M+B=E2O2

The Pledge

Do kids still learn the Pledge of Allegiance?  I was thinking about that not too long ago, wondering if it is still part of the daily routine of school. I keep meaning to ask my sister since she's a public school teacher.  Or my friend who is a private school teacher.  Hmmm.  Maybe they'll read this and comment.  I thought that one way or another maybe I should teach it to my kids, if for no other reason than because it is a part of our American heritage.  And seeing as we believe in God and all I take no issue with that part of it.  So for the last week or so, when we've remembered (3 times to be exact) we have stood in our dining room, one child gets to hold our flag up on the entrance way step, the rest of us just below.  All lined up, hand over hearts, reciting the Pledge.  They all have gotten such a kick out of this.  Seriously.  They all want to be the flag holder.  They are all quite serious in the recitation, copying me line by line.  It is pretty much the most adorable thing we've done in ages.  So now I wonder, how many homeschoolers do this?  Do you?  If you don't home school do your kids say it in school?

Forgot to say

One last thing- when we got home from Vegas, Ben's brother had cleaned up the backyard- swept the patio, put kid toys away etc and his mom did all-- ALL--- our laundry. Washed, dried, FOLDED and put away!!!!! I'm ok at the washing part, sometime I manage to dry it, but folding and putting away are my downfall. That was such a nice treat to come home to!!!

Like I said in the last post, we have some good family.

10

This past weekend  Ben and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. Isn't that cool?!  Ten years!!   The years have had far more good than bad, more joy than pain.  We've struggled financially, we've had to make very tough choices.  Four children have come into our world, one dog has left. We've made amazing friends and we are blessed with the most amazing families.  There is nothing more I could have asked for these past ten years. 

We spent the weekend in Las Vegas.  We left at o'dark thirty on Thursday morning.  I was disappointed to miss our school photos- especially since I put together the yearbook, but oh well, I wasn't the one to schedule the photographer.  We are going to do our own "make-up" photos this week at the park. 

We spent the first night with my parents at their house.  The kids have been counting down to this for weeks!  The community pool was still open so they could hardly wait until 3 o'clock.  After two hours of swimming we went back to the house and had some burgers and hot dogs.  Our friends from home had sent a little surprise to my sister for us.  She gathered photos from the family and put together a slide show of the last ten years.  It was perfect!  Oh and the bottle of wine was great too!  After watching it a couple of times we sent the kids off to bed, which they did easily since they were exhausted. 

Friday (19th) was our anniversary.  We spent the morning at my parents just hanging out.  Ben got in in his work out at the gym and I just lounged!  We all packed up and in two cars went down to visit my Uncle C.  From there my parents took the beast (our suburban) filled with the kids and Ben and I took the Prius.  We had reservations at the Palazzo for the night.  We checked in and got dressed up and then headed to the concierge lounge for dinner.  It was a relaxing meal- part of our room price and very worth the lack of effort involved!  After dinner we had tickets to see the show Jersey Boys.  WOW!  I loved the show!!! We both did.  I actually regret not paying to floor seats (we went' with the cheap seats up high).  It was just that good.  I had no prior knowledge of Frankie Valli or the Four Seasons.  What a story!  I didn't want it to end.  It did though and so we were forced out of the theater! 

We then went to Table 10 for what we thought would just be dessert.  Table 10 is one of Emeril's restaurants and we both picked it with out knowing the other was thinking about going there too.  We didn't even pick up on the reference to 10 in the name of the restaurant until we were halfway through our shared jambalaya!  It was amazing- I've never had jambalaya before.  We picked out two deserts to share and tried hard not to get completely stuffed.  (We couldn't finish either, though both were fantastic). 

After dinner we had to walk by the sushi place nexdoor- it was pumping and there were lines out the door- I just had to know why.  Turns out they were filming something- had to look it up to see what  The only celeb we could make out was Robin Leach.  Since we don't really roll with that crowd we headed down to the casino and played roulette for the rest of the night.  We lost it all, but had fun  in the process, and didn't take out any more to lose than our original bit. 

Saturday we met up with my parents at my sister's house.  She has been renovating extensively and we could hardly wait to see how far she's come.  It looks great- still a work in progress, but it is really looking good.  She is hosting our entire east coast family for Christmas Eve this year so they are working hard to get it looking good. (We're not going to make it for Christmas Eve though we'll be out there not too long after). 

We spent Saturday night (after the kids went to bed) at a nearby new casino called the Eastside Cannery.  It was nice,  small and the tables all had low minimum bets.  This time we came out exactly even.  We all had breakfast there in the morning at Snaps- good food and very cheap!! I was in the beginnings of a full blown head/chest cold that pretty much took me out Sunday.

