Why, Hello, Spring!

After being in Vegas all weekend where the weather was 78-85 degrees, I was really happy to come home to great weather here.  We decided to take the kids out to Civic Park last night and then to get a "special surprise".
Gracie LOVES the slide; I LOVE her big eyes.

I did get her to slow down a second so I could take a pic.

Scott, Kanin and Gracie kept having races down the slide.

Daddy had to take time to take care of a boo boo.

There is always time for a kiss for Gaga.

>I Love, Love, Love this picture.  Kanin met a little boy at the park and they were playing hide-n-go seek and he was supposed to count to "39".  I thought it was so sweet with him sitting there with his eyes closed and counting (he didn't know I was taking a picture).

And, of course, our "special surprise".  We went to Fritz's where Gaga and the kids got ice cream.

Vegas, Baby!

Just got back last night from Vegas.  If you have never been, it is definitely something you need to put on your "bucket" list.  I've been to a lot of place and there is nothing, I mean nothing like Vegas. 

There are so many things that I like about Vegas:
*You don't have to drive anywhere; you either walk or take a cab.
I actually walked so much during this trip that I lost 1 1/2 lbs. 

-You can see so many big name acts.  This weekend alone--Lionel Richie, Jay Z, John Mayer and Cher were all there.

This trip was the first one in which we actually saw a show-Lionel Richie. A lot of people made fun of us for wanting to go see him but it was phenomenal. We got the tickets for free from Harrah's but Scott and I both agree that we would have paid whatever to him. He is never touring in the U.S. and to be able to see him at the Colliseum that maybe seats 4,000 people was great. He sounded exactly like he did 25 years ago and sang every song that I wanted to hear. It was awesome!

-There are so many world renown chefs that are either centered in Vegas or they have a restaurant there that you could literally eat at a 4 or 5 star restaurant every meal--if you have the $.

We also had a fantastic dinner at Joe's Stone Crab. This was, by far, the best, most succulent, juiciest, freshest crab that I have ever had. I highly recommend eating at Joe's and you have to have the crab.


-No matter what time of day it is, there is something going. 

-"FREE" DRINKS!  Yeah, right, it would be cheaper to actually buy your drinks but, at least, you feel like you are getting them for free.

-It is the one vacation destination that I am always ready to leave.  I never have that "just one more day" feeling that you get when you go to a tropical island, beach, skiing, etc.  Nope, I'm always ready to come home.

-Most importantly, it is a place where Scott and I can go and just be together. 

Weird Stuff-Random Thoughts

Do you ever feel like you have something to say or something that you want to write about but you don't know exactly what it is?  That's where I am today.  I feel like I have a desire or a need to write about something but no idea what.

For those of you who do read my blog, I also wanted to turn you on to my mom's blog, Memoirs of a Country Girl.  Maybe I get my desire to write from her . . .

Kanin's 1st Soccer Game-March 23, 2010

Yesterday Kanin FINALLY had his first soccer game.  It had been cancelled two other times so when we were finally able to put on his uniform, he was ecstatic. 

Kanin got a "five" from his coach before the game.

It was so cute to watch all of the kids running around out there.

He had to throw the ball in, I'm sure he had no idea why.  LOL

He volunteered to be goalie during the second half and he might be regretting it.

I love the way he is kind of peeking at me.

He was really proud coming off of the field.  I was, too, because he scored a goal in his first game!

Rotten but so cute!

Kanin's Spring Break 5

Today was the last day of Kanin's Spring Break.  We took yesterday off and just kind of hung around the house.  Today was so beautiful, though, that we had to get out and get some fresh air.

My poor baby Caleb had a run in with the carpet--OUCH!

Just a Mom

I think I have mentioned on here that I follow a blog called Clover Lane, thanks to Holly, and I received one of the "Clover Lane Lady's" (that's what I call her) updates and it really hit home with me. 

Last night Scott and I went to dinner with a new potential employee of his and her husband.  The employee is a registered nurse who is working bedside these days and her husband is an opthomalogy resident.  They were both super nice, easy to talk to and down-to-Earth.  In fact, I was kind of sad for the dinner to end because it was just an easy-flowing conversation.  At one point in the conversation, Emmy asked me what I did and out loud I said, "I'm just a stay-at-home mom".  Well, immediately, I kind of made a little joke and said "JUST" hoping that she got the meaning that even though I stay-at-home with the kids that I do more than just kind of babysit, watch TV, etc.  Then, instead of just being content to say that I stay-at-home with the kids I felt the need to go farther into my education and work history  . . . "I have a degree in Education, taught high school Engish for a couple of years, was a Military Intelligence Officer in the Army for 6 years then I was a cartographer (people never know what that word means) and then I DECIDED to stay at home once Gracie was born."  Why did I feel the need to justify myself?

