Day 59 – February 28, 2010 :: Hurricane Kaylee was here

The back half of Kaylee’s room, drowning in a sea of books and toys and papers. If it were up to her, the whole room would probably look like this, but we don’t let her go to bed unless the floor of the front half is clear. What’s sad is that I know I was probably just as bad at her age. LOL

After nagging her for several days to get the mess cleaned up (she actually had previously straightened up two small sections, but they somehow partially refilled themselves), I finally caved and helped her pick up the bulk of it this afternoon.

I give it three to four days before it looks like this again. :-b

Day 58 – February 27, 2010 :: Green-Eyed Monster

Matthew got out his light saber this morning, which is the sole source of light in these pics in our windowless utility room.  He thought it was really cool the way the reflection in Kaylee’s eyes made her look like she had snake eyes. I haven’t spent enough time with snakes to know if that’s an accurate impression LOL, but there is definitely something very alien about the whole look…

Day 57 – February 26, 2010 :: Beverage of Choice

Kickin’ back and waiting for the movie to start. Diet Mountain Dew is what Mark and I drink most of the time these days. I used to only have one or two a day; lately I’m up to four. I need to cut back. I used to drink regular Mountain Dew and absolutely loved it, but we decided to switch to diet soda a few years ago. The regular tastes too sweet to me now, and I’ve only just recently gotten to the point where I actually sort of like the diet version, instead of just tolerating it because I want the caffeine (I don’t do tea or coffee – blech!). :-b

Day 56 – February 25, 2010 :: Un-bear-ably Creative

Kaylee and her friends are always coming up with some sort of pretend “club” at school. It changes constantly. There was one involving little paper mailboxes, and then there was a “fruit” club where each girl was supposed to be a different fruit. Kaylee, as “assistant” to the girl who was in charge this time, spent a long time making invitations to a party that was to be held at recess. She based her design on her Doodle Bear. The finished version was all pink, with glitter paint accents on the nose and mouth, and had the info written on the back.

She started out to make five of them, but due to time constraints* she ended up only finishing three… not making one for herself and deciding that the two girls who were twins could share one. LOL

* A contributing factor to the lack of time was the kids’ school bus getting into a minor fender bender and being almost an hour late getting home.  No pictures of me standing out there all that time waiting. At least I got to meet a few more neighbors. LOL

Day 55 – February 24, 2010 :: Reaching New Heights

After-school randomness. I’m not sure why the markers were even out to begin with, but Matthew had grabbed a few and snapped them together and was sort of drumming with them. Kaylee then joined in and started making a longer and longer “chain”. She was trying to make it long enough to be able to reach the 12’ ceiling. She never quite made it; the tower wasn’t stable enough.  It would sway and wobble and then break in half as she tried to lift it higher.

Day 54 – February 23, 2010 :: The Magically Self-Replenishing Dish Pile

I do the dishes around here. I can’t remember if that’s always been the case, but it has been for at least the last several years. I have never managed to get in the habit of emptying the dishwasher right away and then loading it throughout the day. Instead, everything gets piled on the counter next to the sink and/or in one half of our double sink. For some reason, even after all this time, I’m still always surprised at how quickly the dishes accumulate; I’m not conscious of them at all until suddenly there’s this mountain that seems to have appeared out of nowhere. This is about 24 hours’ worth, but I’d swear that the last time I looked they weren’t there. LOL

Day 53 – February 22, 2010 :: Captive Subjects

Kaylee insisted on coming with me to pick up Matthew from karate tonight, since I was also stopping to get some cough medicine for Matthew at the grocery store next door. (Apparently, that’s exciting. LOL)   The kids were very intrigued by a motorcycle that was parked next to us. I snapped this shot quickly, before they realized I had the camera out.  Then they hid from view so that I couldn’t take any more.  I told them we weren’t leaving until they cooperated for at least one shot…

I think Matthew was anxious to get home and have supper. LOL

Day 52 – February 21, 2010 :: It Wasn’t in the Cards

At Matthew’s suggestion, he and Kaylee and I spent the morning playing card games… Transformers, Go Fish, and Crazy 8’s. Poor Matthew lost every game.

Day 51 – February 20, 2010 :: Meet Cheetana

We were visited this afternoon by a new superhero (superheroine?) – Cheetana. She emerged stealthily from Kaylee’s room, inspired to action by a few episodes of “El Tigre”. I later had to take her belt away, as she was using it rather recklessly to “defend herself” from any “villain” who came within striking distance. :-b

Day 50 – February 19, 2010 :: Now Playing in Theater 2

Mark and Matthew took over the family room TV to watch a GI Joe movie, so Kaylee and I retreated to the master bedroom for a screening of the thoroughly girly “Barbie as The Island Princess”. LOL 

(Any guesses whose dresser that is in the background covered in stacks of magic magazines and videos? ;)  )

Day 49 – February 18, 2010 :: Further Fiction Fun

Another reading shot. I seem to have a lot of those. :)  Most days, Kaylee reads (aloud) to herself  for her required reading, but today she asked Mark if she could read to him.  It was very cute to see her curled up in his lap. :)  She’s reading from a “My Weird School” book, another favorite series around here, which also does the fourth wall thing. :)

(Even though this shot is so blurry, it was by far my favorite over the harsh look of the ones I took using flash. I need to investigate some sort of flash diffuser or bounce flash or something. I primarily use my Nikon D50. Recommendations welcome.)

