Spring Break: Week 2 Begins

Yesterday was a day in which we stayed in our Pjs till noon.  Princess and I made banana bread in the morning.  

Princess had the fabulous idea of bringing Hot Wheels with us on our visit with Grandma and Gus.

Gus was a great help as we tried to build a track in which the cars would successfully go around a loop.

Princess, the future cheerleader, was having a great time with friends.  The day concluded with mommy taking zumba.

Today we met friends at the gym for a play date.  Once Princess stopped complaining, she was on fire with carpet ball.

Champ played in a pickup game of basketball.  It was a good group of boys.  Although there was a wide age range, the boys seemed to play really well together.

For lunch, we hosted our friend Penny.  It was so nice to enjoy her lovely company, as well as to have someone that would eat all my fruits and vegetables without complaining.  It was nice to put into practice the manners we have been talking about recently:  elbows off the table, napkins in laps, pray without food in your mouth, etc.  Penny also joined us in a few games of Barbie Uno.

Although we accomplished a few errands this afternoon, we still had plenty of time to play outside.  Princess and I rode some on our bikes.  Champ and I had some fabulous rallies with tennis.  We also played PIG in basketball.

A friend had a dump truck deliver mulch today.  The kids helped him spread out the mulch.  The mulch pile really started dwindling with their help.  Champ made a request that the friend might want to pay him.  The friend was kind enough to pay the kids when we left.

Heading into the Weekend

Yesterday we got to the museum around noon.  I could tell from the parking situation that it was going to be a crowded day.

Princess chose to begin the day on the carousel.

Champ chose to go to the Transformers' exhibit.

The kids watched a show in the exhibit.

Champ turned into a Transformer, but Princess said she didn't want to do it anymore when it was her turn.

Princess got to be a camera operator.

Princess worked hard to keep the building from falling onto the city.

She turned into a super hero by adding a cape.

If you wear green in front of a green screen, you can't see that part of your body.  Very exciting!

We attended a small show in which an actor and an actress were going to try their lines in three different genres to see which they liked best.  Champ volunteered and was chosen to be the cameraman.  In a surprising turn of events, Princess volunteered.  Then she started to come up front to the museum worker.  However, the museum worker hadn't seen her, and she had called on a mom instead.  The museum worker asked the mom if Princess could do the job instead when Princess looked sad that she was being asked to sit back down.  The mom graciously agreed.  Princess got to wear the doctor's robe, but then she wanted nothing to do with the situation.  

Princess is much more comfortable on a different TV set with her brother.

The kids played in the dinosaur area before the musical.  We sat in the front row for the musical.  Princess did really well sitting on my lap.

Champ met the cast.

Princess was brave enough to give another princess a high five.

Look at the Transformers that we ran into before we left.  Don't they look similar to Champ and Princess?

This morning I ran close to 5 miles with Team in Training.  I averaged 9 minutes and 30 seconds per mile.  Following the run, our running group met for breakfast at First Watch. I spent my afternoon shopping.  This evening I organized my pantry and had a long conversation with a dear friend.

Birthday Boy

9 years ago today was the culmination of 9 months of throwing up almost daily.  A handsome little boy stole my heart and has been an inspiration in my life to be a better person, mom, and teacher.  Someone so special deserves a celebration!

Champ was very eager about the day!  Princess and I gave him Legos and some money.  He promptly asked if that was it.

As I've seen my parents do in each and every card, I wrote Champ a personal note highlighting some of his best attributes:  reading, persistence in basketball, protective big brother, etc.  I can't wait to see how he continues to develop his strengths and abilities.

Always fun to get blue suckers from the bank!

We had an early lunch at House of Tokyo.  Champ had only been there once and that was ages ago.  

Both kids hated the salad and soup.  Princess said she didn't like the "ranch" on the salad.  I don't know what the dressing was, but it wasn't ranch.  Ranch is all we use at home.

Princess used her soup spoon (which was huge) to taste a spoonful of the "dipping sauce."  She didn't like that either, but I don't think it was meant to be eaten by the spoonful.

Champ said the cook at our table put cheese on everything.  I said I didn't see him use cheese at all. I finally determined that he was seeing butter put on everything, which gave an unfamiliar shock to my stomach.

Both kids liked their main entree and fried rice.  Champ had fish, and Princess had chicken.  Both kids were appalled at the very idea of trying to eat the zucchini.

