GeoCaching and Amazing Race

So, I'm just putting this out there in case any of you think that ALL Oregonians look like this. Because, lets face it, Oregon is known as quite the liberal state. If you watch Amazing Race, kudos to you because I think the show rocks, it's my most favorite. BUT, the couple from Oregon, IS NOT what we all look like!!! So, no jokes from my peanut gallery of friends on this one. ;)

GeoCaching stinks. We went again tonight and couldn't find a thing!!! I swear our GPS is totally off!!! We were supposed to be in a park and we found our self sitting in the middle of a storage unit. Great place to hide things, but not quite what we were looking for. :( We have decided to put this little outing aside for now. We'll look into buying a better GPS unit, but not any time soon. I think my dear friend, Beth needs to come and show me how there family does it. hint hint

Clue

I am completely clueless sometimes. My husband and I were watching the Season Premiere of The Office, one of our favorite shows. A set of commercials comes on and we are sitting there watching them because we gave up our Tivo (a very sad day, but had to be done). A commercials pops up and it's for Clue. Remember the old game where you try to guess who done it and where? Mr. White, in the Conservatory with a WRENCH!!!
Well it rambles on and then it gets to the end;
"Is it Mrs. White with a penny? Is it Cornall Plum with a bottle top? Or is it Miss Scarlett with a nail file?"
"What?!?!" I proclaim "You have got to be kidding!! They are messing around with Clue now! Leave it to those Gun Control, Video games are bad, we can talk about our problems with terrorist they'll make peace with us, kind of people to get a hold of a CLASSIC game and ruin it."

Mike looks over at me. "Are you serious?"

I stare back, well yes I'm serious, I'm annoyed!

"Sarah, it's a scratch it commercial. You scratch the scratch it with a penny, bottle cap or nail file."

Oh. Oops. Well, I bet they would like to get there hands on Clue and mess it up to the weapons being a those things. Ya, take that.

It's a Tea Party

I am really trying to make this last year Grace is at home, special. I'm trying to take her to story time at the library, the park and do other special things. So I previously blogged about our 'coffee' time on the mornings I don't work. Today, it was tea. Grace and her dear friend Kate, threw a lavish tea party. Grace wanted to give Kate the best teacup, so she gave her the one she painted on vacation and Grace took my ONLY China teacup and saucer (that's a whole other blog there). So I steamed up some milk and added some flavor and we were off to having a great tea party.

Now, it's was only a matter of time until I broke into my British accent when playing tea party. Can you blame me here? I mean, how can you not have a fancy tea party without a British accent?! The girls looked at me like I was from Mars but then giggled. Of course Mrs. Bear was an absolute pig and took all the tea . . . . wait, I didn't tell you about our other guests, did I? Well, Grace and Kate had dear friends over, Mrs. Hello Kitty sporting a beautiful blue shirt and Mrs. Bear who wore a lovely red dress. They were divine guests and an absolute joy, until Mrs. Bear started getting a big greedy with the tea. Grace and Kate were gracious hosts and just turned a head to the bad manners. I took my leave shortly after and I have heard the rest of the party was just lovely. Kate and Grace poured many more cups of tea.

GeoCaching

So I've read some of my friends blogs about geocaching. I think it sounds like a blast!! What a perfectly fun way to spend a Saturday as a family!

Our family has never gone, been close a few weeks back, but something always come up and we don't go. So, I'm blogging about it, so we have to go now! I mean I have now put it out there in the blogosphere that our family is going to go this weekend. Have to follow through now, too late to turn back! Look, I have even added a little tally to our page so that you can see how successful we are as treasure seekers!

We are off to find our pirate treasure! :) Of course, these kids will now have to take out there apple smiles and put on there hiking gear!

One Went Wee Weee Wee All The Way Home

Grace has experienced being home alone with just me for a few days now. I asked her if she missed Madison and she gave me a quick no.

"How about Reece?" I ask

"Nope. I like just you all to myself."

