SPRING BREAK 2018

The kids spent their Spring Break with Gramma again this year and really enjoyed getting a break from the rigors of school and sports and Scouts (yes, they're now old enough that they actually need and look forward to a break in their busy schedules a few times per year).

(OK, not a full break from sports... they went to "Finishing Friday" to work on goal shots)

FLOOD WATCHERS

After dinner at Cottonwood, we went down to the riverfront to check out the flood stage of the Mississippi and Yazoo. We hopped over an overflow to reach the elevated benches, threw some rocks and sticks, and took a group photo while staring into the sun...

CHILD LABOR

 The kids grew bored of us adults eating poutine and drinking beer with Nate at Cottonwood the other night, so they wandered outside to the fireplace where some workers were adding a brick facade. Before we had a chance to ask them to stay out of their way, the guys had the kids schlepping bricks from the back of a van to the fireplace while they placed them around in order. The kids were very proud of themselves and continually showing off who could carry more bricks at once. Thankfully nobody gave themselves a hernia and the adults were very patient (and grateful for the help).

Tonight we stopped by for dinner with Gramma and they were quick to show her the fireplace that THEY built:

QUALITY TIME WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST

While I've been lucky enough to see Robyn about once per year, I was been long overdue for some quality time with Stephen. After getting the OK from them for a visit (and everyone in my house getting well so that I wasn't carrying any germs), I asked Jean if she could come out to help Jay while I traveled, then booked a trip to coincide with our Spring Break (so there'd be a little less running around to manage while I was out of town). I lucked out with beautiful weather the entire time I was in Oregon, and was even luckier that Stephen was feeling a little better after coming off his 4th round of chemo. The trip was exactly what I had hoped it would be (quiet and restful, just spending time with the people I love) and exactly what I needed, though saying goodbye was harder than ever.

Robyn and I took a lot of walks (well, we can call them hikes, since there are so many hills, or maybe speed walks, since Robyn sets a mighty pace). Their neighborhood is truly beautiful and there are so many gorgeous views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens:

We spent one day actually hiking (on trails) and it was my favorite (though also the hardest). Robyn even obliged me with a few downhill runs a few times (so much fun!)

As I neared the end of my trip, I received some text messages from the kids (via Gramma's phone and supervision). I thought they were so cute:

We ventured out of the house with Stephen a couple of times too, so of course I needed photos:

Before I left, Stephen made a big batch of banana breads to give to his friends (and send home with me). We ate some as french toast, which was a first for me (delicious!), with bacon. The two loaves I brought home were a HUGE hit with everyone else (especially James).

So, to sum up my trip, Stephen spoiled me (when it should have been me spoiling him), Robyn entertained me with dice and card games (nobody else is willing to play endless Yahtzee with me!), we got in a lot of steps, and enjoyed lots of quality time just hanging out. I wish we could do it more often! I'm very lucky to have them in my life. My advice to you? Take the time (MAKE the time) to be with the ones you love as often as you can (even it's not as often as you'd like)!!!

U8 GIRLS ACADEMY

I don't normally attend the evening soccer practices (unless there's a game) because it's an easy way to get one-on-one time with the kids (and because James has Cub Scouts on Cora's soccer practice night), but tonight I went because Cora asked me to (and because Gramma was here and able to stay home with James, which he loved). It's spring break, so less than half the girls were in town for this evening's practice, but the ones who showed up really showed out. They had so much fun playing different challenge games after their initial lesson and "touches" practice, especially the one where pinney's were used as "tails" to try and grab from opponents. Cora was very pleased to steal 3 while keeping her own tail attached in the last round. Then they broke into 4 teams and raced while completing specific tasks, with the losing team supposedly stuck with the task of cutting the grass before game day. Cora's team lost and was thus dubbed "The Grass Cutters" for the rest of practice. Eventually they decided to let the girls off the hook and make the boys cut the grass instead ;-)

P.S. It was COLD out there tonight! Vicksburg had a cold snap while I was away.

HALLOWEEN PARTY RECAP

(We love that she enjoys our annual Halloween party as much as we do!)

SUNSETS LATELY

AN EMBARRASSING MILESTONE?

When I picked James up from Boys Dance this evening he slung his arm around my shoulder for a hello hug and I nearly passed out from the smell. What the heck? He's 9 now, so he suddenly smells like a boy?! We made a stop at Kroger on the way home to buy him his very own deodorant, and as I lectured him about carefully soaping ALL his body parts when we got home and EVERY time he showers, and always remembering deodorant from now on, he turned his back on me and had the funniest smile... It was like he was proud to be old enough for deodorant, but also shy about it. Don't worry, I didn't let him have the Axe Body Spray...

BIRTHDAY WEEK

Gramma arrived tonight with more presents and another cake!

(I thought she looked so cute singing to her big brother!)

DRAMATIC AT DANCE

Sometimes I think Ms. Bridgett encourages her... ;-)

(That's a skirt, not a shawl. and I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to sing along, even during tap/musical theater...)

CLAWDIA MY PET

James made an informational pet poster at Scouts tonight:

BEETLEJUICE OBSESSED

The Bears are earning their woodworking badge, which has required them to build a couple different projects: a bird house and a toolbox. James decided immediately that once they were done, he would paint them Beetlejuice-style. We watched the movie a few weeks ago and he's been obsessed ever since (which is pretty fun, in my opinion).

 Uncle Davey and Auntie Taryn gave him a Beetlejuice costume and the cartoon series (from way back) on DVD for his birthday and he was just so pleased. He posed on the stairs to look like Lydia dancing in the air at the end of the movie :-)

SWITCH WITHDRAWALS

When you had TOO much fun over your birthday weekend and then have withdrawals on Monday...