Fun Friday!

What a pretttty day!  I picked up Lina early, waited for Bob and Lyd and we were off to Sea World by 12:45.  Before we headed out though I looked through Lina's backpack for the ol' report card.  I LOVE report card time now.  As a teacher- stressed me out to no end.  This part is fun. 

Lina recently began 1 day a week in the Enrichment Program.   She gets to do this for as long as she is a student in Orange County Public Schools.  Lina LOVES it.  LOVES it.  They are working on a research project now.  She has chosen Killer Whales...only because "Madison" chose dolphins first.  I can't imagine the scowl on my girl's face.  : )  But Killer Whales are cool also.  Below are Lina's 2 report cards.  I am so proud of my girl.  She had all Ss on subjects and these comments.

This is from the enrichment teacher and Lina had all Proficient in areas

Yea.  I am pretty sure that after 3rd grade she will be smarter than me.  : )

Once again Sea World was NOT crowded.  So spoiled we are.  Scored with great seats for shows.  First we hit the sea lion show.  That's always fun.   Then we ran over to the dolphin show (MY favorite...and the girls' also).

The Bush family no longer owns Sea World.  There are no more "samples" of the barley and hops.  No more beer school.  But they have a nice restaurant and cold beer on tap.  Bob and I enjoyed  happy hour and the girls enjoyed a Shamu pretzel.  Then we booked it over to the Shamu show.  It was the last show so we got there 30 minutes before to get a good seat.  We did.  Here we are waiting and Lydia saying "Shamu"

This was really cool.  Something fell in the bottom of pool for the Shamu show.  Well one of the whales was fascinated by it and she wouldn't get back in the holding tanks.  It was funny.  It was just like a little kid.  She would swim over to the gate and then swim away.  Then the head trainer guy did a little talk and another trainer came out and did a training session.  She had the whale do some jumps and splashes.  She hugged this giant whale and then just like that the whale obeyed and off she went.  THEN another trainer guy dove to the bottom of pool and got the object.  Did I mention it was 36 feet deep???  Then the show went on.  Always fascinating what the trainers and these whales can do together.  And the TRUST.  Sheesh.

A stop at McDonald's for the girls and a stop at this new BBQ place for Bob and I and we were home by 8:15 and girls asleep by 8:45.  It was a great day!

BACK! Online That Is

I am still not feeling 100%, but a feeling better.  I am pretty sure I have a sinus infection.  We shall see.  The problem with that is that I don't have a primary care doc so that will make me go to the doc in the box on the corner.  I must work on getting a PC here soon.

We got a new modem and a splitter of some kind and all is well.  So annoying.  The repair guy had a thick accent.  I think he said he was from England.  He and Bob are chatting away about fiber optic nonsense- I have Lina in my bathroo in the shower, and Lila and Lyd in the front bathroom tub.  I am in the back wrapping up Lina and Lydia decides she needs to poop and yelled it she did.  That girl and her poop.

It's Friday eve.  Bob has worked very hard this week and late.  He got 10 reports out.  He had about 20 last YEAR.  So he is taking a half day tomorrow.  He is going to pick up Lydia at noon, I am going to get Lina at noon and then we are heading to Sea World for the rest of the day.

Lila is about 99% herself.

Lina had her 2nd piano lesson and she loves it!  We are borrowing a keyboard and Lina practices each day.  Today she liked calling Grammy and Papa and playing her little "song"- it's the song a grandfather clock will bong out.  Very neat to see her play and enjoy doing something.

Lydia, Lila, and I enjoyed a day going nowhere.  It was great.  I did laundry and organized and purged our game/puzzle closet.  We all did go to Publix after school.  It is truly my least favorite thing to do with everyone.  I always forget something.

The girls are enjoying the play set(s) out back so much.  I must admit 2-3 hours out there is helping bedtime a whole bunch.  Lina LOVES monkey bars.  LOVES them.  I don't get it.  I never liked monkey bars.  Well, we spend a little extra money to get monkey bars that are easily accesible and she doesn't like them..  They are too high.  They are a little high, but she has done higher and longer.  Well we have been practicing....she's got them now!

Mom's Down

Sniffles and what not have caught me and oddly- our internet.  Between my head hurting and sometimes getting a connection= frustration.

