Two Day Adventure

The kids had no school on Thursday and Friday due to parent teacher conferences so we went off on two adventures.  Thursday we went with our neighbors to Ano Neuvo State Preserve to see the Elephant Seals.  We knew it would be a long drive, but I didn't quite know how much standing around there would be on the tour. It was windy and the kids were cold and bored pretty quickly listening to the old volunteer docent ramble on. We didn't see any seals until over an hour into the tour.  But they were pretty impressive when we did see them.  Miranda was the most impressed and interested as I knew she would be, but all the kids had a good time I think in the end.

Before the tour

Climbing trees at the staging area

Measuring up to Elephant seals

Our first sighting!

Several more

Lots more!

Lunch after the tour. Except for my Dr. Pepper my mom would have been proud of me.

Then today, Friday, we took one friend each and went back to Fairfield for the trampoline place.  We were the only ones there so the kids loved it.

Lily and Miranda

Water Break

Lindsay and Elizabeth

Lindsay is Elizabeth's "old" gymnastics pal. They were both pre-team and quit.

Lunch at Denny's. Six kids plus me for 30 bucks. 

Thank god for crayons

And straws. 

and more straws.

A full car.

Gary is from China. Moved here last year. His mom only speaks Chinese so arranging this outing was a monster accomplishment. Many emails with his sisters. But Parker really wanted him to come, so I made it happen.

Lily is pretty sweet. A little needy, but sweet. At one point she said to Gary, "You are from China?" as if his strong accent wasn't a total give away.  Then she said, "Me too!" I asked where she was born and she said, "I don't know."   Seems like adopted kids should know where they were born.

Happy kids on the way to Scandia.  Mini golf, arcade games, bumper boats. Kid heaven.

Boat rides at Scandia. Again, the only ones there.

Bye bye

Mama and puppies are going to their new home at a rescue group on Friday. I'm going to let Miranda hold the puppies before they go even though their eyes aren't open yet.  She's sad already.

Basketball season ends

Parker made some awesome shots and steals in the last game. He really likes basketball.

Strange boy

His hair has since been cut.

Survivor

We are letting the kids watch old episodes of survivor. They love it.

St Patricks Day

All the kids were excited to wear their green clothes they got last year (Thanks Grammy!) but didn't get to wear for some reason.  Even Parker got in the spirit even though I didn't get a pic of him.

Fostering Continues

Another tooth bites the dust.

This one was hanging by a thread for a long while. It took a basketball to the face to knock it out.  Miranda still hasn't lost any.

Art with Suzie

 The girls are taking an after school art class.  They made these garden decorators and they were actually pretty cute.

Carpool from basketball practice

Fostering, again.

I got a call from the Alameda City Shelter yesterday that they need a foster home for a mama dog and her three day old babies.  So....now we have a mama dog and three two day old babies.  Mom is a wired hair chihuahua.  She seems pretty nice so far. A little jumpy, but not at all barky and is potty trained.  Her babies look like rats with closed eyes.  The eyes will open in a week or so.  We'll keep them until the babies start to get loud and messy.  Miranda is thrilled and doesn't mind picking up the poop. Elizabeth is happy too. Parker could care less.

The Button Jacket

The girls are studying different authors in school. Mo Willems, Arnold Lobel, Lois Elhert, etc.  For the Lobel part, they read the Missing Button story.  Then they all get to take jacket home, sew a button on it and take pictures in it. They also have to do a little writing about the button they chose and where they wore it.  It's a BIG deal for the kids.  They just love it.  And coincidentally both girls got them today on the same day.  Today.  Miranda was satisfied with the pic of the two of them, but Elizabeth wanted some pics in the trampoline.

.

Zeke

Zeke is acting strange these days. He seems tired, skinny and oily. I'll take him in if it doesn't improve soon.

Scary rides

Took the kids to traveling carnival yesterday. Parker just loves the scary rides.

Up a reading level!

Reading a book

Eli moved up a reading level in school, as did Miranda.

Swim Meet

Parker did a swim meet today. It was his first real one where they had officials and each kid had to swim five events. He did a relay last year, but it was super informal.

He swam a 50 freestyle, 25 butterfly, 25 backstroke, 25 breast stroke and 100 IM (all of them together).

He did ok on free and butterfly, not so great on breast, and really good on backstroke. He even won his heat of other kids 8 and under.  He got disqualified on the IM for not touching with both hands on his transition from butterfly to back. He knew it. Lots of kids were DQ'd today. The coaches said the officials were super picky and strict.

Parker seemed a little bored a first, but after he the got the ribbon for winning his heat, he was pretty into it.

I hated the whole thing. It was 6 hours of sitting around for about 5 total minutes of swimming. It was crowded with obnoxious kids and pushy parents.  It was cold and then hot.  I've wanted Parker to keep swimming since he does seem pretty good at it, but I just can't do too many of these meets. They are life -sucking.

Waiting at the beginning after warming up. He warmed up for 15 minutes and then sat there for an hour.

Race results

All the god dam parents.

Starting his 50 free.

More results

Starting his 25 fly

Flying!

Waiting to start 25 back

Pushed off!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

All the kids write their event, heat and lane assignments on their arms. Parker added his times and places too.

Ready for 25 breast.

Pig Latin

Parker has started speaking pig latin.  He does it very fast. I can usually understand what he is saying, but can't respond. Sort of like french.

A few minutes ago, he just said esusjay as a response to Miranda doing something annoying.

Icenay.

Pod children?

There have been some strange happenings over here Chez Long.  It all started when Parker decided that the best way for me to say "yes" to letting him play wii in the morning was if he got everything else done.  Everything else means eat breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, practice piano, finish any homework, get backpack ready and locate a jacket.  Then I give them their lunches and they are good to go.  So this one morning, Parker comes into my room at 7am saying he is ready and done everything.  I told him great, I'll go make his lunch. He says, I made it. Huh?  Really? Can I see. So he brings it to me and sure enough it has a sandwich, fruit, crackers and granola bar.  All in tupperware containers.  I was impressive.  So then he asks, "Can I play wii?"  How could I say no?

So I go downstairs and I see that Elizabeth and Miranda have also made their lunches. I inspect them and they are both good. One protein, one fruit, one crunchy thing and an other (another fruit or snack or granola bar).

And all week, they kept doing it.  On day 3, Elizabeth even emptied the dishwasher for me without me even asking. There she was standing on a chair trying to reach the place where the adult plates go.

And then on Friday, Elizabeth and Miranda made their beds as seen below.  Now, I can take credit for having them know how to make their lunches as I have involved them from time to time in this task and they have been picking their lunch items for about 2 months now.  And I've taught Elizabeth how to unload the dishwasher  so I get that.  But I've never, ever taught them how to make their beds. I never make mine. I think it's silly. It just gets messed up again.

Anyway, it was a interesting week.  If it continues, I'll need to get a paying job.