12 X 12 - October 2011

I think for this 12 X 12 I should have just taken pictures of all the places I went last Wednesday. Although the amount of time I spent in the car may not be fully documented, know that it was significant. I started the day off by making the kiddies lunch.

 

Eric and I are having a debate. Last week he made them lunch and gave them 3 Oreo's. I was shocked, and told him I would have only given them 1. He determined I was crazy, and so far everyone I have asked has agreed with him. So, if you were giving your kids Oreo's for lunch, how many would you give them? Seriously, I want to know if I am deluded.

While waiting for Jackson and Megan to finish getting ready for school, Sadie "read" me "One fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish." She basically tells me what she thinks the page says, and then I have to tell her what it really says. It can be time consuming.

Jackson has recently developed a love for flossing, and always uses an incredibly long piece.

School drop-off!

I came home, got ready, went to Target, and then had lunch with Sadie, Rachael and Oliver at Zaba's.

After lunch, Sade and I went to the library, as I was out of reading material.

After we came home, Sade took a nap, and I pressed on and cleaned the house. This is what I look like everyday when I clean. The apron is my very favorite thing to wear, and I wear it many more hours a day than is normal. Not because I am always cleaning or cooking, but because it is very comfortable and I forget to take it off.

After the kids got home from school, I went to boot-camp. Boot-camp is hard.  Really hard. My running has gotten a lot better, but I am still struggling with strength. And I feel like my body should be looking different, but alas it is not.

After boot-camp I picked Sonic up for the kids. They often have Sonic on Wednesday nights, since it is $1.99 kids meal night, and I often have to be at the church at 6 pm.

 

At Young Women's we made modge-podge pumpkins. It was fun but I think mine is kind-of ugly.

After Young Women's I made a desperate trip to Fresh & Easy. We had been out of milk for 3 days!!!

After arriving home we started our nightly scripture reading.

We will finish reading the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, but we are in Alma. Still!!!

Don't forget to let me know how many Oreo's you would give your kids!!!

Five For Friday-Preschool Edition

I enjoy down time. Especially during the day. I love to be at home with no commitments. Now nighttime is another matter. I can party it up. But lately, my days have been heavy. With commitments. Errands to run, bootcamp, carpool to participate in, meetings to attend, and most significantly.....PRE-SCHOOL. It has taken a lot of commitment (mostly a driving and waiting commitment), and I am trying to adjust.

1. It is a sad state of affairs around my house today. The only day we don't have pre-school. I was going to be ambitious. The house would be spotless, I would have all the bills paid, I would prepare my lesson for Young Women's on Sunday, and I would get everything ready for Eric's birthday this weekend. Instead, I attended bootcamp, took the kids to school, came home, got into bed, read, and then fell asleep. Poor Sadie. I have been a bad mom to her today. She has watched t.v., gotten her own snacks, had a pickle for lunch, and is now taking her own nap. I will try to rebound this afternoon.

2. Given my distaste for babysitting, I was slightly worried about participating in a Joy School. But it turns out I had nothing to worry about. The kids are really good. I mean they are KIDS, but there is no violent, crazy one, so all is fine. Last week it was my week to teach! I had the letter D.

 One day I focused on dinosaurs, and one day I focused on dogs. I don't have many pictures.....because I was BUSY, but we did a dinosaur dig, had doughnuts and dirtcups, practiced writing our letter "D"'s, colored, and of course did crafts.

I have to say that the craft portion is stressful. Only because everyone has totally gone all out on the crafts, and you don't want yours to suck.

3. Incidentally, while at my house, the kids LOVED reading time. It was their favorite part. I think I could have read to them for the entire two hours (well except I am sure they would not let me forget about snack time), and they would have been content. They sat in rapture the entire time.

4. We had our first field trip this week. To Gilcrease Orchards! I have never been. EVER. Sadie quite enjoyed herself. I was hot, and would have enjoyed myself more if I had been wearing shorts.

I was a bit rushed at the Orchard, because I had to get Sadie to her other pre-school that morning. I know this post may have a bit of a complainy tone, but in truth I love both of her schools. And most importantly, so does she.

5. And lastly, we have had some new craft materials around the house. The googly eyes have been a favorite:

Trip To California - Beach Time

Our first day in California was spent at the beach. It was chilly! But that that didn't stop any of us from getting in the water. Especially my Megs who is my swimming water lovin' fool. She would so be a surfer if we lived by the ocean.

She has some pretty mad body surfing skills. I (who am not such a water fan), was concerned she would be swept away  by the undertow (which was strong!), but kept my concerns to myself, so as not to plant fear in any part of her.

Jackson was mostly a wave wader and wave jumper:

I was a play in the water for enough time that the kids don't think I'm not any fun, and then retreat to the beach to read my book kind of woman:

Sade is a play in the sand, get a little wet, and then freeze type of gal. Which means she spent a lot of time cuddled with me on the blanket:

And Eric is a do whatever the kids want to do, play with them constantly kind of Dad. The totally best kind.

The highlight (according to everyone) of our afternoon and evening at the beach, was sand burying.

I thought we would never stop laughing at these pictures:

I also thought we would never get all of the sand out of our hair.

My 34th Birthday

Well.....I am now 34. As of a little over a week ago. 

The lead up to my birthday was great (although I gained a bunch of weight going out to lunch and dinner a number of times), but the actual day was less than desirable. Without listing a litany of complaints, I will move on and show a couple of pictures of the happy parts!

Bavarian Cream Pizza!!

Present opening:

And happy kids who always give me the best homemade cards: