Onward to November

Can't believe we are a little bit over a month away until Christmas.   I breathe a heavy sigh because it's gotten so much harder to try to save to be able to spend for Christmas.   Thankfully Marc and I carpool to and from work and for this we earn $$ which can then be cashed out on gift cards come November.   So basically right now Marc and I have to decide on what we're getting the kids from Target as we have a hefty amount of $$$ to spend on them thanks to Disney.

Besides that we have been through two months of school now.  Keil is still struggling a bit in math because she hates studying.   And as for James he's doing pretty good.   He was finally pulled from his SOAR class which was basically assigned to him for getting organized since that's what it's all about in Jr. High.   He was sprung out of that class and into a regular elective class two weeks ago and is currently in Art.  And you know how happy about that I am, right?    I believe every kid should have access to art.   And he's a pretty darn good artist also.  Just like all the rest of us right brainers.   I am glad that he has that kind of outlet to escape to.  

Marina is plugging right along.  Being the babysitter she is and that I am thankful to have because I would never be able to afford that on our budget.   She has a nice guy in her life that she's been seeing since July.  

We haven't really been anywhere but are looking forward ( well the kids are anyway) to going to the company Christmas party at Disneyland.    I would like to take a trip to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor at the California Science Center.  I wished that we could go do that around Thanksgiving while the kids have that week off, but I don't think that's going to happen since I will have to work that Mon/Tues in order to have that Wed/Thurs off.   So those plans are shot.  So maybe around Christmas time.

There has been some talking though ( if we can afford it) to make a trip north in the Spring to go to Hearst Castle.   We went to Solvang the past February.   I wished I could have stayed a week.  It was beautiful and so different from what I remember as a kid.   The kids loved it also.   So we will see and be keeping our fingers crossed as to having enough $$ to make it up there.

Beginning Of October

Realized I haven't made a post in here since last month.    Nothing much has been going on around here and yet, at the same time it has.


Well we finally got our new washer and dryer thanks to Nickkie who bought it for all of us to use.   It holds at least four loads of laundry at a time and maybe five or six for the dryer.   Which for us is so much more efficient especially for us.   We went a long time without a dryer which made it difficult for us to wash during the cooler months of the year.   Then in April Marc and I invested in a portable dryer that was 25 bucks from a friend of ours that was moving out of state, as small as it was, it was still a blessing just to be able to dry our clothes.  So we still have that put aside, but about a month ago now Nickkie went to use the washer and for some reason it didn't work, only to find out after she purchased the new one that the circuit breaker had been tripped and it still worked.  Oh well...

Other than that, Marc and I went back to church with the kids just recently and we are so blessed because of it.  Keil especially wants to be baptized and has been on my case about it for the better part of the year, and we felt in our hearts that it was time.

The kids are doing well in school.  James had gotten better at being organized and is doing surprisingly well in most of his subjects.  Keil is doing good to, but still struggles with science. I have no idea why as she always talks about making volcanoes for science projects and always talks about blowing things up.  

Go figure.

We are blessed to still be working for Disney, even though it can be very trying on our nerves at times. Now it Halloween Time at the resort and I can honestly say there are a bunch of creepers that pay the big bucks to get in for these events.  The attendance has picked up quite a bit in the past couple of weeks on days without the parties.   I am glad for this and at the same time exhausted.  

As I prepared my  hot cup of instant coffee I can't help but think that Christmas is  2 1/2 months away.  I am not even ready for this.  Has anyone started their Christmas shopping yet?   Usually by the end of October I am buying a little here-and-there and putting it away.  But at least I am thinking about what I want to purchase as gifts for family and friends.  I guess that's a good as start as any at the moment.

Until next time...    May the Lord Bless You and Keep You in All your ways...

A school week has gone by.....

And all is well here.     The kids seem to really be liking being in the 5th and 7th grade.   And here I was, worried sick about James for almost a year straight about him entering into Jr. High. Man, I had myself psyched out about it.   And guess what?  He likes it, alot. Which is a big relief to Marc and myself.

I made sure of it today.   When i asked him and he said he loves it.      Again, a sigh of relief. (whew)

Everything is going well with Keil also.   She got a teacher she didn't want.  And now she loves her, well lets just say she likes her a whole lot.    She is enjoying the 5th grade and is also liking the fact that she doesn't have to see her brother all afternoon long and put up with his crap.


But boy, Am I exhausted by the end of the evening.    Getting up by 7 and leaving the house at 7:30 sharp really does a number on one's much needed sleep.  When it's time for the kids to go to bed they sack out.  


And we do too.  Unless we're at work of course.

Summer Photos

Hanging out with Mater

At Oswalds

Curliques

Looking out the window of the Monorail Red

After a long day at Disneyland

Keil wants this hat.

One week before school starts....

Can't believe that the summer has gone by in a snap.  I think Marc and I finally have somewhat come out of our hibernation period, for a while there we were sleeping well into our afternoons.   Getting up early after we've come home fairly late from work takes a toll on our bodies, but I didn't realize just how much our bodies were exhausted.

James starts next Tuesday and Keil starts on Wednesday.  Marc and I will be taking 4 days next week to adjust to the changes of everything.   I just feel it's important with James starting his first year in Jr. High for us to see him through at least the first few days.  Keil will start back in the 5th grade and for the next few years they won't be joined at the hip at school.

