First Night of Spring Break

When Christmas break ends I start coutning down the weeks until spring break.  I love that freedom to pack our week with fun things we want to do not have to do.  Last night was the first night of spring break.  We stopped at the library after I picked up the kids, then met friends at McDonald's for dinner then headed over to Saints North for roller skating night.  I didn't feel real good.  I figured it was McDonald's.  I don't know why I ever eat there for lunch or dinner. (However, I do LOVE their breakfast.) 

The kids were tired and roller skating wasn't as fun as usual.  Looking back now, I wonder if it wasn't as fun because I was getting really sick.  By the time the kids were in bed I was laid out.  Head throbbing, stomache churning.  I couldn't even sleep I was so uncomfortable.  By midnight I was throwing up uncontrolably.  I literally had to get Mark to help me I was so sick.  After another hour or so of shivering in bed I finally fell asleep.  While lying there I was thinking, "Shit!  I'm getting the flu over spring break!  This sucks!" 

Luckily I woke feeling much better.  Too nervous to eat or drink much.  Too tired to move much.  But after a short nap (daddy forgot to diaper little dude at nap - so it didn't take long for him to wake me) I feel so much better. 

Short and sweet.  Hopefully we'll all stay healthy for the next week to enjoy our time together.  

The Princess Ball

Several months ago my friend Amy read about a Princess party being held at an Elementary school in Lino Lakes.  Laura, Amy, Amanda and I all signed our daughters up for The Ball

Several weeks ago I had different princess dresses online picked out. I let Victoria make the final decision. She informed me a real princess would wear a flower girl dress! Aunt Jane made a new light blue sash for her flower girl dress. We found her a blue tiara and a little wand.



Unfortunately it was being held on the Friday night after we had done conferences all day Thursday and Friday. 

While getting Victoria ready I discovered her hair doesn't hold a curl any better than mine does.

After counting down the days every morning for a week and a half, finally Friday evening was here.

The princess is dressed and ready to go sporting her new pea coat.

These three princesses road together in the princess carriage

(AKA The new mini van)

Born just five weeks apart and growing to be BFFs.

Just arriving at the Ball and united with our fourth and final princess.

We waited in line to have their pictures taken with the princesses.

Victoria was having it.  I had to force her to sit there.  Usually she likes people in costumes but Cinderella freaked her out. See her clinging to the wall?  Right after this picture she tried to jump off the chair and fell on her little face. :(

She recovered quickly.

We had to pull the girls away from their crafts to take this picture.

As you can see, not a one of them was too happy about it.

Rosie, the youngest princess of them all.

We had to keep ourselves entertained while the girls

worked hard on their princess crafts.

Her masterpiece:

A Princess Wand

She her cheek painted with two little pink hearts.

Amy assisting her princess with glue dots.

Scratching pretties into their new crwons.

Final picture of the night.

After an hour and a half at the Ball, two cookies, two glasses of lemonade, two crafts, a 'fashion show', 75 pictures and a pink ballon we were ready to head out.

My pricess couldn't even keep her tiara right side up.

It was a fairy tale night for our daughters,

which left four mommies very tired today.

Extra Sleep and a Basketball Game

On Tuesdays I tutor and Mark picks the kids up.  Last Tuesday I walked in the door and could hear Victoria crying in her room.  "Nothing will make her happy," Mark said.  So I went in and found her stuffed rabbit and carried her to her rocking chair.  After just a few seconds she calmed down and said she wanted to rest.  That was at 5:00pm.  She never made it to dinner she was out like a light.

Since it was a quiet dinner for three after we got done I decided to take Christian up to the high school to watch Jonathan play basketball.  We went the week before too and he loved it.  We raced up there and made it for the last 45 minutes of the game.  Jonthan has several free throws.

Christian loved watching his "Big Jon Jon" play and enjoyed the popcorn Therese bought him.

At three in the morning Victoria was standing next to me and said, "Look Mommy! I'm back in my clothes!"

Truth be told, she had been sleeping in her clothes for the last ten hours.  I was afraid she was up for the day, so I had her put on jammies and crawl in bed with me.  She was out immediately and slept until 7am!  She was clearly exhausted.  When she woke in the morning she was in a really good mood but she had no idea that she missed half of a day. 

