February's End

I am blogging with a headlamp on my head while the boys watch a movie, The Nutty Professor. They wanted complete darkness, so this is our compromise! February sure is short and sweet. I can't believe March is almost here already. March is my least favorite month--no holidays worthy of a day off, the weather is usually unpredictable and the waiting for spring gets hard. But I'm hoping to change my tune. There is St. Pat's Day, after all, lots of early dismissals because of school conferences and I'm hoping to get an early start on a garden by starting some plants indoors. Nolan has a baseball clinic and a trip to Massachusetts to sleep on a battleship with Cub Scouts in March. So there...March is looking up!

We had a great time in Syracuse. The driving was a little hairy getting there with the lake effect, but we made it to McDonalds where I got to visit with school friends Shawn and Stephanie. It was really neat to catch up after 20 YEARS (yes, I'm that old)! We're hoping to meet up again in the spring at a park. Then we got my sister and hit the MOST, a children's science museum in Syracuse. That place was cool. There was a toothpick man there that builds these elaborate sculptures out of--you got it--toothpicks. He's going to be there for a year, and you can ask him questions while he works. Thomas' favorite thing was a brain in a jar. Nolan liked this game where you could be on television playing basketball. I liked the big, 3 story play gym with tunnels, slides and shooting balls. The kids went in and we really didn't see them again for an hour! Actually, Kim and I did go in a little too. It was mayhem in there, but fun to see so many happy kids. We went back to her house, had dinner and vegged on the couch with a movie until we called it a day. The next day was another highlight of the kids' trip: the flying helicopter! It's this 10 cent toy John brought out, and when you roll the stick between your hands, the helicopter on the top makes it fly in the air. The kids loved it. We headed home early afternoon so we could get Chester from the kennel in time. What a blast we had--thanks Kim and John!

So back to school this week. Nolan had a pack meeting where he finally got his prize for selling popcorn--a lego toy. He was very happy to finally get it. Lent started this week, so we've been following a calendar that has good deeds the kids are supposed to do every day. After-school programs started this week too: Thomas is taking Computer Fun and Nolan is taking Tai Kwon Do. Both are loving it. This weekend we have to get moving on Nolan's Pinewood Derby car. The first weigh-in is in a week.

It's been harder to keep up with this blog lately, but I'll keep trying!

Winter Break

We have had a great winter break so far. It got kicked off with great report cards from both kids. All the hard work Nolan has been doing paid off because he is really doing great, especially in reading and math. The handwriting still needs work but it's coming along. Thomas is also doing great in those same subjects (as much as they do in kindergarten anyway). He still needs work in his speech and listening, especially sound spelling. We treated them to IHOP to celebrate. We don't recommend that place--slow, poor service that's over-priced.

On Tuesday, our friends the Reeds came and have helped us speed the week away. We had so much fun playing games, sledding, and going to the NYS Museum. What was cool about the museum is they are showing an exhibit of Rockwell Kent's work from SUNY Plattsburgh where we went to school. It brought back memories of me hanging out with Mike while he sat at the desk of the museum in Plattsburgh. Of course, now we practically ran through that exhibit, hoping none of our kids would touch anything! Everybody played great and I was sorry to see them leave. An hour later, my boys were fighting again and asking what to do.

Tomorrow we leave for Syracuse to visit my sister and her husband. I'm also getting to see an old high school friend Shawn who I haven't seen in maybe 20 years. This is thanks to Facebook. We are going to check out the science museum in Syracuse too. By the time we get back, I should be exhausted and ready for a vacation from this vacation!

Winter Fun

I was right...the boys wanted no part in the square dance! I did go into Thomas' gym class to help out and I thought it was cool. Of course, Thomas wouldn't have any part of it while I was there, but he did participate another day when I wasn't there. I will ever understand why he has a hard time doing things when Chris or I are around. We don't pressure him or anything. Maybe just our being there makes him self-conscious. Anyway, he and Nolan still weren't impressed enough to want to go to the dance. They went to a high school basketball game with Chris that night instead.

I still try all the time to encourage the boys to go out and play. Last weekend, I started making a tunnel in a snowbank in the front yard to entice them to come out. It worked for all of 20 minutes when suddenly I realized I was missing a kid ...and another soon followed..into the warmth of the house. Yesterday we found a new hill to sled down, and that was a blast. We went to the Schenectady Municipal golf course. What was cool about the hill was it had several levels. I got some air a couple times! It was really icy, so Thomas enjoyed just sliding down on his bum. My favorite part was when Nolan and I went down together. When we finally stopped, he laid back against me and we just listened to the quiet of the snowy stillness. Nolan's getting to the age where he doesn't like to show his affection very often, so when he does it is awesome. I always tell him he's never too old for a hug.

On Tuesday, Chris is taking the Cub Scouts to Lowe's for a Pinewood Derby Clinic. The Derby is in March, so Nolan will need to start working on his car soon. Valentine's Day and report cards this Friday. Then a whole week off-yeah!

January Blah

I haven't written much lately because there hasn't been a lot to write about. January always seems a little long and draggy. The weather has been hard, school has been tough and not a lot of exciting events happening. But now February is here! Nice and short, a week of vacation and a holiday for chocolate and love to boot! We had a fun day today. We made a tunnel in a snowbank, made our own kettle corn and now all the boys are squished on the couch to watch the Super Bowl. So I'm blogging, having no interest in all that testosterone!

