1/7-

Saturday was a good day for getting things back into order after Christmas and having my parents visit.  Not my favorite thing to do, but the day went well.  I got a lot accomplished while Andrew took the kids to the Home Depot workshop in our local store.  This is the 3rd time Andrew has taken them (it's the first Saturday of every month), and the kids LOVE it every time.

Andrew tried to ask Jake a question about his painting and he said "Dad, I'm working super hard on this.  I don't have time to talk."  haha!  Andrew came home and noted that McKenna got his perfectionism and Jake seems to have inherited his competitiveness :)

We played, did laundry, watched a movie, Andrew got a lot of work done, and it rained.  A lot! Not our most exciting Saturday ever, but it was definitely a good day.

1/6

Friday was a good break from the rain- our big excitement was a trip to the park with our besties.  The weather hasn't been great for playing outside (so much rain!!), so the park was especially exciting.  Earlier in the day we went to the YMCA, which the kids love.  I'm enjoying these fun, laid back days while I can.  Kindergarten is coming too fast!

1/5

Today was another crazy day.  I feel like we are playing catch-up after a fun break with my parents here.  The laundry pile in my room is impressive.  Or depressing.  One or the other.  And I put most of the kids toys in my room so there would be less available to make a mess with during joy school yesterday, so I literally just had to climb over quite the obstacle course to get to my bed.  Tonight would be a really bad night for our house to catch on fire.  Or for the kids to have nightmares.  I might break my leg 😳 But I have no plans of cleaning up tomorrow.  Looking at the forecast, it's the only non-rainy day for the next 2 weeks!  We need the rain really bad here, but I'm not really very excited about it.  Good thing the kids got rain boots for Christmas.  Apparently I should have gotten some too!

This morning we took Andrew to work on the way to preschool for Jake.  He loves preschool.  Today was the first time since his very first day of preschool a year and a half ago that he cried when I dropped him off.  Hopefully with a couple of good nights of sleep and a fun day playing tomorrow he'll snap out of his funk.  Poor kid!  But his teachers said he was fine as soon as I left, and he was happy when I picked him up.

During school McKenna and I went to the YMCA.  I've really enjoyed working out there lately, and McKenna loves going to the gym ventures class and the kid care room.  And Jake was totally jealous when he heard she got to go.  It's a great set up!

After school we went to Serra Park with Henry from Jake's class and his mom and little sister.  It has been raining quite a bit lately, so it was our first time playing outside in several days, which made it extra fun.

We also managed to squeeze in a trip to Costco, get our groceries home and thrown into the fridge in record time, and make it to swim lessons this afternoon.  McKenna is so funny- happy as a clam bouncing around the pool giggling.  Jake was madder than a hornet and would hardly participate today because he got some water up his nose in the first few minutes of class. I hate that feeling too!  But they both had a fun time and are enjoying the water.  Fingers crossed that they make some progress!

We picked up Andrew on the way home from work, had dinner, gave the kids baths, read book and did the whole bedtime routine, and then watched the bachelor once they fell asleep.  I'm exhausted!  It's been a busy couple of days!  I'm looking forward to some sunshine and fun tomorrow.  Hopefully poor Jake is feeling a little more himself.

1/4-

Yesterday was pretty busy.  We had joy school at our house, and all the kids were really good...except my own.  Especially the one that was supposed to be my helper.  I'm not exactly sure what's going on with Jake, but he has seemed a little off the past few days.  I wonder if it has to do with my parents leaving.  He had so much fun with them, and he had attention 100% of the time.  Plus we were too busy having fun and he wasn't getting as much sleep as usual.  But whatever it is, he has been way more emotional the past couple of days.  But we survived joy school- it actually went pretty smoothly.  There are 5 cute kids in the class, including McKenna.  I really like all of them, and all of their moms.

After joy school Andrew came home for lunch- really so he could bring the car back.  We needed to go grocery shopping.  So we hurried up and ate, and I took the kids to get some groceries after dropping Andrew off at his office.  Based on all the screaming and crying that happened in the car from both kids, I thought the grocery store was going to be a disaster.  But they actually did fairly well.

