CRAZY DAYS

Yep, it's been crazy here. I'm sure no one is surprised by that statement. Let's see...last week we had numerous soccer practices, baseball practices and other running around. We are all done being sick (yay!). I subbed a couple of days as well.

Jake had a soccer game on Saturday. It was rainy, cold and miserable. They lost 12-6. Jake had a great game. He played awesome defense and also scored 4 goals. I was pretty proud of his efforts!

I'm officially a soccer mom! We bought a Nissan mini van over the weekend. My Envoy lease was up and we had to buy something new. Scott hates the idea of a van but so far I love it. It is really nice (5 sunroofs, 2 DVD screens, captain's chairs, navigation, heated seats and so on).

We really enjoyed the beautiful weather on Friday. We grilled out with friends and had a few beers & great conversation.

The kids and I went to visit my family after Jake's game on Saturday. We went to my sister's house for my nephew Ben and niece Maddie's birthday parties. It was great to see my family. Allie went and stayed with my parents for the night while Jake and I went to stay with my
brother Michael & his family. Both Kim & Michael had to work on Sunday morning, so Jake & I got to babysit Drew. It was a ton of fun. Drew loved Jake so much & Jake was such a great sitter. We laughed and laughed the morning away.

Talent Show auditions are done (mostly). It will be a smaller show this year, but we have some pretty cute acts.

This week brings/has brought:

• Monday: Allie dance class, Jake Talent Show practice, me volunteer in Allie's classroom
• Tuesday: Allie soccer, Jake soccer practice, Jake soccer practice
• Wednesday: sub and last night of religion
• Thursday: Jake baseball, Allie soccer (last night)
• Friday: Jake soccer, May Day baskets
• Saturday: Jake soccer game
• Sunday: golf tournament for Scott and lunch with my sister/sister in law for me, baseball practice for Jake
  Happy 5th B-day Ben!

Maddie & Allie

Allie is ready at soccer

Jake's now writing in cursive!

Allie's Scout troop with their Mother's Day pots

My new van
Maddie, Ben, Allie, Drew & Jake
Drew loves cake
So does Miss Maddie
Happy 2nd B-day Maddie

PICTURES

Here are some pictures from this past weekend. I forgot to post them with my entry.

Allie's pretty pedi feet. Note the flowers on her big toes ;)

Jake, Drew & Allie

Kim and Allie relaxing during their pedi's.

SPRING STUFF

Yep, last week proved that Spring had arrived. The temps were decent & our chaotic lives were in full swing.

Allie started soccer last week. She won her first game and lost her second game. She looks good this season & actually seems to be trying her hardest to play well. She scored a goal & blocked several at goalie. I still think she is planning to have this be her last season of soccer. Registration is on Monday...that could all change!

Jake has 2 soccer practices and 2 baseball practices last week. He was pooped the night that he had both soccer and baseball back to back! He also had his first soccer game over the weekend. His team lost. He was & still is fighting a chest cold, he didn't play much since running caused coughing & shortness of breath.

Jake stayed home from school today to attempt to get well again. He can't shake this cold & now a slight fever has entered the picture. He is bored out of his mind. The kid isn't used to having to rest & do nothing. He keeps begging to go to school tomorrow!

Kim & Drew came to visit on Friday/Saturday. They wanted to see Jake's first soccer game. Drew was such a perfect baby during his visit here. Kim & I had a nice time too!

Talent Show auditions started last weekend. Not a great turn out, maybe this Saturday? The kids that did come were very good though, which was nice!

This week brings: ballet, 3 baseball practices, 4 soccer practices, 1 soccer game, a Daisy meeting, my niece & nephew's b-day parties, babysitting for my nephew, religion class & I am subbing a couple of days this week too. Today we missed Talent Show practice and a Cub Scout event...oh well!

HAPPY EASTER!

Easter has come & gone at the Grinstead house. The kids got their baskets from the bunny, found all the eggs that were hidden & dyed eggs. This is probably "it" for Easter at our house.

Why?

Well, on Saturday night at dinner, Jake asked if the bunny was real. He asked RIGHT IN FRONT OF ALLIE. I scrambled and replied "what do you think". He said the kids at school say it isn't real. Allie agreed and said that kids are saying the Easter Bunny isn't real.

Ouch.

So, after Allie left the table I talked to Jake & asked what he believed and his answer was "I believe there is an Easter Bunny because I'm afraid if I don't believe, I won't get any candy." I asked him to please keep his knowledge to himself and please don't talk to Allie about it. He agreed & I didn't tell him if the bunny was real or not....just left it alone!

