UGH

This is the morning after we returned from our Surprise Vacation.

Luckily, it melted by the end of the day and now it's pretending to be spring again.

The secret weapon

Every time I have taken Skyler to get his haircut, he has cried and cried.  I end up holding him in my lap and the hairdresser has to work fast!!  This time, I was not looking forward to the fight and seriously consider the fancy (expensive) haircut place that gives kids balloons, treats, movies - the whole 9 yards - because maybe it's worth it if the kid doesn't hate you after the haircut!  But, I took him to our neighbor just one more time - maybe this time will be different.  Since the last haircut, Skyler has found a new love for GUM.  He LOVES gum.  Sometimes he does just eat it, but honestly, my 2 year old will chew gum for an hour or more and then throw it into the garbage.  And when I pointed out that the haircutter would give him a gumball after his haircut - he climbed up in that chair by himself and sat as still as a statue.  Gum is now my secret weapon.

A surprise vacation

Well, it was a surprise for the kids!  I packed the bags, the car, and the kids didn't have a clue.  After dinner Shayne said, I need to do some work in Vegas... who wants to go?!?  The kids looked us in disbelief but quickly understood they were going to miss a day of school (rare) and then we hopped in the car and drove till midnight!  We had a yummy hot breakfast then went to check out the pool facilities.  The pool was an iceberg - slightly melted.  But, there was a hot tub and we hung out there for a while.  Meanwhile, Shayne is prepping the kids with comments such as - gosh things aren't going as planned, we might have to go right back home, etc.  We sadly informed the kids at lunch time that we needed to go back home - our weekend in Vegas wasn't going to work out with Daddy's work.  So, we loaded the car and funny enough, the boys were very understanding and good sports about the whole situation.  We told them we'd be home before dark and thought at some point they would be suspicious considering we were in 18 lanes of traffic in California, or the fact that we drove next to the ocean for an hour.... nope.  CLUELESS.  We pulled into the Legoland Hotel and informed them that we were home.  When they finally looked out the windows...

"Legoland?"

"You drove to California!?!?!"

"Legoland!!!"

We spent that night at Legoland Hotel - which was a blast.  We did not go to the theme park (boys were a bit disappointed about that) but the hotel was definitely a highlight of our weekend excursion.  We went to that park a few years ago and we were not itching to go again... besides, we had other surprises up our sleeves.

Upon entering our pirate themed room, the boys had to complete a scavenger hunt to find a treasure.  This place was definitely made with kids in mind - loved it!  I think our favorite part was the elevator!!  Every elevator should have a disco ball and fun music after the doors close.

The next day, we went to the beach.  It was so great to be out in the sun and to be warm.  The water was COLD - but the boys still played in it.  It was a fantastic day to be on the beach, play in the sand, and just be together.  Skyler was one busy little toddler - running this way and that way - and every which way across that beach.  That's one busy little body!

After the beach, we drove back to Anaheim and once again, lied to our children saying that we'd be traveling home for the next couple days.  The pool at this hotel was FANTASTIC (it was warm) and we played in there for hours even after being on the beach all day.  A gentleman asked the boys if they went to Disneyland that day... they were once again CLUELESS that we were even in the vicinity of Disneyland.  They just said, no, we went to Legoland Hotel.  And they didn't even suspect anything.  Just before going to bed, Shayne wrote out "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" with a letter on each piece of paper.  Then handed the pile to them and said, figure out what we're doing tomorrow.  Unfortunately. he also left his "answer sheet" in the pile with the word on it... so they quickly got the word (ha, ha) but had no idea what we were alluding to.  Finally, we told them we were going to Disneyland.  

The next morning, we were on the first shuttle over to the park and we spent the day at California Adventures.  We wanted to see the new Car's Land and the boys were also excited for the Tower of Terror.  

Half-way through our day, our MOST AWESOME friends, Laura and Maynrad, came to join the party.  They treated our kids to ice cream (It was SOOOOOO hot, we were melting) and basically did whatever we wanted.  They were so patient and flexible with our whims and desires.  Love you guys - thanks for spending the day with us!!!