Hoping to just take it easy the next day or two and then back at it.  Girls are all on the mend- some sniffling and boogs still, but not awful.

TGIF. No Joke.

So my friend Jen (Magee- I have MANY a friend named Jen) and I are on a weight loss crusade.  We weigh in on Fridays.  We both were rocking in the beginning, but now it' been slow, steady, or nothing.  VERRRRRY frustrating..  My problem is, well there may be a few of the, but the main problem is exercising.  I am just not getting to do it.  I don't like to bring the girls to the Y- germs.  This time of year is rough.  People bring their kids in sick or not.  I need to get back to walking/running.  The weather didn't cooperate for awhile, but that seems to be warming up so next week- I will hit the trail.  Jen and I are hoping to do the Disney half Marathon 2012 for our 40th year of life (ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!)

Lila is herself and that is a huge relief.  I hate when the girls are sick.  We will do the nebulizer one more time tomorrow morning and then be done with that.  She sounds about 95% better.  You know Lila has been slow to hit developmental milestones, but her vocabulary is starting to take off and she is cracking us up and NOW starting to use sign language.  Nut.  Still lots of jibber jabber jibber and we have no clue what she is saying and than she will end her sentence with "apple" as clear as day.  She also says "bubble", "oh wow", "look", "bukkkk (book)" "suuuk (sock)", "hallo", "sissy", "Lila", "Momma", "Dadda", "juissss".  To think she is 2, but it's like have a 15 month old.  Which my doc once said, "it's like God wanted you to have a baby a little longer".  Maybe that is just the case.  : )  Such a sweet girl....although definitely showing hints of being 2.

I ran some errands this morning and found the perfect shirt for Lila's tutu 2 party - it says "tutu cute" on it. 

Lina had a day off today for teacher work day.  She went and played some games with Pa for a few hours.  Then we just hung out at home....oh and a trip to Costco.

I had a parent teacher conference for Lydia today.  Of course, "Lydia is a sweetheart and right where she needs to be developmentally".  It was brought up how Lyd just can't let things go if she was "done wrong" and that is so very true.  Not sure why she is like that, but that girl can't let go, go with the flow, move along.  Maybe it's for attention?  I don't know.  I just can't believe that little girl will be 4 in just 4 months.

We enjoyed many hours outside this afternoon.  I love FL winter days.  And I am not rubbing it in.  Soon enough it will be 95 degrees and we don't go out.

Lila out cruising in her new pink car from Grammy and Papa for Christmas!

Some reason Lyddie's ear looks so large, but thought this was a cute one from today.  She picked her own clothes.  Love this girl.  See our brown grass?  From our freeze two weeks ago our yard is sad.  Not sure what will happen here.  Bob takes great pride in his yard.

Lina.  Part circus monkey. 

We're Down

Well, not all of us.  And it's not THAT awful, but it's been a day.

Lila has been hacking something awful for 2 days.  No fever, clear runny nose, and just not herself.  Called doc this AM and we were able to get an apt 20 minutes from the time I called with our primary ped (12 in the practice!!).  I love our doc. She is great.

Pulling out of the driveway I notice something laying in the driveway.  (Side note: this would be me tearing out of the driveway to get Lina to school in order to drop Lyd off to school because my husband decided that this morning would be a GREAT time to get his blood drawn for a doc apt he has and has known about for weeks....and I hadn't slept great last night.  Perhaps a hint of cranky some may say.)  But I digress....I see my spankin' new wristlet in the driveway....which had my phone in it.  I have dropped that thing so many times, but she keeps on coming back.  Not today.  She is done.  I text and talk on that thing.  A LOT.  We are doing some browsing on what to get.  This might just be my b-day present.   Stay tuned and I will be back hopefully over the weekend.

Get Lila to the doc and she has both ears infected AGAIN (last one in October) and has bronchiolitis, but doc didn't like the sound of wheezing soooooo home with a nebulizer and a drug store of meds for that thing and amoxcicilin.  The mask is bigger than Lila's face (Lila weighs 21.6 lbs!!!  she is on an up curve now on the charts...still < 3% though- peanut).  I had all 3 girls crying this afternoon giving her a treatment..  It was lovely.  We were also on the back porch because it was just such a pretty afternoon.  So I am pretty sure we were dinner conversation for our neighbors.

