One year ago today....

A little update...

As usual, I post nothing for weeks, then go on a posting spree. So, here's our most recent update....

Let's see...we spent a week or so recovering from our trip. Can anyone say LAUNDRY?? Other than that, we've been working in the yard a lot. We added a few flower beds in the back and got new sod to replace the grass that was torn up from the Bobcat during playscape construction. We also have our vegetable garden all set up -- we just have to add the plants! We hope to do that in the next couple of days....

We've also been hanging out a lot with friends. This week, we went on a spontaneous outing with some friends to the outlet stores in San Marcos. It was much more successful than you'd imagine, considering between the two families, we had six kids! (two 7 year olds, two 3 year olds, and two babies) I hadn't realized just how many of us there were until we went to eat at a restaurant and required a *huge* booth -- just because of all the kids! We have also been to a birthday party, book club, had a couple of playdates, and had some friends over for dinner. And I've been busy getting ready for Griffin's first birthday!

As far as homeschooling, we've been slow getting back in the swing of things. Avery has been reading a lot, especially biographies. She particularly enjoyed ones she read about Helen Keller and the gymnast Dominique Moceaneau. She also has been reading some books about Australia in preparation for our next World Explorers meeting, and as always, she's reading several novels at a time. Also, our yard and garden work was to get us prepared for our spring focus: gardening. The kids are very excited about the vegetable garden -- even Rhys! (Interesting, since he wouldn't touch a vegetable on his plate with a ten foot pole!)

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Last Saturday, Avery had her first Show Team performance. She got to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade down Congress Ave! It was a rainy day, so the crowd was thin, but Avery still loved performing. The group walked in rows, waving to the crowd and doing cartwheels and roundoffs. Rhys loved the fact that we walked along with the girls, and Griffin did ok too (he eventually fell asleep in the sling). Avery is very much looking forward to the next performance -- and we're all hoping her uniform will be in by then!

Take Apart Day

Today at co-op, we had Take Apart Day. The kids were each given screwdrivers, safety goggles, and an array of broken electronics and appliances to take apart. Avery worked with her friends Maya and Ben to take apart a DVD player. I was suprised at how much Avery was into it! They worked very intently to completely deconstruct the DVD player. Rhys watched them a little, then he and I worked together to take apart a cordless phone. Since we've been home, he's been carrying his tools around in his pockets...hopefully he doesn't get any big ideas and start taking apart our *working* appliances!

Monkey Man!

Griffin is on the move. His specialty is not horizontal motion, it's vertical. The boy is a climber! Yesterday I was folding laundry, and in the minute it took for me to fold two towels, he crawled into the bathroom and attempted to climb up on the bathroom counter! I found him on top of the toilet, with one foot on the tank, and one trying to get balanced on the toilet paper roll. Eeeeek! He also climbs on the train table every chance he gets and has also succeeded in climbing on the couch, the bookcase, and the end table. I have a feeling I'm going to get into very good shape just by chasing him!

Colonial Williamsburg and Washington DC

I'm a little late with this post, but better late than never, right?!

At the beginning of March, we went on vacation to Colonial Williamsburg and Washington DC. We had a fabulous time! The flights went much better than we expected, and Griffin was truly on his best behavior for the whole trip.

We all loved Williamsburg, but Avery found it particularly fascinating. We bought her a colonial dress right off the bat, complete with a sash and bonnet, so she could really feel like a colonial girl. We all loved seeing all the sights, but Griffin's favorite part was seeing some horses pulling a wagon (ruff, ruff!!). We were so lucky to have such beautiful weather in Williamsburg. It was in the low 70s and sunny -- perfect for us cold weather wimps!

We were less lucky with the weather in DC. It was C-O-L-D! And it was a little longer walk from our hotel to the metro than we expected. But, still, we had a great time. (I think the highlight of the entire trip for Rhys was the many forms of public transportation -- planes, trains, cab, AND bus!) We took the Tourmobile to see all the major sites, and we spent a lot of time at the Smithsonian museums. We went to the American History Museum, Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, Hirshorn Art Museum, and the National Gallery. We were lucky enough to be at the National Gallery during a Cezanne exhibit! That was great.

Griffin, 11 months

Griffin has been a busy boy! He got 4 teeth in the past week and learned two new words! In addition to Mama, ruff ruff, and meow, Griffin has started saying, "Biiiii" for Bill (so much for Dada!), and today he pointed at my eye and said, "eye". I was so suprised! As if that wasn't enough, he took a couple of steps! I'm not sure that he really meant to do it, because he seemed surprised when we made a fuss over him. But he'll definitely be walking soon! Why must babies grow so fast?!!

We all live in a....

Girl submarine, a girl submarine, a girl submarine!

--Yellow Submarine song lyrics, according to Rhys

Jim Weiss

On Tuesday this week, we had the great priviledge of attending a performance by the storyteller Jim Weiss. He was absolutely fabulous. Despite his amazing storytelling abilities, Rhys was less than impressed. He spent the entire 2 1/2 hours with his hands over his ears and whining at me. It was too loud for him. Avery and I loved it though, and she spent the entire time finger knitting with a group of girls while they listened. She has a 15 foot knit chain to show for it!

