Weekend

Well our weekend is over... and it's already Monday.
We didn't do much this past weekend... I think we were all pooped from our MN trip!  I got caught up on laundry, ironing, some cleaning... and a lot of basketball watching! 

A few pictures:

Spring Break 2019

We actually did something over Spring Break this year.  Typically Ryan's out of town, and it just doesn't work out... but this year it worked to actually do something with the kids. 
Kids went to BTB Monday and Tuesday...  Tuesday we ended the day with a dentist visit.  

We headed up to MN Wednesday morning... had a pit stop in Clarion, so my sister could take care of Murphy.  We got to Great Wolf Lodge around 2:00 Wednesday afternoon.  We had talked with our friends, Jess and Lex, about a week ago... they had mentioned they would be there!  We were both shocked and just laughed that we didn't plan it together.  Anyway, we instantly met up with them... the kids were off to swim and laugh for a couple hours.  They had a good time.  It was good. 

Orfanos' did their own thing for supper... and us the same.  We walked around the hotel for a bit, and then went bowling at the hotel too (one of those small lanes/small ball types). We saw Orfanos' for a little bit... then we hit the sack.  The kids were tired... Cora was beat actually.  

Thursday:
Kids slept good... we just took our time in the morning, then the waterpark area opened at 9, and we were there right at 9!  A day of swimming had started... literally, the entire day (minus 2 hours).  We swam (saw Orfanos' for about an hour or so, then they checked out), then ate at the waterpark, swam a little more...  took a little break and went back to our room.  Quiet time...  then the kids and I walked around a little, then grabbed supper out at the Mall of America...  then back to swimming.  I lost count of all the times down the slides for the kids, and how many lazy river rounds they did!  But they had a good time... and nearly no meltdowns the entire day.  I was surprised!

Friday:
We all slept in...  like in!  Cora didn't wake til nearly 8:35!!  It was great.  We slowly got around... Ryan took the kids BACK down to the waterpark for about an hour or so.  I got the room picked up and somewhat packed up.  We were out the door right before 11... and on the road to Clarion, then home. 

Overall, great little trip.  It was good for the kids...  Kayson said his favorite part was obviously the swimming!  He did so many things tho, so I had to ask him.  Cora's favorite was swimming and the MagicQuest wand thing we did.  It just was good.  I'm glad they enjoyed themselves and I pray they remember their smiles and the memories they made. 

So many pictures!

Weekend

Pictures only...
It was a fine weekend.  Pictures are overloaded with Cora...   

Friday date - Panera food at home

 

fort building in her room

 

Bike ride!

 

They can be so sweet!

 

and then there's this sass!

 

How we felt about the great weather on Saturday!

 

My Murphy Jones

 

Errands with this girl

 

matching black vests

 

She wanted another picture.  :)

She's got her hands full!  Baby and all!

Kayson - STEAM Tech Fair 2019

About a month ago... maybe... Kayson and his friend Hudsen came home all excited that they were going to participate in a Technology Fair at school.  At that point I had no idea what it was... and really didn't think much of it.
As the weeks went by... they met up a couple times to 'work on their project'... again, I never really asked questions, just kind of went with the flow.  Not once did I even ask if they needed my help!  ha.  Great Mom.

Anyway...  last week the project was 'due'.  At that time, I finally got some more information -- this was open for the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, and they needed to come up with something techy and something they did on their own.  Well that was a success for sure for K and Hud - not one ounce of help from their parents!

So... the project was submitted... and this past Tuesday everyone's project was judged.  This apparently is a big deal - and you could possibly go to State for this.  Again, shocking.  Anyway...  the kids said they did really well and they would just wait.  Tuesday night we (as parents) could go and see all the different projects that the kids did... there were 30+ projects.  (K and Hud's was #30!)  Only 6 get to move onto State.  Anyway, we walked around the Library and Computer labs to see all the different projects... and wow - some smart kiddos!  There were some really cool things, and you could tell some were over the top!  Both Jen and I left there thinking - 'Eh... not sure our kiddos will make it further based on the other projects.' 

And boy were we wrong!!  Thursday at school the 6 projects were named that move on to State... and Kayson and Hudsen's made it!!  They were SOO pumped... and I was so darn proud.  Oh my gosh.  I can't believe it!! 

So they'll go to Ames/ISU campus for State on April 25...  (again, that's all I know at this point), but we are super proud of those boys!!

Weekend

The weekend went so fast... and in addition, we set the clocks ahead Saturday night, so losing that hour was brutal.  Or at least I felt it!

Friday:
Busy day at work... got the kiddos... Ryan got home from his long week away...  they headed off to baseball (now there is a "Dad's group" that goes for beers while the boys are at practice!... wish I could get in on that one time.  ha.
Cora and I hung at home... grabbed a few things from the grocery store, then we had visitors.  Blair, Martina and kids headed over and spent the evening with us. 

