Spring Music Program

Tonight was the school spring music program. The kids did a great job, and seemed to have a lot of fun. Especially Keely, who just loves being on a stage :) The theme of the program this year was Broadway hits, and Keely's class did Singin' in the Rain and two baseball themed songs. This clip is from "Seventh Inning Stretch", and it really captures how much fun Keely is having up there. I even think she looks directly at our camera at one point, even though she didn't know where we were sitting.

Quinn's class sang Supercalifragilistic etc. from Mary Poppins and this song called "I Want to Be Happy". The cutest part is when they all pull out kazoos and play a verse with them. And you can tell it doesn't take much to get parents to say "awww..." about their kids :)

It was a nice program, but they changed the format from last year and each grade left when they were finished singing, so no one got to see each other. Then they made them go back to the classrooms, where they put on movies and let them eat sugary snacks, and drink root beer...so that we could take them home and try to put them to sleep! Okay, that's my gripe but I hope you enjoyed the videos!

The Last Hurdle

While I was on the subject of Keely last week, I meant to discuss a milestone that she finally seems to have achieved. But first, I must make a confession -- one that mothers don't always like to admit, and will often stretch the truth about -- in order to look like better parents. I am guilty of letting Keely sleep in our bed, and not just for a short period of time, but for years. She must have started shortly after she was moved into her twin bed, when she was just about 2 years old. I am not certain that she slept in our bed consistently since that time, but I do know that it had become a quite regular habit. You see, I like my sleep. No, I mean I really like my sleep (just ask my dad how I used to yell at him for trying to wake me up at 11 AM on a Saturday!). Keely always started out in her bed, falling asleep on her own. But at some point in the night, she would come into our room and I would pick her up and put her in the middle of us. Most times, I would have no memory of this and then would wake up hours later extremely uncomfortable because I am now squeezed on the edge of the bed because of the girl next to me. I was rather inconsistent about bringing her back to her room, and when I would try she would throw an absolute fit. I would usually cave and then we would end up back in my bed. I even tried a stint of laying in her room with her, but it was (a) uncomfortable and (b) I could not leave her room without her waking up so then (c) we would end up back in my bed again. It was a vicious cycle, and I really felt like it would never end. She would always wake up (for the day) in my bed, and there were very few nights that I could remember that she ever stayed in her bed all night. We saw the doctor for her kindergarten shots and she told us of a method to try. Keely understood what we were talking about, and kept telling me she could do it because she is a big girl now. But in the end, she had to do it on her own time and her own way. I can now proudly say that the past two weeks or so, she has slept in her bed all night and most of those nights, we have not seen her in our room until she either woke up in the morning (and by that, I mean 7 AM) or I had to wake her up for school. Even the nights that she has come into our room (now measurable because they are rare occasions), she has gone easily back into her bed and it's just one time a night. I can assure you also that I had virtually nothing to do with this new behavior, except that I became more vigilant about bringing her back to her bed. I wonder how long it will take me to get used to waking up to my alarm clock and wondering why I haven't seen Keely since I put her to bed :) And now that I have sufficiently jinxed our new routine, I will stop talking about it.

Gooooooal!

Quinn's team had their second soccer game this morning. And I do mean morning, bright and early at 9 AM on a cold, rainy day. Thank goodness it wasn't raining, but the field was slick and we were all freezing after being out there for an hour. The boys played well, absent the first quarter when they just didn't seem to be awake yet. And the most exciting -- Quinn scored the first goal of the season in the 4th quarter today! Of course, I missed how it actually developed because I was subbing kids in and out (coach duties!). But I did look up in time to see him in front of the goal, and then kick it in. It was so exciting, not just for Quinn and us as his parents but all the other kids and parents. They had been very close to scoring throughout the game, and really Quinn was just in the right place at the right time. As my dad liked to say when he was my coach, "You're knocking on the door, now open it!" (along with "I'll rip the shirts right off your backs!" but that's a story for another day, or not any day at all lol). In laymen's terms, it means you have had lots of chances to score, but just haven't gotten one in yet. Anyways, it was amazing how my adrenaline was flowing from Quinn scoring, and seeing the team play well. I think I may have been a bit too harsh about 7 year old soccer, because today things really worked well and you can see them learning. I'm officially a soccer mom, now I just have to refrain from yelling at the referees :)

Also, Quinn finally pulled out his loose tooth last night. The Tooth Fairy didn't have change for a $5 bill so that's what he got...definitely his most for a tooth yet, and hopefully not a precedent because that's not what he will be getting every time. So it was a good day for Quinn!

