Summer Camp.

I've been neglecting my blog lately. The usual excuse, I've been really busy. Yiayia came for a short visit a while ago. It was nice to spend time together, but it went by too fast. We'll be seeing her again (briefly) this Sunday when we drop off Alex and Helen in Vero Beach. They'll be spending the week with Yiayia and going to camp at the Vero Beach Art Museum. Jimmy will also be heading off to camp on Sunday. He's spending the week at Camp Daniel Boone in North Carolina. Everyone should have a great time. Except poor, little Will who's getting left behind. He'll be stuck with Mike and me all week.

One of the reasons we've been busy is we are looking at houses. We loved the community when we moved here, but we never thought past middle school. When we realized which high school we were zoned for (a C rated school) we decided we would move before Jimmy started high school. Then, they built Lake Nona High School down the street and we thought we were all set. But it turns out our area isn't zoned for Lake Nona even though it's closer than the school we are zoned for. So, long story short, we found a house near Moss Park that is zoned for Lake Nona High School. The best part is that it's on 5 acres, plenty of elbow room.

On a different note, I need to post photos of Alex's birthday (May 27th) preferably before Will's birthday on the 27th. Which also reminds me that one of Will's favorite cartoons is Curious George, except he calls it "Monkey George." So cute. I got him a collection of Curious George stories and I want to get him a DVD so he can watch it whenever he wants. There's nothing worse than a two-year-old who wants to watch "Monkey George right now" and Monkey George isn't on TV right now.

Mother's Day.

I had a great Mother's Day last Sunday. Mike got up when the kids woke up and made breakfast. He usually does that anyway on Sundays, but this time he loaded the dishwasher and wiped down the kitchen. Then he got all the kids to pick up their rooms and clean around the house. Anytime I tried to do anything he would stop me. We all relaxed together and watched The Terminator 2 (not my pick). Then the kids gave me their gifts which they each wrapped themselves. So cute. I got a new scrapbook album, a pack of cardstock, a scented candle and some Noxema face wash. Jimmy made a big heart out of cardstock and wrote a poem. He hasn't written me little love notes since he was in first grade. Helen made a butterfly pin at school and filled out a sheet about her mom. And my Alex made up this poem about how to be his mom:

 

It doesn't get any better than this!

Karen Russell and Ali Edwards.

Lately I have been following/catching up with Karen Russell's blog. I just love everything about her work, photographs, scrapbook layouts, family...well, you get the idea. Everything. I'm so mad that I'm late to the game. A few years ago she was selling kits of her products and now it seems that she just wants to focus on photography.  That'll learn me. I found out about her site by way of another artist who's work I love, Ali Edwards. Do all awesome people live in Oregon? I have been busy with Ali's Week in the Life project as well as trying to keep up with Project Life...and a house...and four kids...and a husband and...

some good news.

Tuesday Alex brought home his scores from a STAR Reading test. He's waaaaaay above average...which we already knew. His grade level equivalent is 8.5 which means he's reading at a level equal to that of a typical eighth grader after the fifth month of the school year. (Alex is only in the fourth grade...and he doesn't read at all for pleasure.) He scored in the 94th percentile nationally compared to other fourth graders.

Alex also received a couple of awards...he got another AR star for completing his reading goals and an award for perfect attendance. (If nothing else, I make sure these kids go to school every day.)

Yesterday we had a conference with Helen's teacher. She's been very slow to progress this year. First grade is always a tough transition. There's so much more work compared to kindergarten. She's not quite at grade level, but she's been steadily improving. Which is great. Her reading level has doubled and she got a 95 on her last math test!

On a completely seperate note I just wanted to share a cute story. This morning Will and I were in my bed when I called him a little guy.
                                                 Will:    I'm not a little guy.
                                                  Me:   Are you a big guy?
                                                 Will:   No.
                                                 Me:   Are you a girl?
                                                Will:   No, you are.
                                                 Me:   That's right. I'm a girl. And Daddy is a boy, Jimmy is a  boy, Alex is a                                                           boy and you're a boy. Is Helen a boy?
                                                Will:   No, La-la is a princess.  

   

sweet little bunny.

Who's the cutest little bunny?

Why it's Helen, of course. I don't have any Easter photos to post yet. (Not sure if I even got any good shots.) So I thought I would share this. She had an Easter party at school before spring break. They had a math egg hunt and received goodie bags full of treats.

Our own Easter celebration was pretty low key. Mike and I filled plastic eggs with candy and set them out in the yard. After a few seconds the kids had found them all. (Four kids, 36 brightly colored eggs, small backyard. Not gonna take a long time.) After they came in we presented them with their baskets. Toys, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, more candy. Needless to say they were thrilled. The rest of the day we just hung around together. Mike made a big ham for dinner along with potatoes and what he now calls his "famous green beans." Canned green beans with diced tomatoes. He adds some other things, I'm not sure what...but they are delicious. But famous?

camping.

For part of Spring Break we went camping at Moss Park. We wanted to try out our new pop-up camper. I'm not sure who was more excited, Mike or the kids. It was actually pretty roomy inside. There are two full beds on either side, there's a sofa that doubles as a bed and the dinette folds down to create another bed. Plus, it has an air conditioner! (My favorite.)

One of the things we have never done in all the times we've gone to Moss Park was hike on one of the trails. We decided this trip we would go on a hike. Unfortunately we had lots of rain and many areas of the park were still flooded. Of course one area was the hiking trails. I did get a nice photo of the four kids at the entrance to the trail.

Helen was also kind enough to pose by herself. She loves the camera and the camera loves her.

Even though it wasn't really cold out (we had highs 0f 78-80) we still had to have a campfire. One, because Jimmy is a Boy Scout he likes to practice building and lighting campfires. And two, because what camping trip would be complete without making s'mores. Will didn't bother cooking his marshmallows in the fire...he ate them as soon as we put them on his fork.

We had a great time together...and we look forward to our next adventure.

You know you're a scrapbooker when...

* You usually have a camera with you.
* You wonder if you'll ever get caught up.
* You have tools your husband doesn't know how to use.
* You pull buttons off old, unused or outgrown clothes to use on a layout.
* You know who Lisa, Becky, Ali, Jennifer (who, me?) and Tim are.
* The clerks in your local scrapbook store know you by name.
* Your house is a mess because you've been scrapbooking all day.
* You know what CK, CKU, CKC, HOF, SOY and KOTM stand for.
* You can spot an Elsie sticker faster than you can say "Louis Vuitton."
* You check online galleries and blogs more often than you check the news.
* You save ribbon off Godiva chocolate boxes to use on your pages and cards.
* You change your child's outfit to match the paper you just bought...so you'll have the perfect photo to go with the paper.
* Your scrapbook bag is the first thing you pack for vacation, prompting your husband (or non-scrapbooking family member) to mention something about your priorities.
* You know that "Scrapbookers don't lie. We embellish."

Yes, I am definitely a scrapbooker . . . and proud of it!
(from Creating Keepsakes magazine, February 2008)

Another sign...you take photos of your scrapbook supplies. (Studio Calico February 2010 kit)