Blog Break

Life is too busy right now... so much going on and I don't want to miss any of it... so I am off blogging for awhile.
I hope you are all well and enjoying the winter weather and the preparation for the upcoming holiday celebrations!  See you soon!

Another rushed update...

I don't like being sick.. but we are a family with three children who all attend different classes... at 2 different schools.  This only means that they share LOTS of germs!  So we've been hit with our fair share of the flu this winter season... and I'm sure there will be more to come.  I am hopeful that they will and go quickly though!  So, besides being sick, what have we been doing?

The children have been keeping busy with reading, visiting the library, meeting friends for play dates, riding their bikes (when it's not raining), swimming (lessons are working out SO much better now!), playing with each other, learning about dragons, castles, knights, getting ready for Christmas, and recovering from the flu!

I hope to be back to blogging on a regular basis... but I am still trying to recover... You know, moms are never supposed to get sick...

Happy belated Thanksgiving!  I can't wait to share photos!

A few random photos

Sometimes events happen and then we lose track of time...
It seems only yesterday that this workshop started...

 and now look how far it has come!  Jim and Clare have been working so hard!

And the children keep themselves busy while Jim and Clare are working...

With a little help from MD -- I mowed the lawn!

She has become quite the expert tree climber recently...

And swim lessons continue... the next session just started and everyone has been promoted - including this fella who has since stopped crying!

M&M are in there.. somewhere!  Sorry it's not a very good photo but it's hard to keep an eye on all 3!

We are busy... really busy these days!  Family portraits are turning out to be a blast!  The children spend the day outdoors while Daddy takes pictures of their friends and their families.  I am getting better at using MG's scooter now.  (haha!)  We've all learned the rules to Simon Says, Mother May I, Red Light Green Light, and a few other outdoor games.  Honestly, it's hard to play these games with only 4 participants, but we do our best!  Before they would play these games for the sake of playing and rules were disregarded - merely a basis for a sibling gathering/argument (however they saw fit!).  But now we are playing by the "rules" and learning not to cry when we are told to go back to the start!  Slowly...

More events are taking place -- Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Today... Last year!

(November 20, 2009)
Having a blast at Chuck E Cheese's!

A new favorite song

I LOVE this song!

While driving to pick up the boys the other day I heard this song on the radio.  I started humming it the rest of the day.  I finally memorized one line from the song and Google d it.  I love when I can Google anything!  So then I started singing it...

While editing a wedding video the other night, I decided that I would use this song in my next wedding day highlights.  If it turns out "okay," I might share my work!  :)

Tell me, doesn't this song make you feel so good?!!!  

"We may only have tonight...."

Gotta get back to work!

Tooth #8 - OUT!

For more than 2 weeks she wriggled and wriggled... see her tongue pushing it out?!

November 3, 2010

Then on Saturday night November 14, 2010, while I was reading to them she complained that she could taste blood.  So I encouraged her to wiggle more.  She's on this mission to lose her tooth a different way EACH time!  I rationed that she can't do this EVERY time... I reminded her that she has not wriggled one out by herself yet!  So, she tried harder and harder... and guess what happened?  It came out!  ALL BY HERSELF, she got it out!  It did not come out 1) while eating an apple, 2) Dr. Corcoran did not pull it out, 3) I did not pull it out with floss at Becky's house, 4) it did not fly out and then into the sink drain while I tried to pull a different one out with a piece of floss, 5) she did not hit a chair, 6) she did not swallow it while easting fish and chips in Hawaii, 7) eating corn at Clare's and there is one more way.. but I can't think of how that one came out...

So, Ta-da!  The next day, #8 is out!

You can't tell, huh?!  Well, it's out and she says she feels funny without it.  :)  Guess what E and MD are trying?  Well, MD more than E... they are wiggling their teeth too!  HAHA!!!!

Dragon Slayers' Academy

I remember mentioning that we are now reading a new chapter series.  This chapter book series is called Dragon Slayers' Academy by Kate McMullan.  Most chapter series books now a days do not require you to read in sequential order but we found book 1 and began with that.  When we finished, MD happened to pick up book #14 during our library visit (we go twice a week after he gets out of school to pass the time before we pick up MG).  They had a blast reading book #14 because it went in detail on how to speak Pig-Latin.!

