Monday Musings

• Allergies vs. Cold....always the question.  Both kids are congested.  Ry is now receiving neb treatments because he has a bad cough and is wheezing.  Plans for today have all changed.
• Continued working on the basement cleanout over the weekend.  With so much to organize, donate or throw away, it is one immense project.
• Watched a very exciting soccer game on Saturday.  It's fun watching my daughter's team grow and become more skilled with each passing season.  They beat a very good team.  It's was hard to contain my excitement and not act like an over zealous soccer mom when the whistle blew to end the game!
• Ry has discovered the word "weanie," and asked his dad if he "had a weanie."  Must have gotten that little jewel from his boys at school.  It's hard not to laugh when they say things like that.
• I have now entered the world of having to screen music.  Jen wanted a song by Ke$ha called "Tik Tok" put on her iPod.  I downloaded it THEN listened to the lyrics.  I hear "brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack" and "ain't gotta care in the world, but got plenty of beer" and "boys tryin' to touch my junk."  That song has now been removed from the iPod.  Yikes.


• This is the innocence I prefer to keep.  Playing dress up.  She did his hair.  Dashing, isn't it?  She looks like a glamour puss in her hat and sparkly lip gloss.  You can just tell she is about to bat those eyelashes....can't ya??

Passin' it on......

A friend of mine (basically the only one I get blog ideas from....she knows who she is) suggested this as an entry, so here's my version.

1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?"

Haven't had to deal with anything severe, but there have been a few fines here and there in my day.  I'm no George Washington.  There are still two books he hasn't returned.

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts?

I have a whole bag of gift bags, rolls of wrap and a box of bows and stuff.  I almost always manage to buy something else when I give a gift because what I have "just isn't right."

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster?

I have been in one too many hurricanes.  One I remember most was when I was at FSU.  The Chi O house was dark and scary.  We walked around campus the next day and saw huge trees toppled over.

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song?

Ew. Ew. Yuck.  He gives me the heebie jeebies.

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn?

Dirt.  Yes, dirt.  I was sick and got pulled around in the wagon with a piece of brown felt over me.  I was the dirt and my sister was the super, cool carrot in my garden.  She had some awesome costumes as a kid.  Me, not so much.

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

Dictionary.  Got a pet peeve about mispelling.  Maybe it's a teacher thing.

7. What's your favorite breakfast food?

Guess it's omelettes.  Although I don't eat them very often.  Coffee is pretty much a given these days too.

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial?

No, but my husband bought the Smart Saver system and now it's in stores everywhere.  I have to say it is very organized, and well-used!

9. Have you ever crawled through a window?

Yup.  Had to get back in my house.  The keypad on the garage door wasn't working and therefore I was locked out.  Borrowed a ladder and crawled in the window that I happened not to shut all the way earlier in the day.  Haven't left the house without my key since.

10. Do you believe in love at first sight?

No, I am too practical.

11. How many pairs of jeans do you own?

A lot more than I did when I was working.  I'm up to 10 now.


12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.")

How about a doggy cake?!  It's sweet and loyal.  Not to mention, white and flakey.

Monday Musings

On the request of a friend, here are my Monday Musings....

• The prospect of having my basement finished and remodeled is both exciting and overwhelming.
• Looking forward to a Girls' Weekend.....t-minus 25 days and counting.
• Temperatures are normal this week..mid 60's.
• Witnessed my first drama on the soccer game sidelines this weekend between the other teams' coach and one of their parents...my heart was racing.
• My son is learning a lot in Tae Kwon Do.  I'll be excited for him when he earns his first yellow stripe.
• Thinking of taking a photography class with my sister.  That would be fun.
• Working on plans for Teacher Appreciation Week..May 3-7...as a teacher myself, it's important to recognize my kids' teachers.
• Already contemplating what to do with myself next year when both kids are in school all day.
• Must find a way to deal with stress...it's overwhelming at times.
• It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty~three to frown. ~Anonymous

It's almost time....my tears are welling up already

Today was a big day for Ry.  We went to Kindergarten Orientation...already.  I was pleasantly impressed by the program, organization and gifts.  Not only is my son going to be attending full day kindergarten (unless the FCPS budget cuts get a hold of it) which is different than my daughter who only went half-day, but I don't remember all this orientation stuff so early either.
We arrived at Bull Run Elementary...yes we live in Civil War central, where we were greeted by the smiling faces of Kindergarten teachers and staff, and placed in a color group.  We were "yellow" and Ry promptly put on his yellow crayon box tag.  We sat in the yellow section of the Little Theater.  All the "kindergarteners" were taken by 5-grade buddies to the library to hear a story while the parents listened to a presentation by the principal.  Then we met up with our child to go through a series of four rotations, based on our color group.  First we took a ride on a school bus, which Ry has never done.  Mommy started worrying about how Ry will do with that on a regular basis because he has a tendency to get car sick and the bus ride might intensify that feeling.  Eee gads.  Next we went to a Kindergarten classroom to see the room and to work on a project with a current student.  Ry made his Bull head band.  (see picture above).  I found it amusing that despite Ry's ability to write his name and cut, other students were doing a lot of it for him.  Next we went to the pod to complete puzzles and use manipulatives.  Again, the fifth graders were doing more of the puzzles than the little people.  I saw another mom who couldn't stop crying.  Boy, wait until school starts, she's REALLY going to lose it.  Lastly we went to the registration area, and I proudly had all but 1 of the 10 documents and forms I needed.  Yeah, mom.  Ry got a sticker on his crayon box for each station he went to.  I should have gotten a gold star for being prepared and holding myself together.

