Spring Break Didn't Break Me!

Best Spring Break EVER. 

My honey took off work for all of it plus one day... SWEET!

We begged Amanda to play hooky from school on Thursday so we could get a head start on all the festivities. And then we begged friends of ours to take their 4 boys out of school that day too and join us in our insubordinate behavior. gasp. I'm pretty sure that less than a millisecond lapsed between the begging and the agreeing to our absurd idea.

days 1-3:

Camping as a whole family for the first time ever. We arrived at Kelly Park a day before spring break started and thank goodness. The place got c.r.o.w.d.e.d. on the afternoon of day two.
The Casablanca kids and the Gove kids got along wonderfully. They kept disappearing together but we always knew where they were... I'll let you know how later on in this post.

We spent the first day setting up camp and then went for a walk to check out the spring. We didn't think it would be warm enough to swim in yet apparently we were wrong. After much begging by the children we agreed to come back the next day (at the warmest time of the day) and let them test out the waters.

All hands on deck! It took a village to set up this tent!

They all wanted to jump in SO BAD!

The only thing that would lure the kids away from the spring was the promise of time at the playground...

But the kids weren't the only one's having fun! Go Jocelyn!

Samantha spent most of camp with her shoes off. Most heard phrase at camp: "Sammy-Sue! Where's Your SHOES!??!?!"

That's one happy camper!

Daddy and Sammy hanging out together


On day two another family joined us for the afternoon.
We went on a hike around and through the park
and ended up at the spring again. 

First Day of School

4th Grade

Uniforms

Running to the bus stop and waiting.

Watch out world. Here comes a rant!

Yesterday was one of those days where I said to myself, "Why. why.why. WHY???"

Every time I come home from grocery shopping with more than 1 kid in tow I vow to NEVER do it again. I say that I will shop at midnight at Walmart if I have to. And then, just a week or two later I find myself saying the exact same thing... in another parking lot... 'cause I'm pretty sure the employees at the last grocery store I went to are still talking about that time the crazy lady with three unruly children came in and (fill in the blank).

Yesterday was totally my fault. I should have gotten an earlier start and broke a big rule by taking them all there when they were hungry. Who knew picking up milk, bread, peanut butter and jam after 11:30am could cause so much drama?

But that's not all. You see, before I even got to the grocery store I had to make a 'quick stop' at Home Depot to pick up one thing. It should have taken a total of 5 minutes. But then my ATM card had expired so I had to call in my new card to have it activated ---right there at the register--with a touch screen phone--while holding Samantha--and yelling to Hayden to stop running in and out of the EXIT to Home Depot. And then as he's making another run for it I see out of the corner of my eye some crazy loon who is backing her car up into the loading lane and inches from the front door...

DEEP BREATHES....

There is more, much more. But I will save it for another post.

My little heroes!

Introducing:

Super POWER diaper babe!


Super SPIDER MAN!

and
Laser Eyes FIRE Girl!

All about Amanda.

I have to say, pictures of Amanda are few and far between lately. The girl has quite a social calendar, what with church activities, fake dates with her bff M. and lets not forget all the time she spends at school.



We hardly ever see her and when we do, she's doing homework or reading or playing some elaborate pretend-play with her dolls. She also enjoys playing teacher to Hayden and Samantha. She even gives them homework assignments.


She loves her brother and sister. There are times when they really annoy her and she just need to get away from them, but 2 minutes later she comes back and is hugging them and telling them that she loves them.

{i love this picture of my girls!}

Lately she has been preparing for the FCAT's (don't get me started...) or shall I say, stressing out about the test that could make her repeat 3rd grade if she doesn't pass. She has had some anxiety attacks and a trip to the doctor to try and work stuff out. This is a tough age and I know I am making tons of mistakes. sigh...

Will you be my Valentine? x2

This years Valentines Day cards for Amanda and Hayden -
Amanda's turned out so cute last year that we just had to do it again this year!

