We Finally Get To Use This

I bought this before Rionn was born.  Hope he likes it now that he gets to use it.

A Little Yard Work

When we were looking at houses, Cole wanted a house on some land.  And we got some land at a great price.  But little did we know that our yard would be so much work.  Especially when the first spring arrived after we moved.  We learned that the previous owners let the yard go.  Well, we had our septic pumped and the guy who did it said we needed to remove our big, beautiful tree that gave our house a little bit of character.  So we called a tree guy, again.  He removed the tree and went to all the trees around the house to see what trees were dead or not.  I took some pictures of the aftermath.  I should have taken some pictures of the before.  To date, we've lost more than 6 trees.  Could be a good thing since this morning we're having a wind storm.  It would be devastating to have a tree fall and hit the house.

Side yard- had to take out 3 trees

Back yard-left side 

Back yard-right side

Front yard-by the house, had to take out 2 trees

Front yard by the street- had to take out 2 trees.

You Chose

Rionn goes to a Parent-Choice school specializing in math, science, and technology.  And as his principal states at the beginning of every year, YOU as a parent CHOSE to put your student in this school.  So what happens at this school?  This year, we have monthly family science projects above and beyond weekly homework and special events like science fair and the gingerbread exhibit.  This month's project to grow something a chart, write, or photograph the happenings of your plant.  So yes, even though I'm tired, and work most of the days, and Cole is rarely home, we chose to go on this endeavor.  I decided that since we have to grow something, we'll grow a purple lily.  As Rionn already wrote: It's mom's favorite color and her favorite flower.  So here's the progress of our lily so far.  Hopefully it won't die before the end of the month.

Awards Assembly AND Report On The Same Day

Today Rionn had an awards assembly at school.  Good thing his teacher emailed me about a few days ago.  Today after the assembly, he got the letter for the parents out of his desk and gave it to me.  You know what it said?  Your child will be receiving an award on Friday at the awards assembly.  It even had the time on there.  Yep, that's my kid.  So Cole came and met us at school (I'm Friday class mom) and we sat and waited.  The teacher went through all the different awards.  And another mom, Cole, and I kept waiting for her to call Rionn and his buddy's names.  And finally she called Rionn and his buddy's names.  They both won an award for achievement (and over achievement) in all subject areas.

The funniest(not really funny, but I'm lacking words) thing is that this little buddy and Rionn have been around each other from about 6 months to now.  They've been in each preschool class, pre-k class, kindergarten, and now first grade.  And now they've won all the same awards.  Let's just say the he was excited.

Then I got his report card.  And academic wise, he's doing outstanding.  Behavior, I think he's just bored.  He has some work to do on his attention span.  That will no doubt come in time.  And he needs to work on organization and clean work.  But hey, he's a boy and if you can read it or find it at age 7, you are doing good.

Conquering It

Cole bought a power tower.  Rionn thinks that "exercising" means climbing all over it like a jungle gym.  Looks a little something like this.

You should be able to do a ton of exercises.  I, however, can't lift myself up there to do much.  But I did manage to do 4 leg lifts.  I was surprised considering that when it first arrived, I couldn't  do anything.  Eventually, I will conquer it and do a whole set.  Until then, I shall continue to exercise like I have been and clean around that tower.  

I Got A Little Crafty

With my Hobby Lobby purchases, and a free Sunday afternoon... I made this.

Hobby Lobby

I found out that a Hobby Lobby was coming to our area.  Which would be really great if our Jo Ann's would reopen and Micheal's would continue to sell sewing stuff.  However, I did find out there is a Hobby Lobby down near Cole's work.  So a couple weekends ago, Rionn and I ventured down  the hill.  And it was a great day for shopping.  The weather was great.  Plus we didn't have to be anywhere specific that day.  We headed to the outdoor mall on the way home.  Cole wasn't that happy when he heard that we drove down there.  Especially with the gas prices, but he didn't mind that we went either.  He just wanted to know that we spent as little money as possible with the things that we bought.  But he is happy with our purchases.  :)

And here's how excited Rionn was to be shopping.

Po

Well the new goldfish lived.  So far.  So Rionn decided to name the new goldfish Po.  Of course, after we convinced him that he couldn't name both fish Goldie.  Hopefully Po stays on the smaller side.  I only say that because Goldie started off as small as Po when Rionn won him at the Harvest Party.  And he is the meanest, fish eating-ness gold fish I've ever had.