Oh boy.

I'm used to finding papers like this all over the house but Parker didn't do this one...

Cat Nip

Yesterday, I got a little water foundation thing for Zeke at the pet store.  His drinking from the bath tub was getting ridiculous.  I also picked up some cat nip.

This morning, I called Miranda over and we made a little cat nip sock toy for Zeke which he immediately went crazy over.

Then I heard Miranda say the following to Elizabeth:

Elizabeth did you know that I learned how to make cat nip?

Mommy got some of the nip and then we found an old sock. We poured the nip into the sock and tied it up. And we got cat nip!  Then we gave the cat nip to Zeke!  Isn't that cool?

what I overheard this morning

Elizabeth: Miranda can I talk to you for a moment?

Miranda: Sure

Elizabeth; Come in here and sit on your bed so we can talk.

Miranda: ok

Elizabeth:  I see that you have been wearing your jelly belly handband a lot lately and I'd really like a chance to wear it. Can I wear it soon?

Miranda: Well...I really like wearing handbands but maybe I can find another headband so you can have a turn with this one.

Elizabeth: Ok. Thanks.



And then she did and both were happy.

Can you fucking believe that?

Miranda's recent writing assignment

Feeling:                When it happens:


Hurt                     When you fall

Mad                     Siblings tack your toys

Sad                      When your pet dies

Happy                 When your mom givs you a Spris

Parker's Recital

Recital Practice

Adventure Day Continues

We topped off our day of rock climbing and trampolining with a stay at a hotel in fairfield.  I picked this hotel because it was free (used miles), had a free dinner and a free full hot breakfast.  And it had an indoor pool and hot tub.   We had the pool all to ourselves.  The dinner was soup and salad which would have been fine for me and the girls, but Parker needed some more so we drove 5 min away so he could have something at Denny's.

After lots of sleeping location negotiations they all slept well and then swam again in the morning after a good breakfast.  Then we did a quick tour at the Jelly Belly Factory (leaving only with the freebees) and drove home.

Jump highway

Rock city rocked

Went out to mt diablo today to climb some rocks. Good old fashion fun.

Weekday Co-op

Two moms in our babysitting co-op needed someone to watch their boys yesterday since school is out this week.  I offered, but then immediately got nervous about how I was going to entertain 4 boys all day without letting them play video games for hours and hours.  My neighbor suggested we take them all to this rock climbing area in Danville called Rock City. It looked perfect.  But then, it was forecast to rain the entire day so we had to go with plan B. I took them all to Lawrence Hall of Science. I wasn't sure if 12 year olds would still like it, but they all had a great time, ate the home made lunch I brought for them, and got along very well.  Except for the part when Parker got sad he couldn't do the rock climbing wall, it was a good day and I earned enough coupons to have four date nights!

Wishes

Lately, Parker has been behaving is some annoying ways.  He has a bit of sass to him responding to questions or answers with 'Ah Man! Really???'  or even "No!" rather than his normal, "Ok."  He also wants to have playdates all the time. And sleep overs.  And he has to be playing some game pretty much at all times. If not a sport or tag, then a board game, video game, or other activity. It's constant until he crashes at night.  He is suppose to take a timer with him when he plays the video games so that he knows when 20 minutes (his allotment) is up.  He's forgotten tons of times and we have to go to the playroom and say, "ok, turn it off." So we warned him if he did it again, we would take away the Wii. So it happened, he played for about an hour one day claiming he didn't know because he didn't have his timer, so he lost the Wii for a week. His first real "grounding".  And then today, I drove on a fieldtrip. He was with four kids from his class, 2 girls and 2 boys.  They were so loud and annoying and obnoxious in the car. At one point, they were all signing "Parker and Audrey sitting in the tree. KISSING." So loud.  I got a massive headache and I was ready to yell.

But then I remembered what Michael recently reminded me of.  Just a few years back (when he was 4 and all he did all day was stand at the easel drawing numbers and figuring out exponents), I wished and wished he just had some friends, was just a regular kid who did regular little boy things like play tag and basketball.  So now, Michael says, I got my wish.  Just a regular, loud, obnoxious boy. Thank god.

Lots of love going around

Celebrated Valentines day today. Kids got a card each from me and Michael (mine store bought and his had made) and a small token gift.  The girls wore their shirts from Grammy to school day and they all came home with bags of cards. I'm still convinced my kids are one of the few who actually make the cards all by themselves.  Some of them were just too good looking.  I got Michael a few of his favorite things (coffee, beer and music) which made him quite happy.

Bulk

I've been shopping at Costco more these days trying to save a few bucks. If I can avoid the candy aisle and clothes area, I do ok.  I've getting meat and bread there, freezing the extra and then just getting it out when we need it. It seems to be working pretty well.  I have't broken down and purchased this item below, but I'm sure the day will come. Soon. Very soon...

ZIp Line Pix

Parker's class went on a field trip last week to Adventure Playground and a dad took tons of great pictures of the kids.  Here is a series of Parker going down the zip line. He looks so damn happy. And I can just imagine all the kids laughing all around him.

Open House

The kids had open house last night.  Because I am in the classrooms so much, there wasn't really anything I hadn't seen at some point.  Art, science projects, writing, stories, poems, and much more were all on display. The kids were excited to show us everything and since Michael hadn't seen any of it, it was pretty sweet.  The teachers at Wildwood are so damn good and seem to care so much about the kids, their classrooms, and the whole curriculum.  We really are lucky that we get to live here.

Elijah Turns 5!

The girls and I went to Elijah's birthday party on Sunday.  We met up with Val and her family at her house in Davis first, had some lunch and then took off for the Sacramento Kids Museum.  It's a tiny place, and a little young for my two, but they had lots of fun anyway. They had a really neat hands on thing where you put a scarf in a tube and air blows it all around and then out again. Parker would have loved it.  We had cupcakes and juice and then took off back home. It was a good day and I wish I could see Val more often.