first days

Time for another school year to begin.  This mama is actually looking forward to getting back into a weekly routine with regular bedtimes.  

The girlchild is starting her last year at elementary school.  She's got a fantastic teacher and they will be learning Nevada History this year.

Burrito got the teacher he wished for but none of his best buddies.  The good news is there is still recess and a chance to make new friends too.  p.s. don't let Bob's face fool you...he's wicked excited about school.  Just thinks he's too cool to smile for mama.

As for me, I'm patiently waiting to hear how the first day went and hoping the kids love their first day of school presents I left on their beds this morning!

Scenes from this week

watching the winter olympics

 

"Hey mom, can we cheer for Canada?"

 

"Hey mom, how come we can't have a ski jump into the swimming pool?"

 

"Hey mom, did you see that?  That was a level 10 trick"

 

"Hey mom, can we make more popcorn?"

 

 

 



off the cuff

I made a pair of really cute, felted slippers for my sister for Christmas.  And then I went and gave them to her without taking one single picture of the finished project.

Doh!

I liked them so much I decided I need my own pair, so I guess there is still a chance for redemption.

After pouting, stomping about, and declaring I don't even love him, Bob said I could make it up to him by knitting him a hat that looks like Magna Charge (for those of us not in the know, here's a picture)

Ummm...clearly he has a lot more faith in my skills than I do.

And I could find nothing that looked like a pattern to follow online.

Here is what I came up with.  The hat was made on one of those circular looms (only because I was trying to teach Emma how to use it).
The eyeball is crochet AND glow in the dark....you really should be doubled impressed here!
And the magnet through the head is I-cord with pipe cleaners stuffed inside it.

Not too bad for having no idea what I was doing, I'd say!

Our Favorite Nightmare in the Daytime

I found this hastily taken picture from last fall on the boy's phone when I killing time waiting for a new life on candy crush (did I just put that in writing....eeek!)

 

I just love the look on Bob's face.

A Spunky Six

Fresh off a birthday for this little guy.  Hard to believe the "baby" is six.   Good thing his favorite thing to do still is snuggle with his mama!

Pictures from the weekend

As the only boy who participated in the annual Newman family cookie making day, Bob spent his time making snow angels in the yard and building forts in the living room.

He's such a trooper!

Plus I'm pretty sure he didn't mind being the official cookie taste tester.

I can't believe he'll be 6 in a week.

Ready or not

BoBo: Mom, you should keep my first tooth.  I know you are really sad about me growing up and all.

Me: But what about the tooth fairy?  Do you want to write her a note and ask if you can keep the tooth?

BoBo: No, cause what if she takes it.  I don't care about the money mama.  I want you to keep my tooth forever.



That really happened.

So How Was Your Day?

 

Hey Bob, how come you haven't brought home any crafts from school yet?

 

I'm in kindergarten now mom.  We do MATH not crafts.

 

Well...we did do one craft today.  But it was just with crayons.

And then we went was camping

Seems like the new school year snuck right up on us this year.  In an effort to cram as much fun as possible into the fading hours of summer we tacked on a camping trip to our way home from Disneyland.  
Have you ever tried to pack for two very different environments into one suitcase?  It was challenging.  Thankfully, Grandma decided to meet us at the campground and so we were able to send a lot of the things we needed only for camping with her.

We camped with only  half of our extended family but we still had a good visit and the cousins got in some quality mischief making time.  We took turns basking in the morning sunshine on the logs.  It was a lot colder at 10,000 ft that we have become accustomed to for August.

The littles did a pretty great job hiking to see the Bristlecone Pines at Great Basin National Park.  We made a day of it and hiked up to the glacier too.  Better put it high on your to-do list if you want to see it.  They said in 20 years the glacier will probably be gone for good.  The last time I saw it was probably 20 years ago (that makes me feel old!) and I was surprised by how much smaller it is today.

 

 

 

Bob and I agreed, the mornings were too chilly for our liking.  I definitely should have packed more layers.

 

 

 

 The deer wandered in and out of camp fairly regularly.  That's one of my favorite memories from camping here as a kid.  It's not uncommon to find one in the trail on the way to the camp bathrooms. 

 

 

 

Someone gave Bob a flashlight and an official job on the cave tour.  That's a brave park ranger right there!  I stayed behind to be sure that Bob wouldn't abuse his privileges.  We took the 60 minute tour of Lehman Caves since we had the littles with us.  Everyone loved it and no one got restless.  Next time we'll do the longer one for sure!

