Monday Night News

Lately our life is pretty much filled with running to baseball fields, gymnastics, and church.  Constantly running, trying to keep up with the housework, school stuff, and our "paying" jobs - we kind of forget to stop and "smell the roses".

However, last week we took the time because Matt's cousin's daughter, Ellen, and her friend Nicole, came to visit from New York.  They are in their mid 20's and full of life and fun and sweetness and I think it took our kids about 15 minutes to latch on to them!
We started with a great big, lovely family Easter dinner at our house.

We had fun on hikes, chillin by the pool, dancing at the Grayhawk patio, batting cages, and wii competitions - we managed to have a terrific time and make lots of memories in just 5 days!

 

They left Thursday night and Ainsley cried for about 24 hours about missing them - even though she only met them 4 days earlier. ;-(

We are well back into our crazy life now - but are so glad they came! 

Sorry - I totally suck at blogging lately.
I'll get more caught up on the normal things of life later - but first I have to vent!  I'm so irritated!


I am a very open person - Strong in my religious beliefs, but don't judge those who believe other than me. My tax dollars pay for the public school my children attend to teach an entire unit on other religions and beliefs - and tollerance of those different than us or our culture. And I think that is good.

And yet - two pre-schooler friends of Ainsley's got in trouble yesterday for drawing pictures of a cross and writing Jesus Loves Me! The picture was taken away and the parents "talked to".

I know the teachers and they didn't want to have to say anything, but were following policy.  I can't really expect them to put their jobs on the line for a 5 year olds drawing...BUT WHY DOES SUCH A POLICY EXIST?!?

It was "free drawing" time. It's 2 days after Easter - and these boys were just exercising their RIGHT to express themselves. It's not like they stood up and presented it to the class and said the rest of you will go to hell! And they are 4-5 years old! Any non-christian kids in the class would probably look at the picture and not even know what it was.  Heck - half the time I can't tell what Ainsley draws myself.

I can't help but think that if the children wrote Satan Rocks!  or There is no God and it was handled the same way - that there would be Rights Groups lined up protesting. 

...but it is completely acceptable to squash the freedom of expression of Christian kids. 

Make up your mind Public Schools - you teach religion and tollerance of different beliefs - but don't allow kids to draw pictures expressing themselves and what they are excited about? 
Matt and I have been discussing the idea of putting our kids in Catholic School (for many reasons - not just religious ones). We'd kind of decided not to - or at least not yet....but this kind of thing makes me want to do it.

When I believe in God, or pray in public, or draw a cross, or write Jesus' name - that does not mean I judge you.  That does not mean I wish you harm if you don't believe as I do.  It will not hurt you to hear my opinion, nor does it hurt me if you disagree with it.  It means I am expressing my joy, my heart.  Feel free to debate it with me - feel free to ignore me -  feel free to draw your own picture and hang it next to mine.  Just don't take away my right to express it simply because not everyone believes it!

I haven't posted anything in over a month it seems and so much has come to pass it's hard to even cover.
We finished Football, started baseball, I was talked back into joining the Baseball League Board. 
There has been birthday parties, school volunteering, lot's of work at my "real" job.
Add in some family health issues, homework, church, house cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and more family health issues and I feel that I'm pretty much on the verge of losing my mind.

I'll also think I am very blessed - because even with all of this I feel supported, loved, and lucky to have great friends and family and resources to deal with all of lifes challenges.

I'm sitting here on a rare, rainy day - watching March Madness (by far my favorite sporting event(s) of all time) and listening to my children play pretend school and karate matches, and store/restaurant and hearing them oooh and ahhh over the rain / hail. 

So many things I should be catching up on I'm sure - but right now - I'm going to watch the rain with my kids.

Football and one less tooth

Football, Super Bowl weekend and ending with one less tooth this morning had a very different story behind it in our 20's than it does today.  (Those who know us well - already could tell the 20's story, so I'll just tell you today's story.)