Sick, sick, and more sickness

Will winter ever end?!! I'm so tired of sickness. The kids have had one illness after another for the past couple of months. Last weekend we got to make our third trip to Urgent Care in a month. Avery had a fever and what turned out to be a UTI. (Thank goodness -- an illness that isn't contageous!) Unfortunately, Rhys followed her UTI with a nasty stomach bug. Blech. Poor little guy, he's been just miserable! He seemed to have perked up a little tonight, and managed to hold down a couple of crackers, so hopefully things are improving....They need to, since we're leaving for our vacation on Wednesday morning!

Haircut

At her request (ok, demand), Avery got her hair cut on Thursday. She had a lot cut off, but it turned out very cute! The stylist blow dried her hair straight, so now she wants me to do that every day. Yeah, sure, I'll get right on that! ;-P I can barely get my own hair dried! She'll have to live with her adorable ringlets!

Happy birthday to meeeee!!

Today I turned 29! I had a great day. This morning, I took Avery to get her hair cut (so cute!! I'll take some pictures tomorrow), then we all went to the mall. We spent the afternoon shopping, took Avery to gymnastics, then had lasagna for dinner. Yummmmmm!!!

Loverboy!

On Thursday, we took Rhys to the first meeting of a 3-5 year old group. The kids played at the park, listed to some stories, and made some Valentines crafts. (Rhys *actually* did some art!!) Anyway, he and his little friend Mia were so cute playing together! He kept trying to hold her hand and hug her, and he even stood at the bottom of the slide and waited for her to slide so he could help her down. What a gentleman! ;-)

Ack!

It seems that Avery thinks she 17 -- not 7! She has been talking recently about getting her hair cut short, and I've been dragging my feet. Yesterday I was telling her that I don't really want her to cut her hair because I love her long curls, and she looked at me, and said, "MOM! It's MY hair and MY life!" Unfortunately, she's right! So I made an appointment for her to get her hair cut next week. Pictures to come....

Valentine's Party

On Friday, we had our co-op Valentine's party. The kids exchanged Valentines, and lots of yummy snacks, and did some fun crafts. The highlight for Avery was playing musical chairs, which she had been bugging me about playing for the past week. It was her first time to play, and she was thrilled to win!

RUFF! RUFF!

We dog-sat for Annie, Dad's Cocker Spaniel, this weekend while they went skiing. While she was here, Griffin learned his second "word"! He now barks, "Ruff! Ruff!" whenever we see a 4-legged creature! He's been barking his head off at Jasper and the cats, and he was just beside himself when we saw a pair of Italian Greyhounds at the park.

Curious George

On Monday we went to a friend's house for a Curious George party in anticipation of the movie. The kids had a great time playing and eating lots of goodies, like banana smoothies, banana bread, banana popsicles, and homemade pizza. We're all so excited to go see the movie, but after my experience with taking Griffin with us to see Nanny McPhee, I think I'll wait until Bill stay home with the little troublemaker.

Sweet sister

Last weekend, Griffin was feeling a little sick. He was really crabby, so Avery picked him up and walked him around the living room until he feel asleep! I was so impressed! She now has a new job. ;-)

Week in review

A little update....

After the excitement of Rhys's fall and ER trip, the rest of the week seemed relatively tame. Avery did her normal gymnastics classes, but Rhys had to miss his because of his head. We went to French day with our World Explorers group. Avery gave a short speech about Monet and showed a few of his paintings. We all ate lots of yummy French food - croissants, bread, cheese, crepes, quiche, etc. On Friday we went to a homeschool park day which was fun for all of us. Homeschooling is going well. Avery has been studying about Ben Franklin, who I find incredibly fascinating. We're immersing ourselves as much as possible in colonial history to prepare us for our trip to Virginia and Washington DC next month!

Definitely worth noting: I managed to escape kid-free twice this week! On Wednesday, Mamar watched the kids while Bill and I went to dinner, and on Tuesday, I got to go to a Stitch 'n' Bitch knitting session on Tuesday at a friend's house. My knitting is coming along well. It's not only addicting, but very calming. I find it a great way to wind down after the day. I'm almost finished with a purse that I knitted for Avery, and I've started on a tote bag that will be knitted and felted. I have so many projects I want to do...just too little time to do them! Maybe I can get a nanny to keep the kids so I can craft? ;-)

Our ER trip

Last Sunday, we got to make our first trip to the ER since we've been parents. Rhys fell off the picnic table in our backyard, and hit his head on a concrete block. It was absolutely terrifying, but after a few hours and some Durabond (glue), he's as good as new. Although he tells me he has to sleep on his ear, so the glue doesn't hurt him on his pillow.

Avery was quite traumatized by the whole thing. She was so worried about her brother. She wrote this in her journal while we were at the hospital:

To: Myself
1.One

Tears tears and more. i am so woried. My brother had to prablably get stichies! ther is noooo qwistseon. he has to have got some. it must hert. he was wailing sooooo loud.

I cry soooo tearfuly.