So Little Time

Hey Folks! This is a really quick post to say, 'Yes, we are still alive and this is still a valid blog account.' :-) I have plenty to add, but we've been on spring break which means basically I've been doing very little of my 'normal'. What's normal, you ask? You know! Cleaning my already sparkling house, exercising for an hour before sunrise so I can be dressed all cute in the latest fashion and have my "face on" before James gets up, cooking gourmet meals, ....ok, you got me- so that's my dream of 'normal'- (hmm...or maybe nightmare since I hate waking up early if I can help it...). Anyway, just wanted you each to know I've not forgotten about you- and I plan to post something soon that will not receive the, "sheesh! When are you going to update this blog, Cari!" response. Love you all!!

(p.s. It was almost 60 degrees today. ALMOST!!! Just a little more patience and spring will really be here....yay!!!)

Do What Works For You

Hey Folks! So, many of you know Logan is starting school this fall and he is SO excited! I've been studying all of our options (who knew there were so many?!) and we've decided to go with Ohio Virtual Academy.

Fair warning: I am now climbing on top of my soap box. :-)

The coolest part of this virtual academy is that it's a charter school (free- paid for with tax dollars) and the school provides everything- a computer, printer, internet, teacher in charge of grades and watching progress, awesome lesson plans (at least I've been really impressed with the sample ones), supplies, tests, etc. and all I do is teach. TEACH! I LOVE teaching! :-) I loved teaching my K-5 students before I had my kiddies, I loved teaching Pre-K (by far my best class ever) after I had my kiddies, and what could be better than teaching my favorite student (sorry past-students who believed they may have been the favorite...) every day and not having to plan the lessons?! I'm lucky enough to have some friends and family members already using virtual academies (or starting this year), so I've been able to get the nitty gritty info and answers to all my crazy questions. I know education is a super-touchy subject, but as I always told my student's parents- you do what works for your student and your family- and if you make a decision and it's not quite what you'd hoped, try something else! :-) No one should fault you for doing what's best for your student.

So- any of you locals doing the OHVA thing this year? Let me know- I'd love to put together a weekly something or other! :-) p.s. Enrollment just started!

Cari's Trip to Dallas!

How cute is this sweet little face? This is my newest niece, Gracie Olivia. She is one month old, and ADORABLE!!! I had such a blast going out to 'hang with the girls' for the weekend. I got to hold this beautiful girl, eat out a ton with my sis (YUMM!!!), and play with my cutie pie niece Lucy! We dyed our hair, watched a chick flick, organized the kitchen, went shopping, and best of all laughed and talked the whole weekend. I LOVE YOU RACH! :-) (and girls, and Marsh of course, too!) ha ha

One of the funniest parts of the trip was the fact that I flew out of Ohio counting down the minutes to sunshine, only to be welcomed in Dallas with the worst snowstorm they've seen all year! We laughed about how big the snowflakes were, but as Rach said, 'Everything's bigger in Texas!' If they're gonna have a snowfall, they're gonna HAVE A SNOWFALL! :-) Despite the snow we had a great time. I was of course extremely excited to see my boys once I got back- I sure missed them!! But the trip was a well-needed break! Thanks Rach, Marsh, Lucy, and Gracie for such a wonderful weekend!!

Spring Teaser!

We had the most WONDERFUL Spring Teaser! Sunday we were able to have a picnic (allbeit a quick one thanks to the sun going behind the clouds) in our backyard which was absolutely SPLENDID! Then Monday the boys got up and dressed bright and early (I'll clarify: 7:30am IS earlier than normal for our family ha ha), ate breakfast, and we all headed outside to swing and play until Logan had to leave for school a little after 9. We also played with the parachute and a ball, but it was so windy it wasn't quite what Logan was expecting. He had more fun pretending it was a cape. :-) After we dropped Logan off at school, Ty and I went over to a park with our friends Monica & Mikayla. The kiddies had a blast playing on the toys! We even got to walk around the trail. Once home, both boys slept beautifully for naps- that sunshine is exhausting!- and I got to sit in my comfy chair in our bedroom next to an open window and enjoy the soft breeze. I can't tell you how much that day meant to me. We woke up to rain Tuesday and more snow today, but I didn't really even mind since I'd had such a wonderful Monday. YAY SPRINGTIME...well, while it lasted, anyway!!