5.5

Today is Keely's 1/2 birthday...she is now halfway to 6! As James pointed out, her last 6 months were a whole 10% of her life, so that's a pretty big deal :) To celebrate, we made cupcakes when we got home. Funfetti cake mix, with strawberry frosting (because it is pink of course!) in case you were wondering. For Quinn's cupcake though, he demanded white frosting because he doesn't like strawberry (he's his Mama's son, that's for sure!). We even lit some candles, and they made wishes....Keely for a pool in the backyard this summer, and Quinn for his extremely loose tooth to fall out. Quinn's will inevitably come true because that tooth is hanging by a thread but Keely's, well we will see. Here they are, posing with cupcakes and candles.
Quinn is now sporting his summer buzz cut, the easiest haircut for boys and the only way he doesn't have bed head every morning.
Happy 1/2 Birthday, Sweet Keely :0)

TV Turnoff Week

Today was the first day of what the kids' school calls TV Turnoff Week. We have pledged to stay the entire week, until next Monday without the TV being turned on in our house. Let me say that we do not watch a lot of TV, especially during the week. The kids wake up and watch for 30-45 minutes while eating breakfast and getting dressed for school. That's it for the week, then Friday night we have movie night. On Saturday and Sunday, we usually watch some TV in the late afternoon and evenings. Oh, and I forgot that we have starting watching some TV on Thursday nights because the kids (and us too) like The Office and the new show, Parks & Recreation. James and I will usually watch TV from 9-10:30 PM, at which point I fall asleep sometime during the news and we go to bed. So let's calculate -- total of 20 hours max for the week. This morning was the first and I have to say it was quite pleasant. By the time I got downstairs, Quinn was all dressed and had already eaten breakfast (made entirely by himself...a bowl of cereal, but still all by himself). He helped James with feeding Callie, and then me making his lunch too. Keely ate breakfast at the counter and I helped her get dressed. All in all, it was a much calmer morning. I didn't have to fight for their attention from the boob tube. I didn't have to raise my voice once, and I even had time to eat breakfast. I think this might just be a change we make for good, not just this week!

At Long Last

Quinn had his first soccer game on Saturday, 3 weeks late. The good news is that they will be making up the two rained (I mean, snowed) out games at the end of the season. The bad news is that it is supposed to rain again this Saturday :( Ah, Spring is such a fun season!

The team played well in their first game. Quinn played goalie, offense and midfield. He proclaims offense to be his favorite, as most kids do because that is where the glory of scoring goals usually originates. He did well and had fun, the most important part. Technically, they lost 1-0 but it was really a close game. As a parent and coach, it was particularly frustrating for me to watch kids that age try to play some semblance of the sport. I should clarify that as a parent who has played soccer, and one who played until I was nearly 22 and a senior in college, that it was particularly frustrating to watch. I played when I was 7 or so, but it is so hard to remember what that level of soccer looks like. I have now figured out why parents get so excited to watch their kids play in middle and high school...because they have likely suffered through years of watching them when it really doesn't look like soccer at all. Oh well, I am glad that they did well and had fun, and I will have to put my frustrations aside for the time being :)

Book Reviews: Gathering Blue and Messenger

Catching up on my two most recent reads, I finished out the trilogy by Lois Lowry that I first reviewed with The Giver. The second book in the series is called Gathering Blue. It is a totally separate book from the first, dealing with another strange village but this time a little girl who has a magic gift. It was not as dark as the first book, but did leave some unanswered questions for the third book. It also started out a little slowly, and I really didn't get into it until halfway through and then I could not put it down.
The last in the series, Messenger, ties the first two together (so I would really recommend reading them in order). The characters from the first and second book are both in this one, although the story really centers on a supporting character in the second book. I read this one pretty fast, as it was interesting and I wanted to see how it all wrapped up. I would say after reading the three that the first is definitely the best but the two were also interesting. For those of us that read Lois Lowry as kids, this is a whole new side to her that I think is worth delving into. They are quick reads, and they would be good to read with your kids aged 10-12 or so (or at least I think they would even though I have no kids that age).

Weekend Update: Easter Edition

Last night, we went out to dinner to celebrate my first paycheck deposit on Friday. The kids got quite a dose of reality these last two months while I had virtually no money coming in (except unemployment, which doesn't count for much). As a reward, we promised them this dinner out complete with triple layer chocolate cake for dessert :) We went to one of our favorite local restaurants, The Bohemian. I sufficiently stuffed myself with brats & pierogies, and bread pudding for dessert...yum!

Today we had a quiet Easter with just the 4 of us. We woke up to the kids searching for their Easter baskets (and Keely asking Quinn repeatedly once they found them, "Quinn, isn't the Easter Bunny SO nice?!?!"). They not only had their Easter baskets to find, but a bag of goodies from Nana & Papa. We went to church and then came home to take the usual Easter photos on the porch and then have our annual egg hunt in the backyard. Here are the shots I took, while the Easter Bunny was putting the finishing touches on the hunt :)



On Quinn's shoulder in the last one is his new Webkinz. He has gotten quite addicted to this online craze and this is his latest edition, a gecko that he has named Zacky. It was his favorite Easter basket item for sure! For dinner we had ham, mashed potatoes, carrots and rolls. I also made zucchini bread and deviled eggs. Dessert was bunny cake, which is a chocolate cake made in a bunny mold. Or should I say half a bunny cake, as Callie ate the other half while we were at dinner last night :( She is incorrigible when we are out, prowling the counters for any food left unanchored or not covered tightly. We will likely have to start locking her out of the kitchen while we are gone. So that was our Easter, quiet and it was nice to have a gorgeous sunny day amidst the April showers!

