Trigger Happy

Good Luck, Girl Scouts!

Our Troop went to see a taping of Good Luck, Charlie this week!

I heard about this last summer and have been working on it ever since to see if I could make it happen for a our "big" end of the year event.  I had basically figured it wasn't going to happen and helped the girls to plan their own celebration- but things changed, and it happened!

the girls were so ridiculously excited about it- it made me really happy!  When the taping was over- a lot of people got to go down on stage...but we didn't.

and we were freaking out.  It was a total bummer!  They said we eventually would...but we were worrying and feeling like the actors would be gone by the time we finally got down.

they weren't!  The girls saw all of the actors, except the main gal "Teddy" who didn't sign autographs for anyone, because she left for a 'plane ride' right after taping.  Not so sure about that, but at least the kids didn't miss something that the rest of the crowd had gotten a chance at ;)

Open House 2012

This year's open house was wonderful!   Overall, I ended up feeling really really happy with the amount of writing that both of my kids have done this year.  Both the quality and the diversity of opportunities.  I had to take pictures in the classroom to be able to see most of the stuff- but then I was able to come home and read everything more thoroughly.  I haven't photographed that stuff that I have at home.  I should!

(she saved a clean copy for me- he wanted this copy to look tie-dyed)

Beth's biography of Walt Disney

building battery circuits- I totally remember doing this!  Guess what her questions were about?

Harry Potter!

Here's one example of her writing- obviously you can't read it, but can you see how thick the stack of papers is?  She is a very wordy writer!  It's really neat to see this- and to read it all is really thrilling as her mom!  I love that she loves to write :)

So- a little show off session.  I am so thrilled with this school year, it's been a great one for them :)

reading....

I love reading blogs more than I love writing blogs these days.....maybe I will  have more fun things to write about this summer....it's almost here!

I am proud to write about this:

Matthew has made his First Holy Communion! 

 

I am so happy that I have completed this milestone with both kids.  I am often conflicted about our lack of mass attendance, I feel badly about it- but it's such a productions!  I do want my kids to have a strong understanding of the Catholic faith, and their own relationship with God, so there goes the conflict.  This year, I finally reconciled with myself that CCD is meeting my goals.  My kids understand about God, and both feel connected.  They know how to pray, and are developing an understanding of the Catholic doctrine, without feeling any pressure.  I want them to be able to choose how they feel about religion as they grow, but  have a good basis for faith!  I want them to love God with all of their hearts, and I believe they do.

God Bless both of my children :)

we were there!

We trekked up to the local college observatory last night to watch eclipse 2012.  We were fully prepared for a long sit-in...picnic, books, a cart full of blankets and chairs.  We were all ready to watch the big event. 

What we were not prepared for was a super long, uphill walk on a terrible path full of rocks that I kept hitting while navigating the cart alone because Drew was in a 20 deep line waiting to pay for parking- only to find out that people had parked right up on the hill I pushed that darn cart to.  Or the fact that by the time we made it to the top, they had sold out of the eclipse glasses.  The wind was huffing...the daddy was missing, the mommy was pissy!

but then the daddy came....

and dinner was finished, so we looked through some telescopes

and then the Adams' showed up with cupcakes!  So there were smiles all around :)

then I bought some glasses off of a family who was leaving- and the whole night was complete!

We were there- eclipse 2012!~

RIP Kodak

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Shutterfly photo books are the new way to preserve your memories. Create your own today.

 

I can't believe Kodak is going away.  I have been loyal to their prints and they are my primary backup.  Luckily, I have been using shutterfly for books for quite a while.....in their honor, I give to you Spring Break 2012, by Matthew (photos by Mommy) .  And a break from BLUBBER ;)

Blubber

I have been trying to get Beth to read Blubber this year to no avail,
So I did what I always do when I want to impose my will on my kids- I got the audiobook version and played it during our roadtrip! I actually highly recommend
reading the book before you read or listen to it with your kids if you don't
have a strong memory of the book's details. It was written in 1974, and it has a lot of name calling and cursing. Neither of those mattered to me. So, what did?
I wanted to use this book as an age appropriate lesson on bullying. There's been so much talk about bullying
this year. The Bully movie came out, and with everything I read about it- I believe in the message so much, but didn't think
It was right for kids at my kids ages. With Beth being in 4th grade, I wanted to open
up the subject, but not that way. I had remembered the book Blubber from my own reading when I was right around her age, and I knew it would open up the subject for discussion. It really did! Both kids could use the lesson, but it was actually Matt who must have spent some
time thinking about the subject, because he brought it up later for more talk.
I stopped the cd multiple times for talking about things that happened, because so much of it was controversial. I am really happy we did the book together as an
audio. I am putting this out there for anyone else who has been thinking
about the Bully movie but wasn't sure if their kids were old enough, like me. Something to think about....