I'm thinking that she is so excited to have the mornings all to herself because I give her her own cup of coffee. No, don't worry, it's not REAL coffee. Just steamed milk and a little Almond Roca Syrup to make it delicious!!! Grace loves this!! She made a little teacup and saucer while we were on vacation this summer so I have to put her morning cup of coffee in this. I am training my little girl well. She is just like mommy with her coffee. :)

We were playing a family game last night. I Spy board game. We finished the game and we were letting each of the kids go through and spy something that we had to find. It came to Grace's turn and she says:

"I spy with my little eyes, they are right here, a pink purse" (see the pic)

We thought it was cute.

When #2 Flew Out of the Nest

Reece's first day of Kindergarten was today. Yesterday we went through his clothes and made a shelf with all his approved pants and made sure his collared shirts were all hung up nicely. I set his alarm clock and we pretended it was morning and Reece practiced turning it off. We packed all his school supplies in his backpack and threw in a few snacks.

This morning, I awoke to his alarm (it went off before mine!) and got the opportunity to wake Reece up and tell him that was his alarm he was hearing. He had thrown the covers over his head . . . I hope this isn't a sign of things to come! But he popped right up and out of bed after I came in.

Our morning went smoothly and we left the house right on time. Maddie told Reece how she was scared the first day of school. Reece said he wasn't scared. We got to school and went to reach for Reece's hand, he took it for 1 second and then pulled it away. He's too grown up for such things. OUCH! Can anyone pull that dagger out of my heart?!?!?!

Reece went right into his classroom and straight to his seat. We had scoped it out a few days beforehand when we had dropped Maddie off at school. His classroom door was open so we had gone in and looked for his name.

Reece's teacher, Mrs. Porter, was very kind to him and showed him where to put his things. Reece didn't say one word to her. I stood around for a few minutes and took some pictures and video. Reece's class only has 6 students so I'm so happy for the individual attention he will get this year! :)

Male Bonding

I have to admit, having my kids grow up has been a lot of fun. I went through a few years where I really morned that we were done having kids and that my kids were growing up! It's moments like this, tonight, that just really make me so excited to have older kids.

For the last two hours, Mike and Reece have been sitting down playing video games together. A big passion they share. I have to laugh because I keep hearing,

"Go sock it to him!"

"I got this guy, you go get that one"

"YA!! Just like that!"

"In here!! There is a bunch of energy!"

Mike has so much patience with Reece too, although I think Reece can hold his own in any game now. In fact, I do believe Reece now consistently beats his dad on Mario Party DS.

They are so cute sitting there playing there man games and having some fun daddy-son time.

Becoming Famous

So this is just a little tidbit.

I went the mailbox the other day and pulled out my pile of mail. I walked into the house and over to my desk to sort through the pile, like I do everyday. Bill, junk, bill, bill, weekly ads, camp pamphlet, bill . . . . wait, camp pamphlet?! I pick it up and browse through it. It's the big mailer that I'm assuming they mail out to all the families of the kids that went to there camp throughout the summer. It has a few words from the President on the front and inside a few articles about upcoming events and special seminars they hosting. Another page shows the new remodel of some cabins. I close the pamphlet and look at the back where our address and name were printed and low and behold, there is Maddie. The picture I posted when I blogged about her at camp, the one of her in the boat out on the lake, was on the cover. HA! My little girl is famous! ;)

Madison's First Day of School

As you know, Madison has been homeschooled for the past two years. We decided to put her into a private school for her 2nd grade year. I'm just worn out and burnt out with homeschooling. I so wish I was super mom and could do it for the rest of my kids education.

Today was the big day. Maddie popped right up out of bed and quickly got dressed. She was so excited to wear her new horse skirt. She ate, brushed her hair and teeth and even quickly ran through all her chores. She was ready so quickly, but then the nerves hit. She got a bit scared and wasn't so sure she wanted to go.

We snapped a few pictures before we left the house and then we were off to school. Maddie asked for me to walk her in so I did. She broke my heart, she was so scared and timid. If you know Maddie, you know my little girl doesn't normally get scared by social situations, but will normally be the little butterfly.

We checked out her desk and they even gave her a little gift bag. Some girls she knew came over and said hi, but Maddie was too scared to really say much. They fluttered off and Maddie sat down in her chair and looked around her desk. A teacher came over and took her off to introduce her to more kids and I took my leave after a few kisses and a big squeeze.

After school, Maddie ran up to the van and told me she had a wonderful day. She loved school and can't wait to go back tomorrow.