Allie with her crazy hair.
Allie sporting her crown.
Allie & friends at Jr. Jazzercise. She is in the white shirt/black pants.
Allie & Mr. Reader, the bear that the Star of the Week gets to keep at their house.

Jake's Mohawk on crazy hair day. How UGLY is that??
Jake, Paul & Adam at the skating party.
Allie & Jordyn at the skating party. Allie has some mouth piece that glows in her mouth.
Allie & Arianna at the skating party.Nicholas, Aidan, Paul, Will, Sam & Jake learning bike safety for Scouts.

NOT MOTIVATED

I'm not really motivated to write tonight, but it has been a week & I know if I don't get something written another week will be gone! So, here is a brief wrap up of our week.

• Allie was the star of the week at school. She got to have a bulletin board up all week lined with pictures of her family and friends. The week was all about her...which is really the way that she likes it!!
• The kids had crazy hair day. Jake needed a haircut & so we allowed him to have a Mohawk for the day. It was dyed green! It was a hit, but cut off shortly after he got home. Allie opted for colored pig tails.
• Allie celebrated her summer birthday at school. She walked around all day with a crown on & made several comments to teachers such as "Is my crown straight" and "I've waited so long for this" and "this is the best day of my life". I baked Pillsbury break apart cookies for her to take to school as a treat. I had another mom come up to me & ask for my recipe because her daughter thought that they were to die for!! We laughed pretty hard about the fact that I cheated & didn't make them from scratch!
• All of the Brownie troops at Hansen took part in a Jr. Jazzercise class after school one day. The girls had an awesome time dancing while exercising.
• We got more snow the other day. This brings Waterloo's total to 53.9 inches for the year...the 4th snowiest on record. I certainly hope that we don't get anymore snow!!
• Hansen held the annual skating party. The kids enjoyed themselves. Jake really got the hang of roller skating & Allie didn't do as well. That is strange because it was the opposite last year!
• Jake's Cub Scout den had a bike safety meeting. I'm not sure any of the boys listened, but they had a great time riding bikes together and messing around.
• This week brings Allie's dance class, volunteering in Allie's classroom, 2 soccer practices for Jake, religion class, Godfather's night, a Talent Show meeting, a carnival meeting, and a fundraising meeting for me. A busy weekend in store as well...these are the weeks that I wish I didn't work OR I wish that I had a cleaning lady!!

There are pictures in a post above this one.

HAPPY EASTER

We had a nice, quiet Easter morning. The kids slept in until 7:45 or so. That isn't typical of our kids on a holiday morning. I'd guess that they were tired from our trip. They went through their Easter baskets and gathered up all of the hidden eggs. They had chocolate bunnies for breakfast...a great Easter in their eyes. Scott was in charge of supper (his choice) and he grilled yummy marinated steaks, seasoned potatoes and garlic bread for dinner. He even made a salad. It was kind of nice for me to not have to any of the prep work!!



The kids running down the steps ready to hunt for eggs
Jake finds an egg
Allie gets a new diary in her basket


The kids trying out the shades that the bunny left them
Allie empties eggs...they were full of jelly beans
Jake emptying eggs too
Jake eating his breakfast
Allie eating her breakfast

MALL OF AMERICA

We took the kids to the Mall of America for a quick Spring Break getaway. There wasn't any sun or sand...instead we battled snow to get there. We left on Friday morning and ran into snow about the last 30 minutes of our drive. It was pretty slick & hard to see, but we made it!!

We checked into our hotel and went over to the Mall. We grabbed a quick lunch at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Factory. It was good as always. We then went to the amusement park in the mall, which is now Nickelodeon Universe. There were several new rides since the last time we were there (when it was Camp Snoopy). Allie is our little daredevil and rode every ride possible. She got in a lot of bonding time with Scott riding the big rides. Jake isn't quite as fond of the big rides, so he stayed back & watched his sister tackle the big ones. We spent several hours at Nick Universe and had a nice time. We left around 9:00 and went back to the hotel for a late dinner and then off to sleep.

We got up early on Saturday morning and grabbed breakfast at the hotel. I let the kids swim for awhile in the hotel pool before we went back to the mall. We went to Underwater Adventures at the mall (a big aquarium). It is a great little aquarium, the kids got to touch baby sharks and sting rays in a touch a touch pool. The kids enjoyed watching the sea creatures swim all around us when we walked through the tunnels of fish. Allie insisted that the sting rays were smiling at us.

