Holiday card exchange

This is my third year organizing a holiday card exchange for our playgroup.  The group has been fizzling since September, with all the kids getting more busy with school and other activities.  It's sad to see but I think that's just how life and our relationships continue to evolve.  Still, I wanted to do one last card exchange for the kids because I know how much my kids enjoy it.  Meredith finished hers up really quick so we were able to get these out the door today!  [Thomas' will be mailed in a few days.] 

Meredith & friends

...and look who showed up in the local newspaper's online photos the day after the tree lighting ceremony at Legoland!

Legoland tree lighting ceremony

Late this afternoon we met up with a few friends at Legoland for their Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony.  There was singing, dancing, local celebrity Tony Hawk was there, Santa, the world's largest Lego tree, fireworks, snow falling... 

Thanksgiving, 11/22 - 11/25

This year for Thanksgiving we were blessed to have Mike's mom and brother Rick (and his family) stay with us for a few days.  And on Thanksgiving day, we had a full table with all our visiting family -- plus Mike's youngest brother who is living locally.  It was a lot of fun for all of us!  The kids have such a great time with their cousins.  It's wonderful to watch their relationships develop and the dynamics when you have five kids ages 2 to 6 years old together.  Although we don't live near each other and only see each other a few times every year, these relationships are special.  It's great to see the distance doesn't diminish that at all.

prehistoric shark teeth

Several months ago we caught part of a PBS show about the shark teeth that can be found along the eastern U.S. coastline.  The show was focused on Florida so I was pleasantly surprised when a friend in Maryland said they find shark teeth often near their house.  We worked out a trade (some California seashells for Maryland shark teeth) with kids on both ends very happy with their special little packages!

pirate Thomas

While I enjoyed a relaxing weekend with my mom, Mike was busy with the kids in San Diego.  They had several parties to attend and some very late nights.  I missed them terribly (another mama friend sent me this photo of Thomas at a birthday party), but I also know how important it is for them to just have time with their dad.  It's really good for everyone to shake things up a bit from time to time and do something different.  I was glad to hear they all had such a good time together this weekend.

Birthday Surprise!

My mom didn't know I'd be showing up at her dinner out with friends and family to celebrate her birthday.  She did know I had booked a flight months prior and had arranged to have my brother pick me up from the airport that evening.  It was a fun weekend away, spending time with just my mom!

M

Bobcat Badge

Thomas, as a first year Cub Scout, is a Tiger Cub.  During this first year, they have a series of activities they complete in order to earn various badges, beads, patches, etc.  These boys are recognized every time they participate in an activity and every time they accomplish a task or a series of tasks.  Tonight Thomas was recognized for his participation in Red Ribbon Week at his school with a nice patch and his entire Den received their Bobcat Badge.  It's the first one they are eligible to receive (and it's basically knowing all the promises, handshakes, salutes, meanings, etc.) so it was nice that the whole Den could stand up together and be recognized.  As part of the Bobcat Badge, the boys each received their "warrior stripes".  When we got home, Meredith told him she liked his "whiskers".  He had to strike a warrior stance and explain to her that they aren't whiskers but that they are warrior stripes...

evenings

The kids and I have been doing puzzles and/or playing games in the evenings before bed.  They really enjoy this quiet time together at the end of our busy days.  I do, too! 

our beautiful girls

the little sister

This morning our family spent several hours with Thomas' Cub Scouts den visiting the Carlsbad Historical Society and having lunch at Pizza Port.  This little sister is pretty amazing.  Not once did she complain about the tour being "boring" or act uninterested.  In fact, I'd say she was very much the opposite and participated, listened and followed directions better than most of the Cub Scouts (excluding Thomas, of course).  I'm sure there will come a day soon when she no longer wants to tag along on these longer outings, but for now she's very much at home with these boys.

skateboarding

Thomas has always been a cautious child.  Because of this personality trait, he isn't doing some of the more physical activities/sports that other kids his age are doing.  I think some of it has also just been due to lack of interest and/or desire on his part.  However, these last few days he's expressed a genuine interest to improve some of these skills.  One of them is skateboarding.  Last night we worked on skateboarding up and down the driveway that runs alongside our house.  He understands the skills necessary to skateboard so we're off to a good start.  He just needs a lot of practice before he'll be able to do some of the tricks he's asked me to show him how to do -- as do I if I'm going to be showing him how to do tricks!     

Legoland w/Ruby

Meredith and I met our new friends, Rebecca and Ruby, at Legoland for a few hours today.  This was their first visit to Legoland since they just moved here two weeks ago.  Meredith has more friends than she can count, but nearly all have either an older sibling or a younger sibling (or both!).  There's something special about having a girlfriend who is exactly your age, loves everything that you do, acts just as silly as you do, and wants to (and can do) all the same rides and shows that you want to do -- without having to make compromises due to siblings.  It was a really fun outing for these two girls today!   

