Playing with Words

I discovered WORDLES! This is an amazingly fun cool invention! I think I could do this all night.

My family wordle:

The wordle that wordle created from my blog URL feed:


Try it here.

Happiest Place on Earth

Disney just announced their 2009 promotion...here's a link to the story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20080918/ap_tr_ge/travel_b
rief_disney_birthdays

The bottom line is that you get in FREE on your birthday during 2009! Just a valid ID and proof of birthdate required.

If you already have a pass, you can either get a free ticket for next year, a bunch of Fastpasses, or a gift card worth the price of admission that you can use to buy merchandise!

The happiest place on earth just got happier!

And with free room and breakfast at the Hotel M., what are you waiting for?

Learning about Diversity

We live in a state with a very diverse population. Really, it's one of the things I love most about California. My kids go to school and realize there are all kinds of people who speak different languages, have different beliefs or have a different color of skin.

Just look at this wall I saw today at Back to School Night, filled with little self-portraits of culturally diverse children, all in Ian's new second grade class. How beautiful!





Only, I'm not sure what race Ian thinks he belongs to.

Wacky Wednesday

We are involved in many activities this fall. Like the perfect storm, today they all fell on the same day.

Mom: Go to her first scripture study class at church, lead music for the first time at Music Makers (a co-operative music program I go to with Kate), plan and attend YW activity--we tie-dyed T-shirts

Ian: swim team, piano lesson, Lights on Broadway practice (Stake Broadway review)



Jacob: soccer practice



Ben: coach soccer, practice for Lights on Broadway

Kate: trying to go to the potty




This does not include our regular daily tasks such as school, work, homework, carpools, chores, reading, practicing the piano, grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, laundry, not to mention squeezing in the things we enjoy...exercising, reading a mommy book, taking pictures to blog about, playing at the park.

Are you tired yet?

I am.

The Morning Rush

6:05am - My alarm goes off. I pull my body out of bed and get ready to go swimming. My goggles are missing. My brain finally turns on enough to remember they are in my swimming bag.
6:20am - I get in the pool. It's a little chilly today. My friend Audra and I have a great discussion about Prop 8 (see left sidebar).
7:00am - I get out of the pool. My thoughts turn to the upcoming whirlwind. Last year did not always go well, but this year will be better even if I have two boys to get off to school. I might even squeeze in a shower before they leave!
7:00am - The boys' alarm has gone off - hopefully they are eating breakfast.
7:08am - I get home. The boys are not eating breakfast.
7:10am - I get the boys their breakfast, I start making lunches. At least Kate isn't awake yet.
7:12am - Kate wakes up - she asks to watch Curious George -she can't watch TV right now because it will incapacitate the boys. It will render them motionless and cause them to completely lose all control of their senses. Kate doesn't get it.
7:15am - I'm still trying to make lunches and urge the boys to eat faster. My brother, who is here visiting, wakes up and I get him some breakfast.
7:20am - The boys are done eating breakfast but the lunches are not done. I send the boys upstairs to get dressed. Their clothes are laid out so it should go fast.
7:25 am - I finish the lunches. I want to get out of my swim suit and take a shower. I go upstairs to find the boys playing with their Legos. I gently urge them to get ready faster. Maybe I had better not get in the shower.
7:30am - I see Ben off to work. I put the lunches in the back packs and clean up the mess I made, all the while shouting at the boys upstairs to continue getting dressed and brush their teeth. My brother wants to take a shower. I ask him to wait until the boys have brushed their teeth.
7:35am - Ian has taken his pajamas off, but is still not dressed. Jacob is going #2 on the toilet which could take a while. I warn that they only have ten minutes left.
7:40am - Ian is almost dressed. Jacob brushes his teeth and is just starting to get dressed. I give them a lecture about being on time and that I will just let them take their sweet time tomorrow and take them when they are ready and THEY can tell their teachers themselves why they are late.
7:42am - I yell at Ian to get his socks and shoes on. I yell at Jacob WHO IS STILL NOT DRESSED and tell him he has 3 MINUTES until Sister B---- is here and that he'd better get busy fast.
7:43am - I'm combing Ian's hair while he is brushing his teeth and hoping that Jacob is getting dressed. Kate is following me around crying for breakfast.
7:44am - Jacob IS dressed and I'm throwing on Ian's shoes, getting a comb to do Jacob's hair and trying to fend off Kate.
7:45am - Ian says a quick prayer while I am praying in my heart that I can be forgiven for yelling at my kids, that Sister B---- won't wonder why I'm wearing my swimsuit and cover-up, and that my brother is having a fun vacation and won't think I'm insane.
7:46am - I sigh in relief.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Huzzah for School!

The boys started school today! I wasn't quite ready for the summer to be over - we really had a fun time this year doing whatever we wanted when we wanted. I will miss that. BUT it's also nice to have a schedule and actually be productive and learning. So huzzah for school!




Jacob, who I swear was just a baby, started Kindergarten today. He was all smiles. He couldn't wait to go and try this new adventure and just about burst when he put on his new Star Wars shirt he's been waiting to wear for a week. How did I do, you ask? Well, we had a little bit of a hectic morning (Kate was not feeling too well and had the biggest, wettest blow-out of her life!) The whole taking pictures and walking-to-school-to-avoid-the-parking-mess didn't really work out. Luckily, we at least made it in time. I kissed boy 2 goodbye and he walked right up those steps to his teacher who was waiting to greet him while I got a little teary-eyed. Then he turned around and waved and gave me one of those big smiles and I almost lost it.



Ian, the veteran, began 2nd grade. When I asked him if he was nervous or excited, he said, "Kind of in between." He stood in line and waited for his teacher and I couldn't resist giving him a big smooch on the cheek as he was about to leave. He gave me one of those looks that said, "Mo-om, not in front of the other kids I just met!" mixed with "Okay, you can kiss me...but this is the last year I'm letting you do this."

Jacob has morning Kindergarten and is only in school for 3 hours 20 minutes, which I like. I always enjoy the one on one time with my kids. So when Jacob got home, we opened his Schultüte (German tradition: all children receive a cone thingy filled with school supplies, treats and gifts in celebration of that first school day ever!) When asked for his opinion of the day: "School is way better than preschool." Hopefully he enjoys the next 180 days just as much!



Just for fun...here are the boys two years ago when Ian began Kindergarten.

Mom's Beach Retreat

We had a beach retreat just for the gals in our ward. It turned out to be a fabulous get-away! I feel like I went on vacation.

Here's why:

We went to my favorite beach -Three Arch Bay- it's private, clean, not crowded
The company was unbeatable - love you gals!
We went boogie boarding as long as we wanted to
We had yummy food - the best part for me was the gourmet s'mores
We made a fire and talked into the night
There were no kids to worry about!!!!!!





This is definitely going to become a tradition!