Reese, the Golden Ticket Winner

When we moved to Utah from Texas, we left some very fabulous schools behind (amongst many other loves). Unfortunately, we've had some disappointing experiences here and decided it would be best to either put our kids into one of the many charter schools around Salt Lake County or go private (b.c let's face it, I'm not cut out for homeschooling).

It was a long shot chance getting into a Charter school as they are lottery based with siblings of current students getting first priority. I tried getting Gavin in this year, but we were vying for one spot with over 2 hundred other kids for the charter school in our neighborhood. For the 2010-11 school year I decided to branch my search out to 5 other charter schools in the county for both Reese (Kindergarten) and Gavin (Second).

Well, Reese was our golden ticket winner! We were not chosen during the main lottery for all 5 schools in March, however, two weeks ago I got a call that Reese's name was pulled for an opening in a Charter school for Full day Kindergarten (which I prefer and love, despite the extra cost each month...Gavin had this, except the extra expense). This school was one of the furthest ones out, but that didn't matter b.c we were thrilled with that we got our foot in the door to a brighter educational future here in Utah.

Gavin is now first on the sibling wait list for his grade and I just have to keep praying real hard that come the beginning of the school year, we will get the call that he's in. If not, he'll be in for 3rd the following year. Come Caden's time for K (in 2 years) he will automatically be placed! YAY!

Reese was a little nervous during her orientation. She's our shy girl and takes some time to warm up.

While I stayed in the gym for a meeting on what to expect, Reese got to tour her new school and meet her teacher.

Reese outside her new school! YAY for prayers being heard and answered! I was so stressed about this for the past 5 months and no doubt contributed to my "move depression." Brighter days here indeed on the horizon!

Caden: Part Deux

Again, this child will sleep anywhere. This time, in the middle of the night, we found him under the dinning room table, between chairs.

Watermelon

Caden, intensely eying the growth of his watermelon plant. He takes his gardening seriously. Including taking it around the house, to bed with him, next to the toilet on potty trips and outside to play. We'll see how long it lasts and if it will have a chance to grow into fruit.

REESE: by Reese

I went to upload my camera the other day and found these pictures. Looks as if Reese found someone (most likely Caden, I'm getting impressed with his skillz) to make a photo shoot of herself.

If only she would look straight into the camera when I was taking the pictures. She sure is a cute girl and I can't believe my only baby girl is turning 6 this Fall! Where did the time go?!?!

Anyone Care to Guess?

Caden came to me the other day exploding with excitement! I had him slow down his speech and explain to me why he was so excited...and what was in that old candy container. Care to guess? Let me just say...you DON'T want to know where and how it came to be. Something about a bathroom, pants on the ground and "fill 'er up"! Oh, little boys!

Easter?

Yeah, so we rarely dye eggs for Easter and every year the kids bug me about it. This year I caved and grabbed some egg dye on an after Easter sale for 10 cents baby! I just let them go to town...think there were 22 eggs dyed that day.

Father Son - Nickel Arcade

A few weeks ago I took the boys on a Father-son date to a great nickle-arcade somewhere in Salt Lake. We found a few coupons online and off we went. This was by far the best nickle arcade I had ever been to. Look at all these old school games, and they ALL WORKED!!!

Does anyone remember 'Burger Time'? I loved this game and remember playing it on some crazy weird gaming console that had a built in keyboard my grandma bought at a garage sale and the game cartridges had handles. I don't remember what it was called, but it wasn't an atari. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Caden loved the pinball machines and ended up playing almost all of them. This one was one of his favorites because it had 'hanky the Christmas poo' AND a toilet in it. Back in the fall, unbeknown to us the kids got on xbox live and found a season of southpark on netflix and started watching it. Before we knew what they were watching they found the hanky Christmas poo episode and thought it was hilarious. It took us months to get Caden to stop saying "Hi I'm hanky the Christmas Poo" in a high pitched voice. This pinball machine threw him out of remission for the evening.

I had to stay with Caden most of the time and Gavin kept coming back for more nickles and handfuls of tickets he was winning at some carnival game. Of all the games we played Caden loved this bowling game. He was actually pretty awesome at it as seen in the video below.