Scentsy

I got a Scentsy warmer. Do you have one? Have to say, love the concept! Hoping it's going to get even better with the addition of "Yankee Candle Tarts". Last week I got an email advertising
"tarts" for $1 each. I looked at them, and I'll be darned if they don't look like the same product sold by Scentsy in bigger cubes. Bonus with Yankee...they sell the scents I already know I love! (they have warmers too, cheaper than Scentsy- by the way). So I order 15 "tarts", old faves like green grass, macintosh, folded towels. Some new ones too, plumaria and rainshower meadow. Hoping I will find some new favorites, but for $1, I won't feel too badly if I don't.

Happy Saint Pat's!

Matt caught a Leprechaun today....unfortunately, it got away.  But, he had it.....he found PROOF.  So bummed that no gold was found.

did a little celebration in Beth's class yesterday....so fun- Minute to Win It Style

they had to get the cookies off of their foreheads and into their mouths without moving their face/hands.....

You KNEW she would get that cookie in her mouth, right?  Don't call her "Snacks" for nothing ;)

they had to string penne noodles onto a spaghetti noodle using their mouths only....

They loved it!

This was the best though- funniest to watch-

noses coated with vaseline :)

and a plate full of cotton balls to be transferred to another plate....no hands, again :)

Tons of laughs for this one- great party!  Thanks to Pinterest and an awesome room mom- tons of fun for all! 

March 2012

 

What reading or learning did we do this month?

I have been listening to the cheesiest audiobook ever- Murder List by Julie Garwood.  So bad.  Finally breaking me of the Julie Garwood streak I have been on! 

I am re-reading A Discovery Of Witches- awesome!  I also read Fifty Shades of Grey- waiting to buy the rest of the trilogy in paperback.

Matt found a new site at school Timezattack, and has been playing a lot of coolmath.com

Beth has been challenged by fractions- did a play about The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, and visited The La Brea Tar Pits with her GATE class (and me!).

The kids earned their brown belts in TKD this month- big test!  Great jobs!

kids also received their report cards for the 2nd trimester and they both did wonderfully.  We are super proud of them!  Matt showed improvement in his social stuff – which is his big challenge, so he will receive an award this trimester- he is thrilled.  Beth made honor roll- and she is happy too!  She will also receive awards at the ceremony.

 

What fun did things did we do with family or friends?

Drew and I celebrated his 10 year anniversary at Hoag at a dinner at the Irvine Hyatt.  It was nice- and super fun to get dressed up and go on a date!

We went to the Irvine Great Park as a family and went through the Antique Fair and the farmer’s market, ate lunch, and flew kites/played frisbee in the field as our “family adventure” this month.  We also hit Disneyland one day- nice!

Drew and I got out hiking a couple of times- love it!  We all went to Slaters 50/50 with the Barber’s for some DEEELICIOUS burgers! 

Beth and I celebrated the Girl Scouts 100th birthday with the Barber and Gaines girls (& about a million more) at the Nixon Library.

Beth had her first sleepover at our house with Cara!  She loved it and can’t wait to do it again!

We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a party in Beth’s class, and I made my first corned beef/green dinner.

We went to see Mirror/Mirror at the theater!  I also went out to see The Hunger Games with Tracy, Jen, Tricia and Jen’s friend Sarah- awesome!

Gifts Given or Received?

Beth gave Cara a little treat until we ‘really’ celebrate her March birthday….and a birthday gift for Kiley was given as well!

Any Special or Unusual Purchases this month?

- we ordered dresses for Beth to wear on Easter and at Matt’s First Communion.

- we ordered Matt’s shirt and tie, and he and Drew bought pants together.  I picked up a belt, so we’re on our way to being prepared for his communion!

Were there any illness or health concerns?

-both kids were sniffly this month, and I had a day after conferences where I felt horrible.  Didn’t last though!

Accomplishments this Month-

- We managed to do well on our meal planning and cooking this month.  Keeping it up and having some delicious food in the process.

- began working on the CP yearbook

-report cards/conferences done for me

-brown belts earned and classes stepped up to a new level!

-stayed fit and active, and Drew really stepped it up and lost some weight too!

What's up

So....where have I been? In the kitchen! This year I decided that I wanted to learn how to cook more. I wanted to widen my menus and widen my kids palate. The 5 meals that we rotate through were killing me! So far, so good! My kids don't agree, but I am thrilled and Drew's loving it too.
I hosted a crockpots and cocktails party and got some great recipes and ideas. I have been trying all kinds of new things and even exploring a bit more with the crockpot! Next month, I will work on making our recipes healthier. First things first :)