11 Days into 2007

So, it is the 11th, well 12th as I post this in the early morning hours. I finally took down the outside Christmas decor on the 10th. All our other decorations (except our tree) are still up. The house is a mess. I just can't seem to find the motivation to clean. I don't have any new year's resolutions, maybe if I write some down, it'll kick start me into actually doing something.

I think what it is is that the kids didn't go back to school until the 8th. I am still recuperating from them being home. It threw my well oiled schedule off!

So let's see. Well, remember the car accident we had way back on the weekend after Thanksgiving? Well, our car is still NOT fixed. The shop had it for a month and two days and after we got it back, there was a noise and a jarring metal on metal thing going on. I'm sick of dealing with the shop and insurance. I just want my Expedition back. At least we are fortune enough to have my parents (relatively) close by and we can borrow their SUV. What would we have done without them?

Okay, enough negativity. Let's talk kids...

Kevin ran a marathon this past Sunday. He didn't run the whole 26 miles in one shot. He ran the last mile. Keith went with him and actually ran too! Kevin earned hi Bobcat Badge and he earned his Tiger Cub badge. Our little cub scout wants to be in the Scouts all the way up to Eagle. He's really into it. They have a campout coming up in a few weeks.

Michaela has started up ballet again. The studio was closed for the holidays. She is back in school and is really enjoying it, of course. She is one smarty pants. Kevin was trying to read to us tonight. As Kevin was sounding out words, she'd lean over and tell him what they were. I have to sometimes tell Kaela to leave the room when Kevin is reading. She's going to give him a complex! Kaela didn't go back to school right on the first day back. I had the pleasure of taking care of her, as well as Kevin and Kyle, with a stomach virus. The last couple of days have not been pretty here. At least McKenna never got it!

Kyle is doing his same old thing. Loves his cars, loves his books. He likes to watch PBS Kids Sprout (a channel for preschoolers) over any other channel. He is getting more and more mature each day. I think I may *gasp* start to potty train him soon (yes, finally, I know!).

Speaking of potty training, I just may try to train McKenna at the same time. She hates a dirty diaper and will even get me a diaper and wipes when she needs a change. If I don't respond quick enough, she sometimes tries to take her pants off herself! She is getting to act more like a three/four year old than a not quite two year old! She can escape from her crib and she can almost climb right back in. She tries to dress herself and put on her shoes. She has graduated from her high chair and now sits in Kyle's old blue chair. Kyle has graduated to an "adult" chair. She is talking. Drink! Shoes! Poo Poop! Mama! Dada! Hey! Noooooo! Thank you! Please! She definitely understand everything we say. She loves to watch TV and she sings. But of course, her MOST favorite thing to do is to bug the heck out of Kyle, Kaela & Kevin. Oh, and one more thing. She has lost another pair to an earring set. That's 6 sets! Kaela still has the same ones she's had since her ears were pierced almost 5 years ago.

Anyway, as for Keith and me. We are okay. Keith is on the look out for new prospects. I am doing lots of fun stamping/craft stuff. At the end of the month I am going to the Craft & Hobby Association Winter Trade Show. A HUGE event with over 3500 vendors. Then in February, as the kids' Christmas present to me, I am going to go to the scrapbook expo. I get to go two days in a row and I am taking some great classes. I can't wait. I am looking SO forward to both events.

Well, it's past 1am. I should go. Good night!

Happy 2007!

SO my last post was in the beginning of November and two months passed at the blink of an eye! There is so much to report, I just don't know where to start. So, I think what I'll do is just post a picture of the kids (the Christmas card picture) and then go from there. When I have time, I'll post more pictures in our photo albums.

Let's start with how we rang in the new year. We spent New Year's Eve having a nice family day. We woke early, okay not SO early, but early enough - 8:30. We got the kids all dressed for the day and we headed to the Wild Animal Park. We are season pass holders and decided that we really needed to use the passes! We did go to the San Diego Zoo on Christmas day, so the passes have already paid for themselves. Anyway, we had a great time, as always at the WAP. We rode the train and walked around. Kevin was our official map reader and he kept us on track as to where to go. He led us along to see the giraffes, then the tiger, then the elephants. When we finished our trek, we stopped by the Hidden Jungle and had ice cream. It was cold for us - mid 60s, but the ice cream there is yummy! Keith and I were joking around that you could easily spot the locals from the tourists. The locals had on sweaters or light jackets and pants on. The tourists were all wearing short sleeves and shorts. Anyway, we left the park well after closing and were able to catch some of the holiday lights they still had up. After we left there, we ate at a Mexican restaurant. It was a chain restaurant and served what Keith calls Americano food. They were really busy, but the service was not so bad. After dinner, we headed home. The kids immediately went to bed and Keith and I sat to watch TV. We watched the ball drop, then hung out for about 15 more minutes and went to bed.

Today was a relaxing day. I spent most of the day shopping. It was fun for me. The stores weren't crowded and I got to take my time browsing. I brought home Indian food and that's what we had for dinner. We basically just hung out today. It was a good day.

Well, that's all for now. Good night and happy new year!