Day 48 – February 17, 2010 :: Sophisticated Literature for the Well-Read Young Man

If the kids are ready within their allotted time, we read to them for a bit before bed from a book of their choice. Mark and I each take a kid, alternating nights. I had Matthew tonight and read to him from this Captain Underpants book. The series is actually surprisingly well written and funny, even (especially ;) ) beyond the potty humor, breaking the fourth wall quite frequently. My favorite part in the few minutes we read tonight was when there was a familiar sound coming from “somewhere over on the next page” so the two snot monsters “stomped over to page 130” to check it out. LOL

Day 47 – February 16, 2010 :: Injection Fan

Kaylee got her H1N1 booster shot today. When she got her initial dose last month, we tried the nasal mist (against my better judgment). Big mistake. Kaylee is very sensitive and particular about her nose. A case of the sniffles is cause for big drama. Having something sprayed up her nose resulted in a complete meltdown. For the follow-up, I explained that we wanted the injection. Kaylee was pretty nervous leading up to it, but she did great – not even a whimper, said it didn’t hurt at all. Definitely a much better experience.

She got to choose from a box of Valentine themed prizes and ended up with this very cool heart-shaped fan. :)

(The two-tone look of the skin on her shoulder next to the band-aid is not that way in real life. Must be an odd shadow/reflection.)

Day 46 – February 15, 2010 :: Alien Invasion

We had a sudden surprise invasion from an alien that looked a lot like Kaylee. It was quite camera shy, but I finally managed to corner it to get a picture. It then explained that all aliens from its planet have long purple hair.  They all wear one slipper, pink beaded necklaces, star sunglasses, and plastic buckets on their heads. And they all have rainbow glitter laser wands that shoot out glazed donuts. Sadly, it disappeared back to its ship before we were able to get a sample of the ammo. ;)

Day 45 – February 14, 2010 :: Movie Night

Tonight was a movie night. We watched G-Force. Very cute.  :) 

This is somewhat typical of our movie nights (except that there were no official snacks this time)... The lights are low. Mark is sprawled out in “his” recliner (where I can often be found napping after breakfast while the kids are at school LOL).  The kids have settled into spots on the couch once the initial territorial dispute was settled, and I would be sitting on the loveseat on the right if I hadn’t gotten up to take the picture.  I usually try not to let the coffee table get as cluttered as it is in this shot (I don’t always succeed, but I try), but it’s been kind of a lazy long weekend with the snow, and also with Kaylee unfortunately being under the weather again (and having to miss another birthday party… sigh). She seems to be better now though. :)

Day 44- February 13, 2010 :: In a Pickle

We played a game of In a Pickle in between rounds of Mario Kart this weekend. We laugh a lot playing this game.  Apparently, either Mark or Matthew must have come up with something especially silly at this moment. :D

A couple of bonus shots for those not familiar with the game…  Kaylee making a play on her turn. (Olympics on TV in the background.)

 

And Mark, Kaylee and I voting on a challenge to one of Matthew’s plays. (He made it through. LOL)

 

(And look, I’m in another photo! I wonder if I can make it through the whole year only having my left hand in any of the photos. LOL)

Day 43 – February 12, 2010 :: Snow Day

Here’s our amazing 6 inches of snow! :)  Since school was cancelled, we went out and played in the yard for a while in the afternoon. Mark and Kaylee built a large snowman, while Matthew built a fort. And then Mark and Kaylee built an opposing fort. There were many volleys of snowballs launched back and forth, and more direct attacks as well. This shot was towards the end of the day, when things had moved on to retaliatory demolition of the forts. :-b

[ETA: More photos on my other blog here.]

Day 42 – February 11, 2010 :: White Morning

Approximately the same shot as yesterday, approximately 24 hours later – just after I dropped the kids at school.  The snow was quite a surprise this morning.  We knew it might be coming, but I had no idea we had that much until I glanced out the window right before we headed out.  It snowed non-stop all day, and it’s expected to keep going well into the night. Apparently the last time we had this much snow in the area was in 1978, so it’s quite a sight.

