I'm Just A Little Bit Older

According to Rionn, I'm just a little bit older.  Such a nice thing to say to your mother.  Of course, his next sentence was that he was going to be 7 and that's SOOOO old.  LOL!  And he promptly brought me back to reality.


So ask me what I want to do on my birthday and I will always tell you lunch at Charlie's and then a walk on the beach.   Because I'm sure that the fried calamari that I downed today was not the best option.  But it was oh so good.  I had a great day.  I feel like I made out this year.  I got a trip to the beach!  And the following: a purple toaster, a cupcake maker, toaster oven pans, candles, new blanket, and a snowboarding jacket.  My mother in law gave me a bag of "stuff that you won't buy yourself" things.  You know, like a pie server, egg slicer, microwave plate cover, towel rack.  You know, that cheap stuff that I keep telling myself that I don't really need and can't justify spending the $4-5 on.

Holiday Post

So I haven't been posting on here.  I've been busy.  You know- mom, wife, employee, etc.  But we had a nice Christmas.  Of course, Cole and Rionn slept in till 7:30.  I think I have a problem, seeing how I was up at 5 waiting for someone to get up so we can open presents.  However, I will say that I must be getting older because I'm usually up at 4 or earlier.  Even after I became mom.  Christmas just excites me.  Maybe it's because my birthday is in December.  Well, after vacation, I dove straight into making Christmas presents.  The tailoring gene skipped right over me and I had decided to make aprons that were half applique and all pattern.  Next year, we'll buy all the cousins presents and I'm sure that my sewing machines will be happy.  I also started Rionn's quilt on the 20th after everyone else's presents were done.  Even the dogs loved their presents.  Except Roscoe who was deathly afraid of his giant bone.  But he over took Scooby's-who had no problem licking Roscoe's.  Now that Christmas is over, I'm in full party planning mode.  6 days and counting till I have a  7 year old.

It Just Flew Right By

We've made it an annual thing to go to Las Vegas over Thanksgiving weekend.  Well, this year was our second  "annual" trip.  This year, we had a little more time and money.  Last year we made things official.  This year, we didn't have to be anywhere or set aside money for anything.  Except for the gas home.  But even that wasn't a lot. It's just one of the perks of living about half a gas tank away from Vegas.

This year was a blast.  As usual, we met up with some great friends who decided to leave our great climate for snow and humidity.  Although, they did mention that they are considering moving back maybe next summer.

Friday we went and saw the M&M factory.  It was a big waste of time. We also went to an "off the strip magic show".  It was ok.  But Rionn loved it.  And well, that's all we needed.  Then we headed to the top of the Stratosphere.  Where both of my daredevils loved looking out all the windows.  I clung to the wall and waited for them to finish up.  It took them FOREVER.  But I think it was more of my fear of  heights.  :)

Saturday we met up with friends and watched a couple soft ball games while the kids played in the park.  Then we went to dinner.

Sunday we went shopping for my dress to wear to Cole's Christmas Party.  Then we went to Circus Circus so that Rionn could go play at the theme park.  I think he played 40 rounds of Laser Tag.  And possibly next year he'll be tall enough to ride all the rides.  Then we went to eat Chinese food.  Rionn pouted because we wouldn't let him order lobster.  Then he loudly proclaimed that when he has his own kids, he'll let them order whatever they want.  I laughed and said that I needed to hear it again so I can record it for future reference.  After dinner we went to another magic show and were able to get floor table seats.  Just like in the movies.  Then back to Circus Circus we went.

Monday we relaxed.  And Cole took me to go eat crepes.  Then we packed our bags and headed home till next year.

Quite The Morning

This morning we woke up because the hounds were howling.  They overheard the neighbors arguing.   So we got up and were eating breakfast with our coffee and donuts and blankets.  When all of a sudden we heard this pop and noticed that the fish tank was smoking.  Literally smoking.  Apparently the light on the fish tank blew up and we were lucky that we were home.  And that it didn't happen at the wall.  At least the fish is fine.  By the way, we've had this fish for 3 years now.  Who would have thought that our little church festival goldfish would have survived this long.

Anabel

So last weekend we had to take Annie to the vet.  We learned that she has a genetic eye problem.  Almost comparable to glaucoma.  But for dogs and a very fast onset.  So after 5 hours at the vet's office, we came home with eye drops hoping it will keep the pressure in her eye to normal levels.  If her levels go back up, we'll have to decide whether or not to put her down or take her eyes out.  But for right now she's great.  Can't see out of her left eye and can see shadows out of her right eye.  Good thing she's a hound dog and can smell her way around.  She has found food and candy and Rionn.  And I've decided that we deemed her the good dog over Rosco is because she didn't steal things.  However, I think she was just smarter and would wait till we were out of sight.  But now that she can't see, she's started stealing things.  LOL!  Oh, and the only thing that we have to adjust too is to keep things like blankets and clothes up off the floor and doors either opened all the way or closed.  And always talk to her when we go to pet her.  She'll be just fine for now.  And Rionn still has his dog that will hang on every word he says.

The Holidays Blurring Together

I know it's a week before Halloween but we have already been thinking about Thanksgiving.  So this year, we're going to have Thanksgiving at our house.  And so far we have 8 attending.  We'll see how this goes.  It could be clash of the families or it could turn out great.  I'm hoping for the latter of the two.

Karate Halloween Party

Last night was the Halloween party for the karate studio.  They had music and fog machines and candy and food and games and candy and a costume contest and some more candy.  We had fun and didn't leave hungry.       For the pinata- the kids had to punch it with sparring gloves.

Krystal's Fall Festival

Rionn's school doesn't do a Halloween party.  Well they do but not like the ones when Cole and I were in school.  Where we had a costume parade and cookies and candy.  But instead, Krystal had a fall festival.  And costumes and games, and face painting, and food, and pictures, and a scary maze.  We had a blast and came home with a lot of candy.

Mojave River Trail Days

Over the weekend, I got to take some buckles to the Mojave River Trail Days.  And since it was on the way to grandma's house, it wasn't way out of the way for our day either.  After dropping off the buckles, we walked around the booths.  Rionn got a much needed new cowboy hat.  We watched a blacksmith making horse shoes. 

We also got to pan for gold.

We got only fool's gold.  But that's better than nothing, right?

He also got to ride a pony.  The lady gave him a choice of riding a pony named Barbie, or one named Harry Potter.  He, of course, chose Harry Potter.

 And watched all kinds of steam engines doing what they do.  

I also let him take an old fashioned picture.  I was a little worried about spending so much on one 8X10 photo.  But it came out great.   He first wanted to be a train robber, then decided he was going to be the sheriff.  

Over all, we had a great time.  We even watched the mounted shooting while waiting for the photo.  And while it was more than hot and slightly humid, we made it till lunch.

Benchmark

So we got Rionn's benchmark scores back for the first trimester.  And apparently he's doing great.  It's to show the parents how well the teacher and the student are doing.  

Hesperia Days

This last weekend, we had Hesperia Days.  We started with the parade.  Rionn and his karate studio marched in the parade.  Not too sure how they did.  His sensei says they took first because they've took first every year they are in it.  LOL!

After the parade we went to lunch with my parents.  After lunch we went to the lake.  They had lots of vendors, "fair" food, games, and a live band.  Cole and Rionn climbed the rock wall.  Rionn did the bungee jump thing.  Of course because he is such a lightweight, he flew real high when the guy let go.  So I'll stop typing and just post pictures and let you see for yourself.