You see, Wiglaf, the main character of the story in book #1 goes off to Dragon Slayers' Academy to become a somebody -- a hero.  His parents agree, hoping he will being gold to the family (because apparently, dragons have gold hidden in their caves and if you slaye one, you can keep the gold!). Wiglaf is a kind young boy, with 11 brothers who torment him, so he finds comfort in speaking to the family pig.  While heading to the school, Wiglaf and his pig, Daisy, run into a "not so wise" wizard, who puts a spell on Daisy and now she speaks Pig-Latin!

This is a great series!  We have decided to go back and read the books in order -- it's easier to keep track that way.  We've read 1-5 and looking for #6 still!  Just this weekend, we finished 7 and 8.  They are now interested in learning more about knights, castles, and dragons!  So Saturday morning, while daddy had to go into work (don't get me started!), we began building our castle... out of recycled materials!

More to come.....

Today... Last year!

Last year we visited Natural Bridges... and played at the beach!

Great memories...

Trick or Treat Smell Our Feet

well... we only said that to Pat (who lives across the street) because we knew she would get a kick out of it!:  (see her surprised face?!)

It was a very simple evening.  Since we were not hosting Halloween at our "former" home on Cabral,  I was tired, and E was not feeling his best, etc....  We decided to keep things simple and stayed at Jim and Clare's.  Although E was not feeling too well during the day he insisted on going too.  So Daddy, Corinna, and Jim accompanied the children:

Isn't this a cute photo?  MG wanted a warmer costume so she went as an alligator.  E also wanted a warmer outfit (and I thought it best for him to be warm) so he went as a turtle.  MD did not want to be anything other than Mario!  Surprisingly, the evening was quite nice!  MG would have been fine going as a fairy.  I worked so hard on that outfit and she only wore it once!  :(

Our next door neighbor John:

 A few houses down this family (who just moved into the neighborhood during the summer) were comfortably seated and waiting for everyone!  :)  Their wee one was sitting on the ground enjoying a small toy.

It was only a few houses -- like I said,we kept it simple!  But they were happy and I do not have to hide their candy stash this year.  Honestly, they have already forgotten about their stash!  They have been partaking in the treats little by little each night after dinner... until now they have not asked.  

He was bouncing off the walls from joy!  He definitely enjoyed himself this evening!

Hope your evening was as enjoyable as ours!

A sweet talker

Last night I went out with my girl friends -- sans children! (Amazing!)  Before I left I put E to bed.  Then went out and gave  M&M kisses.  When I spoke to MD and explained where I was going (although we were planning to go to Boswell - a bar to listen to a live band, I told him we were going to have coffee), he was fine with it, but asked, "Can I play with my DSi tomorrow?"  I replied, "Yes, but you have to listen to Daddy tonight and go to bed when he says so."  They both agreed.   (I did not get home until 2:30AM!!! (we left at 8:30PM)  Thank goodness for the time change - last night.. this morning.. not such a good thing!)

FAST FORWARD...

At 6:45 this morning I heard MG screaming from her room.  E and I quickly jumped out of bed (because in the middle of the night he always finds his way there no matter how dark it is!) and ran to her room (their room really since they share a room).  And there she was... blanket pulled up to her chin looking at the ceiling..."A spider!!!!!"  So I told her to come down and play... while I jumped on the bottom bunk, covered myself with their blankets, and closed my eyes to sleep some more!

Up comes MD who then stands next to me, puts his hands on my cheeks and says, "Hi Mom, we missed you last night.  Did you have fun drinking coffee with Ms. Melinda?"  I replied yes.  Then he continues, "Oh that's nice Mommy."  And then he kisses me on my cheek and continues, "So we listened to Daddy last night.  Can we play with our DSi?"  Hello... where did he learn to sweet talk me like that?  Getting the set up so nicely?  Remembering our terms the night before?  How could I say no, right?!  And I was still so gosh darn sleepy!  (How the heck do those young people stay out all night, dance, drink, and still make it to work the next day?!)  So, of course, I enthusiastically said yes so he could go play and leave me to sleep some more!  And he enthusiastically jumped up and down and ran to get his player.  It was a win-win situation this morning!  And now we are all up and enjoying a good show as the rain falls...

Things are still pretty crazy here... I am editing away... and Vince is getting a lot of family portraits going.  We are both swamped!  Some pictures of trick or treating to come... sorry!

Happy Halloween!