In other news:

• Allie went to her friend Wyatt's birthday party on Friday night. They spent the evening at Chuck E Cheese's. She has an awesome time.
• Jake is working on his pitching for baseball. The coach wants him to give it a try. I'm not sure I can handle the stress of watching my kid pitch this summer. I about have a heart attack when he's the goalie in soccer...I can't imagine that this is better!
• Scott was off this weekend and painted Allie's room for her. It is pink....very pink! She loves it. Once I get a dresser picked out for her & do something about her headboard/footboard (my mom is helping me with that project), her room will be done. Then onto Jake's room.
• We went to the neighbor's for an Easter dinner. They had an egg hunt & we grilled out. Yummy food & fun!
• Jake's Talent Show song is ready to go. Now to find the time to practice.
• Jake went to a FREE football camp at UNI on Saturday. He spent 2 hours with the UNI football team going to different stations & being coached on the positions of the game by the players. He was in heaven & loved it.
• I subbed at 3 different schools last week. My favorite day was spent in a resource room with several autistic boys. They were a hoot & I just loved working with them

This week:

• Allie has ballet class and ballet pictures
• Jake has talent show practice
• Texas Roadhouse is doing a fundraiser for our PTA...no cooking that night ;)
• Allie has 2 soccer practices/games
• Jake has 2 soccer practices and his first soccer game
• Jake has 2 baseball practices
• Both kids have religion class
• I have PTA meeting, the last one of the year
• I am subbing this week
• Talent Show auditions start on Saturday morning
• The kids have several playdates this week too
  
  Jake with his chocolate bunny

Allie with her paint by numbers book from the Easter Bunny

Dying eggs

Allie's new PINK room

Our blue main floor bathroom
Allie finding eggs at the neighbor's egg hunt

Jake finding eggs at the neighbor's house.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Ok, maybe Spring temps and the weather hasn't sprung but our Spring routine certainly has sprung! Things are getting a bit crazy on this end, go figure! Soccer practice twice a week has started, along with baseball practice a couple of times a week for Jake. Toss in Allie's weekly dance class and 3 weeks of soccer for her. Add in a Scout meeting on average once a week between the 2 kids. Oh & why not throw in PTA meetings, Talent Show co-chair stuff, getting the kid's acts ready for the Talent Show & subbing a couple times a week. WHEW!

So, we got 4.5 inches of snow over the weekend. Yes, I said snow. Yes, it is April here! I was NOT happy about it. Fortunately, it melted with in 48 hours & we are now seeing signs of Spring all over...if we could just get the temps up about 10-15 degrees life would be awesome!

On Monday, I got the pleasure of going to observe Allie's dance class. They gave us a preview of the upcoming year end recital. I think it will be cute. Jake got suckered into dancing with his sister at the end of class & I think he might have enjoyed himself a little! Allie also signed up for her Fall dance class. She has decided to take a ballet/tap combo class.

The kids went to birthday parties last weekend. Jake spent his time at the rec center for Sam's b-day. Allie went bowling for Renee's party. Both kids had a great time.

Scott & I went out for dinner & drinks with friends last weekend. It was wonderful to get out &
relax.

Jake placed 3rd in Scott's NCAA pool at work. He won $50 (only $40 after Scott made him pay the $10 entry fee). I had a LONG discussion with Jake about gambling & what happens when you DON'T win. I think/hope he gets it.

This weekend is Easter & we don't have big plans, instead lots of little plans. Jake has both soccer and baseball practices. We are getting together with part of Jake's Talent Show group to figure out the routine so we are ready for practices next week. Allie has a b-day party for her friend Wyatt. Scott is planning to paint Allie room...guess what color??? Yep, pink! We are also planning to color eggs in preparation for the bunny's arrival.

Next week brings: ballet class, 2 soccer games for Allie, 2 soccer practices and a soccer game for
Jake, 2 baseball practices for Jake, religion class, a PTA meeting, a funderaiser night at Texas Roadhouse, Talent Show auditions, practice for the Talents Show for Jake's group, volunteering in Allie's classroom, subbing, Daisy Scout meeting and an Earth Day celebration/Cub Scout meeting.


Allie talks Jake into being her partner at one point.
Allie shows us 2nd position in ballet (I think)

ICE CREAM

Jake's class has started their poetry unit. Jake wrote his very 1st poem today & he's quite proud. Here is it:

Ice Cream
Ice Cream
Ice Cream

Chocolate ice cream,
Vanilla ice cream,
Large, sherbet ice cream,
Small mint ice cream,
Those are just a few.

Strawberry ice cream,
Raspberry ice cream,
Medium blueberry ice cream,
Cookies and cream ice cream,
Banana ice cream too.

Yummy ice cream,
Yucky ice cream,
Don’t forget Oreo ice cream,
Last of all, best of all
I like Four Queens ice cream.
YUM!

FIRETRUCKS!

So, last night my friend Kristin & I were at the kid's school working on mixing Jake's Talent Show song (his group is doing the Evolution of Dance 2, you can find it on www.youtube.com). We use the program Garage Band, which is loaded on a Mac in the school's computer lab. We sent the boys outside to play & Allie stayed in the lab with us playing on the computer.

Out of nowhere, we heard an alarm & initially we thought one of the boys had tried to open Kristin's classroom door & set off an alarm. We went to the hall & found it filled with smoke & the fire alarms going off.

Allie was freaking out,& when the boys heard the alarms, they ran into the building (yes, we talked about NOT going into a building suspected to be on FIRE). We found that someone had burned popcorn in their microwave causing the building to fill with smoke & setting off the alarms. No problem! EXCEPT the fire department was immediately alerted and sent numerous trucks & firefighters to the scene. The remaining staff members greeted the firemen and told them the story and they left.

So, it was an eventful evening at school last night! We did get most of the CD made though & hope to finish it up on Saturday...barring any other popcorn incidents!