Year in Review

I asked the kids to fill out theses work sheets for the start of the year. I was surprised that none of them complained about doing them.



Name:  Rehm
Age: 12
Favorite Color: Gold
Favorite Food:  Bacon Alfredo
Favorite Activity: Playing Minecraft
Favorite Book:  The Lord of the Ring Series
Greatest lesson learned:  That girls are not all crazy and it is possible to love one.
Hardest thing this year: 7th Grade
Favorite Memory:  The New Year's Eve party this year.
What I loved about 2013:  Johnny Football
Want to learn:  I don't know
Want to get better at: Shooting
Goals for 2014: Get A's in all subjects and stay first chair



Eliza Claire's got trampled, or rather slept on by the dog. So it is a bit harder to read. I love that she was practicing her cursive "M" on the top of the page.

Name: Eliza
Age:7
Favorite Color:  Red
Favorite Food: Spaghetti
Favorite Activity:  Sports and reading
Favorite Book: Magic Tree House Series
Greatest lesson learned: Science:  Learning solids and Reading: The New Field
Hardest thing this year:  Writing: Stories
Favorite Memory:  Playing Softball
What I loved about 2013:  Staying with my family:  Mom, Dad, me, Ruby, Rehm, Charlotte
Want to learn:  Cursive
Want to get better at:  Being nice to Charlotte
Goals for 2014:  Reading at the end of grade reading level.

I was thrilled to see that Charlotte wrote in cursive. And her "looking forward to 2014" cracked me up and warmed my heart all at the same time.

Name: Charlotte
Age: ten years old
Favorite Color:  Neon Green
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Activity: Reading
Favorite Book: Harry Potter
Greatest lesson learned: How to Cook
Hardest thing this year: Taking care of my ears (she got her ears pierced for her birthday)
Favorite Memory:  Getting my ears pierced
What I loved about 2013:  Spending time with my family
Want to learn:  How to get along with Eliza
Want to get better at:  Get along with Eliza
Goals for 2014:  Get along with Eliza


I thought it was cute that Ruby made a place to write her name at the top of the page. I'm sure she did that before reading anything on the page. She worked diligently on hers and did not ask for help. It is hard to read but I was proud of her for doing it with a good attitude and independently.

Name:  Ruby
Age: 7
Favorite Color:  Neon Pink
Favorite Food: Spaghetti
Favorite Activity: Art
Favorite Book: Tea for Ruby
Greatest lesson learned: Cursive
Hardest thing this year: Reading and Writing
Favorite Memory:  My Birthday!
What I loved about 2013: Miss Zuniga
Want to learn:  How to do a hand stand
Want to get better at:  Writing
Goals for 2014:  To not get my letters backwards



Jenn

Aliases

Ruby has started a new thing. Wh e you say something to her or ask her to do something and use her name in the request she will say, "I'm not Ruby, I'm _______!" She always picks a different name, typically from a list of I've memorized. Of course, if you list off all the names as part of your request she will come up with a new name. This sounds really annoying but it is actually extremely adorable, especially since she always has a big smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye during these exchanges.



Her current list of names includes, but is not limited to:

Ralph - this was her first and most popular choice
Phillip Johnny Bob - this is from the Junie B. Jones series. PJB isnJunie's stuffed elephant
Olaf - from Frozen
Gus
Simon

A typical conversation with Ruby now goes something like this:

Me: Hey, Ruby!

Ruby: I'm not Ruby, I'm Ralph!

Me: Hey, Ralph!

Ruby: I'm not Ralph, I'm Phillip Johnny Bob!

Me: Hey, Ruby, Ralph, Phillip Johnny Bob, Olaf, Simon, Gus, whoever you are!

Then she giggles and says, "I'm Table" or some other such nonsense.

This girl always cracks me up and keeps me on my toes. I'm so lucky to be her Mom.
Jenn

Weekend fun

I'm enjoying having my parents in town. I wish we lived closer to each other. It is so nice to get to spend time with them and for my kids to get to enjoy them.

Today Papa went to A&M with Michael, Rehm, Ruby, Eliza Claire, Michael's parents and Jessica (Rehm's girlfriend - yes I know he is young to have a girlfriend and I try not to overly encourage, but if they are hanging out with our family it allows us to get to know her and see how they enter act with each other). It was Grandpa's idea to see if she wanted to use our extra ticket.

Charlotte had some one-on-one time with Cici and I. Then, she left for a sleepover.

Cici and I had a fun evening going to the movies. We saw Philomena. We both really liked the movie and then went to dinner. I don't get to have dates with my mom often and it was a nice treat.

I'm trying to think of some funny or insightful thing that happened today to add to this but apparently it was just a good old boring day. I'll take it! Sometimes boring is good.

Jenn

Friday

Today has been another fun and laid back day.






I've officially lost my mind and started a block of the month quilt at a local quilt shop. I didn't know what has possessed me. I hope I'm not in too far over my head. At least I'm trying something new and getting out of my comfort zone.

Shoe shopping with Rehm was not torture today. I'm so glad he has settled on a brand he likes. Now we can be in and out in half an hour. And they didn't cost a fortune.

Ruby told Cici at lunch "to be responsible" when Cici asked her to do a cartwheel in the restaurant. Of course, Cici was joking.