On another note I've been scouring the online shops looking for the perfect theme for my sweet baby girl's room. I was really debating a beach theme- flip flops and sunglasses, etc.- but I love springtime so much that daisies and butterflies keep drawing me back. I haven't made any decisions yet, but I'm so excited to actually have a room decorated so everything coordinates! I have plans for the walls and pictures to match the bedding and curtains, possibly a cute rug, pillows for the futon and rocking chair, etc.! It's so fun doing a girl's room! I loved doing the boys' rooms too- always had fun ideas, but we moved so much when they were babies that the only things we really 'decorated' with were bedding and curtains- and those didn't match each other! Luckily the boys didn't mind- I think they had more fun picking out posters of their favorite characters than they would have a formally decorated room. This little girlie will be in the same room for the next four years or so at least, so I can justify painting and doing more permanent things (don't worry, Honey, I know it all has to be a buyer-friendly neutral before we put the house up for sale...) :-). James has been really supportive of my whole room decorating fiasco- meaning he doesn't say "no, that's a waste of money for a baby who won't realize what the surroundings are until she's much older" he just says, "just make sure it fits in the budget and you have a plan before you start." :-) He knows me too well. I'm just so excited about this little baby!

We're Having A...

Baby Girl!!

We can't believe it! Baby 4 is actually a girl! :-) We're so excited!! She looks absolutely perfect- has a profile like her brothers, and was VERY wiggly throughout the entire appointment. YAY!!

What's it gonna be?!

I am SO excited right now!!
Boy or Girl? Boy or Girl?

Today at 2:30 or so, I will know what this little baby is! I had the day all planned for "speed-mode"- you know, where you fill your day really full so it goes more quickly- well, I'm currently revamping that plan, because we woke up with....can you guess....MORE SNOW! :-) So Logan's school is canceled again (this is getting ridiculous!), and that leaves me an entire morning to fill. Luckily the boys slept in until 8:30, so that's been helpful, and they both need baths...so that'll fill some time... :-)

Either way, check back this evening if you're interested in what we're having- I'll post as soon as I've picked up the kiddies and made it home!

Also, for those of you with young ones, this is a great website I came across for learning games: www.starfall.com :-) Logan LOVES it!

MORE SNOW!

What's that Tyler? ANOTHER SNOW DAY?! Well, turn that frown upside down my dear- I have LOTS of fun things planned. I was not about to let one more snow day go by without a plan. Here's some of what we did!
This is one of the best games ever invented. Hungry Hippos kept the boys laughing for EVER!
Puzzles are always a great indoor activity- and when you haven't done one in a while it seems like brand new! :-)

And last but not least, Logan HAD to play outside for at least a little while! I bundled him up even more than usual, and the poor guy couldn't quite put his arms down by his sides. :-) He did really like his "Optimus Prime" face mask though.

Luckily the snow was still there in the morning, so Tyler and Logan could both taking advantage of the cross-country sledding weather. (For those of you who don't know, cross-country sledding is when you hop in a sled on extremely flat ground and beg someone to pull you around.) I am fairly positive that the chosen position is that of 'rider' and not 'sled-dog' though the boys were having so much fun it was worth it to be sled-dog for a little while. Luckily I talked them into swinging after a while with the promise that I'd push. They both had a blast- Logan jumping out and flying into the powder and Tyler riding on the 'big kid' swing! We had a great time!

Now....what to plan for the next snow day.... let's hope I have a while to think of a plan! :-) Happy Winter!