Just Chugging Right Along!

Not much has changed for us. Rich is still playing basketball. The team is 6-0...and I'm not trying to jinx them. He made the A/B Honor Roll FINALLY!!! He even ended the semester with with all As and Bs!! He has started this 6 weeks out a little rocky. But hopefully he has time to bring them up to Bs before the 6 weeks ends.

Kiley has been sick with strep this week. But she is on the mend. She got her report from her teacher and she is doing very well. Even scored perfect on her math benchmark (district wide test). Her reading speed and comprehension has vastly improved as well.

We are getting ready for Valentine's. Her Valentine cards for her friends are way cool. We punched holes and added a crazy, heart straw. (Hoping pic loads below!)













And her box for Valentines



















Just started up with a Crafternooner Club that includes some of my favorite inlaws...Karen, Erin, Christy, and Wendy and of course Tricia!

SICK!!!

I posted on my Facebook that I was having a bad hair day due to all the hats I wore yesterday...mom, nurse, plumber, teacher, etc...Kiley was sick first. Took her to the doctor. His words were, "She is confusing me!" She has the symptoms of a stomach virus (throwing up), but she has a sinus headache and symptoms of a sinus infection, but he didn't see an infection. She continued on throwing up all afternoon and evening. Mike called and said he was heading to Care Now to get checked out. He was complaining of a "tight chest and achiness". That doctor said he tested negative for flu, but had the symptoms, so he put him on Tamiflu. We can't leave Rich out. He was trying to study all evening while I was going back and forth with Kiley to the bathroom (she felt the need to have my presence while she threw up). I finally get everyone in bed around 9:30. I enjoy the quiet and peace for a few minutes and then head to bed myself. 2:30...I hear Rich up. Now he was sick. Sent him to school while Mike stayed home. (Kiley went to school, too!) Rich came home around 9:30. Mike stayed sick all week. Kids recovered within a day. Then I ended up off for a day sick as well.
Fortunately we are all over that mess.!!!

The Basketballs Are A Dribblin'

Kids are back in school after the Christmas break. That means our schedule is back to being cRaZy!!

Fortunately (sorta) Kiley's basketball season came to an end on Saturday. She was really upset she didn't get a basket this season, and claims she is DONE with basketball forever! The coach tried his best to get the ball to her to get her basket, but it just didn't happen. She did enjoy it at times and made several new friends.

Rich's season just started. Mike is coaching along with another dad. First game was a WIN!!! Rich even scored a basket and had he opportunity for 2 free throws...way off. But it is the 1st game afterall.

He (and I) will be spending this week preparing for his first semester exams. We are about 75% through his Science review and about 50% for Reading/Language Arts. His Social Studies, I'm NO help with! He'll be on his own for that, and should do pretty decent. Math is my worry....but with a big prayer and lotsa self confidence, he should do ok. Luckily his average is pretty decent and even a barely passing grade on the exam will get him by (he can't know that, though! *wink* *wink*).

Christmas stuff is all packed away except for my big screen. I've convinced Mike it is more WINTERY than just Christmas-y. Truth is, I haven't found what I want for that wall yet...

New Year's and the last of the Christmas celebrations...

We enjoyed a quiet (as quite as a 26 and 17 month olds can be!), small New Year's Eve. Tricia, Chris, Storri, and Levi were over as well as Shana and Weston. (When you tell Weston you love him, he cocks his head and says, "I do." So darn precious...his tone is totally different from his usual voice.) Then Brian and Kristi stopped by for a few.

New Year's Day we had Stephen and his family over. The kids enjoyed hanging out with Nick and Nicole and playing on the Wii Fit. Even Stephen and Michelle got some Wii Fit time in. Fun afternoon.

Saturday (the 2nd) we got together with my family for our Christmas! Tricia's living room was filled with Christmas gifts! Not sure how when it was mostly $$$ being exchanged. Rich ended up with $ from Aunt Reda and Uncle Billy, 2 hoodies from Weston, and more $$$ from Ma and Pa. Oh, and a nerf dart gun from great Aunt Peggy. Kiley got $ from Aunt Reda and Uncle Billy, more $$ from Ma and Pa, and the cutest 'K' necklace from great Aunt Peggy. But from Storri she got a fun (we shall see about that!) paper recycling factory, some make-up (joy!), Topple, and text message things. Mike got some much needed tools (wrenches, I think....not sure) from Chris and $$ from my parents. I got $$ from my parents, and 2 new sets of jammies from Shana! Can't wait to sleep in them. We all pitched in $$$ for my parents a new flat screen tv.