We picked up Andrew, had dinner, and I got to go to young women's.  We had a fire at Kirstin Hansen's house and had fun just chatting with the girls.  Only 3 girls came, but I think they all had fun, and so did I.  And s'mores are my all-time favorite!

Sad and Rainy Day

Yesterday was a high, and today was kind of a low.  My parents went back to Ohio, and that's always rough.  Living so far apart has been hard, and this is probably going to be one of the longest stretches yet before seeing them again.

As sad as it is to say "see you later," I'm always glad that it's hard because that means we love them and that we've had lots of fun together.

We dropped Jake off at preschool on the way to the Oakland Airport, and afterwards McKenna and I cried on the way home and drowned our sorrows with Chick-fil-a ice cream.

I was pretty worried about the kids not doing well with swim lessons, but to my pleasant surprise, both of them had a great first day.  They jumped right in, and McKenna even went under water a few times, despite being determined not to- although it wasn't on purpose 😳😂 Jake got wet up to his nose, and I'm holding out hope that by the end of the 8 lessons that he'll go under water.  That might be too lofty of a goal, though.  He managed to make it through 10 lessons last summer without going under, aside from the teacher forcing him under the first day.  I guess we'll see- fingers crossed!

Many tears were shed, it rained and was cold, and getting back to our normal routine was hard, but we made it through.  And although there were hard moments, there were good ones too.

Happy Hollow with Grandma and Grandpa

Yesterday I tried to post using my phone, but it kept deleting, so I gave up.  But it was a great day!  It was a little cold (well, 50 degrees- but now that we've been in California for a year and a half, that's pushing freezing for us) and rainy, but that didn't stop us from going to Happy Hollow.  The kids love that place, and Grandma and Grandpa will do anything to see them smile, so we braved the cold and the rain and never even had to wait in a line.

Jake and McKenna both wore their new Christmas rain boots and had fun splashing in puddles.  Grandma and Grandpa rode the frog hopper with them, and Andrew and Grandpa braved the roller coaster while it was raining particularly hard.  Jakes favorite part was probably the go-cart, which Grandpa timed for him.  He had the whole track to himself and did quite a few laps, all with a big grin on his face.

Grandma and Grandpa also watched Peter Pan and had popcorn with the kids, read them books, and played to their hearts content.  Life is definitely better with Grandma and Grandpa in town!

Sunbeam McKenna

As a new year's resolution, I am going to try and keep a better record of my family's happenings.  My goal is to write something small everyday.  I realize this is a lofty goal, so I'm going to be happy if I just do it a couple of times a week.

Today was a great day.  My parents are staying with us for the Christmas holiday, which makes things way more fun and way easier.  They entertain the kids so well and I get to sit back, relax, and watch all the laughing and playing.  

Jake and McKenna were really good during church today- the first day of 1:00pm church 🙄  It was McKenna's first day as a sunbeam at church!  She was made for things like this- sitting with other kids, listening to lessons, answering questions, and especially singing songs.  I had no doubt she'd love primary.

Also, she told my mom this morning how much everyone would love her boots and that all her friends would love her dress and tell her how pretty she was- oh boy! She is so into jewelry and headbands.  All she asked for for Christmas was a doll and dresses.  She's SO girly!

During the 3rd hour of church, my friend Kirstin Hansen got a text from her sunbeam teacher, Lyndsi, that McKenna would not stop hugging her little buddy Anderson, complete with pictures.  I think I'm in trouble with her!  After church she told me she kissed him a couple of times too 😳 Apparently he had to tell her several times "that's enough McKenna." 

Jake also seems to like his new teacher.  He doesn't that sort of thing as much as McKenna does, but he sure had a fun morning playing games and a fun afternoon watching a movie and snuggling with grandma and grandpa.  I'm feeling extra lucky today for my family and for the church.