School Family Night

At Mia's school, they try to make the learning experience a family one. They will have family nights that involve the school opening it's doors for family's to come play school basically. Last family night was thrown by the specialists. The 4 areas of play were: PE, art, music, and computers. Without Fernando who was trapped at BAMC for night float, I braved the 2 hour long event with kids who were past their bedtime.

Things were flying smoothly at first for the PE section. Talia ran around while Mia and Tiago attempted to jump rope. Each family was then given a large jump rope to take home and we then switched to art. Luckily, Talia needed a diaper change so the other two could try making a necklace without the "help" from Talia's little hands. Then in the music portion, sticks were passed around to learn a rhythm sequence. Tiago and Mia concentrated on following the tapping whereas Talia did her own groove thing. Unfortunately, the computer portion was about as stimulating as an intro to Econ lecture even though they were presenting a really fun activity as seen below: (or done by yourself at blabberize.com)


After the subtle and not so subtle hints from the teacher, I realized that our family needed to leave which lead to more than one person yelling including me. Am I sad we went? No. I just think a time limit should have been set before we went into the school's wonderland.

Ms Bumble Buzz Bee

For those of you with kids, you should try looking at the gocitykids.com website and find out random fun things that are going on in your neighborhoods. We often take a peak to find fun free outings. The site has the cost, maps, times, contact numbers, and age suggestions for the activities and so much more! I confess that some states (ie Maryland and Utah) have more exciting adventures, but we have hit a few gems here in Texas. Like the other day, we went to The Garden Center (some local garden store) for a outside storytime where we got to play with a cat,

listen to Ms Bumble Buzz Bee read stories with a fake British accent including a soon to be published wonderful story she wrote about a storm cloud,

plant flowers (which required rocks as a base for the water not to drain to quickly from the soil)

eat graham crackers and lemonade,

and find a skid steer in the middle of a menagerie of beautiful plants

See what you have going on around you!

For fellow SA friends, this weekend is loaded with some Easter Fun. Some that looked good to me were:
Hip Hop Underwater Easter Egg Hunt, Hippity Hop, Little Nut Brown Hare Easter Storytime and Activity Event,, Easter Activities at the Bass Pro Shop including a free picture with the Easter Bunny, crafts, and an egg hunt (plus this store is amazingly fun to take kids to), and Government Canyon Fourth Saturday Family Fun.

Word to the Wise

Fernando is a work out-aholic. The man has an injured knee and still is drawn to the gym under the guise that he will take it easy. Without fail, within a few minutes of the light workout, his body cranks up the power to punch out what seems like a insane 45 minute torture session to the rest of humanity or at least to me. My idea of working out has a zen feel to it. The sweat should glisten across your smiling face and you can still carry on somewhat of a conversation at any given point. He warns me often of the do's and don'ts of working out. Number 1: Never NEVER eat before working out. I never follow this rule. And, until Tuesday, I never understood why it would have to be a rule.

Tuesday morning, a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch became me breakfast of champions. Then the kids and I headed to the YMCA for a little Zumba fever. Like usual, I decide to increase the intensity of each move to increase the end product (or should I say decrease my "end" product). Rule 1 struck with a vengeance. I couldn't focus on anything except the overwhelming urge to puke. Too addicted and prideful to leave class early, I toned down my moves to a mere shuffle of my normal self. My normal self is quite sweaty, but with the new intense predicament, I looked like a train wreck. The feeling stayed strong for a good part of the day. There's a right way to live and be happy, and it's choosing the right everyday.

