Week in Pictures

Abby FINALLY had her ballet exam today. I had to pull her out of school at 11. She doesn't get the results for about 6 weeks...

This is her dance teacher Ms. Laura. The examiners fly in from the UK and the teacher isn't allowed in the room with them. She was there to prep them and do a dry run though. Only 5 girls in her class opted for the exam Abby was partnered with Kayla and the other 3 are in their own group and take theirs tomorrow.

Going in! It's closed door and closed window- so you can't watch

Prep

Teddy Bear toast from Daddy

She surprised Daddy with a note in the fridge

Our boy. ALL BOY.

and then there is this.

and this.

First tball practice is tomorrow. Is it bad I am hoping it will rain??? His practice goes until 8 and I have MUCH TO ACCOMPLISH.

Wearin O' the Green

Jess and Reilly had their baby on Thursday!! Little Miss Blakeley is just PRECIOUS!!! I'm not posting pictures to protect her (their) privacy but she is a CUTIE!!! Now if we could only convince them to move back here....
Abby's ballet exam is this week FINALLY. STILL waiting on tball schedule- I can't register her for spring ballet, or them in group swim lessons until I have this. It's driving me bonkers.
Aidan got his head stuck in a shopping cart today. I don't even have words. I still feel totally inept on raising a boy. They need to come with instructions.

We're going to visit the new family soon and I planned for 10 meals to bring them... I spent most of the day in the kitchen I have 7 done. Whew!

Aftermath

Reading like usual.

Spring Forward

Played hooky from church Sunday. My cold took me out. My whole face hurt, my jaw hurt and my neck was sooooo sore. It was good to get some sleep! Kids started swim lessons again at a new place. They are in a class together - we are doing semi private lessons.They LOVED it. I'm so glad they are back in the pool... I think we took a year off.
Took Abby out of school early again yesterday for another private session. Next week is the big exam!

Bits and Pieces

I missed work last Friday from Abby being ill-Stayed with her for 3 hours at urgent care Friday night. Monday was my serve lunch day at school so I left for that. Tuesday Abby had a private ballet lesson to prepare her for upcoming exams so I left for that. Wednesday Abby and I were interviewed/filmed for her Bible Project so I left for that. Wednesday night I took her back to the dr- dr hears something in her right lung but since she had developed a sinus infection and would be treated for that the dr didn't want to expose her to radiation from the xray to check for pneumonia when she would already be on meds... And what I thought was a just mild cold turned into feeling like I had been plowed over by a truck so I didn't feel like I could miss more work so I sucked it up and did the "keep on keeping on."
Tomorrow we have ballet at 9:30 and 2:30 and she is pulled out of school again next Tuesday and then again for the FINAL exam the following Wednesday.

Meeting the crew


Ballet

Wearing Daddy's clothes

He is sound asleep. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard

and then it all came

to a screeching halt. You know how you just go go go keep on trucking and then wham you stop. Unexpectedly. Abby got sick Thursday. The timing couldn't have been worse. It's month end- I need to be at work during month end. I plan my days off, our vacations around month end. But... unplanned day off I was home with our girl. Rick left work to drive to my work to pick up things I needed so I can work this weekend. I ended up taking her to urgent care last night. Got home too late and running on very little sleep to even think about work. She is in the midst of preparing for ballet exams and missed ballet today, missed getting her weekend homework packet, missed doing her piano practice... but we'll pick up where we left off and get back on the road and go go go. I'm getting a jump start on house cleaning, made a HUGE pot of Irish Beef Stew, hopefully gonna crank out some work later. We have to pull her out of school on Tuesday for a private ballet lesson, next Saturday is 2 more- one in the morning and one in the afternoon and then 3/21 is her actual exam- again have to take her out of school. Aidan finished soccer. We are waiting to hear about semi private swim lesson at a place closer to home and they can be in their own class together. Still waiting for his Tball schedule.
I am 4 months behind on their photo albums. I told my Aunt the other day that I just feel like I can't give 100% to anything- everything seems so rushed for me. Rush in the morning to get through my workout, rush to get them to school and work, rush at work just to get everything done, rush to pick them up because after school care is hourly, rush to get dinner made and dishes done and bath done and stories read, rush at the grocery store, just rush in general to get to the next task.
Abby spoke in front her school this week to present her Bibles for Egypt project. I was so proud- I ended up crying.
The first day she sold over 100 bracelets and I've been mailing some out to friends and family who are supporting her. I'm simply amazed at what God is doing through her and that she takes it on with such maturity. This Wednesday someone is coming out to film/interview Abby and I at her school for a video they are making about fundraising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZG41JOUhoQ&feature=youtu.be