 

 

 

MmmmmMmmmm....cave bacon 

 

MmmmmMmmmm....even better, real bacon!  Cooked over the campfire of course :)

Poor husband always has to fish with the pink, barbie pole.  But he caught a fish and we got to eat it so that's all that really matters right?

Emma was crashing through the woods on her way to the creek and she almost ran smack into these does.   We sat and watched them for a long time before they spotted the dog we had with us and trotted off into the trees.

 

Bob found a triangle shaped rock and immediately took it as a sign that we should go home so he could play Zelda.  Silly boy.  And that is why we go camping...

Disneyland in the summer time

Next time I come here and say, oh hey I'm thinking about going to Disneyland in August, please allow a moment of silence and give me that look.  There is a reason why the last time we went to Disneyland in August was 11 years ago. 

It.
was.
hot.
and.
crowded.

But to be fair.  Even a hot crowded day at Disneyland is better than not being at Disneyland.  And you know what?  The line for the Winnie-the-Pooh ride....still just 5 minutes.

 

As a kid, I might have ranked the Jungle Cruise ride right next to the Tiki Room at the bottom of my favorites list.  Judging by the kids faces as they listen to the guide, I'd guess they feel the same way.  But the older I get the more I love it.  I "get" every one of their jokes now.

By the last day, Bob was pretty sure he should get to decide which rides we go on and in what order.  Turns out no one else felt the same way.  So the burrito and I hung out in the shade of the carousel while everyone else rode Pinocchio. 

And then we did some street dancing and scored some beads.  It's the little things I love the most about being here.

We also repeated the Medieval Times show (Not Disneyland I know, but close-ish!).  We got yellow knight, again.

 

 

The kids were so taken with the show they ate zero bites of their dinner, again.

But it was worth it.

And then there were two in school

This year we had two first day of school pictures.  Unfortunately the camera man had to leave in a hurry this morning so we weren't quite put together and the pictures are a smidge blurry.  But we remembered and that's all the matters right?

Say right :)



First up, the girlchild.  Who still wanted to be a zoologist up until yesterday when she decided a scientist would be equally as good.  Apparently we took pictures in front of the door last year...so there goes that plan.  But at least you can tell Emmers grew a little since last year.


And then there was Burrito.  Who is so ridiculously excited to be going to school just like his big sister he didn't even want me to walk him to the door.  Don't worry Mom, he says, I got this!

 

 

Bob's sign says he wants to be a ninja someday....naturally.

Epic

Bob: Mom, I really  need to wear my mouse ears today.

Maybe you've been playing too much Epic Mickey on the wii?

Bob: No, I'm just really getting excited for Disneyland.

That's not till August, Bob.

That works

Hey Bob, let me take a picture of your swollen nose (he may have got hit with a baseball...may have) so I can send it to Memere.

Okay, but first take a picture of my ninja face.

On a side note:  You know how in the movie Date Night Tina Fey is always running into open drawers because Steve Carell's character never closes them?  That's what happens to the sliding door in the hallway.  Every time I walk past it I close it. 

Every time.

How to tell if someone has been in your room

Hey, Bob.  Have you been in my bed again?

No, mom.

Then why are there ninjas about and my electric blanket turned high?

Practicing

Oh he's not sleeping....he's silently observing.

Sunday mornings

Hey mom, what do you think of my banana-chucks? They are useful AND delicious.

Too Much Time With Me-mere

Ready to go to sushi, Bob?

I don't think sushi is on your diet, mom.

Yes it is.

I'm going to have to take a pass then, there are physical creatures in sushi.

Cheap Wranglers

Mom, come quick! There's an ad for cheap wranglers on the tv.

Sorry Bob. 

He said Jeep Wranglers....

Pretty Please

Please may I have chocolate milk?

Please can Piper sleep with me tonight?

Please can you get the star wars Legos out?

Please can I stay up just a little bit longer?

Oh, I've seen that look a hundred times, and now all the Disneyland employees get it too. 

I wondered why every time someone scanned Bob's card they started laughing.  

This is his annual pass picture. 

 It's a keeper I'd say!

Snow Days

It hasn't snowed enough to really get a "snow day" called but we have been lucky enough to be able to wake up early on Saturday morning and enjoy the snow.  We haven't gotten any really good snowman making snow yet....there's still time I think.

I could kiss those cheeks!







Emmangel



 I had a few more good ones with the kids trying to sled down the hill in the backyard but blogger is doing weird things with their photo upload...dang!