Where did this summer go???

Maybe it's because we took a trip to Southern California the second week of summer vacation.  Maybe it's the solid month of nightly swimming lessons.  Maybe it's because I'm working pretty much five days a week (albeit part time).  But I just realized I'm getting one week off of work (it's my turn at work, per budget issues), followed by one week of VBS, and then it's already August.  Where did this summer go??

I had a "summer bucket list" of stuff I wanted to do, but it seems like although my day-to-day is more relaxed than during the school year (thanks to not having to deal with 8:10am dropoffs and 2:50pm pickups), my schedule is still just as full and unavailable for doing "fun stuff" like camping, visiting water slides and water parks, going pedal boating (which, incidentally, I just realized is NOT called "paddle boating"), mini golfing, Tahoe, amusement parks, and other tourist traps attractions.  Where did this summer go???

I think it's because my husband is still working just as much, and I don't feel comfortable doing these things alone with the girls.  Combine that with the stuff HE wants to do while the weather's good (basically anything that doesn't involve the family -- biking, poker, UFC, half-marathon), and I think that gives a pretty good picture of where our summer has gone.  *sigh*

Don't you hate it??

Don't you hate it when you think of something to write about, but by the time you get to the computer, you completely forget what it was?  And you KNOW that it was something that you had been wanting to write about for a long time?

I'm sure it'll come to me...

Flat Stanley in Southen California

The plan:
leave Friday to go to M&M's house in southern California, hang out for a couple of days.
On Sunday, go to Anaheim with M&M&family to meet S&G&family, and check into a hotel near Disneyland.
Visit The Mouse on Monday.
Tuesday return home.

Kids were hard at work playing.

Flat Stanley was hanging out in the lobby at our hotel near Disneyland.

Flat Stanley rode the bus with us to Disneyland.

Family photo with Mickey.

Shooting the targets on the Buzz Lightyear ride.

Looking for the targets on the Buzz Lightyear ride.

Three kids in 3-D.

Can't forget Abigail's monster smile.

Silly smiles from the six oldest kids.

Flat Stanley's photo op with Mickey.

We got back to our hotel to find the girls' dolls had a great time playing on our beds.  Flat Stanley wanted to join in on the fun.

Introducing Bob

Both girls had their hair chopped off over the past couple of months.  They have a friend who had beautiful, thick, long, black hair, and she cut it off and donated it to Locks of Love.  I thought that was a wonderful idea and mentioned it to Elizabeth and Abigail.  It took a while for them to warm up to the idea, but by the time their hair got long enough, they were more than ready.  Elizabeth kept asking when she will get to cut her hair short "just like Z."  Abigail wanted her hair cut too, but since her last haircut was more recent, we had to wait a couple more months for it to get long enough for the minimum donation length (10 inches).  Those last two months of waiting were an exercise in patience.  By the end of the wait, Abigail was asking me every day "can I get my hair cut today?"

They are so happy with their short bobs.  I also love how it's so much easier to comb, although a part of me is secretly trying to figure out how long it'll take to grow it out again, in order to donate again.  I mean, why not?  It grows for free on their heads, and if it helps somebody out, why not!


Now I want to cut off my hair and donate it too, but I'm so afraid of what short hair will do to me.  It's curly, and who knows what'll happen when the weight of the length goes away -- will my hair go flying out in all different directions?  If only I knew for sure that it'll be okay.

Hopefully the end of a half-year hiatus

It's amazing how life can get in the way of writing about life.  Over the past ten months I had decided to take up some classes at the local community college, and although I got good grades (straight As!), managed to work part time at preschool and church (12 hours), had dinner on the table almost every night, and packed lunch for my family, I just couldn't manage blogging on top of it all.  Well, now that school is done, I can now stop, take a deep breath, a good look around, and start writing about it again.  Hopefully regularly.

Some updates:

Abigail is now beginning her last year of preschool.  She's excited about being a Dinosaur -- a pre-K.

Elizabeth's last day of first grade was on June 10.  She got sent home with summer vacation homework, a Flat Stanley that she needs to take around on her summer vacation adventures.  She'll be going with me and Abigail to preschool.

We just got back from a five-day road trip to Southern California to see some friends -- details later.  We've got plans for swimming lessons and art classes too, but unfortunately dance just can't fit into our schedule this year.  I have a feeling I'll be keeping a Flat Stanley journal as well.

Oh, and happy bloggiversary to me too

I've been a blogger for one year and one day.  Let's see what this next year brings.  (Does this count as Post Number Two for January 2010?)

A belated happy new year and merry Christmas and happy Thanksgiving while we're at it, too

I've been a horrible blogger.  I have been trying to keep up about 4 blog posts per month, and completely missed December.  I can explain myself!  I was taking two classes and had two big projects plus two finals, all converging in December.  And right before that was Thanksgiving, which I had taken upon myself to cook up pretty much the entire meal, mostly from scratch, for my family, my parents, and my sister's family.  And as soon as finals was over, we had to scramble to get the house decorated for Christmas and cleaned and ready for my in-laws' annual visit.  And today is my dad's birthday too, so we spent the weekend at my parents' place and helped throw him a little birthday dinner party.  So yeah, I've been a little busy.  Sorry.  I hope you will forgive me.

If it helps, here are a few pictures as a peace offering...

Me and Abi hanging out at our favorite frozen yogurt place.  (The rest of the family is on the other side of the table.)

Eliz's first school assembly performance

Cornerstone Fellowship's annual Women's Christmas Dinner with Point of Grace performing

SNOW!! I had to take a picture because this is a rare occasion -- I heard the last time it snowed here was in 1977 or something like that.

The girls took pictures with Santa. He comes to a mom-and-pop shop here in town during December, and the same Santa has been coming for years. No charge for pictures; bring your own camera!

Eliz's first school award; an AR bronze medal for accumulating 25 points. She was one of three in her classroom to receive this.

Christmas morning at our house with the in-laws

Christmas day trip to Mt. Diablo

Hula hooping -- Eliz is showing off how she can even jump while keeping the hula hoop spinning.  Lil stinker makes it look easy.