Getting braces

Guess who is getting braces?

This kid!

First he got glasses, then he turned 11, and now he is getting braces. Oh the pre-teen years. 

It's going to be an adventure!!

Coconut water fruit popsicles

Summer means frozen treats!

I made these up quickly using a bit of coconut water and some strawberries. 

This couldn't be easier and the kids loved them!

Healthy, cold, cheap!! Win :)

Tiny study space

In preparation for school to start again in July, I really needed to find a spot in my house to put a desk so that I can study. 

It needs to be quiet, have few distractions, have a good amount of storage space, and be private. Where else in my house could that be?

My closet. 

My closet is inside my bathroom, which is inside my bedroom, which is blissfully quiet. The closet has a door, the bathroom has a door, and the bedroom has a door. There are three obstacles to get through to get to me. My family members would really have to work at it!

So I spent one evening, cleaned that baby out, rearranged everything, and moved the desk my dad made for Caleb in there. The only reason Caleb isn't using it is because my in laws gave him one that had more drawers...so I got the other one. It works better for me because it has a bigger table top. 

It looks beautiful in there. It is a tiny space, but I can utilize the built in shelf for extra storage! There is an outlet so I can plug in a power strip, and there is a vent so I can get good ventilation. It's summer in South Texas and air conditioning is like precious gold. 

So this is the beginning....

I am going to get a small cork board, a clip-on fan, and add a bit of decor and it will be the perfect, serene spot to get some studying in. 

It's the end of the year, and we know it!

the 2013-14 school year is officially over. 

Dear sweet baby Jesus, thank you so much!!!!!!

This week has been crazy busy as usual. Jansen is a school hater, and Caleb is a school lover. It has been an incredible rollercoaster of emotions in our home. 

It was a bit weird for me though. For the past 5 years, I have been super involved at school, and this year I just wasn't feeling it as much. It may be that saying about the oldest child getting all the attention, the second child getting a bit short changed, and then all subsequent children are just flat out on their own. 

But my first kid is Autistic. I have had to put a crap load of effort into him. So needless to say, I was in it for him. 

Then he went to intermediate school and for the most part, they are pretty parents-hands-off. It was actually a bit of a relief. I was only at his school about 4 times this year. 

So I was looking forward to spending quality time at the school with my youngest child as he completes 3rd grade. 

I have been at his school more the last week than the whole year. Winner mom, right here. But a part of me knows that he is so much more self sufficient, independent, and overall...he loves me at home, thinks I am the bomb.com, but is too cool for me or school in public. 

That said, I have enjoyed my time spent with only him. 

Here's the low down of the last week in our home. 

We had award ceremonies for Caleb (who got a citizenship award and another year of perfect attendance)

and for Jansen (who got A/B honor roll, another year of perfect attendance, and Math Facts Champion). 

I spent time with Jansen at Field Day. It was a half day for him because he was just ready to go home after that. 

We took pictures and compared them to the first day of school...

And finally, I spent the morning with Jansen doing "last day" things. We handed out prizes....

He won a gift card at the end of year prize drawing....

He took pictures with teachers....

I goofed off with friends a bit....ok, a lot!

And we celebrated the principal, who will be leaving our district this year. Sniff, sniff. It was a great two years!

I picked up Caleb early from his school because he was quite upset. Every year he cries. He HATES the end of school, and I love that about him. So we took a quick trip to the mall to have lunch and celebrate with some end of year goodies. 

We are tired and looking forward to what this summer can bring for us!!!

Jansen's 9th birthday party

Well, I officially have a 9 year old. Time flies, doesn't it. 

Our day was PACKED. Like a can of sardines, packed. 

We began the day with crescent rolls for breakfast and a decorated table. 

We always try to decorate something in the house for the boys' birthdays. This year, it was just the table. And, since I didn't want to get up so early in the morning, I set it up the night before. 

He was a happy birthday boy. 

Then we moved on to tennis lessons, thankfully in middle school gym. I like where this is going. Jansen's coach wants to work with him in the gym because he can get the visual feedback of where the ball is going when it hits the wall and comes back to him. What I heard? During the heat of the summer, we will be indoors. I'm good with that. 

While they were practicing, Caleb and I played a spirited game of Wall Ball using tennis balls. He caught the coach's attention and she suggested that he might be interested in tennis as well. Something to think about. 

After tennis, we hit the grocery store for the last few supplies needed for the party that evening. 

Then we headed for a friend's birthday party at the park. It was a double party since the brothers' birthdays were so close. Just as the party was getting started, a storm rolled in. Another family also rolled in thinking that they had reserved the pavilion that day, when in reality, my friend had reserved it all day. The other family refused to leave and then called the cops. 

Really? For a Mickey Mouse themed birthday for your child? You call the police? Anyway, my friend agreed to give up a few of the picnic tables and told her she could set up in one corner of the pavilion, which I thought was generous. 

We left after that to clean up and get ready for our party.

Upon arrival at the venue, there was another party there. Ugh. In February, when I booked this, they told me I could be there 30 minutes before the party began to set up. That meant 3:30. When I got there, she said the other party was going on until 3:30 and we could come back at 3:45. 

It's a good thing that I didn't go all out on the decorations this year since the party began at 4. 

My friends and their children showed up for the party and we had a good time. 

Jansen had an awesome Pokemon themed cake

and he felt like a king! (so did my dad!)

The kids had BeyBlade battles...

They played on the mechanical bull and the bounce houses...

We ate pizza and opened presents....

I didn't even realize until later that I didn't take half of the pictures I wanted to. We were all too busy. But I did get a good pic of the birthday boy with Nana and Pops!

And a picture of the brothers :)

Anyway, when we arrived home, we were exhausted. Caleb said, "I had so much fun today that I thought I was going to explode!" 

Jansen went to sleep happily reliving his birthday memories! Mission accomplished.