheeks!  I was sad for just a minute, for time lost and just memories that were left.  But at the same time, I'm so excited to see what's to come.  I love Will at 9 years old.  At 9 he is funny, tells jokes, confident, well behaved, and such a good helper.  He understands that little eye contact that his sisters miss and is still so sweet.  He still calls me mommy, wants to me tucked in at night, and gets his feelings hurt when people say mean things to him.  I love nine years old.  5 was tough and there were so many great memories of 5...splashing around in bath tubs and kindergarten and a million and twenty five questions about random things, half of which I had no idea how to answer.  Yes.  I loved 5.  But man do I love 9.  And while I miss those moments of little chubby faces (granted we still have Kenedi's chubby cheeks), I'm so excited to see what's to come with my kids.

Here's the kids at 5 & 2.5 with sweet chubby cheeks.