What a lucky week!

Our ever talented children have impressed their mother this week. Kelsey and Kaiden BOTH won the excellence award for their reflections entries and are moving on to state level. Kesley for her painting and Kaiden for his musical composition.

Want more? Kelsey designed a bookmark for her school library contest and won that! More? She was chosen to be drum major in the Christmas Parade and will be leading the middle school school band! That 7th grade kid won out 8th graders on all three winnings this week. Way to go, Kelsey!

What talented children we have!

Their mother is busy at work preparing for company this week. We have a bunch of people we love coming to celebrate the holiday with us and I'm very excited! Yams and fudge made, cinnamon rolls made and ready to bake, rolls made into brown and serve and frozen. I'm so domestic this week! What could make things even better? Nothing but the stores choosing to start the black Friday sales today. That will make for a fabulous Saturday afternoon!

We bought this. More specifically, we saw this and had to have it. Then we bought it. Let the fun begin! (It looks like a regular motorhome inside and has enough sleeping room for us all).

Adoption

We signed adoption papers today. Not so sure what that means... all they can tell us is they aren't foster kids anymore. That takes county visits and inspections out of the picture- more time for fun!

Yay!!!

Watching the temperature reading on our thermostat drop!!! 92...91...90...89...88... H Vac man told me that the vacant houses are usually out of freon because local teenagers break in and suck it out to get high! No wonder our a/c never really worked- turned out freon was completely empty (We bought a foreclosure that was vacant for a year). Go figure.

It's toasty

It's not usually too hot here, and the weather is rather dry. Running an evaporative cooler generally keeps our house at a nice 75- 85 (perfect for me since I tend to get cold). However, today it's 108, and the forecast is for thunderstorms- which means it's humid and my swamp cooler adding water to my air isn't exactly cooling things off. Turns out our ac is out of refrigerant. Lucky for me the H Vac man is willing to come pump it up for us today. Looking forward to dropping the temp in here (house is hitting above 90 and needless to say, we're all too hot). If the kids weren't sick from the sudden temp hike, we'd be in the pool. Instead, everyone is just plain hot- and sick too, poor kiddos. Can't wait for those thunderstorms to start!

Funny Baby

We are potty training Alex, who is doing quite well. Today I gave him his first pair of underwear. He got so excited and kept singing about his, "big girl pammies" (panties). Obviously he has an older sister.

A little word of advice

After church on Sunday-
"Daddy, next time if you say we are going to Disneyland instead of church then we will be so happy!"
-Isla (3 yrs. old)

reflective weather

Today is the last day of cold wear has been weather- or so it's being reported. This year has been unusually cold and windy with bouts of warmer more normal weather in between- just enough to get me to put my winter clothing away, and mother nature just laughs. Today I get to wear those jeans I love and bundle up the cuties for one last windy morning at the park this year.

And now it begins- gardening, yard work, pool cleaning, popsicles, bbqs, swimming, beach days... I'm so ready. Summer, we've been waiting for you! Welcome back. This year, however, there will be no college students in our home, and we can't wait for some free time.

It's a beautiful day

The morning started out a little sad knowing the bigger kids were headed back to school after a lovely spring break. However, when I stepped on the scale, it brightened. Suddenly, today was a very good day. In fact, I inspired myself to clean out my very neglected fridge. Unfotunately, that's not turning out to be quite so fun.

A few great moments

These were some fun times.

Snow day

I admit these pics are a couple months old, but better late than never, right? They are too cute not to share. Enjoy my dad with the kids at the snow- Dad got to escape the fun and go to work, so we missed Tony that day.

A few welcome changes

Things in our house are seriously settling down. We had some struggles and fits that are really calming down and have had a pretty normal life this week for the most part. Both little kids have decided it's ok to play in their room and outside for small amounts of time and are talking to us and playing with us instead of crying most of the time. I swear it's a miracle, and am enjoying every minute of it.

Disneyland

Playing at the "park" for a few days seemed like a good family bonding experience to us. This park is just a little more magical than the one closer to our home. There are so many great photos to share!

Isla loved the Jungle Cruise the best, and of course- Minnie Mouse's house. Alex learned to say "Weeeee." Kelsey and Kaiden would have been happy if we left them to go on Space Mountain and the Tower of Terror over and over and over.

Few favorite phrases

Isla is a funny kid. My favorite thing she sais is, "Mommy, I don't want to eat this. It's too tasty." Of course that means it's gross. Today she asked me if I needed any help going potty. Also, in case you didn't know, every single Asian woman we pass is Auntie Maya- her favorite. She caught me eating chocolate as I got in the car Monday. "Mommy, do you have food?" "Nope." (As best as I could with chocolate in my mouth." "Mommy, are you eating something in your mouth?" "No." "Mommy, can you look at my face and talk to me right now with your mouth?" "No." "You can't?" "Nope, not right now." That was a close one!

Alex says no all the time. Do you want to eat? Alex- "No." Then goes to his chair. Would you like this toy? "No." Then he takes it. Sometimes he puts his head in time out and cries for a minute. I'm not really sure why he wants to play that game.

Kaiden is having fun playing basketball and going to scouts. He loves reading all the books I suggest to him. Of course, when I suggest them, he thinks they sound awful. It's not until the school librarian gives them to him that he falls in love with those pages!

Kelsey just went to her second parent free school activity- 6th grade bowling. She's all junior high. This morning she sported capri skinny jeans, vans boots- yes boots, and her cure little bright colored shirt and sweat shirt. She is loving the little kids and just carries them around with her everywhere. The highlight of her month? I took her to see New Moon. We sat there, just the two of us, with our diet cokes and European dark chocolate. It was a blessed three hour break.

Good Bye last year!

So this is a little late, being four weeks after New Year's, but what can I say? I give myself one extra week for each kid. Today I was thinking about blessings and gratitude and all that good stuff.

Here's my list of top things I'm proud of myself for doing last year, and grateful for the opportunity to make them happen.

1. Gave my kids the experience of culture outside of our country
2. Walked with the kids over 100 miles
3. Trained with a trainer and can successfully lift a gallon of milk after my surgery
4. Designed my daughter's room
5. Watched my kids check out the original London Bridge
6. Helped children learn to read and do math
7. Attended Tony's thesis defense
8. Watched my daughter start junior high
9.Held my two new and long awaited children
10. Fell in love with my husband over and over again, every day.