Shaun's (and Coach Matt's) Bronco's Flag Football team is officially the only undefeated team left in their division with 2 games left in the season.  They beat the only other undefeated team on Saturday, 12-0!  Ending their self proclaimed 26 game winning streak. The boys played so well as a team on defense, and never gave up on offense.  It was fun to watch!

Of course the Super Bowl was Sunday as well and we had our annual family party.  Not the party of our college days, but we enjoy teaching the small children in the family how to gamble on random squares and useless football game trivia.  They did pretty well to with both Shaun and Ainsley getting squares money at least one quarter each.  Shaun hosted some trivia contests and then talked the winners out of their candy prizes throughout the night.  We all had yummy food that everyone contributed and the 3 lonely Giants fans were happy with the outcome.  And the rest of us had fun, but weren't too concerned with the winner either way.  We are so lucky to have such great family here locally to share these fun times with!

Shaun had a rude awakening this morning when we let him know we had to go to the dentist and get his tooth "checked out".  We knew they were pulling it, but due to his intense fear of all things dentist related, we decided to hold back that detail until after it was done.  He managed like a trooper once doped up on the liquid sedation and while he hated the swollen, numbing sensation after, once it wore off he was fine.  The only bad side effect is that the kid couldn't eat until about 1pm today and for Shaun that is FOREVER.  And he pretty much hasn't stopped eating since then yet! 

Alas, as I was tucking him in he reminded me that at least the tooth fairy would be coming to reward him for his work at being tough today.  oh, yeah...I'm sure the tooth fairy will remember that Shaun.  She is always on top of those kinds of things.  (Yikes!? - I sure hope she has some cash somewhere around the tooth fairy lair!)

Early Valentine's!

Shaun got an early Valentine from his new "Valentine", Ariana today in school.
I guess they made Valentine themed stuff in Art class and he gave her one too, but his was just a picture I guess - no words.

Here is the one my little boy received...

If you can't read that - the front has their names in the 2 hearts "Ari" and "Shaun".
The inside says "I like you".

 He is very low-key about it - so I think this whole Valentine this is at an age appropriate level.  And I like the reason he said he likes her as a good friend.  She is fun, smart in school, plays softball, and will play tough boy sports like football on the playground.
Oh - and she is a good at drawing.  (She drew a very realistic picture of Fredrick Douglas for her Civil War report that I saw 1st hand when volunteering and it is quite impressive!)
Good pick kid. 

Too cute - I love 2nd graders.

I just got this email from Ainsley's Pre-K teacher and I had to share it.  I love her teacher and I just love that little girl.  In my own defense - I had to get both the kids into and out of the dentist appointments, pick up a prescription for Shaun to have a dose before school, and then make it by 2nd bell at 8:30am.  And I did make it....just missed one important item it seems...

Just wanted to let you know Ms. Ainsley forgot her socks this morning so she is wearing socks from Nurse Terri. Also I asked whose fault that she isn't wearing any and she said it was completely her fault so you have raised a good daughter cause I would have blamed my mom.

Playdates and Football

Our weekend was completely wonderful in it's simplicity. 

Highlight for Ainsley this weekend was her first "real" playdate at a friend's house without mommy.
Up until now, other than family or our close friends across the street, Ainsley has only been on playdates where mom or dad stay with her or we meet out somewhere.  So - this "real" playdate was so exciting for her to get to do.
Before you worry...we've been to the house before, we know the child, parents, and older siblings, and it is only several blocks away.
She had SOOO much fun and just loved having the little bit of freedom and independence.
I am proud of her to experience life and enjoy her independence (but I am a little sad saying good bye a little more each day to my baby girl).

Shaun's highlight was his flag football team won their 4th game!  They are undefeated and Shaun is playing so great!  He played great, but the highlight for me was something he said, not did.
After throwing an interception, he went up to a teammate and apologized to him for not making the pass to him.  The teammate, to his credit, said "nah, it was my fault - I went to deep behind the defender". 
To 7 year old boys act with such self-lessness and team focus is amazing to me!
Overall - I just love seeing him work hard, support his team, and do so well!

Valentine's in 2nd Grade!?

