Monday Musings

1.  It is an absolutely gorgeous day outside and I wish I could go bask in the sunshine!

2.  I wish there were such a thing as a "How to Put Your DIRTY Laundry in the Clothes Hamper" training session for children. Really. Seriously.

3.  I smiled today when I saw my favorite flower (Ranuculus) for the first time of the season. I had to stop and take a picture, so I could see it again later. :-)

 

4.  I love that Quentin loves the Nook Color we bought this past weekend. I truly hope it helps him to concentrate on what he's reading and not how many pages are still remaining to be read. The first book he purchased electronically? "Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder" Yes, he is all boy!

 

 

Blog, What Blog?

Okay, okay...so, I've been slacking on the blogging. Sorry, but you can read about everything on Facebook! :-)

We've been very busy since my last post. We've celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Valentine's Day! Trust me when I say, we were truly thankful at Thaknsgiving; knew we were blessed at Christmas (and always); partied like parents with 9 and 12 year olds on New Year's Eve; and were very loved on Valentine's Day.

Summer vacations are rapidly approaching. We've got plans in the works and some of them could include any combination of the following: Phoenix, Disneyland, Sea World, Las Vegas, or who knows what...depending on funding and the general mood of all of those involved. Whatever the next few months bring, I know I'll enjoy it and I hope everyone else does too!

Wordless Wednesday

Nor Cal Renaissance Faire

Okay okay, I'll try to do better with my updating of this blog. I'm making no promises though.

At the beginning of the month we took a little trip to Hollister and went to the Northern California Renaissance Faire. Quentin loves the jousting and of course anything having to do with swords and other weaponry. He's such a boy.

The first thing we did was see the Moonie comedy show. It was hilarious! The guy does his introduction and then informs the audience that the show is a non-speaking show, so he'll no longer be talking. Well, that lasts until someone in the audience, or a show participant, does something he doesn't agree with. Then, he laughs at himself and has to put back on his "quiet" face. :-)

Austin rented the Robin Hood costume for the day, but Quentin wasn't interested. He opted to wear his new fedora all day and received many compliments on it.

We watched the jousting, saw the queen, Austin participated in a story telling skit, and Quentin tried his hand at the bow and arrow.

He did pretty well. There were some that got away from him, but he got a bulls-eye too.

I think he was inspired by his instructor.  He decided he needed to try it again later in the afternoon and was able to get a picture with her.

It was a very long, but fun day...well, except for the throw-up on the way there and the throwing of a royal fit on the way home. But, really, it was a great day! ;-)

September

September is flying by! We've had two birthday parties for Quentin, taken him to a few doctor appointments, gone to the circus, started the soccer season, made lots of new friends and are looking forward to spending time with old friends too!

Andrew took the boys and I to Ringling Brothers earlier this month. I love the circus! I think I enjoy it more than the boys do.  Well, maybe not more than Austin. He's such a cutie!  Quentin is less willing to participate. Gotta' love the tween attitude. He did end up really enjoying himself, but he tried hard not to. :-)

Quentin really likes his new soccer team. He is making friends and they are playing well as a team. Here are some pics from the game last weekend.

1st Day of 6th Grade

Quentin started 6th Grade yesterday. His official report was that his new teacher seems nice, but that she sometimes speaks to them like they're 2nd Graders. (She taught 2nd Grade previously.) He said that the After School Program seems okay, so far. He's not committing to liking anything yet. He's the kind of kid that likes to keep his complaint options open. :-)

I bought him a bunch of new school clothes while he was gone. Not smart. He grew so much that I had to take back about 90% of what I bought! He put on over 10 pounds, his shoe size went up a size, and he grew almost two inches.

Summer = Busy

Okay, I figured I better do an update before I go on vacation because when I come back from vacation I’ll have to do an update about my vacation. You see the logic, right?

It’s been a busy couple of months. Quentin has been a traveling man. He has spent a lot of time at Grandma’s house, which by the way, is over the river and through the woods! :-) I’m very happy to have him home. He’s definitely in the pre-teen stage, but I still love him and like to have him around.

When he comes home we our season passes to go to the water park. Our friend Megan bought a season pass too, but I don’t know if we’ll take her with us anymore since she almost got in a fight with a very large woman in a yellow bikini last time we were there. That’s another story though.

Grandma Nihla turned 75 years old this summer and Mom hosted a party for her. Lots of family and friends came to celebrate with her from as far away as Yuma. Wanda and Juanita did the decorating and the guys were responsible for the BB-Q. It was a delicious Mexican Fiesta! Mmm…carne asada, pollo asada, home made salsa, etc…

Andrew and I celebrated one year together by him meeting the family and him actually agreeing to have his picture taken without half of his face covered or his tongue sticking out. I think that means he likes me. Maybe? Or, it could have been because Chandel told him to do it and Chandel (a.k.a. Dizzle) can be very intimidating. Or so she thinks. :-)

I took Quentin to see The Fray in concert. It was a great show! We froze though. I didn’t think it would get into the 50s in June! I should have known better.

4th of July weekend was really fun! We saw fireworks, BB-Q’d twice, went to the water park and went swimming at my cousin’s, at the apartments, and at Sun Splash. I thought the boys were going to morph into fish by the end of the weekend.

One of our more recent adventures was a trip up the pass. Mom and I took Quentin and Lily so they could swim in the river. Well, that part didn’t work out because the river was the highest I’ve ever seen it. It was flowing way too fast for adults to be in, much less little children. So, instead we had a picnic and witnessed the results of two motorcycle accidents. Not cool. Here’s a hint people…drinking and driving do not mix. Drinking and driving something with two wheels instead of four is even worse!

And my last bit of information…my kid broke my brother’s kid. :-( It was an accident, but my Little Man feels awful. He is Lily’s “protector” and he is devastated that he broke her.