Now you would think big sisters were concerned about their baby sister crying.  Maybe they were.  Lina stated that we can just do the humidifier because that doesn't bother her so much and it's not that loud.  Lydia stated that we need a new baby because this one is getting sick.  Nice.  Very nice.  Now I don't think she really meant that because when I laid into her about how you love your family in sickness and health...blah blah....she was in tears.  Poor Lila Joy.

Knock on wood she went right down and I am hopeful for the night.

Lina started piano lessons tonight at church.  Mrs. Lisa is teaching her.  We practiced a little tonight.  I have NO CLUE how to read music or such so I am learning also.  I need to get a picture of Lina playing....with her tongue out.  It's hillarious!

More Links Regarding Orlando Missionary Team

http://zradio.org/index/articles/00000140/ Grab a tissue and watch the video.  Scroll down a bit.  Sweet Allison I mentioned earlier is the last teen girl (looking out at water) interviewed and on camera when the earthquake hit.  I just cannot imagine.

There is just so much that is needed.  What are you doing?  My heart breaks for the children.  The children waiting for their families.  The orphanages that were crumbled.  The children who lost their parents.  The families in the US waiting for adoptions to go through.  It's overwhelming. 

Last Few Days

My poor Lyd.  Sunday she did fine all day.  Went to bed like a big girl- stayed in her bed- and slept all night long.  Ahh..  Nothing like 8 hours of sleep!

She woke up Monday and looked awful.  She looked pasty.  Her big eyes just looked sick.  Poor girl.  She chugged some Gatorade and ASKED to go back to bed.  WHAT?  We are hosting your class play date!!  She went back to bed and Lina came with me and enjoyed Lyd's class play date.  Sigh.  We made snowman donuts with peanut butter cup hats.  Nope.  Didn't take one picture.

Lydia slept for 3 hours and woke up....herself!  We kind of kept it low key for the day.  She slept through the night again and woke up arguing about wearing the pants I had laid out for her.  Ah.  My sweet girl is back!  ; )

However little sister felt she needed some attention and was up hacking all night long.  She sounds awful and I am pretty sure tonight will be hard and we'll be off to doctor tomorrow.  No fever, but I do not like the sound of the cough and she just looks sick.  Sweet baby girl.

Weekend Doings

Friday night Bob and I had a double date with Carmen and Tony.  We went to our favorite restaurant, Houston's.  Yum.  Ate too much.  Drank too much......and laughed a whole bunch.  We have a great new babysitter....and we came home to girls in bed sleeping and no dishes.  I love this gal so much and am so comfortable with her that we left without saying where we were going or what time we would be home.  NICE.

We decided Saturday to go to Sea World.  We are making the most out of our year passes!  It was not crowded by any means which means great seats for the shows.  Lina has seen the dolphin show probably 7 or 8 times in the past year....yet her face and "oh my"s are priceless.  Lydia takes it all in quietly.  Lila squeals "feesh" the whole time.

There is a great little aquarium in the park that is really done well.  The girls enjoyed being "in the tank"

Then Saturday night came.

Lydia and I usually spend the night together.  That is just the normal.  For now.  So I was in her bed and she started coughing and crying and WHAMMMMMO.  Threw up on me.  Niiiiiiiice.  Only be the grace of God- I didn't return the favor and after cleaning up 3 times we parked in front of the TV for  TinkerBell Lost Treasure (again) for a bit.  Finally that nonsense stopped about 4AM and we slept till 8.  Then Lydia took a 3 hour nap this afternoon.  She ate and kept everything in its proper place so I am praying it was just some sort of bug (and apparently her little friend Leah was sick and few others in class) that is gone and not to be shared!

Before that took place I braided Lina's hair in little braids and she slept in it.  Today she went to church with Bob and looked SO grown up.

Missionaries From Orlando in Haiti

Now I did not know who exactly was part of the team other than our local Christian radio DJ at the time, but quickly discovered that a former student of mine 8 years ago and her mom (of 4 girls still see her around and she is an amazing woman) were also there......and they ran for their lives.  Praise God they are home now and had the resources available to them to get them home.....their lives forever changed.  Pray for this team- can you imagine the overwhelming emotion of being in an earthquake, afraid you would die, and witness such devastation.

http://www.wesh.com/news/22251545/detail.html is our local news coverage.  GET A TISSUE.  Allison is on camera and quoted in the story.  She was an amazing little girl in 3rd grade and clearly Jesus is the center of her life still and always will be. 