We had yummy Mexican food to eat (and a few Amaretto Sours to drink). But my favorite was my mom's chocolate pie!!!!! Couldn't get enough of it. Then I tried her lemon pie........yum! Wish I hadn't even tried it.

Levi took a tumble off the bed and badly bruised his cheek and inside of his mouth. He and Weston looked like they had been in a battle. Weston had fallen on New Year's Eve and got a bruise by his eye. They are comedic to watch together!

So, our New Year has started off with lots of hanging out with family...so we hope it continues through the entire year!

Now on to the family gifts to each other. Kiley openned a vest from Rich. She was with me when I purchased it. While she wasn't surprised, she was glad she can finally wear it! Dad opened a notepad from Kiley that says #1 Dad on it and I got a #1 Mom one that matches. She said to make sure I kept it in my purse in case WE need to write on it. I know that means HER. WOW! Rich went shopping! Not really. He had NO INTEREST in going shopping for his mom and dad (mom covered sister for him). I even tried giving him $30 to go pick out something for Mike and me. NOPE! Wouldn't do it. So I bought Mike some windpants and wrapped them up. And I got me some slippers and wrapped them up. Even Christmas morning when we were passing out gifts I mentioned how PROUD I was of Rich to go shopping and get something for each of us. So Mike opens his pants first. I inquire to Rich about where he shops. He so nonchalantly says, "Dicks." (Uh....Wal-Mart was were I snagged them.) Then I made a big deal about my slippers. He never gave in. Just took total credit for it all. THAT BOY!!!! But on a bright side, he put batteries in something and declared himself the family mechanic!! Just what we need. Good thing Kiley got him an awesome lanyard with flames on it. Not sure he'll ever use it, but it sure looks cool!

Christmas morn....(I'm doing this live...then going back to edit it)
We made them open one at a time. Kiley opened her perfume and Rich his cologne. Impressed!! Next was a shirt for Kiley that she loves. Next she opened jeans. She said ,"I love getting jeans!". Rich opened slippers. Whew, he liked them. Kiley thinks it is "awkward" that Santa used so many boxes. And Kiley gets "oh my gosh'. Slipper flip flops!". Ohh ahhh Rich opens his basketball shoes!! Kiley's turn. "A box again! Who uses so many boxes. Oh my gosh a jacket.". And Rich opens an Aeropastle jacket!! Kiley freezes while opening Twister Hopscotch. She can't wait to play it with Emma. Now back to Rich. A pair of Levis. Kiley..."My turn! This ones heavy. No way! Ok. I'm buying. Who is it from? Love 'em". The black boots she wanted. She thinks the insides are cute. Mike asks her if she will need help zippering it. "Apparently!" was her response. Rich opens a shirt. Not so impressed. He had an Aeropastle Christmas (hoodie, cologne, and shirt)!!! Now on to her guitar. She looks just like Taylor Swift. Uh oh....Rich just said 'lucky'. Guess he isn't impressed she got a guitar and he didn't. Rich opens the Wii Fit! Pretty much success. They still don't know about the bikes in the garage!! :) the plan is to let them stumble on them!! OH and stockings...well Santa and her helper have temporarily misplaced the stocking fillers besides the fruit. So Kiley was a bit sad that she had no chocolate! Fortunately they were found mid afternoon in the garage. He must have left them there when leaving the bikes! ;)

Today was Kiley's 2nd grade program. It was a Fitness Sock Hop theme. She had a speaking part and did very well..."Yea. Especially since you have to work so hard at soccer practice.". Then she was a ribbon dancer. Well she twirled some ribbons anyway!
She was back to the ENT. Her hearing has slightly worsened and she had Been referred to a pediatric dr. She will be evaluated to see if she is ready to have her eardrum patched.
So after her program and appointment we headed off to the mall and did some frugal jewelry shopping! We followed it up with lunch at Chili's!