Last week was a very busy week!
We began the week with Jim's roof raising ceremony where the children were instructed to decorate the tree that would be placed at the top of the workshop for the ceremony:

Jim explained the ceremony and then champagne is shared by all!

Then began the school week with a group pumpkin patch trip -- MG's former Allen School playmates.  We still get together every now and then.  we're trying to make this a tradition - each Halloween make a shirt and meet at the pumpkin patch for a group photo:

And it ended with 3 different parades!  I can't wait until they are all at the same school and in the same parade!
On Thursday the boys had theirs.  E's class went first... I practically missed it because the teachers started earlier than they had told us... shame on them!  So I ran and found them...

 When he saw me, he said, "Mommy, you came.  You found me!"  So cute!!!!

When E was done, I waited for MD's class...?!

I asked for a pose before taking him to class... this is his pose.  I guess Mario likes to jump a lot!

The next day, Friday, MG had her school wide parade.  Can you see her?

 This is her 5th grade buddy and parade partner.

 M&M together.  She's Silvermist from the Tinkerbell movie.  Her headband kept moving... looks like a fountain coming out of her head here!  Yikes!

Her class:

Her friend, Hannah.  MG's been to her house once for a play date.  Nice girl - very shy and quiet.  Yes, i am talking about Hannah!  Can you imagine MG being shy and quiet?!  Ha!  ;)

Her other friends, Tia, Lyra, and Bella:

 The boys joined the fun too -- another excuse to put on their costumes again!

Wait until we go trick or treating tomorrow... oh my, the stories!  :)

Life has kept us busy and me away...

I am back and there's a lot of catching up to do...
They were finally able to get back on these things... after a YEAR!  No kidding!  After packing them up, putting them in the shed/storage, trying to figure out the best way to use these in our new setting...  I sucked it up, cleaned up an area of the garage and made room for these so they are more accessible to them.  They are enjoying them very much!

It has taken him awhile.. but he is finally a bit happier about going to school and making various projects!  (I hate that bowl cut look!  Often times I can fix it so his hair moves to the side... but today.. bowl cut -- ARGH!!!!!)

Jim's workshop now has frames... (October 8, 2010):

MD LOVES working in Jim's garage!

Of course, E is always near by trying to do all these big boy things!  (And of course, Uncle Jim is never too far to lend a helping hand.)  Today Jim watched the boys while I walked Morgan to school.  When I returned, they were all busy doing this...  (Melts my heart that they do these things together... Something I can totally imagine them doing with my dad if he were still here with us.)

(October 9, 2010) For the 6th year, we attended the Pumpkins in the Park event at Discovery Meadows Park in Downtown San Jose!

 But this year... Daddy was able to join us!!!!

While there, we ran into the Yeh family... and we invited ourselves over to their house for dinner!  (I do that often so I don't have to cook -- hee hee)

 While the children played...

 Ed and Uyen made this delicious meal -- awesome!  It's one of my favorite Vietnamese noodles dishes.

(October 11) After many tries.. we finally figured out what he needed to enjoy his swim lessons... his siblings!  E's instructor allowed M&M to join him and he had a BLAST with them!

Check out that almost smile!  :)

October 15, 2010 Check out the progress on the workshop!  It's coming along, isn't it?!

October 17, 2010 -- They made some more Halloween decorations for their room.

 And guess who stopped by with dinner?  Grandma!!!  E made her a bat to take home.  :)

October 20, 2010 -- They had "dress like your friends" day at school.  These are her new friends Lyra and Katrina.

 Look... the roof is getting started!!!!!

October 22, 2010 -- Due to potential rain Jim was motivated to act fast... first stages of the roof coming along just fine...  and FYI -- the roof raising ceremony is scheduled to take place October 24, 2010 at 11 AM!

October 23, 2010 -- Just hanging out today...  More practice on their bikes and scooters.  Rain came pouring down this early evening so we are all hanging out at home and staying dry.

MG's costume is finally done.  (Mom would have done a better job, but I didn't do that bad a job.  She is so thrilled that it looks like her drawing!  Hmm... is that a compliment for me?  But then, she is 7 and her drawing is pretty basic...  Oh well, it's done!  MD's hat is finished.  His overalls need to be dyed (I think?) and he needs yellow buttons sewn on them.  E's costume was store bought from a few years back, so he's done. (Phew! Not sure I could've handled 3 home made costumes!)  Now I have to figure out what I am going to dress up as...  Yee-haw is what i was aiming toward.