A Sunny Thursday

Lydia, Lila and I enjoyed a play date OUTSIDE this morning with Lyd's little buddy Leah from school and her mom, Lauren.  Yes.  I was the only name without an L.  ; )  Lydia and Leah are sweet little friends.  It's so nice to see Lydia with a buddy.  Leah's mom and I get along well also.  He he!

Lyd's school gets parents involved.  A LOT.  Families host class play dates once a month and many volunteer opportunities in class.  We host January's play date.  So Monday we will head to the park near our house and have a "Snow day play day".  So fun.  I found a cute snack idea involving powder donuts and peanut butter cups to make mini snowmen and will serve chocolate milk.  It's no school day so siblings will join also.  AND better.....it's looking like 65 degrees!  Yes!

Girls enjoyed playing outside WITHOUT jackets, gloves, and scarves this afternoon!

Lydia needed a little trim, but Lila and Lina needed a little bit more of a clean up so we had hair cut appointments this afternoon.  Lina is into braids and "up dos" each morning so she is growing her hair out, but it was strangly looking.  Lila couldn't see anymore.  : ) (and she snagged an M&M from big sister here....)

Lina after her hair cut!

Much About Nothing

Juli and I were going to meet at the Y this morning.  Truly that was the last place I wanted to be seen with her size 3 self, but I love Juli and my butt needs to be at the Y.

Juli called to share that she couldn't make it- needed to go to the hospital and be with a church member.  Seconds later Carmen called and asked me to meet at Panera.  Um, ok!  So Lila and I went to Panera and met Carmen.  I was good.  Sorta.

Carmen went with us to TRU where I cashed in the girls' Christmas money from Pop.  Lydia a Princess Leapster cartridge and Lina a Nintendo DS with a Dolphin game.  Lyd still has some cash.  Lina does not.  Sweet Lila has all hers.  Poor girl.  Never gets anything.  : )  Then we walked around Target.  Got Valentine's Day shirts for girls and looked at BATHING SUITS.  We woke to frost.  Really?  Bathing suits?

Picked up Lydia from school and headed home.  It's early dismissal on Wednesdays for Lina- 1:45 and she was having a friend (Emmalina- how funny is that???) over to play for a bit.  Little sister didn't handle that very well.  She wanted Lina. 

Lina had church choir rehearsal tonight.  The director, Mrs. Lisa, took a look at Lina's hands and gave her a little "test" to see if she would be ready for piano lessons.  Lisa had big eyes and said, "let's do this".  So Lina will have piano on Wednesdays before choir.  A musical day!  I am excited for Lina.  We keep trying a little bit of everything to see where she "fits in".  She loves music and has the ear so this will be fun to watch and listen to.

Took a picture of my car roof this morning with FROST on it.  Crazy.  Apparently tomorrow we will hit 70 and I will gladly welcome that!

Time, Tires, and Two TuTus

We woke to frost on front lawns this morning.  HOPEFULLY the last morning of that nonsense, I tell ya!  It did warm up to high 50's this afternoon.  It was nice and the girls enjoyed playing outdoors.  Lydia LOVES when Lina is home from school.  It's sweet.

I headed out the door with Middle and Little this morning with a plan.  That was my first mistake.  First stop was an oil change that has been put off a few too many weeks.  We were committed though and after all the paperwork we were told an hour wait.  Ack.  Off to the waiting room we went where Cinderella had just begun.  Great!

2 1/2 hours of my time later.......oil changed, told we need 2 new tires, and some axle was broken.  There goes my plan.  The axle is under our warranty so this is good.  The part is ordered and we will take care of that next week.  Tires....we are doing some looking around.

I didn't get to do any of my other errands, but home we came via Chick Fil A.  : )

I finished Lydia's pink tutu this afternoon.  It's sweet.

Lila is not sold quite yet on her tutu.

I am going to cut and start Lina's tonight.  She wants a longer one.  We'll see how that looks.

Monday Monday......

Pretty uneventful day....until bedtime.  Isn't that how it always is?? 

Lydia crashed within minutes of hitting her pillow.  Although I know somewhere between midnight and 3AM I will be hollered for and I will then sleep there till morning.  Yawn. 