Crazy in the head

But we all knew that right? Monday's before work I've been stopping at Winco to get 'non perishable' items off my grocery list to help save some $$ because Winco is cheaper my friends and groceries are NOT. CHEAP.
I drove to Winco yesterday morning and get out of the car WITH MY LUNCH, PURSE, AND WORK BAG as if I am headed into my office. awesome.

I love 3 day weekends. LOVE. THEM.

Every weekend should be three days. I get so much done!!!
Jessica's Shower

Trader Joes

Winterhawks Game


Homemade Pretzels

Indian Butter Chicken

Rick made the kids Mater sandwiches!

Catching Up

Valentine's Outfits

Our little book worm

Monster Trucks

Easy Bake Oven

When Abby was little she loved to take bags and fill them with stuff. I told my hairdresser about it- and we would call her the bag lady. I took Aidan to get his haircut and my hairdresser says every so often she gets these freebies at the supply store and wanted to give Abby a bag- you should have seen her face light up. Priceless.

Shopping for tball gear

I made the kids monkey pancakes- found this cute idea on Pinterest

That's about all. It's funny how after I had Abby everyone would say "oh it's get's easier" but what they don't say is that it gets BUSIER. When I think back to them being babies- that was a piece of cake minus the lack of sleep. We're gearing up to add swimming lessons back into the schedule and Aidan will be starting tball. Abby is asking to play softball as well but I just don't see how we (I) can pull that off since Rick works Saturdays. Abby is still in ballet and has the Royal Academy of Dance exam coming up and Aidan still does soccer.
Kids have had colds. Spring can't come soon enough.
Abby questions of the week:
How come I can't marry Aidan
Can girls be President
Can girls drive race cars

Random Memories

I had a night out with my girlfriends last weekend and I came home to this little "book" Abby made me. One of the pages. The kissing part??? Did I mention she already had her first kiss last year? AND... it was her idea.

Waiting for nigh-night to get dry

I've been telling Aidan he brings too much stuff in the car on the way to school and that he should only bring 1 or 2 items. He hauls this in the car and says "See Mom, I'm just bringing one thing like you said" with everything shoved inside.

Groundhog Day

The other day I was in the kitchen getting the kids' breakfast and making lunches for the following day and in my head I was thinking about how this is the SAME THING every week....such a little routine our family has... and how sometimes I feel like that movie Groundhog Day and it actually was Groundhog Day. I know. Lame observation. I don't have much to talk about.
I received a great email last week from Abby's principal. "Let me repeat that the highlight of my week was my meeting with Abby. It was stunning to me in so many ways...and emotional. I don't take lightly that a meek unassuming person like Abby would make an appointment with me and then in her own little bold way, tell me what God has asked her to do."
We've chosen the American Bible Society-Bibles for Egyptian Children. Rick and I are getting some bracelets printed for her to sell to raise the funds and she'll be trying to raise money for this starting at the end of this month. So proud of our girl!
While I am on the subject of her, she gets to do her first 'report' and it's on dolphins of course. She's obsessed. What strikes me funny is that I am positive her teacher will think she had a lot of help on this. The kid can rattle off little known facts about pretty much any animal and dolphins are her FAVORITE. She knows just about EVERYTHING related to dolphins.
She has another loose tooth ready to come out. This kid looses teeth like I shed hair.
I went to my first chiropractor appointment this week for all my running injuries. I'm very pleased! My marathon runner neighbor recommended him. Actually she's now an 'ultra' runner and so is this Dr. plus he does Ironmans. He knows a thing or two!