Nolan is the one having the tough time in school. They are writing short essays now in school, and he just isn't a fan of writing. His handwriting needs a lot of work. And math is another tough subject, especially the tests. So, he's doing some extra stuff to keep up. All of this has created a bad attitude about school, compounded by not being good friends with anyone in his class. He really is shy underneath it all, especially with adults. It gets him self conscious I think. Anyway, he's turned a corner. He's getting more positive about school and we're having different friends come over to hang out. I think report cards come on Friday. His teacher and I are talking about other ideas to help him out. So again, I think February is looking up for him. He loves basketball and often makes several points for his team. He's really good at dribbling and passing the ball. Next week is the final tournament. Cub Scouts is also going great. We went on a fun outing to Saratoga Battlefield to learn about colonial times and go tubing. They saw a cannon shoot off.

Thomas has also been making strides this month. He can read a little now, mostly 3-4 letter words. He started swim lessons again but this time we're taking them at the high school. It was an adjustment the first day because it's a bigger pool, new instructors and he's never been there before. But today he did great and even asked to stay in the pool longer to swim. He's becoming good friends with a little boy Will in his class. He even went to the last Cub Scout meeting with Nolan and Chris. He's excited to join next year and wants me to be his Den Leader (ugh!). We are slowly being consumed by scouting! Also, he just signed up for baseball. We had no intention of him playing this year since last year was a bust, but he desperately wants to try it again. He's getting older.

This week, all the kids in their school are going to learn square dancing in gym and show off their new skill at a dance on Friday. I'm really curious what they're going to think of it. I have a feeling they will want nothing to do with going to the dance, but we shall see! Lots of other little adventures this month too. I'm helping in Thomas' classroom tomorrow with a groundhog project. Thomas ushers in church (That will be interesting. He signed up for it himself!). Valentine's Day. The Reeds are coming to visit over break and we're going to visit my sister. The boys are also going to start some after school programs once a week--Nolan will do Tae Kwon Do and Thomas is going to do Computer Fun. I think it's funny that Thomas is Korean but he wants nothing to do with Tae Kwon Do. So we are passing the winter by keeping busy. We seem to be staying inside a lot; I'm hoping ot get us out sledding and walking on some trails more.

A Quiet Weekend

This weekend Chris and I were planning a trip to Plattsburgh to stay at a B&B there called the Point au Roche Lodge. We've been a couple times and loved it. Not everyone would pick to go overnight to Plattsburgh, of all places. But we met there, and it's quiet there. The lodge overlooks Lake Champlain, so it's very pretty and rustic. We were hoping to go xc skiing at Saratoga Battlefield, get some sweatshirts on campus and go out to dinner. But suddenly, sickness set in. DUN-DUN-DUN!

Actually, it's not a big deal. Nolan was at a friend's house yesterday and started to feel weird and threw up (Lucky them!). That continued most of the evening. Today he is feeling a little better but out of it. I'm hoping tomorrow he'll be back to his old self. So all of the planning for childcare and dogcare went out the window and we were reduced to a vacation at home.

I think Chris may argue with this, but it's been a nice weekend so far despite the disappointment. We had no plans to be home, so it's been very relaxing. We slept in, I made pancakes, we've let the boys watch TV all day, and we even got a nap in this afternoon! Our plan is to get some pizza tonight, start a fire and watch a movie. In a way, it is like a vacation at home. Can't beat the price anyway!

The lodge is holding our deposit so we can reschedule the trip, so hopefully we'll still be able to go at some point. We had to cancel our trip last year too, so they are probably wondering why we keep torturing ourselves by trying to make this getaway happen! It's been 2 years since Chris and I went away overnight. And it will probably happen when we don't plan it and just go. Life is funny that way sometimes.

Crocheting

I've been trying my hand at crocheting again, and I'm really liking it. As long as I don't have to count my stitches, it's really relaxing. I can just do it and listen to TV at night. But the down side is I never know if something is going to fit! My first project was a pair of mittens for Thomas. He's using them, although they are a little embarrassing to post online. The thumbs got screwed up, but they're functional. I just finished Nolan's scarf. He really likes it. I'm trying to finish a blanket that my mom started. Then I want to make a hat for Chris and a purse for me. We'll see if any of these really happen.

Today is a snow day. So far we've made cookies, played games, finished our thank you cards and had lunch. They are in video game mode now. We may venture out to the library next.

Happy New Year!

We still have some decorations and an Epiphany play to perform in, but otherwise the holidays are over for us and Chris is returning to work. Reality is setting in now with all the eating and drinking I've been doing and it's too cold to run! I'm exploring an exercise channel that's pretty good. Starting today, I'm eating less. I wrote it in the blog so now I have to do it!

As predicted, I am very ready for the kids to go back to school. We haven't done a lot of exciting ventures this week, but it has been nice hanging out together and playing with all our new gadgets. I just can't take the fighting between the boys! They are watching the same channel in separate rooms right now. Today, they are getting separated to play with friends which will be good. Too much togetherness! And Nolan has had homework to do which has been a battle. To top it off, Chris fought with our garbage disposal yesterday and the disposal won! But the war isn't over. The battle continues today with hopefully a better outcome. So I'm not complaining, but it is good to get back into a little of a routine with school approaching.

The goals I have for us in 2009 are as follows:
To stay happy and healthy
To be debt free
To begin our journey of the 46 peaks
To be kind to everyone in all things
To live freely and in gratitude
For me, remaining a stay-at-home mom and endeavoring to be more patient
For Chris, to remain at his job and have it be stable and fun
For Nolan, to be more attentive to his responsibilities but also to be confident in who he is and the the love of his family
For Thomas, to realize bad choices never get him anywhere and to let go of his control and anxiety so he can really see the love we have for him

OK, so they are lofty goals! Aim high!