Staying at home with my children is an absolute blessing that I know a lot of women, including my own mom, wish and dream to be able to do but it always seems like when faced with the question of what I do, I seem to be the one that belittles it by trying to convince the other person that even though I stay at home now that I used to actually work.  How crazy is that?  I really think that it isn't other people who are judging me but that I am judging myself and I'm really unsure why. 

This is definitely something for me to work on. 

I know that being a mom is probably the most important job in the world.  I am the one that the kids are with the most.  I am the one who does most of the disciplining.  I am the one who listens to what happened at school today or what show was funny.  I am the one who hears, "Mommy, watch me do xxxx" at least a hundred times a day.  So  think that I am the one who needs to give myself more credit.

I really hope that next time someone asks me what I do, I can be content to say that I'm a mom.  Period.

Kanin's Spring Break 3

Today is St. Patrick's Day so I decided to take the kids to the Dogtown Parade. I have never been before so I really wanted to go, too. It was a lot of fun but A LOT of work. Because of the parade route and Zoo construction, we had to park in the North Parking lot of the Zoo and walk all of the way through and out the South side. The South side is under construction, though, so there was a Detour and then that is right where the parade was starting, as well, so we had to walk around the parking lot.

My plan was to go to Turtle Park but by the time we got over there it was already pretty packed so I found a spot on the corner of Tamm and Oakland. The kids did really well and no major break downs but just a long day. I'm glad we went, though, even with the hassle we are making memories!

I found matching shirts for Kanin and Caleb

Getting a good picture of all 3 is nearly impossible.

The kids thought my wig was funny. Caleb didn't recognize me.






Kanin loved that they handed out candy. Of course, most of it will just go in the trash. LOL


At the end of the parade, we were heading into meltdown mode . . . Caleb was hungry, Gracie was crabby and Kanin was tired of walking. Notice how they all have the same look on their faces. If I were in the picture, too, I'm sure my face would look the same as theirs.

Here is Kanin with all of his beads he caught.

Kanin's Spring Break 2

For our second day of fun, I took the kids to the zoo. I have to admit that it was a little of a debacle getting in the place due to the construction at the zoo but once in, we had a great time. We met up with our friends, Sara and Megan, and their children, Kaitlyn, Troy, McKenna and Brady. We got some good exercise pushing those strollers up and down the hills and we enjoyed the sunshine.

Kanin was REALY into the map. He tried to track where we were and what was coming up next. He actually did a pretty good job.




I loved this lion up in a tree.



Kanin, Troy and Kaitlyn had to get a closer look. Gracie was content to sit in the stroller and eat pretzels. Caleb was pretty much asleep the entire time-what a life.

Kanin's Spring Break 1

Today was the first day of Kanin's Spring Break. We are going to try to do something fun each day. We decided to go out and watch the Blues practice at the Mills. It was an optional skate so Kanin was excited that Keith Tkachuk and DJ King were both there. Mommy was excited that Cam Janssen was there;) Sue and Jacob came along with us, as well. It was their first time at a practice.

It was a lot of fun!

P.S. Some of the pics are still pretty blurry . . . still working on getting to know the camera in different lighting, speeds, etc.


Kanin didn't leave this spot the entire time (except when I made him take a picture with his brother and sister).


Can you tell that he really didn't want to take this picture?

PROJECT: CLEAN HOUSE, Day 4-Toy Room

I resumed my Clean House Project over the last couple of days. The toy room has been, by far, the most labor intensive room. It took a good 2 days of going through toys, moving furniture around and basic straigtening. Of course, if I could have had a full day dedicated to this room it wouldn't have taken that long but, let's face it, I don't have a full day to dedicate to anything.

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER

This is the pile of stuff that I came up with that is either broken, the kids have outgrown or they just don't play with anymore. Some of the toys that are in good shape will be moved down to the basement. Kanin has a habit of rotating in/out of interests so it won't be long before he will want some of these back upstairs.