Floors

Last week I heard the sounds of progress. It sounds loud and wonderful. We have a ways to go but a good chunk of our hard wood flooring is in!

A huge thanks to these guys! Dan, brother in law Dave and my man Dennis.  Here they are standing in the kitchen with the dining room behind them.

Coming in the front door.

Powder room.

Part of the hallway that is between living area and laundry room. The laundry area will not be hard wood.

Have I mentioned that we are officially homeschoolers? I received my approval letter from the district a couple days ago.  We are just doing a few things here and there to get their juices flowing again, before we dive into it once we move in.  Some math and grammar review and Eden is starting to learn cursive.  Why homeschooling? I'll tell you later.  I need to go to bed.  Also you may or may not notice that this is not our table.  Jesse's lungs don't agree with our current home. So this is the second time that we've been able to stay at someone's place while they are on vacation. This week it's Den's sister at the beach.  Next week another dear friend offered her home while they also go to the beach. I've been calling it our stay-cations.  It is nice that we are close enough to home to run back and get a few things done in the morning and be able to come back and have naps, dinner and bedtime in central AC. AND use their wifi...that we do NOT have a home. Thus my more frequent blog posts. Everybody wins.

First Day of School 2011

J - 5th grade; E- 2nd grade

V was waving goodbye, he wanted to go too super bad!

At school...

J juggled scarves at the school book fair. He was scheduled to do this for 15minutes. He probably did this for 2min. and spent the other 13 bopping around doing who knows what. He's a social bug.

While we were there I was finally able to E's art on display at school. They have what are called outstanding artists and their art is displayed either for the whole year or for a month. She is here with art that has been chosen to be up all year, in a frame.

This was a piece chosen for a month. These skills she gets from her daddy.

J had his 2nd cello concert and did great! He started playing it cool when mom's around. I'm not sure how I feel about this. He wasn't please with me taking his picture here. I don't think he really cared, but he acted like he did. I'm not having it.

Closing November

We're going to close this month with bullet points and pictures...ahem...

• visited both classes of the kids on Wednesday before T-day. J was having a class meal where he learned how to properly set the table, push in a chair for a young lady. His teacher also went around to each kid and expounded on something that he was thankful for about each student. It was really beautiful to see the kids respond. You could tell that some of these kids might never hear it at home. E's class had a feast of snacky things but the teacher changed the time of when they were going to do it so I missed it! Boo. But I still stopped in and grabbed a pic of her and her teacher who J had in first grade too. We love her!

• Thanksgiving day was cold and rainy, but still a really good day and Den's parents. I made the annual cheese ball turkey ( i don't make the cheese ball, i just turn it into a turkey), dolls joined in on the fun, and V and Joash were said to look like the E trade babies as they sat in their high chairs. We dropped into a couple other family drop ins later that night and it was so good to see everyone.

• Then on Friday I decided it was time to say goodbye to someone. I have an issue with holding on to the past. But I believe in personal growth and saying goodbye was a big step for me. Van didn't quite understand.

"Why mommy? Why?!?!?"

"Because it's time, my love. It's time"

"I still don't understand."

Goodbye James....we had some good times. I still have small mementos of you hear and there; magnets, a picture, your 3 films. But I can no longer have you cluttering my life. Farewell.

Take a moment and wipe your eyes if you need to. Okay, ready to move on?

• Friday night Den and I built the tree and put on our sad little lights. EVERY strand was only lighting up halfway. Odd. Part of me wonders if it's not our electricity. Saturday we decorated.

• Also on Saturday we had our own turkey dinner. A simple menu of turkey, stuffing, and baked sweet potatoes. We also broke out the china and the sparkling grape juice. Nothing was actually broken. The bird was beautiful and deeelish...thanks dad for the tips!

• In closing our two youngest crack us up. It's so fun to see their personalities come out when they are young. Dennis took these two pictures.

um....can you say perfect baby bum? However I must admit that I'm a little reminded of George Costanza.

Dennis said when he first saw V like this, he was snuggled up with his cheek on the Millennium Falcon. He moved while Den went to get the camera.

*this post is dedicated to my dearest Carla who gave me James many moons ago....

Student of the Month

For "displaying exceptional efforts to show courtesy by listening to teachers and friends, showing kindness each day and using manners."


I have to promise her a goofy picture to get her to take a normal one like above.

CA, then back at it

Ya ya...it's been forever. I know.


Let's first talk about this guy. He was this happy for 98% of the traveling. I couldn't have asked for an easier baby.


First part of the trip was spent in Orange County

introducing the next generation of cousins,



and visiting w/ the first.


Getting to see DEAR, DEAR friends and meet her little ones (so cute!!). (not to mention, they bought me lunch..thank you aron & suz!)



More friends coming and taking me to dinner , thanks guys!




All the time being taken care of by my gracious hosts; Uncle Frank & Aunt Sandy. LOVE THEM!


Then it was time to head to B-town


and of course stop for some much missed In N Out.




There we met both great grandma's.

As well as B's Great Great Great Aunt Henrietta.

Cooled off in the pool. (swam with the scorpions...ahhh, desert life)

More old friend time, Missy and her beautiful girls.

Caught the sunset.

Made my mouth and tummy happy.

Remembered why you don't visit Blythe in August.

Summer storm, complete w/ lightning...

that started a fire across the river.

Of course we had to take a bit of a closer look.

Soaked up these guys. Never enough time, but always thankful for whatever we can get.

Then we closed things up by heading back out to OC...

and saw these guys. So much fun, dinner, scrabble, Uncle Jimmy's blankie. Love them tons!

And Uncle Jimmy made breakfast before we went to the airport. yum.

Then I hopped on a plane w/ the happiest baby on earth.

Just in time for the first day of school.