My New Mini Van

About a month ago and nearly 1,000 miles ago we finally chose the perfect mini van.  A pretty maroon Toyota Sienna that has made my life soooo much easier!  I can go straight from grocery shopping to WalMart with both my children and not worry about about everything fitting.  The kids can get in by themselves.  Victoria can even get out by herself.  When we stop she says, "Unbuckle?"  Then she unbuckles, grabs her gear, opens the door and hops out.  It's like a mini miracle everytime she does!  It has amazing storage for puzzles and other little gear that keeps our darlings content at restaurants.  I LOVE my mini van!!!!

Love

Love

Love it!

My Little Mystery Reader

There she is:

 My Little Mystery Reader.

**Special thank you to Grandma Jeanne for picking her up and dropping her off!!**

One of the fun parts of February in second grade is every day you hope someone who loves you will come in to be a Mystery Reader.  My lucky day was last Friday.  Victoria chose the exact same book as last year.  This way she can push the buttons and not have the pressure to actually read anything. 

 Don't worry, I didn't make her show off ;)

We read the story together, she passed out a treat and had snack break with the kids.  It always warms my heart to see which kids will cling to her and want to protect her.  One of my very active little friends took her under his wing and actually helped her win a game of What's Gnu.  We walked my class to gym.  They're doing a bowling unit.  The gym teacher offered to have her join them.  As I was declining, Victoria ran right over and sat with all 22 of them.  I had to pull her out and she was a little disappointed. 

I promised a bowling trip soon. 

Now, that we know she'll be attending my school next year I wanted her to take a look at the kindergarten room while they were in action.  We walked in and I winked at the teacher.  He knew what I was doing.  I grabbed a seat in a very miniature chair and V sat at the back of the kids.  The continued reviewing all they've learned about wood.  Which was A LOT!  I learned several things!

Then they were off to make  partical board.  Really?!  How cool is that?!?!  Of course V wanted to stay (truth be told - so did I!) But it was leave and eat or stay and have to head right back to daycare. 

Again, I pulled her out and this time she was even more disappointed.  The whole way we raced to Subway she was asking many questions. Such as:

 "How do you think they'll make all those pieces stick?"

 "What do you think they'll do with it when they're done?"

"How does that teacher know how to make that if you don't?"

On and on.

We had about a minute and a half to eat at this point.

I dropped her off at daycare and rushed back to school.

It was so worth it.

It really was my lucky day!

I got lucky the previous Friday too!

Our favorite librarian came back for a phenomenal book talk.

They actually cheered, "OLIVIA!!!" when she entered the room.

She brought at least 40 books with her and we went through each and every single one talking about what type of book it was and why.  This went on for about an hour!  The kids loved it!  They were getting their own library books out of their desks to show her that they knew what book category they fit into!

Due to the huge success of bringing in library books I returned hers and brought in a whole new bag today.

Never mind the 1,000 books on the shelf already.  Old news I guess.

Thanks Liv! You really do make an awesome Mystery Reader.

I know I say it every year but. . .

You missed your calling. . .

Don't worry there's still time. hehehe

I Love Quotes

If you want to say something, put it in writing, otherwise it's just a thought.
- Uncle Bob (no infringement applied if Ted reads this:)  Mark's hoping for the book.

How Lucky I Am

One of my favorite things right now is reading blogs.  I especially loves ones that moms write about their daily lives.  One of my all time favorites is written by a woman in FL who has a daughter with down syndrome.  She doesn't mention it every post.  But it's there.  Last weekend her baby took a header on their ceramic tile floor.  Another one I really like is written by a mom with FIVE kids and the 'baby' has a disability they're still trying to completely figure out.  There was a birth defect and more and more issues are coming to light.  I read a few other blogs written by moms too.  With kids we all have some issue going on. 

Last night I was frustrated from being up so much the night before.  Three loads of laundry begging me to fold them.  I was hoping Christian would sleep better.  I was mad at the dog for pooping on the floor (if only someone would shovel the poor thing a path out the back door darling:). 

I went to bed thinking, "Why me?" 

Then when I got to school in a good mood this morning and brought a friend a double dose of her favorite drink because her father just had surgery yesterday and she looked exhausted and sad.  I thought, I better just get over myself and be thankful I have what I have. 

Two healthy kids. 

Who am I to complain?