Fortunately, the roads just got slushy and didn’t freeze today, but the temperature is supposed to drop low enough tonight that there could be a real problem tomorrow morning. The district has already cancelled school for tomorrow. It’s really unusual for them to make a decision the day before; usually they wait until the last possible moment. There have been times we’ve been dressed and ready to head out the door before the announcement came, so this feels like a luxury surprise vacation. :)

I’ve got some more snow pics that I hope to get posted on my other blog sometime in the next couple of days. :)

Day 41 – February 10, 2010 :: Pink Morning

As I was walking back home after I put the kids on the bus, I caught sight of a vibrant pink sky peeking over the houses and through the trees, so I grabbed my camera and popped back outside for a few quick shots. Most of them came out pretty blurry; I think I need to have a tripod handy for next time.

Day 40 – February 9, 2010 :: Cheap Entertainment

It’s amazing how much entertainment can come from a $3 ball. Matthew has been playing with this one almost constantly since he got it on Sunday… well, when he’s not in school or whatever.  He’s always crawling around on it, bouncing it, sitting on it, bouncing while sitting on it.  And if he’s not playing with it, Kaylee is… even though she has a nearly identical one of her own sitting in her room. Ironic, since the main reason Matthew bought the ball is that he was always wanting to play with hers, which is now mostly unused. A classic case of the grass is always greener when it’s somebody else’s ball? LOL

Day 39 – February 8, 2010 :: Excess Energy

What’s a girl to do when she has more energy than she knows what to do with? Set up an obstacle course of objects to jump over in a room that is already overcrowded with furniture and run laps through the narrow walkway while her parents dodge out of the way.

Bonus shot:  How many days into P365 do you have to be before your husband stops looking at you like you’ve lost your mind when he catches you lurking around a corner with your camera? LOL

Day 38 – February 7, 2010 :: The Wizard and the Ball-Sitter

I took the kids out to do a little shopping. While we were out, Kaylee got a “Wizards of Waverly Place” wand and Matthew bought the ball he’s sitting on. I have no idea what kind of spells she was casting, or what the lip is all about. LOL   In spite of how it may look, they actually did play happily (and quietly) together for quite a long time. :)

Day 37 – February 6, 2010 :: Calculator Races

What does it say about our kids that they enjoy spending time in calculator races… things like seeing who can add up multiples to a certain sum or figure out the total of ages or birthdays the fastest? LOL  Not sure exactly what the challenge was this time, but Kaylee was quite happy about her victory. :)

Day 36 – February 5, 2010 :: McDinner

With trying to watch the budget, we hardly ever do fast food these days. Mark’s been feeling a bit under the weather the last few days though, and he likes McDonald’s chocolate shakes when he’s sick. So off I went to brave the drive thru.  It’s not so much the sitting in line and such that I mind, but the fact that they mess something up almost every time.  And usually, no matter how well I think I’ve checked the bags, I don’t catch it at the window. This time they only forgot the condiments. Since we were eating at home and we had stuff on hand, thankfully it wasn’t a big deal.

Day 35 – February 4, 2010 :: Umbrella Parking

Umbrellas drying in the foyer after getting the kids from the bus stop in the rain. (Good thing we’re not superstitious.) I love the sea of colorful fabric. We just hope we don’t need to get to the front door in a hurry when they’re set up like this. :)

Day 34 – February 3, 2010 :: Après Karate

Just a random shot of Matthew in the parking lot after taekwondo class. :)  I tried to take some shots inside, but I had the wrong settings on my camera and he was too quick for me… he hopped up and was on his way to the door before I could get it fixed. LOL

Day 33 – February 2, 2010 :: Hangman Hijinks

Did I mention that Kaylee’s feeling better and is being extra ornery this week? LOL  She and Mark played a few rounds of hangman after supper.  I guess she didn’t like the fact that he was figuring out her puzzles too easily. ;)

Day 32 – February 1, 2010 :: Tooth #9!

Matthew lost his first eight teeth ages ago. I’m a bad mom and don’t have dates after the first few without digging into dental records, but I’m thinking it’s been around two or three years since the last one.  He discovered that this bottom right one was loose a week or so ago, and it had been really bothering him since then. It finally popped out today, and because it happened at school, he got one of the much coveted “tooth boxes” from the school nurse.

Day 31 – January 31, 2010 :: Name That Substance

What is shown in the photo above?
a) An exploding orange.
b) A misplaced Christmas ornament.
c) A the result of a now 7 year old girl’s “smell experiment” in which leftover Valentine candy is dissolved in water and then placed in the freezer for approximately 10-11 months.

Ding! Ding! Ding!  We have a winner! :)

And here is a shot of our little mad scientist…

If you couldn’t tell, she is feeling much better, and is releasing all the pent up orneriness and mischievousness that she didn’t get to express over the past three days. ;)  She thought this photo made her look like Bugsy from “Bedtime Stories”, and I would have to agree. LOL