"Snow" Day

 The kids have seemed to luck out with several three day weekends during the month of January and a few in February. The Lynchburg School District will cancel school at the slightest sign of a snow flurry.  I understand the hills + ice + buses don't mix well. And VA doesn't get that much snow, so most people aren't equipped to drive in it. I know the schools are thinking of our safety, but some days are just ridiculous. Today was one of them. Last night school was delayed 2 two hours on account of freezing rain and in the morning they decided to cancel it completely. Yes, there was ice on the cars and yes it was cold outside. But not that cold and the ice was melted by 10am. Nothing more came. So, we had a lazy cozy day at home. It seems storms always roll our way on Fridays and the schools get cancelled, and the storms dissolve before they even do anything and then we get a free three day weekend. I'm really not complaining. The kids work so hard during the week, it is nice to have a lazy unexpected day to relax and be kids without having to worry about getting homework done before bath time or scout night. It is nice to watch them play together and it is sure nice to have someone else entrain Zachery for awhile.

Today was of course a Friday when school was cancelled for a big ice storm that never really came. Grandma was here visiting. We I slpet in, made beligian waffles for breakfast with homemade strawberry syrup and left over homemade whipped topping. Then we all cuddled on the couch watched Pete's Dragon. Grandma and Savannah had a tea party and read books while Zachery took his nap and RJ played his new Skylander Wii game. It was a nice lazy relaxing day.

A few Friday's back during one of our "snow" days in January, I made a "laser" course for the kids. They put a treasure on the other side of the "laser beams" and had fun trying to reach it without setting off an alarm. I sure do love pinterest!

Some Highlights from January

We spent New Years Day in Disneyland, which I don't recommend! It was BUSY, much too crowded. But California Adventure wasn't too bad.  We still had a fun time, who wouldn't? Just being in Disneyland is magical.

January 2nd we met our cousins at a near park before leaving Southern California. This was very exciting because we hadn't seen these two cuties for just over three years. They had been living in Thailand for the past two years and we met Abby only once, very briefly, when both she and Zac were barley three months old. So it was a special treat to reconnect with them. The kids spent a good hour+ playing at the park like they never parted. Makale ran from the camera every time I came near. But I was able to snap this smile of him. However Savannah and Abby were all smiles whenever the camera was pointed in their direction. Savannah had a blast playing with a girl and she said that was the best part of her trip to California. I couldn't believe Abby beet seeing Cinderella, but she did.

 

We then went to Sacramento and enjoyed a brunch at IHOP with Grandpa Wight on the 3rd of January. We enjoyed or visit with him and the kids each got a motorcycle ride and enjoyed playing with his three dogs, two cats, and parrot.

Back in Fairfield we said our Goodbyes to Grandma and Grandpa Pearce.The kids always enjoy teasing Grandpa and spending time with Grandma Sammie. With sad goodbyes and promises of future visits we made out way back to Grandma and Grandpa Bartley's. Where we got all our stuff packed and cuddled on the couch watching another game of football. We enjoyed hanging out there and playing with our uncles. Mommy got a few runs in which was really nice since the weather was great, the scenery gorgeous, and the terrain fairly flat. And Grandma Bartley makes the best homemade dinners. It was hard to leave. But on January 5th we woke up early and spent a long day on airplanes flying back across the country.

We got back into our school routine, which was really hard to do. I think it took a two weeks for the kids to handle the early mornings again. But they enjoyed catching up with their friends and getting back to the normalcy of life. On January 11th RJ toke his mom out for a night down town. We got all fancy-ed up and walked the red carpet to hear the results for the Lights Camera Lynchburg video contest. His class came in third place in their category for their entry and then at the end of the night they were rewarded with the viewer choice award and $600. I have never seen such an excited group of third graders. I then treated RJ to dessert at the Main St. Eatry and his eyes jumped out of his head when they rolled the cart of desserts to our table. We shared two pieces of cake because we couldn't decide one. Overall it was a memorable night.

At the end of the month Jared took a new job position within his company. He is now in management with a sweet new office (no more cubicles), a three level jump, and big pay raise. Of course he has been working harder and longer, but so far he seems to be enjoying it.

My sister also came to visit for a few days at the end of the month. We enjoyed the visit with her. I will hopefully get some pictures of the fun blind fold test she performed on the kids while she was here posted here soon and I will hopefully do a little better as the year goes on getting things posted. Life has been busy, but we are sure enjoying the ride.