Papa took Charlotte and Eliza Claire fishing today. Eliza Claire caught her first fish. At least, she says it is her first. I think she has caught some before but if so,Nashe doesn't remember. If the anglers are anywhere near accurate (truthful), the fish was a two foot long carp. Charlotte was not so lucky. She didn't even get a bite!

Papa called Charlotte "Cheese Bob" this afternoon when she was wearing a stool on her head. He meant Sponge Bob but didn't come up with it. Charlotte is now calling him "Cat Head" because Phineas is sitting on the back do the chair he is sitting in.

Jenn

At least it arrived

This was in my mail box today.






It's a shame the return address and signature are both missing.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

A New Year

2013 is in the books. I'm really not sure where the year went. I did such a terrible job of blogging last year I can't even look back to see what kept us so busy. Here's to a better blogging year in 2014.

The maniacs are definitely getting older. We kept them out until 11:30 last night and they did great. No one had to nap today and they weren't tired, whiney messes. So lovely!

My parents are in town for a visit. Today my dad, Michael, Rehm, and Eliza Claire went to play golf. The rest of us ran some errands, went to the park and hung around the house. A great family day to start the year

Happy New Year,
Jenn

11-12-13

Today my Great Aunt Ina would have turned 100. She was a very interesting lady. I miss visiting with her. She always had a lit cigarette in her hand but very rarely actually smoked them. And until she moved into a nursing home always had a Boston terrier. If it was female its name was Suzie. If it was male its name was Butch.

She was known for giving us all unwanted advice about our style, weight, hair, grooming, posture, etc. She loved to send us random articles clipped from magazines and newspapers in the mail.

Growing up she always called my grandmother on Sundays around dinner (lunch) time when she knew the entire family would be there. That way she could talk to all of us. The kids would hear the phone ring and would all suddenly have an immediate desire to play outside. Trying, usually unsuccessfully, to get out of our couple of minutes if unsolicited advice.

Her husband died before I was born. She never remarried and had no children. She lived in a cute little 2 bedroom house in Wilmington, NC. It had a wonderful backyard.

I miss her. There have been many times I've wished I had known her longer as an adult. There are so many things over the last decade I have thought I would have loved to ask her about. And honestly, I miss those random, sometimes eye-rolling, articles and pieces of advice arriving in the mail.


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Vocabulary

Michael and I were discussing if there were any scenes in Ghostbusters that we need to fast forward through.

Ruby: Why?

Me: Because of inappropriate sexual content.

Ruby: OK, I have absolutely no clue what "content" means!

Oh my goodness! Of all the words of that sentence that she doesn't know, that wasn't the one I would have thought she didn't know!


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

All About Eliza Claire

Eliza Claire brought home a paper she did on the first day of school that was titled All about Me.  Here is what she had to say about herself.

What words best describe you and your personality?  Like school

What is your favorite activity to do with others?  Play Wii

Describe your family.  Fun, Crazy

What is your special talent? Singing

What is your most treasured possession?  Bear

What is your favorite activity to do alone?  Play with my toys

What is your favorite school subject?  Reading

What person do you admire most?  Mom

What career would you like to have in the future?  Beluga whale trainer

I love this girl so much.  She is so much fun.  I am lucky to get to be her Mom.

Jenn

First Day of School 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there you have it.  The first day of Seventh, Fourth, and Second grade.  Everyone is happy to be back at school and seem to like all their teachers.  I am happy to not have them all yelling at each other all day long.

Jenn

Dance Parking

In the parking lot at the restaurant tonight.

Eliza Claire: Mom, did you get dance parking?

Me: Did I get what?

Eliza Claire: Did you get DANCE parking?

Me: I don't know what you're talking about, sweetheart.

Eliza Claire: You know, ballet parking?

Me: Oh, no, I didn't.


It was so cute I didn't even tell her it is really called valet.


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Making Rock Candy

Week one of summer included making rock candy. It was Rehm's idea and the kids did it with very little help from me.

Here are their results. Rehm was disappointed because his mostly formed in his cup instead of on the string.












Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Bedtime Conversation

Me: Rehm, you have got to go to be, buddy.

Rehm: Alright, I love you, Mom.

Me: I love you more.

Rehm: Yeah, you probably do.


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Another fun day

Yesterday we fished,

paddle boated,

played with our friends



went to Enchanted Rock. Only to find a really long line of cars waiting to get in.

Made new plans.

Went to the LBJ ranch,

had a picnic,



learned about a president,






locked our sisters in an out house,

remembered our roots,




earned our Junior Ranger badges,









played just dance,

are ice cream,

and had another great day.


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

A lovely day

What a wonderful way to spend the day...

We read,

took a walk,



played at the park,

soaked our feet,



one of us fell in the tub with out clothes on while soaking feet,



visited the bait shop,

fished,

had a kid led worship service,






paddle boated,

swam (kids, adults aren't that crazy),






played board games,

worked a puzzle,

played with friends,

roasted marshmallows,



fed Canadian geese,



practiced instruments,

and watched TV.

Yep, I'm ready to call it a night.


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

A much needed hair cut

Rehm puts off hair cuts forever.



Before



After

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone