Nine

Today is Jack's ninth birthday (NINE!!!!) I swear, he was just born yesterday.

I sometimes look at this tall, handsome boy and wonder who the heck he is, and what he did with my little baby!

Jack has grown by leaps and bounds this last year. Not only physically, but emotionally as well. While I miss the cute baby Jack, it is so fun to see him maturing and changing and growing into an amazing young man!

This kid can build a Lego kit like nobody's business. He has the attention span to sit and focus for hours, and follow directions to a tee. It's incredible.

I'm fairly certain Jack is part fish. He is as comfortable in the water as he is on land. We arrived at Joyce's about 8pm on Tuesday night. By 8:01, he was in his suit and in the water!

He's an incredible swimmer. His swim team nickname is "The King". Butterfly is his best stroke, and he makes it look so effortless.

For years, Jack was an incredibly picky eater. He wouldn't eat any "mixed" foods (like soups or casseroles), and didn't want any of his food touching. He's discovered in the last few months that new foods can be yummy, and is game for trying almost anything. In recent months, he's tried sushi, smoked shark, chow mein, edamame, and more. His appetite is becoming voracious, and I can only imagine what it will be like in another few years!

He's super brave. With Steve traveling a few days a week, Jack has taken on the role of "man of the house" when Steve is gone. This includes emptying the rat traps around our house, which he does without a single complaint.

To celebrate his birthday, we went to Knott's Berry Farm with Joyce and our niece Courtney.

Jack's personality is really coming out. He can be witty, hilarious, and charming, all at the same time.

We convinced him to go on the roller coaster Ghostrider right off the bat.

He was sitting two cars ahead of me with Steve. As the ride was clicking up, climbing up the first big ascent, I had a near panic attack—what were we thinking taking our baby on this terrifying, rickety, ride? I just knew he would go flying out of the car, and I wanted to scream to Steve to hold on to him tight! Thankfully, we all made it out alive and intact. When I asked Jack how it was, his response was "It was okay. I was kind of scared." Kind of scared, my foot...I was terrified!!!

The rest of the day, he was perfectly content to sit back and wait for us "big people" to ride the crazies, or ride the rides in "Camp Snoopy".

As we were leaving, Jack told me "This was the best 9th birthday ever!"

We came home, he jumped in the pool (big surprise), we had leftovers for dinner, and finished off the evening with cake and ice cream. And Lego building.

I am so blessed to be this boy's mom . . . I know he's got great things ahead of him, and I can't wait to see what is in store.

Happy Birthday Jack—we love you straight to the moon and back!

And so it goes . . .

Today was the last day of school. I now have a 1st grader, a 4th grader, and an 8th grader! How is it possible???

Grant had a "graduation" ceremony on Tuesday. The minute I saw him in his little graduation cap, I lost it. (Big surprise, I know.).

He walked down the aisle with his first grade buddy, to the song "Let them be little" by Billy Dean. The opening line of the song says "I remember when you could fit in the palm of my hand . . ." That did it. The floodgates opened. How did my baby get so big?

Don't know why I bothered with makeup that day. I cried it all off.

When it came to picking playmates, Grant prefers the 1st grade girls to the kindergarten boys. 

These are three of his favorites. I'm pretty sure the feelings are mutual.

He's had a wonderful teacher who has loved him to death, while still pushing him and keeping him in line and on track. I'm so excited he'll get to be in her class again next year!

Today we had to bid farewell to Jack's teacher. He's had her for two years in a row, and she's been amazing. She has pushed and motivated Jack, and he has blossomed under her loving care. I never thought I'd get emotionally attached to my kids' teachers. I think moving on is harder on me than on him!

Olivia finished the year with a 4.0. She worked hard, and is learning how to manage her time and stay on task with her school work. I am so proud of her. She is mature beyond her years in so many ways, and is just growing up too darn fast!

Another year, and she'll be taller than her math/science teacher!

I waited until the last minute to come up with gifts for the kids' teachers. Yesterday, I came up with this:

A plant for their yard (2 of the teachers are new homeowners), 

with a card that says "Thank you for helping me GROW!"

 A custom-wrapped candy bar

 A pencil-shaped card (made using my new favorite toy...the Silhouette Cameo)

I added a gift card for each teacher to their favorite restaurant and called it a day. 

Olivia is on her way to the 8th grade graduation dance tonight. Seventh graders get to attend the dance, to celebrate with the graduates. She looks grown up and beautiful.

How did she get so big? We have one more year until high school. And only 5 more years with her living at home. That's just not long enough!