Looking Ahead

Earlier this week, I booked our airfare for the big trip to North Carolina in June/July. I had lackadaisically (I had to look up the spelling on that one!) looked before I lost my job, but it was far enough away that I knew it was too early to book. Then 2 months of no job and I didn't look at all. So back to work, and back to the search. And thanks to Delta for running a SkyMiles promotion that I'd been watching for, so I was on the road to a decision. We were able to use 4 free flights (well, not technically free because I had to transfer miles and pay for those transfers) and since the miles were the same regardless of destination, we are flying directly to and from our destinations. This cuts out 2 hours of driving each way on the flight in and out. I was able to snag some good flights into Asheville, and then out of Jacksonville. All said, we got $2000 worth of plane tickets for under $1000! So we're all set for our 2 week trip, at least on the airfare side. Now it's on to a rental car...oh, and the minor details of where we are staying for the first week. The second week is what we are most excited for...the pure luxury of the "beach or pool" vacation :) It has been so long since we had a true East Coast beach vacation, and we are so looking forward to it. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa we will be staying at this house, Bay Breeze. So when I get wistful these days when I am supposed to be in Florida (we were planning to go for Easter before I lost my job, and I can honestly say that is the only reason I am sorry to not work there anymore...well besides missing my friends there), I think of this trip and this house, which are less than 3 months away now. And booking this airfare brings us one step closer to it :)

Murphy's Law

So I am unemployed for almost 2 whole months, and we are all healthy. Wouldn't you know it, back to work just over a week and I get a call from the school today?!?! Keely is sounding croupy, and has a fever of 99.5 degrees. I tried my darndest to not have to pick her up, but the guilt set in and off I went. When I get there, she seems fine...no fever, no coughing and then precedes to run all around with Quinn when we get home! So I tried to work from home for a bit while they played, then she hit the skids for a while and we chilled while playing Monopoly with Quinn (I swear, that is my least favorite game but Quinn just begs to play it!). Keely seems fine, in general. She goes up and down, alternating between her normal energetic self and a tired, run down little girl. I totally know how she feels, as I have been fighting something for weeks now. I wish I would just get a cold and get it over with, then feel better. Instead, every other day I feel tired and like I am on the verge of getting a cold, but never do. I guess she has the same malaise :( So I just hope she seems better in the morning, and we will give it another go. Goodness knows I don't have the luxury of built up PTO and sick time! It's only another 2 1/2 days until Easter Break so here's hoping we can make it...and now I have to go work to make up for some time I missed this afternoon :(

Ah, Spring in Utah...

Yesterday was the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the kids' school. We've had absolutely the worst Spring so far in our 4 years here. It has been snowing every other day and at this point, we are just so sick of snow (well, most of us...Quinn loves it and never seems to tire of playing in it!). So considering this bad weather, it would have been nice to have some sun for the hunt but no luck. It was blizzard like, and most of the eggs were hidden in snow. Makes for a harder hunt I suppose but the kids most definitely did not find all of the those eggs :) Here's the scene, see if you can find Keely...All of the kids seemed to have a great time despite the snow, and the good news is that the hunt takes about 5 minutes total and we only had to be outside for about a 1/2 hour. I had to snap a picture of the kids with their baskets and prizes. Try to notice that Keely has on her Easter dress with jeans under...she just had to wear it!
And just for fun, here are some shots James took while the kids were eating ice cream for dessert tonight. You'd think that it would be too cold, but today was about 50 and sunny so it felt glorious, and all of the above snow is now melted. Let's hope that it stays gone until winter comes around again!!!

Winner!

Today when I got home from work, there was a message on the phone from the Sandy Art Guild. Quinn was chosen as a winner in the Art Show!!! And could we please attend the award ceremony tonight at 7 PM?!?! Of course we could, and when James got home that's just what we did. We still had no idea what he drew, and when we got to the mall his winning picture had already been taken off of the 1st grade board so he could show it in front of the audience. It turned out to be a still picture of some fruit. Very nicely done, and he said they didn't even have fruit for him to look at while he was painting. He won 3rd place and we are very proud of him! He got to choose dinner to be picked up on the way home...BK beat out McD's by a nose :)

Here he is posing with his picture, and Keely who wanted to be in the picture with her artistic big bro!And here he is posing with all of the 1st grade winners. In our (biased) opinion, he should have won 1st place. James thought his was so good that maybe they thought he had help on it :)
His picture will be on display at the mall until April 8th, and then be put in the library to be displayed until mid-May. Then we get it back and we plan to frame it for hanging in the dining room. For his award, he got a t-shirt and a 64 pack of crayons :)