Happy 4th!

It is finally feeling like summer in Seattle! We met up with a group of friends and went to a parade in Edmonds. The kids parade is first and adorable. I'm hoping we can make a little float and be in it next year, but Gracie is still terrified of Ronald McDonald on a segue, so we'll see.

We went home for lunch and nap and then re-joined our friends at the city park for the fireworks. Really, we knew we would never last until 10pm, but we had fun eating a lot of food and watching the kids run around together! We gave up around 9pm and toted home the exhausted kiddos. Gracie had a reaction to the sunscreen on her face which made her look even more pitiful at that point. We managed to watch about 10 minutes of fireworks on TV while getting in pajamas. I was REALLY hoping we'd get to sleep in this morning, but Benny was "hopping like a bunny" in his room at 6:40am. Tired, and guzzling coffee this morning, but really thankful for a fun holiday and the sunshine showing up!

Delightful

Because I won't make him breakfast and 3 in the afternoon.

I Wish I were Making This Up.

Just found in my purse: Still wet, pee underwear from the movies on Sunday (today is Tuesday). Tate had an accident and I was pretty please with my mom/MacGyver like moves drying his pants under the hand dryer so at least he was dry and the whole world wouldn't see his indiscretion. But I wrapped the underwear in a paper towel and just shoved them in my purse. Until just now. In line at Panera.
Awesome.

I don't think I have to tell you, there was a smell.

End of the Year

I have been way too busy to blog. This is my end of the year for 2nd grade and the last day of school was yesterday. There were a few kiddos it was so hard to say goodbye to! Then there were a few that I could use a break from. :) Now our family will switch gears. This summer I will be home full time 2 days a week and then tutor some little guys at school 3 afternoons a week. It is a great way to make some extra money this summer AND get a break from my kids. I probably shouldn't say that, but then they get to go to the sitter's and play with other kids. I think it's a win-win! In July we are planning a road trip to California and a couple other mini-trips to the ocean. If summer ever comes to Seattle, it will be a nice change of pace. Last weekend was the busiest for the kids! Gracie had her first ever ballet recital. She did so well! She kept up with most of the dance and was just beautiful up there! Her favorite part was when the curtain closed in front of her face. ;) This one might be my favorite! Shows her goofy personality and her brothers in the back totally pretending to be superheroes. Next up-Soccer! This was the first time Sean and I have had to divide and conquer kids activities. Dress rehearsal was the same time as Tate's last soccer game. I was sad to miss it, but I hear this is just the way it goes when you have a bunch of kids. Blue hornets! Tate marveling at his medal. "It says I am a winner at soccer!" He has been sleeping with it. Tate and Jackson, our neighbor. Friends since they were days old! This weekend is Father's Day and I need to plan the drama camp I am teaching in a couple of weeks. But for now I get to drink hot coffee and the kids are watching Mickey Mouse in a fort they built with daddy.

Performance Anxiety

Today is Gracie's ballet recital dress rehearsal and Tate's last soccer game with a little medal ceremony after. This is the first time Sean and I have had to divide our efforts. Obviously he can't make a "performance bun" so I am with Gracie and he going to try to convince Tate to run with his eyes open this week. I think I'm much more nervous than they are! Eeeep!

This Kid.

We don't know what to do with him.

He can be incredibly sweet and cute, but lately we feel like we are living with a terrorist. Perfect example: As I type he is in his room screaming/crying. He has been in time out for about 25 minutes. This is because he REFUSES to say sorry to Sean for not listening. He was put in time out for a simple reason and he always throws a fit. The kicker is after. He is the most stubborn kid on the planet! He will scream and we come in and tell him why he was in time out and ask for an apology. All we get are blank stares and silence. We tell him he has to stay in more time out then. Repeat. Right now we are on the 7th or 8th cycle. He has hissed at us a couple of times, even yelled "daddy! I say sorry now!" but when we come in, NOTHING. Then he screams as soon as we walk away. I seriously wonder how he isn't hoarse by now. It's actually kind of impressive. Gracie and Tate went though a very willful stage when they turned 3 and Benny is nearly there, but they were never this bad. It has transferred to bedtime now as well. He used to go down fine, now he screams at his bedroom door and we quickly learned it was just a new ploy to waste time (get more toys, one more song, etc.) We aren't having it. It's like Crying It Out with an infant all over again! What kills me is that he is reportedly well behaved at daycare and even sleeping over at my sister's last weekend. I mean, I'm glad he isn't a monster to other people, but why do we get this special treatment? Everyone keeps telling me "Oh he's just testing you." but isn't it over now? We've made it clear he will be in time out until the end of time if necessary. JUST MOVE ON! I feel like we have to prove this point to him every.single.day. I am open to any and all advice while I carefully craft my craiglist ad. He would be in "Baby and Kid stuff", right?

Report Cards

In computer class my 2nd graders made report cards for their teacher (me) for Teacher Appreciation Week. I am trying not to take the F's personally.
I only have a B+ sense of humor? Ouch. But hey, at least I'm on time for school.

Ha! They notice how well I drink my afternoon Coke. Just for the record- DEAR time is reading time and they said it's not long enough. Super star tickets are rewards, apparently they think I am stingy with them. ;)

This is by the smartest kid in class. How sweet is she, giving me an A++ in "Mothering"?!

Apparently, recess, snack time, and field trips aren't long enough. Also, we don't have a class pet.

At least one kid thinks I'm funny.

I guess I need to eat more doughnuts?

Finally, some recognition for my emailing skills!!!!!! ;)

And some recommendations for my summer vacation...

And just to make me feel better, proof a few of them like me. This is the highest compliment from an 8 year old I know. 'Skilled' is usually reserved for NBA players.

I like where this girl's head is at.

After I read these and forced my kids to publicly explain themselves I casually reminded them that I will be filling out THEIR report cards in a few weeks. I invited them to make any changes to mine they'd like. :)