Brushed Lina's teeth ever so careful of the 2 week dangler in the front she has going on.  Send her on way down the hall, I go to the kitchen.  "MOM IT CAME OUT.  IT'S OUT.  MY TOOTH CAME OUT"  We have been waiting and wiggling and out it came.  She glows when a tooth comes out.  It is hillarious.  So Lina's beautiful smile has changed.  Again.

A Jammie Day

As my mother in law says, "Good gravy" it was cold today.  Isn't that the corniest phrase?  : )  We woke to some patches of ice and the thermometer at 30 at 7AM.  Brrr. Brrrr.  BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!  We ate a hot breakfast, got dressed in layers, and headed to 9:30 church. 

We got back home by 11 and all were back in fleece jammies by 11:15!  It was declared a jammie day!

It was a grilled cheese and tomato soup day...for Lina and I.  Lyd picked (shocking) and Lila feasted on leftovers.  Then it was many, many rounds of Lina's favorite game of Mancala.  She had been kicking me tail at the game, but I managed to whoop on her today.  : )  We also did some crafts and coloring.  I wonder who will receive this fine pot holder???

I began some plans for Lila's TuTu 2 Party.  Cute, no??  I sat and made Lila her lavendar (or LILAc) tutu and it's adorable if I do say so myself.  She hates it.  LOL!  I am making Big and Middle one also so hopefully she will cave to peer pressure?

Yes, this is an 18 inch waist.  Sweet little girl.

Lydia's field trip to the firehouse is postponed for tomorrow because.....it's too cold.  Seriously that was the email I received this afternoon.  That cracks me up, but I am so thankful.  Shoot!  I didn't want to walk in the cold....truth be told!  : )

Twenty. Ten

How do you say this new year we are in? I have heard 20 10 and our cute (not so) little SR in HS friend says '1 0 you know. Where did that last decade go? Whewwww!! Never mind 10 years.....I haven't written a single memory in a year. Awful.

But here we go!

Happy New Year family and friends. At the moment it is a balmy 32 degrees. IN FLORIDA. Some parts saw flurries. Do you believe that? Secretly in my head I joke that perhaps hell has frozen over??? This cold weather is crazy. I longed for a break from 90+ degree days still in November, but this is crazy. AND praise God...short lived. We should hit 70 mid week. THAT I will take. 60 is cold to me now!

We had a good 2009. Bob and I celebrated 10 years of marriage! 10 years! A whole decade. We have renewed our contract for an undisclosed time.

Lina is 6 (and 1/2) in 1st grade. She is having a blast!! What a great year it has been for her....and me. Her teacher is a superstar. We absolutely love her. She is young and has great enthusiasm, ideas, and loves Lina. We enjoy walking up the block...most mornings. The high humidity, rain, and now this cold do make for an interesting walk though. We gave soccer a try. Lina is enjoying the church choir and recently was a "WiseGirl" in the Christmas Eve program. We are entertaining the thought of piano lessons as she loves music. She is a reading fool. We can't keep enough books in her hands. She is still a peanut losing teeth here and there. Lina has great hopes to one day be a dolphin trainer. We have become Sea World pass holders this year- thanks to our dear Amy Schu-vis. Lina would go every day. EVERY day. She loves the dolphins the most and can rattle off every fact there is to know about these amazing sea creatures. I love seeing her light up when it comes to sea life.

Lydia (3) started school in August. She goes 3 days a week for 3 hours. It has been wonderful for her. AND ME. : ) Lyd is a good girl in school and for that I am thankful. She is learning so much and we take that and do more at home. Her teacher is wonderful and the school is just perfect for little ones. Lydia so very much enjoys her princess world and choosing her OWN clothing each day....even if it doesn't match or what I would choose. Lydia would love to be a ballerina, but we are holding off till next school year.

Lila Joy is quickly approaching her 2nd birthday. HOW IN THE WORLD did that happen? She is a teeny tiny still. Lila finally started walking the week before Thanksgiving. Do the math. Yes, she was 21 months old!! Such a joy though, she is. A smiley girl. Giggly girl. Great eater and sleeper. She has A LOT to say. We just can't understand a word of it. Purely adorable!

I am going to be better at this. This will be nothing more than the daily doings of life around here. Feel free to check back in and see what Life with 3Ls is up to!