Spring Break

Goal before this week came: daily adventures with memories galore. Reality: everyday has turned into a normal Saturday which includes cleaning and the occasional random bit of fun and park enjoyment. But really just a whole lot of down time, gym attendance, and even a grocery shopping trip. Some of my favorite fun moments have been (in no particular order):

washing the cars cause who doesn't love random accidents involving a misguided hose




making green eggs and ham (a Mia plan well conceived and executed almost solely by her, but highly suspicious to Tiago and Talia as for edibility)
(she was assuring me how good they were going to be)

sprinklers, bubbles, and chalk used simultaneously and with a hint of aboriginal inspiration (chalk+water=dried mess on skin)




removing training wheels and trying to teach Mia to ride big girl style while trying to keep Talia on the sidewalk (sorry no pictures. . .I could barely keep track of not getting either girl serious injured. Note to self, one on one session probably are more productive)

rolling down our front yard's slight slope and trying to be gracious losers (not pretty was the strange rash that developed on Mia's leg later that night.) and then attempting to fly a unbraced kite in the perfect kite flying wind. Also without pictures due to the shear spontaneity of the kids' imaginations


And although night float mean Fernando lives in a sleep hayes for most of the day, it's nice to have him every once in awhile whether it's jump roping,
trampoline cuddling.


or enjoying an interpretive dance session with the wig ladies

May be Not So Good Samaritan

Wednesdays are commissary days. For those who are unfamiliar with military bases, a commissary is a grocery store available for military id card holding people (so glad I found that card). I have yet to find a calm time to visit the commissary and most frequently find myself shopping with the gerontologically advanced. Today was no different. I try to be aware of their shopping so as to make myself available for hard to reach items. "I can't do everything, but I can do something."

As I made the final turn into the frozen section, my eyes caught sight of a sweet grey haired woman with a slight sloop to her posture. A bit frazzled and confused she searched in vain for some limeade. Never you fear, I am taller and more limber (on good days) and I will find your limeade. Sure enough, on the top back shelf, 4 tiny limeade concentrates were available for the taking. She graciously thanked me and even told me how such actions should more than count for helping the elderly. I smiled and retorted with something along the lines of "no problem ma'am, just doing my job" and tipped my proverbial cowgirl hat. Then while I raided the freezer for minute maid oj that was actually under a $1 she said, "I feel bad telling you this, but I feel like I must. . . I needed the limeade for the daiquiri's I am making tonight." Laughing I responded with "Well, I am not sure about how to make daiquiri's but I am sure if I knew that was what they were for, I wouldn't of helped!" We giggled together and wished each other well. She left feeling loved, I left with a guilty conscience for enabling alcohol consumption. I guess that teaches me to be willing to serve!

POST POST:
I really don't feel bad about helping her. I just hope that she doesn't decide to pop too many of her concoctions and end up as one of the many St. Patty drinkers who will keep Fernando up working all night tonight.

She Picked Up Her Hammer and Saw

I wish I could remember the rest of that "joke", but more to the point. . .I can see again. I have been hanging on to my last pair of colored contacts for months and as of Saturday, my eyes decided it was to for me to trash them with their own mutiny via pink eye. Sadly, I only had my skeewampous glasses that are missing a key appendage to keep the glasses on your head. This wouldn't do for anything more then driving.

My last eye doctor experience here in TX was horrible and occurred in 2008! I was more than hesitant to try another place again especially since it is all out of pocket for us when you want contacts which I do. The previous eye visit was wrought with rude receptionists (who had multiple phone conversations after I began talking with them), unclean conditions like not pre sanitizing the eye equipment, and losing my prescription that was a little off anyway.

Luckily, upon calling many offices, I found a place that would take my limited eye insurance which dropped my $115 appointment down to $46. The office was close, clean, professional, to the point, and even offered a helpful reprimand for treating my eyes so poorly. I have nothing but praise for the office and doctor who looked younger then me. The best part: walking out and seeing clearly.

Little Miss

I am up way too late. . .again. After watching two episodes of hoarders and searching webmd for the answer to my annoying cough, I began looking for spring break activities. Then I figured I should sync them to my phone so I don't forget about them during the week. This syncing process always brings up the photo application. When I stumbled across these gems:





These pictures of Little Miss Mia remind me of all the sweet times we shared together. I can't believe that she is already in school and we are trying to figure out things to do during her spring break.