I had intended to send Hayden to church with his Valentines
to give to his teacher and classmates but we ran out the door without them :(

Something quite revealing

So Amanda informed me this week that she just wants to use the same valentine idea as last year... I said "GREAT! -- what do you want to wear this year? How should we do your hair?" She tells me that she just wants to use the same picture as last year. Weird.

I did some more digging and with all the forthrightness of a 9 year old girl she told me that she *hates* doing photo shoots with me because I am picky and mean and I stress her out. Say wha?? At this point I should have taken a gulp and nodded my head and retreated. But no, I dug deeper... cause I like the punishment. Apparently I am a perfectionist with no patience... and I suck all the fun out it. Nice.

So I am flashing back to all the times I've tried to arrange the kids for photos and remember how much of a fight it has always seemed. I've always figured Amanda was just being difficult because she was hungry or tired or just didn't take direction well. Has it always been me all along? Am I just a bad director of photography? I feel like such a tyrant now.

So the question is: Do I attempt to convince Amanda to take a new picture and do everything I can to treat her like one of my paying clients and have all the patience in the world for her? Or do I just let it go - and reprint last years photo... or (GASP!) do I buy those cheapo grocery store valentines?

Our Little Artist

Amanda is love, love, loving art at her new school and would love to share with you her latest masterpiece! Since funding for the arts has gone down the tubes in so many schools, I'm grateful to see that Amanda's school is being proactive about it and has begun a creative way of fundraising for their programs.

Check out Amanda's latest masterpiece at EverlastingArt.com by entering Artwork ID# 48560. You can order her artwork printed on all kinds of stuff like t-shirts and mousepads. So please support her school art program if you can! I personally think this is so much better than that gross cookie dough they make the kids sell door to door!

Truth in photography

Many truths can be told in a picture - especially those taken with no thought to the "rules" of composition and while completely distracted by your other children (ie: while nursing your baby on the couch and holding a 2 year old out of the way... plus trying to hold the automatic flash down for more natural lighting).

Here a few of my favorites - totally unprofessional, totally snapshotty, but I don't care. It's how it was, how it is, how it's likely to be for years to come.

Now this would have been a terrific shot
with great lighting, blah, blah, blah,
but said "lighting" was "Burning [her] eyes!" Waa, waa, waa...

cry baby.

Yes, her eyes are that blue!

Classic Hayden...




The "REAL" Amanda we all know and love -
so kooky!

This is one of my favs - 95% of the pictures I take of Hayden are a blur of movement.
It's the definition of Hayden.

See what I mean?

write your own caption...

trying to take a Christmas photo...

still trying...

oh forget it. kids, go put your play clothes back on.

...or get naked.
whatever.


got any classics?
do share!

samantha at 1 month

So these pictures mark the 1 month birthday of our little Samantha. We got her all dressed up for some quick pictures. She was a totally sweetie about letting me take her picture - I think she is going to be like Amanda - always lovin' the camera!

and a few pictures of Hayden and Amanda as well!!

What about Amanda?

It has occurred to me that I haven't posted much about Amanda lately. She has unfortunately been overlooked in my posts as of late - I'm not sure why. Perhaps because she is in school all day and my interactions with her go a little like this.

Me: Amanda! Wake Up! It's 7:40! We woke up late, so hurry and get dressed and go eat breakfast.
...10 minutes later... what have you been doing? I said get dressed, go eat.

Amanda: I AM! I'm getting Hayden some milk!

Me: Oh. Well hurry up. Daddy's almost ready to take you to school. WAIT! Comb your hair... and brush your teeth... where are your socks?!?! You have P.E. today!!!

Amanda: Arghhhhh! Okay, okay!!

Me: You look beautiful. Get your backpack and your lunch... BYE!


7 hours later:

Me: get in, get in, people are waiting! How was your day?

Amanda: GREAT!

Me: Great!

at home...

Me: do your homework, put away the dishes and then you can play on the computer.

Amanda: can I play a game on the laptop?

Me: After you do your homework and put away the dishes.

Amanda: but I don't want to, can't I just play on the laptop first???

Me: NOOO!

Amanda: (insert any number of excuses why it's just not fair)


then dinner, book and off to bed.