Wine, Words and Wow

Wine.  Drank this one tonight.  Just the name is fun.

Words.

Took Rylan to get a blood test to determine if his allergies to peanuts and tree nuts has changed.  We're hoping he'll grow out of it.  When we got to the lab, I explained he was having a "peanut test" because I didn't want to talk about the needle and blood.  He says, "oh, so we can see if I eat it again by accident then I might not react?"  I was so impressed I said, "Wow, that's a big word."  He says, "Yea, I learn everything from you."  I nearly cried at the sweetness of his comment.  I just love him to pieces.

Tonight Jensyn says, "I saw Sebastian today.  I looked into his eyes," as she batts her eyelashes.  I thought I might fall onto the floor right then and there.  She is only 8, right??

An Ordinary Weekend

Things we've been doing over the last few days:

• Doctor's visits for R's allergies/asthma and J's brush with strep throat which was thankfully negative
• Team photos and the first soccer game of J's sixth season.
• Mourning the loss of both fish.  They sure didn't last long.
• Enjoying this beautiful weather.  Blue skies, warm temps and no humidity...dreamy.

Drawing herself on the driveway.

It's so bright I can't tell if he's squinting or if his eyes are closed.

• Neighborhood walks, biking, weeding the yard, anything and everything outside.
• What I love...this weather.  What I hate...can't get anything done inside.  Laundry, cleaning bathrooms and picking up is boring anyway.

Flashback Friday

Love this.  Got this theme idea from a friend.  Thanks SMCM.

Easter 2007 was much colder and it certainly didn't feel like Spring. J and R were 5 and 2 in this picture.  She was in Kindergarten, he was a carefree toddler.  She was the pro, he was uncertain of what to do.
And....whoever helped him with his coat must have been one too many mimosas to the wind.

Monday Martial Arts

Back to school for J and R. A bit of a relaxing morning.

Ry began a Little Ninjas class through the Fairfax County Parktakes. It's the best way for him to experience Tae Kwon Do, without the financial or time committment required by some of the Martial Arts schools in town. This is Ry's first experience with an organized sport.

 

Learning basic skills.  He did well.  He stayed focused, tried to keep up with the "senior" members of the group, and learned some basic moves and simple Korean language.  As a mom, I was proud of his accomplishments.  As we left, he said, "mom, I liked that."  My little Karate Kid.

Easter Sunday

Sundays are said to be a day of rest....especially on Easter Sunday.  Not for us.  J, R and I played outside while Daddy mowed our lawn.  Our lawn, looks dang good thanks to Daddy's hard work and Grandma's advice on fertilizer, weed control and all around garden advice.
We then headed to Five Guys for lunch.  Seemed a little odd for this particular day, but we enjoyed it none the less.  As if we hadn't worked hard enough, we decided to wash the car.  It's important to keep the new car, lookin new, so we ALL, had a part in cleaning it up, inside and out.  Winter has not been kind on anyone's vehicle.  Even the tires look slick, thanks to an Armor All Ultra Sheen Tire product.  Lookin' sweet!
Around 3:30 we headed to G and G Volpe's for an Egg Hunt and a fine meal cooked primarily by Grandma.  Charlie made the lamb chops on the grill.  He's the grill man at events such as these.
After a long, busy week, I was completely exhausted once we got home.  It has been one eventful Staycation!!

The fish have arrived.  Jensyn picked out a Black Moor Goldfish, with bubbly eyes and named it Charlie.  Ry's is your traditional Goldfish. He named his Junior.
John took the kids to get their fish and so I heard the story of Ry's fish pooping in the bag once they arrived home.  Later, once his fish pooped once again in his presence, he asks, "Why do fish poop in a line and why don't they wipe?"
 Let the responsibility and lessons of caring for a living thing begin!

Easter...a little early

Yet another sunny day this week.  Perfect to host an early Easter celebration.  J, R and I headed to my parents' house to have a nice lunch and an Egg Hunt with my side of the family.  My little nephew, Sam, was enjoying this ritual for the first time.  The weather is so invigorating....the perfect setting for newness and rebirth, whatever your beliefs.

GDO

The Curtis girls...and the little one....enjoyed a Girls' Day Out. We went to Georgetown to do some shopping, some eatin', and some catchin' up. It was a warm and sunny day which was perfect for walking around town. A girls' day is always a great day!

We walked along the Potomac which was muddy and high, from all the rain and snow we have had over the winter and early spring.

 

Jensyn and Aunt Kris.  Nothing like ice cream on a beautiful day.

Springtime in Washington

I have lived in the D.C. area for the last 22 years, and yet I cannot remember a time where I actually went downtown to see the Cherry Blossoms bloom with my own eyes. It's all anyone talks about this time of year. There is a big festival and the traffic is backed up with people, both locals and tourists slowing down to take a gander at the blossoms. This year, I got to be one of those people. I headed down with my parents and my kids on the day that was said to be the first day of "peak bloom," which got moved up a bit because of the unusually warm weather we are having right now. We took a shuttle bus from a parking area on Haines Point. It was remarkably easy and well worth the trip. Take a look!

 

Dad, Mom, Ry and Jen

It was windy and a bit cool, but a beautiful walk!

Can you tell how tired Ry is?  After a walk along the Tidal Basin to see the blossoms and the FDR Memorial, we headed back to the Jefferson Memorial.  By then I was carrying Ry, but we had to go inside to see the inscriptions and statue of Jefferson.  It's an awesome sight.