Flag Raising Ceremony

This morning Thomas' school had a Flag Raising Ceremony in honor of Veteran's Day tomorrow.  The school invited all the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts to arrive early for breakfast with Veterans, military parents and other "officials".  Afterwards the kids all met with their classes and walked out for the ceremony.  It was a simple but moving ceremony -- even the principal choked up a few times as she spoke.  Thomas got a kick out of wearing his uniform into his classroom (for all of about 5 minutes) and then posing for the group photographs.  Later in the day he told me his favorite song is You're a Grand Old Flag and wishes they could sing it every day at school.  This kid is something else! 

Wish Lists

The kids have started their Christmas Wish Lists.  I hope Santa is ready!

Girls' Day w/Maya

After dance class today we met our friends Melanie and Maya (pictured above w/Meredith) for pedicures and lunch.  It was Maya's first time so she got the full treatment, including a manicure.  Earlier this morning Meredith said to me, "I'm excited to get a pedicure with Maya today!  My legs will be tired from dance class.  The lady will massage my feet and legs before she paints my toes.  It will feel good."  Meredith has a rough life, doesn't she??  And now our friend Maya has the same rough life... 

Fall Festival

We've had the craziest weather these last few days.  One day is clear and beautiful, the next is cold and wet.  Fortunately, today was one of the nicer days so our family went up to Meredith's preschool for their Fall Festival.  It's the school's biggest fundraiser with every activity imaginable for the kids, food and drinks, and a silent auction.  The bidding at the auction got a little crazy with folks hovering over baskets they really wanted in those final minutes before bidding closed.  Baskets ranged from a dozen Lego sets to health/sport items (golf, barre classes, etc.), one night stays at the local luxury hotels to "date night" packages (it was actually four date nights with certificates to fancy restaurants, babysitting, etc. -- nice!), plastic surgery...  Yes, plastic surgery.  This is southern California, after all.  One of the moms at the school who regularly receives Botox injections got her plastic surgeon to donate four or five $1000 gift certificates to be included in various baskets.  The highest bid I saw was for a "giving tree" full of gift cards, mainly retail, that was going for over $3500.  We didn't get that high with our bid, but did win a pet portrait (painting).  We've been wanting to do something like this in memory of Bela -- and to help out the preschool at the same time made it all worthwhile.  We were all very happy that we went to the Fall Festival this year and are looking forward to having a portrait painted of B.

new friends

This morning Meredith and I spent a few hours making new friends.  A woman who moved to Carlsbad last week from Minnesota contacted me via a message board earlier this week.  This morning we met at the local library for storytime and then afterwards we met at the beach for a picnic.  It was a gorgeous day at the beach.  Meredith enjoyed playing with this woman's 4 year old daughter, Ruby (she's one month younger than Meredith).  And I enjoyed some conversation with this interesting woman while we kept the seagulls from eating our food and watched her husband surf.  It was a really nice morning/early afternoon outing! 

crazy hair day

Thomas' school had Crazy Hair Day today.  He was going to get his haircut Tuesday evening but when I heard it was Crazy Hair Day, I suggested we hold off and do something fun with his hair for today before cutting it.  To my surprise, he was game.  He really, really wanted to spray his hair a color so we rushed over to Target the day after Halloween and bought the last can of spray in the store.  Seriously.  Lucky for us, it was blue (as opposed to pink or purple).  It was fun to have him wear his hair like this today but it really doesn't suit his personality so tonight we went and had them cut it all off.  Now he looks like the clean cut, All-American boy that we all love again.

Book Club

Wednesdays are a full day for Thomas.  After school he goes straight to Science Club and then I pick him up and we go to the library for Book Club.  His Book Club is called All Star Readers and they meet once a week to talk about a different genre.  The librarian reads a sample book and they talk about it afterwards.  It's a small group, mainly boys, in grades 1 thru 3.  Each week he logs his reading time and during Book Club he receives a small reward (he thinks it's for reading, it's really just for coming).  The Book Club is right up his alley.  He loves the Science and Book Clubs so although it's a long day (and he's clearly tired), we've been doing both.  It makes his Wednesday start with school at 8:20 and end after Book Club at 4:30pm.  Wow! 

Meredith and I will look at books while he's in Book Club.  Sometimes she'll look at books with another little girl, Avery, who comes to the library at the same time every week with her Grandmother.  The Grandmother once told me that I've done a very good job with my children.  "You speak softly to them.  It's very good.  Don't stop."  I like her.

After Book Club we'll look for some books to check out and/or do a little homework.  Today Thomas did a little homework so I suggested to Meredith that she copy words from a book of her choice.  She enjoyed this activity so much that she brought the book home and continued the activity until dinner.  I love how much they both enjoy learning.

entertaining himself

an invitation from Thomas

We have a 13 year old girl who lives down the street that the kids adore.  She and her mom have sat for us a few times and the kids ask occassionally when Kylie can come stay with them again.  Today after school the kids started doodling at the kitchen table.  Thomas was asking me all kinds of questions regarding when we eat dinner so I was curious what he was up to.  He proudly showed me this invitation he made for Kylie and her mom, Debbie.  He'd like to have them over for dinner soon.

dance class