I went to parent teacher conference today and left walking on cloud 9. Amanda is doing awesome, she's no longer in the remedial reading group - it turns out that she was bored or uninterested in the easy stories they were testing her with at first. Her awesome teacher caught onto this and tested her on a more challenging level and she did great.

She's a straight A student and loves all of her teachers. I couldn't be happier about her new teacher and her new school. I know this the right school for her - a place where she can really grow.

Amanda's teacher had wonderful things to say about her. She admires Amanda's creativity in writing and her expressiveness in reading. She catches on quickly in Math and Science and really enjoys her Music class where they are learning to play the violin. Amanda has a beautiful singing voice and has shared her talent at the playground - she's quite popular among the 5th grade girls!

We are all so proud of her and can really see a difference in her attitude about school. She's a bright light of energy in our family and very helpful with Samantha and especially Hayden.

We all love her very much!

Tooth Fairy is goin' broke

Let me tell you, it's ALL ABOUT TEETH in our house lately. Hayden has been teething badly for over a week (not fun) and based on what the boy lets me see when I try to pry his mouth open he's got about 4-5 sharp-as-shark-teeth coming in at the same time. Poor boy. Poor mommy and daddy and sisters' ears.

But on to the main event. Amanda has lost 2 teeth in 3 days time. That's become her pattern. She usually loses teeth two at a time. But now - that mouth. YIKES! She kinda looks like a hockey player pre-dentures. It's cute, 'cause she's my kid. But if ever there will be an awkward stage of her life, this is it. Good thing she's got 150% self-esteem and 200% attitude... that ought to get her through it... that and the buck a tooth payout she's getting from the "tooth fairy".

{please excuse the picture - Amanda really didn't want her picture taken
- she claimed that it *hurts to smile* phfftt....whatever.}

Field Day

Field Day in Florida... well it's not exactly what I grew up with. When I was in elementary school in Maryland, Field Day was a big 'ole carnival. There were booths set up with cupcake fund raisers and carnival games. Balloons were released, awards were given to individuals and kids actually gave it their all to try and win a prize.

Oh - and FAMILIES were encouraged and welcomed to attend and cheer their kids on.

My Field Day Experience in Seminole County Schools...

Michael got off work early to attend Field Day. We met at home and drove to school with some anticipation of fun and family bonding with Amanda. We were kind of bummed to see that the familiar festivities of our youth were absent - the field was quite empty, but we proceeded to the main office to get our visitor badges... only to find out that we were not welcome to field day because we had *gasp!* brought our son, Amanda's brother, to help cheer her on. Apparently buried deep in the enormous rules and regulations handbook we received at the beginning of the year it states that siblings are not welcome on campus during the day. It seems he is considered a liability. W h a t e v e r !!!!!! I said a few choice words, cried a little (I'm pregnant - I can do that at any moment...) and told them what I thought of their rules and asked my husband, in front of the vice-principal, to "please get me out of this messed up state of Florida".

We left the office and decided that someone should go cheer the girl on, so it was decided that Michael should go since he'd gotten off work early and all and doesn't get much time with Amanda anyway.

Then I had a bright and rebellious idea. I found a parking space the was right across from one half of the field that was being used for field day... and I tailgated! Hayden sat in his stroller facing the field, I sat in the back of the van (we'd taken the back seat out weeks before).

Hayden and I sipped Capri Suns and ate animal crackers and pretty much told the administration where they could go with their stupid rules.


A promise is a promise. I told Amanda we would all be there - and we were! I even got a few shots of her!


Amanda's class won field day for the first grade, and it's the first time their class ever won anything! Michael says she was the first place winner for all of first grade! WOW! I think it had a little bit to do with her dad cheering her on. Her class got a Pizza Party and Amanda is now the fastest girl in 1st grade. Wait that came out wrong.

Proof of Life

Just some random recent photos - nothing exceptional - just proof that my kids are still alive....


in spite of the toxic McDonald's french fries...


... and lack of regular dental care

...and close supervision.

Hayden is our little daredevil. He'll climb on any toy and stack up toys to climb on just to get closer to those "no-no" items that mommy and daddy keep up high. And he does it with a smile!