After we were done exploring the aquarium, Allie and I went to Build A Bear while the boys went looking for tennis shoes. Allie chose to build a hot pink bear with silver flecks of fur. That was her souvenir. Jake opted to wait to pick out anything until we stopped at the outlet mall on the way home (he spotted some new basketball shoes there). We had a bite to eat at the Rainforest Cafe before leaving for the outlet mall & then home.

Our little trip was no Florida or Mexico...but it was still nice to get away as a family. Something we don't do often enough. We are looking forward to another mini vacation this summer when we go somewhere with my high school friends (the Dells, Chicago, Mall of America, St. Louis & Adventureland are on the table). Florida with my family is the following summer...plans are slowly coming together for that trip.




Allie tracked down every person that was dressed up at the mall. This is Sharky from Underwater Adventures. We caught him wandering around the mall. She also found a Moose & a Bear from Build a Bear that I didn't get a pic of.
Here is Allie with Sponge Bob at Nick Universe.
The kids are waiting to ride the Ghostblasters ride
Jake in LegoLand. We wandered over there while Scott & Allie were on a roller coaster
Allie & Scott are on this coaster. Front row, right side.
Allie & Jake on a ride

Allie with her smiling sting ray
A shark swimming over us in the tunnel
Jake & Allie by a beaver at Underwater Adventures
A big, old lobster

My little treasure
Jake being goofy
The kids petting sharks and stingrays
Allie at Build A Bear
Allie with her new bear

Allie with Cha Cha the frog at Rainforest Cafe
The kids outside of Rainforest Cafe
Allie making a wish into the alligators mouth at Rainforest Cafe

LEPRECHAUNS, FAMILY & FUN

When the kids woke up on Monday morning they saw that the Leprechauns had invaded their rooms. Those pesky Leprechauns threw their clothes on their floors and left some coins on their floors. Not as much of a mess as last year, but still things had to be cleaned up. They also left some "Magic Dust" on our island. When you combine the dust with Cool Whip & mini marshmallows, it makes the Cool Whip turn green. The kids thought it was amazing. We did that at Nana's & Maddie loved the stuff...Ben loved the marshmallows.

The kids & I took a short trip to my parent's house this week. Since we were on Spring Break & Scott didn't take of any time, we decided to visit family. We arrived on Monday morning. After lunch, we took off to a movie and saw The Spiderwick Chronicles. Allie thought the movie was scary & the rest of us really enjoyed it. We had a nice dinner with my parents, grandmother, Will, Mandy & her kids. Allie & Mandy made these really cute Easter treats that looked like a bunny driving a car. Allie loved every minute of that!!

On Tuesday, Allie and mom made brownies in the morning. Allie loved getting to crack the eggs, something that I don't let her do. The kids and I took Grandma to lunch. We had a really nice time. That afternoon, we popped popcorn and watched Hairspray with Nana. We met my extended family for taco night for dinner. There were about 16 of us!! It was tons of fun. The kids were able to run around while we waited for our food & even met up with some of their friends from school that were visiting their grandparents and happened to be eating at the same restaurant we were. What a small world.

On Wednesday, Ben & Maddie came to mom's house since Mandy had conferences and would be working late. We spent the morning with them and then took off to meet Kim for lunch for her belated birthday & to hear about her recent trip to Florida. We shopped a little with her & stopped for ice cream & then came home. It was nice spending some time with her....Allie tried her best to feel baby Drew kick...of course he didn't cooperate!!

We spent today catching up on some laundry and other projects around the house. I had a dentist appointment too, the kids came with me & were surprisingly good!! We colored Easter eggs today. They turned out pretty good.

Snow is in the forecast for tomorrow...hopefully they are wrong. Our snow is just about gone & we aren't sad to see it melt!

The mess that the leprechauns left for Allie.
Jake's mess left by the leprechauns.

Cousins...Jake, Maddie, Allie & Ben
Another shot...no one was cooperating very well
Allie & great Grandma
Allie making Easter treats
Allie & Mandy with their treats

Nana & Allie baking brownies
The chefs are ready to cook
Allie dying her eggs
Jake coloring his eggs
The kids with their eggs

WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO...