Conversation with Shaun today:

Shaun: Mom, I picked a Valentine today.
Me: What do you mean by that?
Shaun: I asked Ariana if she wanted to be my Valentine.
Me: Oh - and what did she say?
Shaun: She said yes.
Me: So, what does that mean?
Shaun: It means we are friends and are nice to each other and I get her a present for Valentine's day.
Me: Oh, so what kind of present?
Shaun: Like a card or candy or something.
Me: But, don't you exchange valentines with everyone in your class like that?
Shaun: Yes, but I get her a nicer one.

 (I actually really like Ariana - she's a cool, sweet, smart girl that he's had in his class for 3 years now.  I wonder what she told her mom about their little interaction today...hmmm).

Electronics are fun!

As I sit here this morning, I should be working...(I work East coast hours and start at 6am Phx time).
However, my VPN is down - Again!?  Hey - they are working out something and it is happening periodically - it happens, but the fustrating part is that on the East Coast - people aren't even in the office yet - so I have to wait for someone to respond to my technical help request and fix it.
Oh well - such is life.

The real point of this post is actually the opposite of it's start...Electronics are FUN! 

Matt got me a Kindle Touch for Christmas and it is AWESOME!  I don't know why exactly - but I read more often and faster since I got it.  I've read 5 1/2 books since Christmas.  It is a magic thing that has already come in so handy. 

1) I used it when I had to go get re-fingerprinted at the VA for work the other day and instead of wasting an hour in the lobby waiting for a 5 minute meeting - I read half a book!

2) I dowloaded a cookbook the other day and it is awesome to just pull out my kindle at the grocery store to remember what ingredients I needed for a recipe.

3) At endless sports practices (baseball, football, gymnastics) I can read without hauling big books with me.

4) Waiting for your oil change?  at the Car Wash?  - pull out the Kindle and it's not dead time.

I only wish I had it when I lived/worked in Chicago and had a 75min. commute on the train/boat/bus each day!

Anyway - if you love to read and you are considering getting an e-reader - I highly recommend it.

Now - if only it could get all my work done that I'm falling behind on this morning while my VPN is down - that would be great!

Hello 2012...

We have been busy since ringing in 2012 and are loving it.
Some highlights...
1. Ainsley is loving gymnastics.
2. Shaun and Matt's Flag Football team, the Broncos, are undefeated after 3 games and loving it!
3. The kids are still adoring having a dog and love to make poor Kelly entertain them endlessly.  She loves it though, I promise!  (Even when they tried to put Shaun's PJ's on her!)

4. We decided to start Sunday family hikes this year and have been really enjoying them.

5. Kelly also had a birthday on Jan. 11th.  Happy Birthday to our big 2 year old!

Add to that a school award for Shaun, co-ed softball for Matt and I, Shaun's 1st Reconciliation classes at church, 2 full time jobs, and normal family fun and you can see why I have been so awful at blogging lately.  I'll try to do better!  ;-)

Wrapping up 2011...

It has been forever since I posted anything and the only excuse I have is we have been busy having fun.
Brief recap of the highlights...
Ainsley and I went to the Ballet for the 1st time and saw the Nutcracker with our good friend Melina and her Mommy, Margaret.  The girls LOVED dressing up and LOVED the performance!

Soon came Christmas and lot's of fun family in town to visit...we LOVE cousin time!
I should have taken pictures on Christmas eve - but didn't for some reason.
I do however, have an awesome video of the cousins singing Christmas Carols for us.

http://youtu.be/UzPk8pYAWeU

Then, of course, Christmas Morning came with much anticipation and excitement.

We had another wonderful day with family celebrating Christmas day at my Aunt Carla/Uncle Walt's house and I again - took no pictures.  Lame!

We had other fun over Winter Break with the kids - an outing at an Indoor Amusement Park, MiniGolf, and a visit from our awesome New Mexico relatives!



Before we knew it - New Year's Eve was upon us and we had fun with our annual tradition of Fondue, Fun, and Fireworks!

Of course - New Year's Day involved Football mostly - but Ainsley thought we should just continue the Party....

....thus ended 2011 and started 2012...
Best to you all in the New Year!!!