It's That Time of Year

There are a million things going on, and two kiddos right in the middle of it all--literally. This is a very busy time of year for us, and sometimes it's hard to get it all done. I've started staying up later at night and I'm always thinking about my to-do list.

It turns out that having your children five days apart (well, not exactly five days apart, but you know what I mean) is not so convenient. There is double the work to be done and I need to set up my sewing machine and I am terrified of my sewing machine. I need to pick a non-birthday day during the year and celebrate that our parties are done, I think.

Jay's uncle is building the kids a swingset/playhouse combo in the back yard. Jack is pretty excited about this, and I am, too. We had gotten spoiled with out old house backing up to a park, and now we will be even more spoiled. Swinging in your pjs! WooHoo!

And then there's the Summer Adventure Box, which Jack asks about roughly twelve times a day. I need to get it done, since as he's pointed out, we are on summer break now.

If I survive the next two weeks, there should be some good posts. In the mean time, I'll do the best I can!

The First Day of Summer Break

We started off the day with grand plans: a trip to the museum, signing up for the summer reading program, and a surprise treat. The museum and treat place were closed, but we were able to get to the library.

Things got a little more exciting when we got home and Jack's tooth fell out.

Alice was really fussy this afternoon until I sat her on the couch with her water like Jack. She thought this was wonderful.

She also figured out that you can cool off by the freezer.

Before dinner we played outside for a while.

We hope you are enjoying your first days of summer break, too!

The Last Day of Kindergarten

Friday was our last day of kindergarten. He looks so much older than when we began. His second tooth is about to fall out! Because we missed so much time when we moved and because I don't want him to lose what he's learned, we will be doing math and reading over the summer. I just picked Friday to call the last day because he was wondering when it would be, and I was needing some guilt-free days off soon to work on party preparations and go to the zoo before it gets too hot (too late).

We had a special breakfast at IHOP.

In his muffin tin meal, his sign said, "Goodbye, Kindergarten!"

"Hello, 1st Grade!"

I let him have the first item from his still-not-done Summer Adventure Box--an Egyptian Playmobil man. We have an exciting summer planned!

Tornado Safe Place

We were anticipating some wicked weather last night, so we made sure our safe room was ready. Jack saw something once that said in an emergency you needed a flashlight, some food, and a picture of your family.

We snapped one quickly to pacify him.

My dad asked him what kind of food he thought he needed, and he said fruits and vegetables. I grabbed a box of Teddy Grahams out of the pantry and he was satisfied.

We finally all got inside because the clouds were looking pretty ominous and the weather men on TV were not a lot of help. Also, I would be really embarrassed if I were killed by a tornado just feet from a room that is built to withstand an F5. (Alice slept through it all.)

It was a little stuffy in there, but everyone fit just fine and we all survived what turned out to be a lot of rain. Happy Tornado Season!

Gymnastics

Parent Day was a couple of weeks ago at the kids' gymnastics classes. My mom took lots of pictures of Alice's class for me.

The first part of the class is free play. Alice is one of the few who isn't walking yet, but she is starting to enjoy crawling around and trying the different equipment. It makes it hard when Jack has class, because Alice is determined to join in.

Later there is circle time. Alice *LOVES* rhythm sticks.

Trying a forward roll with Mrs. Patti

Jack's class was harder to photograph since he can move so quickly. Lots of my pictures were blurry!

Handstands on the wall

Working on a back flip

At the end of the class, each child got to choose one thing to demonstrate. Jack decided to do a cartwheel for his baby sister.

Jack has had a lot of fun in class this year. He's still trying to decide on activities for next year, but Alice will definitely continue--you can't beat a free class!

Handy

How do mothers use a public restroom without a five year old around?

The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour

Yesterday was the big day!

You can't see it here, but I'm smiling. You would think that after 16 years I would have the height difference thing figured out, but I clearly don't.

After the opening act, the band played a bit.

And finally, Conan came out!

There was quite a bit of music in the show.

Andy was there, too. It was actually my second time to see Andy since he came to speak at OU once.

Eddie Murphy's suit

The musical guest was Hanson. The college-aged girl next to me was about to have a stroke.

This bat was awesome.

The encore...

...and into the crowd. He was standing in the chair next to my friend, Manny.

Any show involving Conrad Bain is going to be good.

I remember Conan's first Late Night show back when watching him was a painfully awkward experience. I watched his first Tonight Show (and his last one was the last one I will ever watch). I can't wait until the new show begins!

Touch a Truck 2010

We couldn't miss Touch a Truck! We have gone every year since Jack was 1, so we decided to make a little trip of it this year.

We hadn't seen Ms. Susan since we moved, so Jack was very excited.

We got to see Ms. Kim again, too.

We were there early enough to see the helicopter land.

And the line wasn't very long, either!

We visit the mail truck every year. They are still trying hard to get rid of the same handouts that they've had for five years. Someone really over-ordered those things.

The trolley was a hit with Alice. She wasn't sure about the horns on the big trucks, though.

Jack always likes the campers.

For only the second time, he smiled on the bus. I guess he is finally convinced we aren't going to make him go away to school.

Why would we drive two hours with a baby and get a hotel and get up and out early on a chilly Saturday morning?

Simply put, it's because these librarians are the best. Do your librarians know all the kids' names? Do they know what they like to read? Do they help them find their favorite books on the discard shelf so they can get a copy for fifty cents? Do they shave their heads for kids' cancer research? Ha. We win. Too bad we're two hours away now, though.

Seriously, Ms. Kim and Ms. Susan are amazing. When we were in town a while ago for the Medieval Fair, we stopped by the library so Alice would have a place to crawl and play for a bit before we left town. Ms. Kim spent an hour with Jack talking books and animals and everything else. He even got his own private storytime.

Well, he had to share with Alice.

I hope you have a wonderful library where you live, though I can just about guarantee you it isn't as good as this one. We're still on the hunt for one that halfway measures up here!