That innocent little face...

This morning was a wild one. Little Man Destruction woke up before the rest of us at some ungodly hour and quietly made his way downstairs - where he stood screaming bloody murder. I think he thought we'd all be down there to greet him and got freaked out by the dark silence. I went downstairs picked him and and he promptly fell asleep in my arms. I put him to bed.

Sometime around 6:30 this morning when Michael and I are usually *sort of* awake he made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. I heard him but didn't quite register the danger. Normally the baby gate is up and he can't get into the kitchen so I didn't see much harm or reason to run down the stairs. Not so this morning. We could hear him moving a chair to climb on the table and Amanda went running down the stairs to help. Hayden knew he was in trouble and decided to go for broke. He threw a glass that was on the table at Amanda! Glass shattered, Kids screamed, Mommy screamed and ran down the stairs in record time. Oh the drama! Oh the TERROR!

Fortunately the only injury was a small pin-sized cut on Amanda's foot.

I guess it's time for ANOTHER gate!

Reason #293 why I love this kid.

So I'm working in the office and down the stairs comes Amanda...in this...and asks, "is this how you're suppose to wear this?"

I couldn't help but laugh and then chase her up the stairs with my camera. After much protesting she finally conceded to "just ONE" picture.

1st person to guess correctly what this is she is wearing gets a secret PRIZE to be determined sometime later. My brain is too fried to figure out something creative right at this moment...

Catching up...

1. CHRISTMAS!
Christmas was super fun this year with Hayden. He really got into the ripping of the paper and enjoyed all the wonderful toys that family and friends sent. Amanda and Hayden were both very much spoiled this year - we'll be toning things down next year for sure! Amanda even commented that she thought she got way too much - that's what happens when your birthday is only days before Christmas!

2. THE MOVE
I do believe this has been the most physically taxing move we have ever made...and we only moved approximately 2 miles down the road! I'd go into all the details of the move, but they'd be quite boring and recapping it all would be almost as painful as the actual event. But as of today EVERYTHING is moved into the new 3 story townhouse and we are beginning to settle in.

Hayden is sleeping in the bottom bunk - sort of. He still wakes a couple times per night needing a little comfort, but then he's right back to sleep in his bed. Amanda doesn't seem at all phased by the noisy nighttime habits of her brother. She is on the top bunk and sleeping like a rock, as always. So it seems that the new sleeping arrangement will work out just fine.


3. New Years Eve was spent with family down in Melbourne. We all had a blast with funny hats and noisemakers!



I'll add pictures later when the other computer is up and running...

Christmas At Our House

As many of you know we recently moved to Florida from Arizona, so you would think the lack of "Winter Wonderland" weather during the holidays would be normal for us by now. But for me, it's not.

As I watch the weather reports for the north eastern states I can't help but be a little bit jealous of those who get snow and that deafening silence late at night after a snowfall. Not so jealous of the lack of power, but I actually miss driving in the snow, oh so carefully. I miss shoveling snow - but only a little bit. I'm a Marylander by birth and experienced several snowy Christmastimes that were warmed by a fire in the basement of our home. It really was sweet.

So now that we are in Florida, preparing for yet another move (see previous posts here and here and here for why we are moving AGAIN...) we are also preparing to celebrate Christmas and Amanda's birthday. Amanda's birthday party is this Saturday - Beach Theme... yes, only in Florida and perhaps even Arizona and California can you get away with this just days before Christmas.

So for those who are interested, here's a little peek into our home at this crazy time of year.

This would be our Christmas tree - notice the lack of ornaments at the bottom? This is the tell-tale sign that our little WMD is busy at work. All of the ornaments are inching their way up the tree, screaming in terror at the sight of Hayden.



This is an ornament we learned to make in Enrichment!


This is an ornament we taught the YW to make. It's super easy!



Our Nativity...

Our Advent House thingy...

and our Stockings hung on the entertainment center with care...


Next years decor will be fan-tabulous in our new home. I have GRAND ideas! Grand, I say!