Back to School!

It is back to school!! I love back to school...not because my kids are gone all day...though that can be nice...but because we get back to a regular schedule. I don't have to argue as much about bedtimes or late nights because we all know it's school nights and that just ain't happenin' around this house! 

I am a little sad because this little dude is in Grade 1! And he is at school ALL day long....sometimes I'm just not sure what to do with myself! He really likes it and I haven't had to fight with him at all about going. I'm pretty sure that's a good thing...

Funny story about Cooper. He is becoming quite the smart alec...and he knows it...and he thinks he's hilarious!

So it was a little cooler at the beginning of September...like we even had snow! So, we have been wearing pants etc. Well, it's been nice and warm for a few days and Cooper sees his Dad sitting on the couch in jeans. He says:

Dad, you're wearing jeans....it's like, really hot outside....what's up with that?!?

Then he proceeds to laugh.

Then, he was driving with his Dad in the car and he asks:

Dad, how old are you? Your head almost touches the roof!

Dad: We'll, I'm 35.

Cooper: Maybe when you're 37, you will be big enough to touch the roof.

Dad: We'll buddy, when you get to be 18 or 20, you don't get any bigger...you are as big as you will get.

Cooper: That's not true! You will still grow!

Dad: It is! Ask your Mom.

Cooper: I'll ask Brody, he's the second smartest in the family.

Dad: What about Gracie?

Cooper: well, she's like third smartest.

Dad: Well what about Mom?

Cooper: Well, when you get old, you forget all the things you learned in school...so she's the fourth smartest.

So his Dad tells me this story, and I'm feeling a little bad...so I ask Cooper about it. He says "Ya, your the fourth smartest." I hang my head and walk away and he yells after me, "Don't worry Mom, I'm the fifth smartest!"

Yep, that makes me feel better...I'm just smarter than the six year old...

Oh, Cooper. What am I ever going to do with you...

This girl is in Grade Six! Holy Cow! I can't even comprehend this some days, it doesn't even seem possible...but, it's true. She is really turning into quite the young lady. Sass and all!

She decided to run for Vice President this year, and I was so proud of her for trying it! She had to give a speech and everything! She did well, but did not win...this time. Maybe next round!

I love that this girl loves things like music and gets embarrassed about boys and kissing...but still wants to play house and barbies. She is growing up, but she is still a little girl.

On the second day of school,I had a hard time waking her up. When I finally got her up, she asks me " Why do I have to get up?" I told her she had school, she had to get up and get ready. She says, "We had school yesterday...I thought we would school the one day, and then have a long weekend...." 

Wow. I'm sure glad she pays attention....

Oh little girl....we love you so much!

Brody Brody Brody....you are such a good boy, but such a stinker sometimes! He is in Grade Four, and right now is reading at a Grade 7 level...he's such a smarty! He says he doesn't really like school, because he gets bored...hopefully this year will start to be a bit more challenging and get him excited about it again!

I was trying to think of something funny that he has said lately...but I couldn't really think of anything. Though the other day, I was getting a bit frustrated with the kids and he says to me..."You can't get mad at me...I'm the good kid!"

He is a good kid, with such a big heart and kind spirit.

I just love him!

These kids are the light of my life. I am so grateful I get to be their Mom! I do enjoy my time at home when they are at school, but I do love it when they are here with me, too. They make my life exciting and fun, challenging and joyful. They make me laugh and cry...and have taught me so much about life and love. 

I am so grateful for these three amazing blessings in my life!

Spring Training 2014: Arizona Bound!!

So this was probably one of the most FUN vacations I have ever took. It was laid back and relaxing, but it was also fun and I got to see and do lots of stuff! The kids loved it, too. In fact, this was the first vacation that they asked 'Why do we have to go home?' 

They are usually ready to be home by the end.

We talked about this one for awhile, when I had heard from a friend about her and her husbands quick weekend trip to Arizona for Spring Training. When I talked to Dustin about it, he was all over that. We always LOVED going to the Angels games in Anaheim, and we really miss it. So, this was going to be awesome...

I think the BEST part was the SUN!! 

Oh, I had a bad winter this year. I was really down and feeling just BLAH....all the time. Lots of stress with hockey this year, and I also was having some weird heart thing (story for later) 

Needless to say, my body was CRAVING the vitamin D.

I always thought that the whole 'Sunshine Therapy' thing was a bit of a crock...I mean come on! How can that possibly make a difference. After this year, and after this trip, I am a FULL believer. I felt better after 6 days in the Arizona sunshine than I had ALL winter. 

I am currently stocking up on Vitamin D pills and this winter I will have to suck it up in the cold and get out in the SUN!!

But, Arizona was SUPER FUN!!

Plane delay included.

We even got to see my Mom and Dad. They had booked a trip down to visit my Aunt Sandra and Uncle Gary. They have a place in Apache Junction. So we went over there to visit, swim in their pool and pick the delicious oranges from the tree in the back yard!!

And Dustin took Mom and Dad and the two older kids to a Cubbie game on one of the nights. I thought we would go to 1 game...my husband said

 'If we are down here, I'm going to as many as I can!' Oh, boy....

But that's not all we did.

I wanted to SEE some stuff! I mean, what's the point of going somewhere new if you can't SEE new things?! So we hit the zoo...typical right?

I really like zoos...Dustin doesn't really care for them because it involves a lot of walking and just looking. But the kids like them too, so he sucks it up. What I like about zoos in different cities and areas, is you see some of the native wildlife and nature. So walking around the Phoenix Zoo we seen lots of different kinds of Cacti (which were in bloom because it was SPRING!), little lizards and little fluffy bunnies! Much to Gracie's delight.

This was Dustin's favorite part...this giant turtle! It was huge. Its quite a ways from the fence so its hard to really show the size compared to Cooper, but I would bet it was close to the size of a small car...Crazy!

But we did make it to a couple of games. And spring training games are awesome! The stadiums are a lot smaller and you tend to be a lot closer and you don't feel like you are going to get lost walking around. We sat on the grass along the outfield fence each time, which, at first I was skeptical...that can't be great, can it?!

But it worked great, especially with the kids. we stretched out our sheet and basked in the sunshine and enjoyed the Great American Past time, and the kids switched from watching the game, to playing cards. They could also get up and walk around a bit, especially near the end of the game when the crowds dwindled. Most relaxing time at a ball park yet!

So, Dustin and the big kids went to a Cubs game, and then we kit 2 Angels games. One against Milwaukee, and one against Cleveland. So much fun!

Brody even got a ball from the Bull pen...

The kids favorite part was the pool, and we went swimming every day. Little Cooper man was kind of a wuss, but by the end of the trip he swimming and splashing with the best of them!

 Seriously one of the best vacations ever!

I love taking my kids to new places and I am so grateful I have the opportunity and the means to do it. I am also grateful for their Dad. He also loves taking them places and he works hard so we can do these kind of things together.

 He also helps me out a lot on these vacations so it doesn't feel crazy and overwhelming for the mother in this family. I get to enjoy and relax and have fun too!

I love my little family...