Day 15: Gray Be Gone

I almost didn't think I would end up with any pictures today. Sunday mornings, even with 11:00 church seem to go quickly. And then when we made it home there is super and naps and our home teachers, but I did get some. But first I have to tell you about some things I did not get pictures of.

Since the new year, Ryder has not been doing well in nursery. He has basically ended up sleeping all of nursery. His nap time is 1:00- so with our new church schedule 11-2:00, it makes it a bit tricky. But today when I took him in there was only a few tears and as I stayed a few minutes he just sat quietly on my lap, but not bawling this time. When another kid put down the jack-in-the-box he went over and began cranking the handle, even smiling when jack popped up. I went off to class and when we picked him up he had made it.

He even managed to stay awake on the way home, eat his lunch (also without falling asleep) and then I put him down for a nap at 3:00. When he woke up Ryder and I played in his room.

He built towers, very carefully stacking each block on the next. He slowly puts the next block on as the tower is getting higher, very slowly and carefully pulling his hands away, keeping his hands opened and ready in case it starts to tip. His patience and determination amaze me and seem so much more than a 20 month old should have. Once the tower is complete he looks up his eyes twinkling. "rash" he says and then crashes the tower. Then he gathers the blocks and carefully, slowly builds the tower to it's tallest height once again. "Stack" he says as he places the next block on. We do this for about 20, then he is finally ready to move on to the next game.

I did get a few pictures though. As this has gotten way too bad
and I did something about it againabout to get started...

much much better

Day 14: Round and Round We Go

Saturday marked the end... the end of Big Blue.

We posted Eric's truck on Craigslist-within minutes of it posting he had two phone calls with very serious interest. He sold it for his asking price two hours later.

So we celebrated with free trolly rides at the mall

and the not so free merry-go-round.

And the also bought some not so free pizza- which Ryder calls "p-p"

But I did get a free package in the mail. Free because I won it from a friend's blog- a whole box of goodies from Pick Your Plum

including these headbands

Did you know I had to watch a video on-line to see if I was wearing the headband right? Yea, I really am pretty clueless.

It was a good Saturday

Day 13: Lazy days, beds and Icecream

No school today- yes already after just going back from Christmas break.

But we enjoy the lazy, easy morning. Lot's of laundry for me. Some crafts for the kids.

Oh and yes there was this...but you will have to go read my main blog on Monday to learn more about that.

And we ended the night with dinner out and icecream.

He eat's his in a bowl.
She eat's hers in a cone-
which, yes she ate the cone before the ice cream. And was quite proud of herself for doing so. But she would not do this with a drumstick. In fact she does just the opposite eating just the icecream, sticking her finger way deep into the waffle cone to get out the last bits of icecream only to throw the waffle cone away. She isn't allowed to eat drumsticks anymore. So far cones are safe-ish.

Day 12: A Good Thrift Store

I used to be huge into couponing. But then we moved. I lost my endless supply of coupons from my dumpster diving friend and I moved to a state where the coupon policies just aren't as good. It was a big blow- and I just haven't been the same since.

I do still love a good bargain though. So when a friend introduced me to some wonderful thrift stores about 20 minutes away I was hooked.

Ryder and I ventured out- I love shopping with just one. He didn't last on the way home.But he quickly woke up and we waited outside of Alex's preschool the sun warming our backs.
But yes, it is winter here- just California winterAnd what did I get today at the thrift store? Oh just all of thisFor $100.

I do still like a good bargain.

Day 11: Homework

Like it or not homework is a regular part of our lives

When he cooperates and just does it, it is easy and he is done so quickly...

other days, yea, not so much.

Today was a good day thankfully.

And the work they do already in first grade-I don't think I learned proper sentence structure like this in first grade.

The hard part is what to do with the other kids while homeworking is happening

I don't think he needs to watch anymore shows.(he actually had just woken up from nap and was trying to turn on TV but it wasn't working)

Day 10: Is That a Rooster?

I don't live in a small town. The populations is right around 160,000 and we are surrounded by city after city with populations this big or bigger. So when I went to the post office the other day I was surprised to see this
What you don't see it?
Let me take you in closer.
Yep, a rooster wandering behind the post office- which is actually a very small/funny ghetto building- also doesn't fit the city.

Alex returned to preschool today. It was just Ryder and I at home. We have done this since August, but I guess the long break just made me forget. Forget how quiet it is with just him. How much I can get done with just him around. I liked it.
And these resolutions from my 7-year-old
please let these be resolutions that are actually kept!

And daddy's big blue truck- this ended up being one of the lasts days it is ours. Eric got a company vehicle and it was finally ready for pickup. Now we have to sell big blue.Ryder is going to miss it.

And I may have ended my day by using this to wash down my multivitamin.

Linking up with as all pictures were taken on my iPhone

Day 9: School's back

Lucas went back to school today. We had our usual- "I feel sick" in the morning, which I usually mostly ignore and then surprise he goes off to school has a great time and comes home happy.

It was a lot quieter with just two at home. We ran some errands,

did some puzzles,
and just tried to adjust back to the routine.

I made dinner too- something I have been slacking on lately

A quiche just about to go in the ovenAnd this little guy was hungry.
He grabbed the oven mitt and tried to get the dinner out himself. A very blurry picture that I was hurrying to get with my phone- but had to capture the moment.

We did end the day with a great family home evening where we even had Lucas do one of his school projects as part of the lesson! Score!