Saturday is a Mommy Day

Saturday ended up being a very good day for me and for the kids.

First me-- I got the privilege of spending the day at the Power of Mom's Conference.  I attended for the first time last year, hardly knowing a thing about it and well now I am hooked; even running the twitter feed for the site.

And yesterday I even helped present and lead the discussion groups.  It really was an awesome day, with so much inspiration and ideas and motivation to be the deliberate good mother I want to be.

The attendees at the conference

Me and some of the board members-including Founder April Perry

The photo-a-day was together

Some of the awesome ladies I was together with today.

And what were the kids doing while I was gone all day?  They were crying and missing me... or not.

Daddy took them for... (rest of the pictures by Eric)

Krispy Kremes for breakfast

An afternoon of mini-golfing

Followed by frozen yogurt

Topped off with take-out pizza eaten by the TV while watching a movie.

I don't think they missed me much.

Knotts X4

So after spending the morning cleaning-- and since it was such a beautiful day -- in the mid to upper 70's!  Well we went to Knotts again.  Yes again.  

So we will begin backwards--with our traditional picture

And the lights are not a seasonal thing-- they just aren't turned on in the day! 

And my park dog-- while good, wasn't quite "delicious", but I used it as my photoaday anyway.

And yes, this began a debate about how mustard is needed on dogs- which I do not like-- which is almost a sin since I am from Chicago and all... but hey, I don't really care for mustard. 

And of course we had fun riding rides

Eric took this one as they were going up the hill on the Jaguar-- the kids favorite roller coaster.

Ryder and I were on the trucks when the above picture was taken

It was once again a fun day at Knott's-- and no I don't think we will keep up the pace of 4 times a month the entire year. 

TGIF!

I really do love Friday's.  The older two still have school so I have time to get stuff done, but there is no homework and we pretty much always go out to eat.

Friday's are a good day.

And today immediately after I picked up Lucas we headed to the park.

Where I was able to get an awesome "shadow" picture-- which was the #photoaday.

Friday's are good days--though our restaurant choice, "New Town City Buffet" was not such a good choice. 

Yep We Went Again

Friday was Ryder's first story time at the library-- it was also a day off of school for my older two.  But they were more than happy to go to a friend's house for a play date.

Story time not only is stories, but songs and poems and play time at the end.  Ryder loves it.  His favorite song is definitely "Open, shut them"

Then it was off to the store to buy presents for the 3 birthday parties Alex was invited to in the next two weeks.

While we were shopping, Eric texted me saying what if he finished up work early and we went to Knotts.  The fact that it was noon and only 45 at our house made me question, but when I learned it was 10 degree warmer at Knotts said why not.

And we went for the 3rd time this month.  And let me tell you- a Friday where most are in school, that is a bit chilly is totally the day to go!  We pretty much walked onto every single ride.

Our traditional picture-this time shot in daylight hours

I don't think Ryder is smiling in this shot yet this year! 

When we were riding the big train Alex noticed the "robber" standing outside of it before we started and started talking to him.  He was asking her who her boyfriends were and she was all- "No! These are my brothers" and just bantered back and forth.  Right before the train left he said he had something for each of them and gave each kid a bullet casing.  They love them!

Eric and I even took turns taking the kids on rides while we went on the big coasters since the lines were so short.

And today's #photoaday picture was "water" so while Ryder and I rode on the little train in camp Snoopy (where shot from above came from)  I took my water picture

It was a great way to spend our afternoon

Knott's Again!

When we thought about buying season passes to Knott's Berry Farm we wondered if it would be worth the money-- well if we keep up our current rate, we definitely will!  We went again today- twice in one week.

The weather was even better this time- 70 degrees and sunny.

There were lots of smiles-- I think it is quickly becoming Ryder's favorite place.

Lucas of course loved the big train

And we went on a lot more rides- Eric and I even took turns going on a big ride for us.

There were big old hot dogs for lunch

And of course lots of "movement" which was the photo of the day.

Eric's "movment" picture- the waterfall behind us

While we waited in line for the last ride (The Pony Express) Ryder fell asleep (about 6:30) and slept for the rest of the night-- was even out cold when we took this picture, which I plan on making my kids pose for every time we go.

It was a great day- but I know we definitely won't be going twice next week since school is starting back up.

Books

Yesterday was all about books- it began with Ryder doing some "light" reading.

After I took this picture he kept posing and asking me to "take pictures me".  This mama was happy to oblige.

Then our book day continued with a trip to the library

which always leads to us coming home and literally spent an hour reading books together.

I even ended the day by reading myself as I began "Freshmen for President" by Ally Condie

The photo of the day was "heart"

"The scar goes down almost to my belly button from when they fixed my heart when I was five."

Happy New Year!

So this whole 365 thing- I have tried it, ended it and tried it again many times.  Last year I thought I would do a picture/journal thing on this blog and it last a few months.... but well here I am at it again.  I am doing the instagram #photoaday thing- so if nothing else I will post a picture from that everyday.  I will be backdating my posts to the day they happened, though most likely I will be posting it a day late. So really this is my place just for me.

January 1, 2013

#Photoaday- "Today"

"Today I am at Knotts Berry Farm with CAGirl (Lourie) and her family.  Eating lunch right now."

Lourie's family got tickets to Knotts for Christmas and asked if we wanted to come too- and we jumped on the offer and even bought season passes for our family.

Ryder's favorite was the little race cars.

This is the new way he smiles if I ask him to smile.

He even was brave enough to go on some of the little kiddy rides- like the airplanes and this ride

 all by himself I put him on the ride and he sat there waiting for it to go and loved the whole thing.

Alex loved the roller coasters and got to go on the Pony Express twice when Lucas decided not to last minute.

Me and my girl riding one of the  many rides

Lucas favorite was the train (or trains) of course

Though after barely making it through the line (due to anxiety) but then going on the ride last minute he love loved the Jaguar- a level 4 High thrill roller coaster that we ended up going 3 times that day.

About to enter the coal mine

Me and Lourie

It was a great day- Ryder fell asleep in his stroller on the way back to the car about 6:30 and was out for the night- without any dinner unfortunately.  It was a great day though- and I can't wait to go back just Eric and I sometime to ride all the really big rides we missed out on.

A Friend Whereever She Goes

Spent the afternoon at Scandia- a mini amusement park. The kids ran from ride to ride, taking advantage of the small crowds. Ryder and I went at a slower pace, but he knew what he wanted to do.

"Train" he said pointing. "Bus" he then said. If I set him down he would begin walking off, arms pumping back and forth as he headed towards what he wanted to ride next. He loved the giant slide the best, laughing the entire way down as he rode on Eric's or my lap.

Alex wanted to go on the tilt-a-whirl again and again. One time was enough for Eric- and me, I didn't want to go even once. Luckily, Alex did what Alex always does and she made a friend. I never quite see how it happens--but suddenly she will be holding hands with a girl near her age running to get on the ride again. They sit in the same car, laughing the whole time as the spin round and round. When the ride stops, she quickly exits, grabs hands with her new friends and they run around to get on the ride again. After about the third time on the ride I hear her finally ask the girls name. How does she do that?

After they are sufficiently dizzy they run to the next ride together. Alex's new friend's mom and myself trailing behind.

I marvel at how fearless she is- when it comes to friends, when it comes to life-- even going on the big roller coaster with Eric. I hope she always has this ability- the ability to just jump right in, make friends and enjoy life.