Great Grandma with the Bread

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted! Yikes! Time does fly by too quickly. Anyway... One of the many things we have been up to is going to Menlo Park in October for Grandma Conrad's 90th surprise Birthday party. The girls were most looking forward to bringing home Grandma's Bread, but were also excited to see her! She is so alert and with it. I hope to be that aware of things at that age. She sews, bakes, cans pickles, plays the piano at church and at funerals, helps and serves anyone, anytime, anyplace and is a wonderful mom, Grandma and Great Grandma! It was so wonderful to be together as a family and celebrate this momentous day with her.

I made a quilt for her twin bed as a gift. She has made hundreds, acutally, more like thousands of baby blankets and quilts for others. I don't think she ever makes anything for herself. So I wanted to make her a quilt for her bed that she would use and enjoy for years to come. After she opened it and enjoyed it she made sure to tell me to put my name on it. I told her that I had put a label on the back that read something like "Happy Birthday. Love, Ben, Steph, Haylee and McKenzie" but she corrected me and told me I needed to make sure to get the quilt back "when she was done with it!" She is hilarious!


After we exchanged gifts at her house we took her to dinner at Fresh Choice. The girls haven't been there since they were babies. They really liked it! All of their favorites were there: mac & cheese, salad with ranch, all sorts of bread and any kind of ice cream you want!

Grandma's friend and Mary Jeane worked on the surprise party that was held at Grandma's church. There were so many kind people there that genuinly love Grandma. They had put together a slide show of photos and memories and had a few musical numbers since she loves music so much.

After Grandmas party, my dad got us a hotel room with some of his points so we got to stay in nice hotel for the night. The next day we were able to go into San Francisco with the girls and we really had a perfect day. Haylee has decided her new favorite thing is clam chowder. Who doesn't love clam chowder at Pier 39????

We all had such a nice visit. I am so glad we went. Happy Birthday Grandma!!

The Park

Kenz came home this weekend with some books from school. She was so proud that she could read now! In kindergarten they send home pre-decodable books that have just a few words and pictures.

The name of this weeks book was "The Park." The only word in the entire book was THE! She read all eight pages perfectly and was so proud that she knew the word THE!

It was so exciting to watch her face as she read the book. I was looking at a cookbook today and she said "Mommy that book says THE!" Watching kids realize a new love like reading is so awesome! She's been running around the house today looking for THE'S!

(This picture is when Kenz was 2 1/2 years old. She was finally walking with the help of her AFO's, or as the girls called them "magic shoes", and she was taking orders while playing restaurant at B's grandma's house! Too cute!)

Bikini here I come

There have been so many times over the last year that I have said "I am going to go back to Weight Watchers tomorrow." Obviously tomorrow came and I always had an excuse why I couldn't go. I'm not sure why today was so different but when the opportunity came up for me to go today, I did it! This is way more information than most people want to know about me but when I got weighed today the number on the scale was the same as when I was 8 months pregnant! When did this happen??? Maybe it was the half a bag of peanut M & M's I ate or the entire bowl of guacamole.

At any rate the weight is there and I don't feel comfortable in my body. I hope I'm not the only one who has had that feeling. The feeling of things aching that usually don't, clothes fitting differently, parts wiggling that weren't even there before and feeling awkward about everything extra on your body.

I am excited about this new journey. There have been a few times I have joined then quit, joined then quit and the weight always comes back. Maybe because I am now being accountable to the world, not just myself, I will stick with it!

I'll keep you posted as the pounds melt off and also when I can't resist a huge bowl of ice cream and have to pay the price!

Rant about parents

The last two days I have had a few experiences with what I see as bad parents! I am not by any means the "perfect" mom and B and I don't make the right decisions all the time about how to raise our kids. There are a few things that he and I both agree are no brainers.

For those of you that don't know I work VERY part time for a math tutoring center 3 nights a week. We tutor kids from 2nd grade all the way through high school. Over the last year while working there I have met many children and families. It really is frightening to me how often I hear from a parent "He just won't do his homework" or "She would rather watch T.V. than correct her quiz." Who is the parent here! You are bringing your child someplace for help with math, paying good money for it, and then allowing your child to dictate to you why they can't or won't do their homework. What the heck!

Today we were driving home from Costco and I saw the most horrible thing. There was an adult man driving, maybe the father, with his little girl in the back seat of the car. She had her window down and was hanging out the car window while stopped at a stop light. There is no way she had a seat belt on since she was maybe 5 and she was out the window from her waist up. The light turned green and she was still hanging out the window, laughing while her hair got blown. He turned to quickly or I would have written down his license number and called the police on him. What is wrong with people? Where is the responsibility?????

I was so irritated...

I love brownies!

Last year Haylee wanted to join a Brownie Girl Scout troop. So I went to the parent sign up night only to find out that there were over 100 girls in this area who were on a waiting listing to try and find a troop. The quickest way to get a troop for Haylee would be to start our own. Of course being the adventurous woman I am we started our Brownie Troop with 6 girls! I really have to tell you that spending time with those little 1st and 2nd graders last year was sooooo fun! Over the school year I grew so attached to my Brownies and really think of each of them often throughout the month, even though we only meet 2 times a month. They are all sweet and thoughtful. With the money our troop made selling cookies the girls voted to go to the skating rink with the money. Then they wanted to help the local animal shelter by donating food, treats, toys, and cat litter with the rest of the money! We donated over $200 worth of supplies and all the girls were so proud, as was I!

Yesterday was our first day back at Brownies. We talked about the things the girls wanted to do this year. Here are a few of the suggestions:

• Visit a museum
• Make smore's
• Camp outside in a tent
• Learn about and ride horses
• Help our community
• Make cards and letters for people

In the spring we will sell Girl Scout Cookies as usual and we will have two ceremonies where they receive awards and badges.

Planning the activities is sometimes time consuming but I really enjoy my time with these smart, funny, caring girls. This is definitely a blessing of motherhood, Girl Scout Leader!

No More Floaties!

Tonight B convinced Kenzie to try to swim in MeMaw and PaPaw's pool with no floaties. Everyday we watch both girls get more and more independent. Isn't that what is supposed to happen??? It is still hard...

Maybe when I'm growed up

Kenzie came home from kindergarten today and said a boy in her class had been following her all day. This is how the conversation went on the way to the car:

Kenzie: Do you know the little boy in the blue shirt in my class mommy? Well he followed me around all day long! I don't like it!

Mommy: Well sometimes boys follow girls when they like them or want to play with them.

Kenzie: Yeah, I know. After I ran away he caught me. Then he said "do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Mommy: What did you say?

Kenzie: I told him no thanks. I'm not old enough right now. Maybe when I get growed up.

Mommy: That sounds good!

I think I should advize her to run faster next time a boy chases her.