I was looking at my blog this morning, trying to locate the date of when RJ and Savannah lost their first teeth, praying that I did document it on my blog so I didn't have to look through all my computer's picture folder. And I realized how long it has been since I was a full time blogger. It was early in 2011, that I started struggling to find time to blog our family adventures. And 2012, I nearly stopped completely, adding a grand total of only 6 entries that year. 2012 was an interesting year filled with so many personal struggles on what I was going to do with myself, where I was at in terms of happiness and self worth. And I bogged myself down with SO MANY projects and volunteering everywhere, trying to be super women; trying to fill fulfilled, that I hardly had time for the important things in life. This past fall our schedule was PACKED, it was nice to get to California for a few weeks to get away from it all.
Upon returning back home and starting the new year, I started to reflect upon the past year and set goals for the future. One of which was to do better at documenting our family life whether I downloaded the pictures or not. I figured, I can always go back and add photos later and the memories are what is truly important. I also was determined to not pack my schedule so full and let the little, more important, things slide. I hate to admit that I gave up an invite from a friend last month because I was determined to get my laundry done that day. I was so up tight about getting things done in a timely manner that I truly let friendships slip. And without having family out here, I need those friendships to remain strong.
So, I have been working on that these past few weeks of being back home. I kept a lunch date with a friend, which turned out to be a very busy day. I had thoughts of rescheduling, but I didn't and the two hours I relaxed and visited, was the highlight of my day and I still managed to get some errands done. I felt much more happy and complete after that busy day then I had in a long time.
As I looked trough the blog this morning, I realized I am still behind for 2013. I haven't done what I coached myself to do for this new year, I am determined to write down our past events, but I won't let it stress me out to the point that I don't do it at all. I just can't do it all. I am not super women! And I don't have to be. But reading through old posts and recalling memories I had forgotten about and sharing old pictures with Savannah and Zachery, who were looking over my shoulder grinning at their younger smiling faces, made me realize that this is one of the important projects, not to let slide for laundry. So hopefully at the end of this year I will have much more then 6 posts on our family blog. And hopefully I will be more determined to make a book out of all our memories to look back on in the future to come.

Happy 2013!

We rung in the new year in style this year. Our kids were tired, our feet were sore, and our backs ached. But all was forgotten when the announcer wearing his silver glittery sports coat stood on the podium and brought the excitement into the crowd by a human wave and happy new year shouts. The backdrop was set at Paradise Pier, in California Adventure Park. The countdown started with ten and was ended with cheers, kisses, and an awesome display of fireworks combined with amazing water features from the bay. It was exciting and a joyous way to make a fresh start to a new year. Thanks to a great dad for making the Disney experience happen again for our children.

January first was full of more Disney excitement. We ended the evening by giving away some extra fast pass tickets, for Space Mountain, to a surprised and very grateful couple and decided to make that our family's new year resolution: make a point to do some sort of act of kindness each day.

To the new year! Happy 2013!

Highlights from July 2012

We celebrated our 4th with friends, BBQ, games and fireworks. The perfect way to spend an evening! 

 The kids lining up and getting safety tips before playing with sparklers.

Our friend's neighbors put on a nice show which we enjoyed watching. 

Afterwards we did a few of our own ground fireworks.

Future Bride

Savannah is already starting to dream of her wedding. She found my veil and made Zach dress up and be her groom. It was so funny to watch as she told him exactly what he was supposed to do. For awhile he refused to wear the dress coat, he wanted to wear a cape but Savannah insisted and she finally got her way. 

Why I hate deer! 

We never did get a garden planted this year like we had hoped. However, I was able to plant a few tomatoes in planters. I have been bringing them in the carport every evening but one night I forgot and guess who got lunch!

 Savannah finally lost her first tooth!

 After a month of wiggling it, it finally came out and three weeks later another one came out. Savannah is so unlike RJ when it comes to loose teeth. She will nurse the tooth and slowly wiggle it patiently waiting for it to fall out on it's own. Whereas RJ wouldn't wait, he would just yank and pull till it came out. 

RJ's New School

 RJ was invited to attend the GO Center for 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade. This is the Gift Opportunity Program and only 50 third graders are invited out of the whole school district. We are very proud of him. Savannah is sad to not have RJ in the same school as her anymore, but we are all excited for RJ's new opportunity.

We were able to meet the principal and take a private tour of the 3 story school. The school was built in 1926 and was originally a high school. It is a really neat old building with a beautiful old auditorium including balcony seating and original folding chairs. The inside gym as an old spiral staircase in the corner leading by to a raised indoor track. It was very cool. As part of the tour the principal took us up to the roof of the building where we were able to see a good deal of the city.

EAT MORE CHICKIN

It was "dress like a cow and get free food" @ chick-fil-A day. So we went for lunch and joined some friends and the rest of the crazy town for some spotted fun.

 We even talked Daddy in on the fun! 

Poor Guy

He doesn't look to happy, but he is! He LOVES playing with his sister and she LOVES dressing him up and making him do what she wants him to do. He was talked into dressing as a baby and crawling around following Savannah around. Poor, kid.