Later in the night, Ryan and Blair met up with some guys from Ryan's high school days... Kyle McCann was inducted into the Iowa High School Hall of Fame, super awesome, so they were having a celebration. Anyway, they did that for several hours... we got the kids to bed, and Martina and I sat up and talked for while.

Saturday:
Up and at em.  Kids just played all morning... We had Kayson's school conference... and then we celebrated Mike and JeanAnn's 40th wedding anniversary.  We had a bunch of family meet us for lunch at Central Standard... it went well and was a good turnout for the short notice we gave people!  I think they enjoyed themselves. 

The afternoon a few people came to our house to hang for a bit... kids played more...  and by late afternoon, we were all wiped out.  There were tears (from Kayson) and Cora was getting owly.  Funny how we all just need 'space' sometimes when we have so many people at our house!  But overall, it was good...  was nice to have everyone here. 

Saturday night we kept on moving...  went over to Jess and Lex's for a couple hours.  The kids played so well, it was unbelievable actually.  Especially since my kids were tired and emotional just a few short hours before that!  But it was nice... finally able to sit and talk with them for a while without too much interruption!  ha.

Sunday:
We lost that hour of sleep... I felt it, actually felt it more by Sunday night.  Kayson was up early.  Cora slept good...  but still just tired!

Church... and this was the first Sunday for me (and Holly) to teach Sunday School for the elementary kiddos.  I was nervous actually... but it went well.  We learned a lot in that hour!  ha.  But it went well and I anticipate it going well for the next 15 weeks.  :)

Our afternoon was busy... groceries, tons of laundry. Kayson played at a friends house for awhile.  Then he had baseball.  Just was a non stop afternoon.  I finally sat down about 5:00.  Ugh. 

Busy... and the weekend went too fast.  Depressing!!  Ryan's off again to Nebraska... 

 

 

 

 

 

Kayson 4th Grade Spring Conference

Saturday morning we had Kayson's conference. 
All is good with him...  only main complaint is his talking.  Which, again, doesn't surprise us, but he needs to know when to stop - when it's get his work done or do his reading.  

Reading level - S

Map Scores - 
READING - 
Fall: 211; Winter: 206  (average is 203) - (unsure why this went down, but Mrs. Hakes is not concerned.  She said she doesn't see him struggling in class, so she'll just be watching that closely through the rest of the year.)
MATH - 
Fall: 211; Winter: 217 (average is 208)

Mornings at the Taylor's... Miss Cora

Weekday mornings are rough... for Cora.
Again, only writing this down to remember, but certainly I'll never forget the way she acts in the morning!  :)

We were on our own this week... Ryan was a long ways away (different time zone to be exact!).  It's not anything new that mornings are not really my thing, and it's completely obvious now that mornings are not Cora's thing either! 

Kayson, on the other hand, does so well for me.  And I tell you what - I told him "thank you" each morning this week - thank you for getting up for me, for not giving me a hard time... 

Cora...  just struggles. I go in to her room about 6:35...  turn off her fan, open her curtains/blinds... and don't say a word.  A few minutes pass, and I go back in...  I touch her (and that's where shit hits the fan!)  She moans, kicks, basically throws a mini fit all while her eyes are closed.  It just irritates me to no end!!  ha.  A few minutes pass... again, and I go back in.  This time I turn on her lamp... and I tell her it's time to get up and get dressed... She again moans at me and kicks. 

This continues for a couple more times... and then I loose it and holler at her.  Then she cries.

Every morning. 

What a pistol. 

Then once she's up... she drags her feet to the kitchen.  Eventually, she'll eat and talk and seem good.  But then when she's done, we do more dragging feet, or screwing around.  It takes her forever to get her teeth brushed and shoes on!!! 

We have family coming tonight/cousins... and I told her she's staying in her room tomorrow morning until at least 8:00 cuz "she's so tired".  If she wakes early, I'll be so irritated!  ha.

Wacky Wednesday

It's Dr. Seuss week at school.  They have different 'dress-up' days for the week.  It's always fun to see what kiddos come up with. 

With Wacky Wednesday - it's especially fun just cuz my kids are pretty good dressers, we match, things 'go'.  And to give them the opportunity to mis-match stuff, they think it's hilarious. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Waukee Dance Clinic

Last Saturday (Feb 23), Cora attended a Waukee Dance Clinic held by the Waukee Dance Team.  We signed her up...  3 hours - t-shirt, BIG bow and a dance!

She apparently liked it... and the short preview I got to see seemed good.  She did well.  

This past Saturday afternoon was the Waukee Dance Team's Spring Show, and the clinic girls got to dance!  It was super cute... super fun, and I'm glad she did it!

Clinic pic.

There she is... first in line!

 

sticking her tongue out at me!

 

 

I have a video of her dance... she did well and enjoyed watching the big girls dance.  I hope some day she will do some of those dances!