This may be the only restaurant that I've seen mark a special occasion with fruit, pineapple.  The pineapple came with a sparkler, and the waitress tried to get the crowd do seing happy birthday.

After lunch, we headed to the movie theater to see the remake of Annie.  We loved it!  It was a great modern remake of the classic musical.  

Next, we went shoe shopping.  We finally found a good shoe for his wide feet at Stride Rite, after not seeing many wide options at Shoe Carnival.

Then we went back to the library.  It was our second trip there this week.  Champ is flying through his books.  He picked up more Star Wars graphic novels and My Weird School chapter books.  He likes that I want to ban him from My Weird School chapter books because everyone seems to find the Andrea character annoying.

Both kids got to pick out toys from Meijer.  Champ used his money to buy a ton of Pokemon cards and another Lego set.  On the other hand, Princess bought Barbie Uno cards.

We made a brief trip home so that I could change clothes.  Champ and I completed a run/walk mile at the gym.  Before we exercised, he did his usual negotiating to try to get out of it.  I mentioned there were people who would love to have his healthy legs and would love to be able to do even one lap at the gym.  He stopped arguing.  I love how Princess tries to imitate everyone at the gym.

Princess wanted to listen to Annie songs all night.

 

Dinner was calzone leftovers.  Calzones were a hit for my picky eaters!

Cake is always a hit though!  

We played three games of Barbie Uno.  Princess won the first game and I won the other two.  I can see us getting a lot of use out of this use of her money.

Our neighbor stopped by to give us some of her old hair barrettes.  So, we tested them out...at the same time!  Hopefully, tomorrow Princess will be excited to wear some.  However, she may be disappointed that I'll only let her wear 2 out at a time.

In between our activities, Champ has enjoyed calls and texts from loved one.  Great day! 

Minnie Mouse

Today began early with both kids in my bed during a storm/bad dream.  Thankfully, Princess used the restroom during that time too.  She was able to sleep in til 10:00 today.  

We went to the gym around 11:00.  I was so proud of Champ for playing basketball for about 2 hours. Our neighbors joined us at the gym.  It was fun to play with them.  

After lunch and showers, we headed outside to enjoy the warmest day of the week.  Champ began playing basketball again.  Both kids joined me in doing some yard work. I'm physically exhausted from all my yard work today.

Princess was the first to find a mouse in the mini barn.  I was disappointed that it didn't look like Minnie Mouse.  I was even more disappointed to find out that it wasn't the only mouse in the mini barn.  I later asked Princess how big the mouse was and took her photo.  

Although some people have offered tips on how to get rid of mice, I've determined that this is information that I wish I didn't need to know.

This is one of the projects that I worked on today.

This Means War!

We began our day by getting the oil changed on the car.  Then we checked out new books at the library.  (Princess checked out Berenstain Bears, and champ chose My Weird School and Star Wars graphic novels.). We made a quick trip to Meijer since I noted an error in my bill.  Both kids found other kids to play with at the gym.

Lunch was not a big hit.   I had made homemade Mac n cheese .  I failed to mention that I had hidden sweet potatoes in them.  

Princess and I made some cookies.  I threw an avocado in my chocolate chip batch.

I paid the kids to help me clean the house.  Princess helped me straighten some closets too.  I'm making a donation pile for Goodwill.

We also ran afternoon errands...dropping off birthday invitations at day care, cashing a check, and stopping by the pet store.  Although Champ had won a coupon for a goldfish, the goldfish looked sad and the employee told us to wait until next week to get a goldfish from a new shipment.

Our day also included lots of time to color and play War.  I can't help it...I teach math skills during the game.

Monday: Spring Break Begins

Of course, I loved that I got to sleep in today. 

Late morning I completed a long training run for the Mini Marathon.  I was a little slower today, but I was by myself and tried to take on a few hills.

In the afternoon, the kids agreed to a break from technology.  Then we started to get creative.  We colored.  Then Champ asked me to write a fairy tale story in his notebook.  They liked my fictional story.

Tonight Princess and I went shopping together.  She helped me pick out a present for Champ's birthday.  Then she continued to help me do my grocery shopping.  She was a wonderful help.  Taking one child shopping is so different than taking two kids shopping.

I gave Princess a bath.  She liked when I wrapped the towel on her head like I do on my own head.

In her bedtime prayer, she said something about being thankful for time by herslef with mom.