This one had Dinosaurs and is an old favorite because they had it at the Rockwall Chuck-E-Cheese.

We finally caught up with Gavin at the Crane were we were winning mountains of quality cheap stale candy.

This 5 year old tootsie roll only cost 40 cents! What a bargain!!

We went to the prize counter to cash in all the tickets Gavin racked up for us. Those lips Gavin is holding make a sweet noise when you blow through them I recognize from childhood but can't remember what made the noise. I just remember whatever toy it was it was very popular on the bus I used to ride to school.

The boys are very eager to go back. I told Sariah I want to go with just her because this place was so awesome. Forget the kids, they can play the Wii.

P.S - Disclaimer: I, Sariah, never saw how Christopher dressed the boys before they left...

An Important Reminder

My children just came in from "an adventure" (that's what they call roaming the neighborhood looking for stuff to do) with what Gavin called "a reminder that Spring and Summer are here Mom". Ah, yes, it is indeed. The buds my not be happenin' on my trees around my yard and the neighbors, but Spring is indeed here. Thanks for the "reminder" that I need an attitude adjustment. These flowers do make being homesick for Texas a little easier! (Would have been better had they been Blue Bonnets! j/k) Love my babies!

Notice how there are no stems? My children rock at picking a flower that will last more than 24 hours...

These make me so happy and go perfect with my new yellow walls!! Especially when all the painting gets done! Will update once finished! Oh, and the yellow color we finally decided on was Valspar "Luminary" under the Earth Elements. EE2073B PERFECT!

P.S. Also, another "reminder" that was given to the kids...please don't pick flowers from the neighbors yards or community landscapes! If they flowers came from your yard, sorry.

Happiness is Coming

My dearest Goosey Love is finally painting my house a cheery, bright, luminary color so that happiness might find its way into our dark cold lives! lol Depressed much? I LOVE IT! I'll show the finished product once it's finished. Oh I love him! My heart could burst!

Mellow Easter 2010

We chilled around the house this Easter. Remember there was snow covering all grassy areas and therefore, no Easter hunt outside. Besides, too cold.

The EB was quite generous this year. Mostly b.c we all needed a little cheering up. Usually the EB gives Spring toys...unfortunately, we don't know when that will come...

Snow Blows Part II

The first two days of our Spring Break brought us MORE SNOW!! SO FUN!! We also had snow on Easter morning! Nothing says welcome Spring like a few inches of snow that sticks around for days! (voice dripping with sarcasm!)

Blue N Gold Banquet

I can't believe how fast time is happening! Gavin will turn 8 in a few months and begin Cub Scouts! CRAZY! He was invited to the Blue N Gold Banquet to kick off his welcome into Scouting.

It was make your own Taco Salad for dinner! Delicious!

Gavin really had a great time interacting with the other scouts in some games.

At one point in the game they were asked to find a ladies shoe and bring it to the front. I gave mine to Gavin and Caden saw all the excitement he couldn't contain himself. He ripped of his own show and ran up to the front and was high fiving the other boys! It was so funny! Too bad he's gotta wait until 4 years!

And of course CAKE was served. Christopher and I went to an informational meeting for new scouts while Gavin did a pinata! I do have to say I'm pretty impressed with the scouting program here in our community. These Utahan's really have the spirit of scouting and are on top of it all! We are excited to join the ranks come the end of summer!

Silly

I found these on my camera. They make me laugh. Love you little Bear!

We are the Champions!

About a month ago Gavin "saved the princess" on the new Wii Super Mario Bros! All by himself. He was quite proud of himself.

He liked being able to collect coins within the credit letters.

Fortunately when he was able to enter the secret world, he had already collected most of the large coins. Shouldn't take him too long to complete the secret world, however, he's moved on to other games now.

And I have FINALLY finished Zuma! Getting to level 13 seemed to elude me for the past year. I got to 13 "Space" and it was a matter of one day and I WON!!

I am a "Sun God"! Isn't that the truth!

To be young...

We found Caden sleeping in these odd places and positions. Each happened within the same day!

All that game playing must have been pretty exhausting!

Earlier in the day he was reading during "quite time" and happened to fall asleep mid grab into his snack bag. Upon further investigation, he hadn't even finished chewing!