Its a big step for James especially, one that I am kind of dreading knowing the kind of student and kid that he is and how he doesn't take anything seriously.

I will be praising God if this all turns out to be more fear that I  have  more than he does and he actually does really well.    I guess this will be a  wait-and-see kind of situation.  

Ahoy Matey

No we didn't go sailing, although when were leaving we saw a beautiful sailboat sailing close to shore. But of course this happened when we were in the truck getting ready to pull out.

So the big deal is is that we finally did get to the beach this summer. This week being the only promising time in August it will be close to 100 degrees inland but at the beach it will be in the lower to mid 80's which is very favorable. It was beautiful, the tide was high, the waves were between 5-10 ft high, hardly a breeze but it was
PERFECTION.

I am actually thinking about going next week. Maybe.

A Day Without The Kids... What To Do?

Today we got to do something we've been talking about for months/years. With the kids away the mice played. Marc looked at me and asked if I wanted to go to the Nixon Library for the afternoon. Is that even a question? To make a long story short, we decided to do just that.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD! I don't think Marc nor I thought it would be totally consuming of our minds. We should have figured it out earlier in the day, but was glad we didn't wait until later. All I can say is DETAILS. There was truly so much information to process I think I might want to review some Nixon history before he became President and while he was leading our country.

I never studied history that much and when I was a little girl we didn't talk about politics as it was a very hush hush.

After that our date continues with dinner at Polly's and a stop at the mall.

Oh and when we got home and before I got caught up in watching the last 6 episodes of Season 7 of BTVS we took Abby out for a walk.

Family Game Night

Thought I would post the the pics of all of us around the table tonight with the exception of myself of course.

James
Marc
Bud ( who for those if you who don't know is my ex- Father-In- Law)
Marina
Keil w/ Nickkie to her right
Keil's hand

Getting Ready For School and Other Things

You might ask why we are getting ready for school in July?   With two weeks to go before August starts now is the time to make the decisions for shoes which by the way, Keil will finally be getting those zip up X Hi Converse she's been wanting for the past two years, and James will be finding his feet back in another pair of Nike's.   Thankfully we don't have to put out a lot of other $$ for the school supplies which they both have to bring with them.   See out here in California because our schools don't have money for all the supplies that they need for the classrooms/kids they send nice little notes home with your children on the last day of school.   This year,  Marc's mom and dad bought everything on those lists for us, so that was a BIG HELP.

So we decided this week to stay home from going out and doing things.   I really wanted to go to the observatory today, but I would prefer a warmer day so that the afternoon breeze isn't cold on me.   So maybe next week instead.

Can't believe these temps we're having in the middle of July.   We've really only had two day's of hellish temperatures in the past week, since then we are experiencing no more than 85 degrees which makes it hard to plan a pool or beach day.


Yesterday I did something I have been wanting to do for the past few months.   I cut 4 inches of Keils hair off, and boy does she look so cute.  ( I still want to cut about another inch off maybe I can bribe her with 2 more Webkins)  that should work.   Im a sneaky mom what can I say...

James and Marc

Keil and Marc 

Just a bit shorter than this.

oh and btw 

The bribe worked!!!!  

Gloom - A family game night favorite or not?

So last week while Nickkie was perusing the game section on Amazon she happened to stumble upon this new card game called Gloom. Only she could find a game of this fashion, for if you ever met her you would know why as she is very unique.

At any rate after dinner tonight we all sat down and got comfy in our chairs with our cups of water and the remainders of the Strawberry pie we had for desert sitting close to us Marina began to shuffle the cards while Nickkie handed out the Family cards consisting of humorous characters with morbid backgrounds. You see the whole idea to this game is that you have to kill off the family members and the ones that have the most negative points at the end win. It was quite interesting. Good thing I had Keil by me to show me what cards to play and which one to get rid of. I still managed to lose with the horrific cards I ended up with time and time again thanks to Marina's shuffling.

I guess I can look forward to the next time ... Until then I will insert some photos of the cards

PS. I had one death in the family as you can see from the grave card.

It's a start at least

Well I promised myself that I would start keeping a family blog of all the exciting things we do as a family.   We have been quite busy on our days off carting the kids to various museums and parks to keep their little minds ( and ours) stimulated and learning new things.     Three weeks ago we visited Travel Town in Griffith Park and two weeks ago we visited the J. Paul Getty Museum.   Last week we took a break from going here and there and decided that going to the park for the 4th was sufficient enough, well at least I did.

It has just started to get hot here the past couple of days.   Not looking forward to a hot summer in a small house with no air conditioning and insufficient fans, but it is what it is.  If only we had some $$ what we could do with this place.

Oh well that's reserved for another time and place.

So really I feel that the summer is almost over.   We only have about 6 weeks to go if that.  James will be going to Jr. High this year and I have to say that I am very apprehensive about all that.   Keil will be moving onto the 5th grade.  But the biggest change in their lives will that they won't be spending every waking moment together at the same school.  And the biggest challenge for me will be carting them between two different schools because there is no bus service here to get them back-and-forth. With our time schedule of getting off of work and getting home early in the morning, coupled with the fact that I will be dead tired of doing this routine about the third morning into it... Yeah, not looking forward to all the changes that are coming my way.

The phrase "Jesus take the wheel" is going to be taking  on  a whole new meaning.  Literally.

As the kids are sitting around now slurping on popsicles and playing Wii I realize I am ready for desert.


Until next time....