We left early Monday morning- just after breakfast.  It was an easy ride home, the kids were pretty much worn out after 4 days of swimming! 

Also over the course of the weekend we managed to buy a dinning room table (found off craig's list).  Our current table is ready to crash to the ground, no exageration!!  We put in an offer on a sail boat with our friends/now partners and we fell in love with and purchased a piece of art from the gallery in the Venietian.  Too much outflow, but all of it was investment- so it feels ok!  We pick up our table this weekend,  our picture is being mailed in the next 3-6 weeks and we have the sea trial, haul out & survey in the next week or so.  Good times. 

some photos

 

sunrise heading toward Vegas

 

At Ice Cream Overload in Henderson

 

What happens when you leave a puppy in the house

 

On the road again

Books Kids & Photos

Someday I am going to get good at this blogging thing and post more often.  Maybe. 

I just finished reading the book Rain of Gold  by Victor Villasenor.  A group of us have created a book club and this was our first book.  It was one of the most beautiful, heart wrenching and heart warming stories I've read in a long time.  It is a nonfiction story of the author's parents.  Their stories and how the two became one.  Veronica Maria I don't know if you've read this book- but if you have not you MUST MUST read it.  You will love the stories of their childhoods in rural Mexico.  You will love the strong Catholic faith of the Mama's.  You will laugh out loud at the discussions Dona Margarita has with the Virgin Mary... Being the avid reader that you are, I'll guess you have read this but I just had to recommend it if not.  It is a story tellers story and as someone who has married into a family of Mexican heritage, I found it just so incredibly fascinating and fun!

Other bits and bites of our life

Emma started ballet last week.  She is absolutely beside herself with excitement over the whole thing.  Last Wednesday she put on her tights and leotard promptly after eating- a full 6hours before her class was to begin.  I had her change back into regular clothes but oh it was so so cute!   

Owen is preparing for his yellow belt test that will be on September 17th.   He has been taking Tae Kwon Do for nearly 10 months now and this will be his first formal testing.  He seems to be well prepared for it, he knows his philosophy, his forms and he is very attentive and focused in class.  When I was having a really really tough week last week with the kids (review my tweets on Twitter) I did tell him that this test was on the line for him.  behavior at home is as important as in the studio and the instructors really try to impress that upon the kids.  He would have to wait until December to test if I do not allow him this time.  He has made vast improvements (as have the rest of my crowd of kids) so it is looking like he will test as planned. 

My princess Olivia has a smoker's pack-a-day voice.  It showed up in the first days of July and has not left.  We saw an ENT a few weeks ago just to make sure all was ok.  It is.  She just talks too much.  *sigh* as if I needed a diagnosis to tell me that! 

The kids gymnastic teacher talked to me again about Evan.  When he first started there a year ago she was floored by some of his barely 3 year old abilities.    She really wants me to consider switching him to the Boys Academy so he can start learning more.  The age range there starts at 5.5 years (he is not quite 4.5) but she says he can do every thing that any of the kids there can do, along with a few other skills.  She really wants the "Accelerated Team" coach to see him.   That  group usually starts at 6.  He is very naturally athletic.  He seems to be one of those people that can just do sports.  He throws very well, runs very naturally and fast, and has the hips of his Latin father! But he is just 4.  For now we are going to continue in our low key, lots of fun, all kids together gymnastics class.  Come January, as he is on the closer side to 5 I will reassess our schedule and see about putting the boys on the boys team, Emma on the girls and figure out what to do with Olivia.   

I had a breakdown of sorts last week.  The kids seemed out of control, I felt more anger than happiness and I was just plain frustrated.  At the peak of it all I went into the kids rooms and cleared them out.  Everything but books went into bins and bags and into the attic.  Downstairs I left only the blocks, Lego's and other building materials.  I also took away all screen time.  Today is the day they are supposed to get screen time back.  We'll see.  I have really loved the difference in them the last few days.  Or maybe it is the difference in me? 

here are a few pictures of our recent adventures:

Evan using the camera

Me, My mom, Friend C, and sister heading to a wedding

Ben & Me with our goodest of friends C & G! (at the home of the Uncle of the bride in beautiful Carlsbad- breathtaking views!)

The beautiful bride (whom I used to babysit!)

Her Man  (both of these photos were taken as they were listening to her uncle sing a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria)

Academic chess at our Not Back to School Day at the park

Sharpie Tie Dying at NBTSD

Ice Blocking at NBTSD

 

 

An afternoon of sailing

Labor Day Luau