After school, we had a bunch of friends over for a swim party to celebrate the start of summer. All was going perfectly, until Grant tripped on the brick wall lining the back of the pool and fell, catching his little toe on the way down.

He fractured and hyperextended his pinkie toe, and we're waiting to see an orthopedist early next week to see if it needs to be splinted, casted, or surgically set. Seriously? We started off his kindergarten year with a broken bone. Guess he wanted to end it on a similar note.

Let the summer fun begin!

On any given weekday. . .

Our schedule as of late has been insane. We've chosen to expose our kids to various activities, all of which build confidence, help skills to develop, and assist in raising well-rounded, socially adept kids.

But lately, the pace of life is beginning to catch up with me.

Individually, none of the kids are over-scheduled.

Olivia has weekly piano lessons, once-weekly church youth group, is on the school track team (which lasts all of 6 weeks), and the summer swim team.

Jack has weekly piano lessons, weekly cub scouts, and is on the swim team.

Grant is on the swim team.

But add all those things together, plus the end of school year things like talent show rehearsals, staff appreciation week, the school book fair, etc., and suddenly, life is spiraling completely out of control.

Here is what our day looked like today:

8:00-2:00 - Work in school library

2:00 - All three kids had a dentist appointment (I love that all three can get their teeth cleaned at once!)

3:00 - Drive from dentist to track meet to watch and cheer for Olivia.

5:30 - Leave track and drive to swim practice.

6:00-8:00 - Swim practice. The boys practice 6-6:30, Olivia from 7-7:45.

8:15 - home finally after 12+ hours, Olivia started her homework, I put the boys to bed, then started a load of laundry because everyone is out of clothes!

Our refrigerator is almost empty, with the exception of a few wilted and stinky vegetables. We've been living on fast food and take out. Tonight, my dinner consisted of a Starbucks Frappucino, a handful of red licorice, and a chocolate chip cookie. The dinner of champions! (My kids ate Subway sandwiches . . . don't ask me why I didn't get one too.)

I know this frantic schedule is short-lived. Track is over after today. And in 3 weeks, school is out for the summer, as is scouts and mutual (church youth group), and we'll just have swim. Afternoons will be spent lounging at home, taking it easy, and eating meals as a family at home again.

I just ended my 2-year stint as PTA President, and to the amazement of many, did not take another position on the board. I'm realizing that even I have limits as to what I can do, and those limits have been pushed to the max!

It is a constant challenge for me to find a good balance between leading a well-rounded life, and being a crazy woman who is too stressed and busy to enjoy the daily moments of life. A scripture comes to mind, reminding us not to "run faster than we have strength". I need to pay attention to that one, I think.

I am not writing this post to get advice or suggestions on what I should or shouldn't do (keep those comments to yourself!). Rather, I am writing it for myself, so that 20 years from now, when my kids are complaining about how "exhausting parenthood is, and they don't remember being this busy when they were kids", I can look back and shake my head and laugh . . . and remind them that they are where they are because of all the experiences they had. And to tell them to slow down a little, and take the time to smell the roses!

Mother's Day 2012

Mother's Day weekend started out with a school fundraiser — Vegas style!

Steve and I got a picture with Elvis.

We played Blackjack and Roulette with fake money chips.

This picture makes it look like I'm really partying it up. I promise, that red cup has nothing in it but plastic chips.

Saturday night, I played in my second official tennis match. My friend Christy and I were paired up. We lost. Actually, we got creamed. The score was 6:2, 6:0. It was pathetic. My confidence was shattered a little . . . and I came to the realization that I won't be asked to play in the US Open anytime soon. But we had fun.

Aren't we cute in our black & white team outfits?

When Steve asked what I wanted to do on Mother's Day, I told him I wasn't picky. My only requests were things I didn't want to do—no cooking, no dishes or cleaning, and no laundry. Other than that, I didn't care!

Sunday morning, Steve woke up early, quietly got dressed, and snuck out of the bedroom leaving me to sleep. When I came downstairs, this was waiting for me.

Breakfast was delicious, and I didn't have to do the dishes afterward! Steve and the kids gave me some colorful new tennis outfits, as well as a sign for my office, which I love. This motto is one I try to live by each and every day!

We took a walk after breakfast, then I told Grant that for Mother's Day, I wanted him to learn to ride his bike. He obliged, though somewhat hesitantly. After about 5 minutes of Steve running behind him, he was riding on his own!

Olivia and I went to see one of her best friends in a local play while the boys went to the park.

We went to our family favorite—California Pizza Kitchen—for dinner. Steve kept his word, I didn't have to cook or clean up all day long!

