Snap back to reality, Oh there goes gravity

We are 100% back in school and the schedule that goes with it. No more lazy summer mornings, hanging out by the pool all day (BIG sniff). But each year brings us closer and closer to more of the children in school. Not that I don't love them, but I love them more when I miss them, right?  The twins are adjusting and often pass out as such:

I don't really give them naps anymore since nap time usually falls right at school pick up time. Instead they just take a nap in the car on the way there and back. This was a day they hadn't adjusted yet and feel asleep early during rest time on the couch. 

We did get a new "toy." Our ice cream maker... Here is our first attempt at Cookies n Cream for Family Home Evening

Here's to a new school year...and a new house! Moving commences this week, yikes! But we are excited for our new house and all the fun projects that come with it:)

First Day of School 2011

2nd and 5th Grade!

Wow...

Just as a fun note for memory sake:

1. I got up early and made buttermilk pancakes for everyone(I have NEVER done this the first day, or any other day of school so my kids were so excited).

2. Addison, Kate and Nathan refused to eat and took turns screaming.

3. They also wanted to crawl back in bed.

4. Bailey and Emma were perfect angels.

5. Nathan puked twice on our way out the door (and had a bout from the other end..)

6. We still made it on time and even early to school, even with another puke from Nathan in the car.

7. Next year at this time I will be dropping off three kids (hopefully Nathan isn't puking then!)

Deceptively Delicious

 I finally started using my Deceptively Delicious cookbook. The author has recipes for hiding veggies in food your kids will eat. These are the aloha kabobs we had last week. They have sweet potato and pineapple in them. The kids didn't notice (except Bailey a little) and loved eating off the sticks.

 This picture isn't completely accurate as Emma didn't end up eating them. She had a few bites, but that is it and they were forced. She did however scarf the beet pancakes we had the night before. I'll take what I can get with her.

Bailey was the only one who noticed they were a bit off. He did eat it though, just not enthusiastically. Again, taking what I get...

Camp Far West Lake

 Our last summer activity with the Lincoln Ladies was a day at Camp Far West Lake. It actually only ended up being two of us with so many people on vacation/prepping for school. But we had a fun day anyway!

 The lake is very shallow for a long way out and you can also drive right down to the shore so no hiking down with lots of gear. Nathan was having a great time as always.

The twins love to play in sand/dirt and water.

Bailey took his yo yo to practice. He's getting pretty good at it.

I think this will be a for sure summer activity next year when we start back up again with the larger group.  Since we went on a Monday, we were the only ones there and the weather was mild enough for the adults but warm enough for the kids.

Get Your Money's Worth

This summer we have really taken advantage of the CFF Rocklin Gym's pool.  I finally remembered to bring the camera today and thank goodness because Nathan taught himself to swim. Yup! It took him over two years to poop in a toilet but the kid has spent all summer working on "swimming." I thought it was funny, but today it worked and he did it!  We all cheered and cheered for him as he swam again and again.  He's still only comfortable swimming from one point to another, with me right there, but it's a big start.

 He actually ended up being able to swim all the way from just past the yellow letters, but this is when I took the picture.

He kept lifting his head up, taking a breathe when needed. Although I think he swallowed too much air or water because after about two hours, he was crying that his stomach hurt. It was hard as a rock poor guy.  We went ahead and came home to avoid any Nathan catastrophe...

 K and A enjoying the steps.

 Bailey and Emma got some good big kid swim time.

Who Are You?!!

This is the most recent picture I have of myself, because this post is about me (random, as usually it is about the kids...and me a little I guess)

The other night, B and I were watching So You Think You Can Dance. On this particular night, Christina Applegate (pictured below-sorry when I googled her this picture came up and I thought it was funny since even the stars look like pregnancy stinks sometimes)

 She was a guest judge on the show. When a dancer whose main style is was nothing like what he was able to do she kept saying "Who ARE you?!" and "Whatever!" It was funny to me at least and hopefully will be when I read this blog 20 years from now:)  The point of this story is....

While walking alone in the dark at the end of my run...

This phrase with her voice popped into my head and I almost laughed.  Because for those that know me 1. run?, 2. dark?!, 3. alone?!!!

Thank goodness I was alone because I think I laughed out loud, and not the texting kind where you just say that when something is funny. 

At the end of my run I was a bit disappointed because I didn't go as far as I had planned. But then it was nice to hear in my headphones the little Nike Plus voice tell me I had run at my best pace ever. Considering I almost even didn't go that night, I should be pleased with that.  I also remembered that it wasn't that long ago I couldn't even run a mile. 

For the record, I also now will eat onions(if they are small and cooked in with the food). I don't run AS fast to my bed to jump in when turning out the light, I run and actually like it (and as mentioned do it in the dark alone!), and numerous other things which escape me now but sometimes surprise me.

I am officially the B Boy who can do a mean contemporary routine:)

Home Sweet Home

The most exciting thing about buying a house is getting to do whatever we want to it.  Luckily this house is only five years old and doesn't HAVE to be redone to live in it.  But it will be fun as we go along slowly changing things to see how different it will look.

 The front yard is full of WEEDS. Not sure if it is even salvageable, and we won't keep that much grass (or the tree!)

 No idea what their inspiration was for this, but Ben has some fun ideas for this area and the pipes that really need to be hidden.

My kitchen:) This will be a fun before/after at some point.

One of our starting off points for the house is this light fixture that will be over our dining room table.

And the backyard, well I don't really understand what the plan was there either...

This is what the twins think of a long day taking pictures of the house and measuring.