A few weeks ago, my friend posted a list of what she was looking forward to with Spring/Summer approaching...thank you Stacy for the idea!! Here is my list (some of the same ideas are on Stacy's too)

• baby Drew's arrival...a new nephew to spoil
• family get-togethers (one already planned for my grandma's 80th b-day)
• the waterpark
• no coats
• hot dogs on the grill
• capri's
• Allie's birthday
• the kid's soccer & baseball games
• 4th of July waterfight in Grand Mound
• my siblings and their families visiting...we grill out & sit on the deck talking until late
• Kid's Day (the carnival in GM, I've been attending it since I was in 2nd grade)
• green grass
• flip flops
• the windows being open...I love that fresh smell
• sheets fresh off the line at my mom's house
• our annual vacation with Pierce's & Ericksen's
• having a coffee outside on Main Street with Jake while Al is at dance
• a cold beer on the deck with our neighbors
• hearing the ice cream truck approaching & watching my kids panic while finding money
• flowers poking up through the ground
• Twilight Camp for Scouts
• Mother's Day grill out with friends
• making marinated steaks, potatoes & garlic toast on the grill...add Kim's salad & we have a perfect summer dinner
• the kids walking to their friend's houses to play
• no more sandy grime on my floors being tracked in from the melting snow
• catching fireflys late in the evening
• jumping rope and playing with sidewalk chalk in the driveway
• watching the kids ride their bikes/scooters
• sitting outside of 4 Queens with the kids eating ice cream
• walking to soccer practice
• making Buster Bar & Cocoa Krispie ice cream dessert
• the kids and Scott playing catch in the back yard
• Spring walks through George Wyth park
• last day of school picnic
• Adventureland

Allie's List:

• my birthday
• waterpark
• hanging out with my family
• eating pizza outside
• jumping rope
• eating ice cream at 4 Queens & from the ice cream truck
• play outside
• sliding & swinging
• Nana's on the 4th of July (I love the big waterfight)
• wearing dresses
• Vacation Bible School

Jake's List:

• soccer & baseball
• football in the backyard with Ben, Adam & Paul
• basketball in the driveway at Ben's
• waterpark
• 4th of July in Grand Mound, the waterfight & the fireworks
• wearing shorts & muscle shirts
• ice cream
• swings
• riding bikes/scooters/skateboards
• NO MORE SNOW!!! Snow stinks!
• meeting baby Drew
• Maddie turns 1, I can't wait to see her eat her cake
• Talent Show

CRAZY DAYS

The past week has been nuts. I am looking forward to Spring Break & hope that the weather becomes more spring-like too!

The Pinewood Derby for Scouts was held last weekend. Jake's car did better than last year, but he didn't win a trophy (which bugged him). Maybe next year the boys should start their trophy earlier than the week of the race!!

My mom came to visit on Monday night. Jake's school concert was held that night. It was a wonderful musical called "3 of a Kind". He got a speaking role in the play and was one of the 3 Musketeers. He did great. Mom spent the night with us & had lunch at Hansen with Allie before she left for home.

Tuesday evening we had a PTA meeting. We learned while there that UNI had been put on lockdown because of a weapons threat. I was quite impressed by the communication that was given out during the lockdown. One of our PTA members is an employee of UNI & she was getting text message after text message updating the status of the incident. It was hitting too close to home for many of us that is for sure!

We also had dance, religion, playdates and a birthday party this week. I think we figured out what our group is going to do for the Talent Show at the end of the year. Allie has also signed up with some friends to audition for the show. Hmmmm.....


The Pinewood Derby...Jake's car is one of the blue ones.
Jake singing at his performance.
Jake & his Musketeers.
Jake's class artwork for the Art Fair last week
Jake's piece of art at the fair.
Allie's class artwork
Allie's piece of art.
Jake at the flag ceremony for Scouts.

SICK KIDS

Jake was sick last weekend with a fever/cough. Scott had it last weekend too. Mine was about 2 weeks ago. Allie picked up the bug that the rest of us have been battling for weeks. She was sent home from school with a temp on Thursday afternoon. She was home yesterday too. The child felt terrible! Today she is much perkier (is that a word).

Here's the sad thing...she missed Thursday night's Art Fair at school and yesterday was supposed to be her b-day at school (since she has a summer b-day). Her class also hatched their dinosaur eggs yesterday. Miss Pins sent Allie's egg home for her to take care of & she will have her hatch it on Monday. Her b-day has been rescheduled. The Art Fair went on with her work hanging, but we didn't get to see it. She kept telling me "I HAVE to go to the Art Fair, I want to be an artist when I grow up". Poor child.

CONDIMENTS

My dear Allie was reading to me tonight & she came across a word that she didn't know. I reminded her of the "bossy e" rule & we went on. A short while later she got stuck again & I reminded her "when 2 vowels go walking, the first one does the talking"...she asked me to remind her which letters were vowels. So, I told her a,e,i,o,u & sometimes y. She asked me what the others were called & I told her consonants...she said "oh, you mean ketchup & mustard?" I about died laughing & explained that those were CONDIMENTS, not CONSONANTS!