Being a mom is way harder than I ever imagined. Most days, I crawl into bed at day's end absolutely exhausted. And then, I wake up and do it all over again. And again. And again. But in spite of the challenges, in spite of the tests of patience, the crumbs on the floor, the incessant piles of dirty laundry, and the nonstop chauffeuring, cooking, dishes, and helping with homework, I can't imagine anything I'd rather be doing right now. I know in a few years, the kids will be grown, the house will be clean and quiet, and I'll miss the noise and laundry, so I'm trying to cherish it while I can. Being a mom gives my life purpose. Seeing my kids grow into capable, kind, thoughtful, and caring people is the best reward I could ever ask for!

Getting away

The kids were on spring break this past week. It's been cold and rainy. Awesome weather for being cooped up in the house...

Thankfully, we had planned a mini vacation to San Diego! The kids were so excited and had been looking forward to our trip for weeks.

Early in the week, Steve told the kids a big surprise was coming on Friday, and would arrive before we got to the airport. Guesses started flying...Olivia guessed a laptop (as if 3 computers and an ipad in the house weren't enough!). They all three guessed a dog (because getting a dog right as we are leaving town makes perfect sense...). Olivia then guessed "swimming with dolphins" (she obviously wasn't paying attention to the time frame of the arrival of the surprise, unless she was anticipating swimming with dolphins in our pool...brrr!).

The "surprise" arrived just before noon...and when the kids looked out the window and saw a stretch limo waiting to take us to the airport, they completely freaked out!



We toasted the start of our vacation with sparkling cider in the limo...and Steve and I came to the realization that after this, the kids will never want to ride a plain old airport shuttle again!



We arrived in San Diego, picked up our rental car, and got checked into our hotel right on the San Diego Harbor. The kids went swimming, then we headed out for dinner at The Fish House. Little did we know that everyone else had the same idea for dinner, and it was a Friday night...it took an hour and a half to get a table. We wandered around along the waterfront at sunset.

There was a huge Naval airship carrier permanently docked at the harbor. (One night of American Idol auditions were held on this ship!)

Ever the romantic, I loved the larger than life monument to sailors.

By the time we got to our table, it was after 8, and after a few bites of bread, Grant passed out on Steve's lap. He slept all the way through dinner (we boxed up his cheese pizza and took it with us). We had walked to the restaurant, about 1/2 mile from our hotel. There was no way Grant could walk back, and he's way too heavy to carry. So Steve did the noble thing and summoned a bike taxi to take us back to our hotel. With three tired kids, it was the best $40 bucks we spent on the trip!

We woke up early Saturday morning and headed to Sea World for the day. Neither Steve or I had been there since we were kids, so it was fun for all of us.

We watched the dolphin show.

We saw some cool animal exhibits.

We saw Shamu!

We got to pet dolphins up close.

We rode some rides.

We went on a river rapid ride that literally soaked us head to toe. It took hours to dry off.

We did a lot of walking! Within five minutes of getting in the car, Grant was passed out.

Saturday night, we headed up to Orange County to spend Easter with Steve's family.

(A funny side story . . . Grant protested wearing this shirt. He pulled it out of his suitcase and said "I don't want to wear this, it's an African shirt. The Easter Bunny comes on Easter, it's not the AFRICAN BUNNY!" I nearly died laughing!) 

 Early Monday morning, we loaded back in our rental minivan and headed south to LegoLand. The boys were in heaven!

Who knew you could build so many things out of Legos?

Entire cities were made out of Legos. Impressive!

Nearly every ride or attraction ended up in a gift shop. 

There was no escaping without some Lego loot.

Olivia was a trooper. It wasn't her idea of paradise, but she kept a smile on her face and had fun watching her brothers. She's the greatest!

The rides were all pretty much perfect for the boys. Slow and steady, no darkness or loud noises.

We stayed in the Carlsbad Homewood Suites Monday night. Best hotel deal ever. They had a Manager's Reception that evening with a full (FREE!) dinner buffet. We loaded up our plates and brought them back to our room to watch a movie on HBO. The kids thought it was da bomb. A full breakfast was included the next morning, so we ended up with two free meals AND a one bedroom suite for under $200!

 We spent Tuesday back at LegoLand, touring the SeaLife Aquarium and hitting the Lego-themed water park.

Steve and I kicked back on lounge chairs and occasionally got up to check on the kids. Having all three kids be completely water safe and self-sufficient was amazing!

 We loaded back on the plane Tuesday evening, trading the warm San Diego sun for rain and wind back home. The limo ride home was too short and quickly the realization that the vacation was indeed over sank in. It was good while it lasted!