Two little monkeys...

The lot of us

Skyler was not a fan of the going down part on the ferris wheel - but other than that, he loved everything he was able to ride.

We were on the last shuttle back to the hotel at 11:30pm and this is what happened within seconds...

Our Surprise Vacation was a success!  I think the best part was that our kids rolled with the punches so well.  Who knows if they'll ever trust again though when we say let's get in the car and see where we end up!

a few pics from my phone...

Here we are enjoy the almost spring weather (it keeps teasing us!)  Hunter bought the roller-blades at the DI (no, they aren't the right size for him but he's awesome on them!) and Danny has been learning to coast on his bike without pedals.  Now if I could find those pedals for him...

Everyday I drop off Danny at preschool he makes me this little heart and says

"Te amo!"

"Te amo tu-mis-imo"  (he's trying to mimic me saying te amo muchisimo which means I love you very much in Spanish)

Hunter's basketball season

We didn't take very many pics of Hunter playing this year - but we had a great time watching him on the court.  There was a big change this year - he's officially on a full court and all the rules of basketball apply (there were only some rules up until now).  Hunter played hard in every game - he worked hard to rebound, be in open positions to shoot, and overall, was a great team player.  He did get some great shots (and points!) - but I wasn't counting.  There were also a couple players on his team that definitely have "stardom" in their future - but, I loved the fact that the boys included everyone and they all helped to have an UNDEFEATED season.  In the very last game (which I missed), their team was behind and the opposing team seemed like giants.  You can see the height difference below - 

Hunter's team rallied and came back in the final quarter to win.  Coach Brett was awesome with these boys and it was a fantastic season!  Double the pay for the coach!  (ha, ha, it's volunteer - but he definitely deserves the raise!)  

Secret identity

I have a secret life.  My life is generally filled with everything about my kids - raising kids, chasing kids, driving kids, changing kids clothing, washing kids and their clothing, and just lots of KIDS everything.  They consume me and my time.  So, when I got to attend a conference for all the music educators in the state for 2 days - suddenly I was a band director again.  I was thinking about rehearsals, about music, about discipline - funny - it's still about kids, I know.  BUT, there was also the catching up with colleagues I hadn't seen in a LOONG time and also just having adult conversations for 2 days straight was a strain on my brain, in a good way.  I get excited about the prospect of working again - I really loved teaching and I intend to do it again.  But, I also know it isn't that time/season just yet.  I'm just preparing myself so I will have the endorsements when needed.

Then came another conference - this time all clarinet.  2 days being a clarinet geek was great fun.  Talk clarinet, play clarinet, think clarinet - enough information to make my head spin.  Sometimes I think I'm doing a good job with my part-time job teaching clarinet, then there are days when I just don't know enough.  I wish I knew more and I wish I could sit and practice my instrument as I know I should.  I feel like a slacker because I can't even come close to those amazing people who attended the conference and they live that clarinet world all day, everyday.  I have amazing students - so many of them just blow me away (literally!) with their talents.  They aren't just clarinetists, they are honor students, bikers, soccer players, and they are super busy doing all the amazing things they do.  I'm grateful to be a part of this chapter in their lives.  And I find myself wishing I knew more about this or that - simply because there is still so much for me to figure out for myself.  Conferences are great - I learn a ton, and I also realize how much I don't know.  I just can't let that get me down.

So, a secret identity.  I guess it seems like a secret because my children and my husband aren't a part of it.  All the colleagues, associates, and people I talked to during those conferences were great fun to visit with.  I saw friends I went to college with, had discussions with amazing professors and professionals, and I felt like I was pretending to be a colleague.  For now, I'm a mom pretending to have a secret identity or a place in the world of music.  Perhaps those worlds will collide someday...  I'll keep wishing.  

Scratch your heart out... with love

I asked my boys if we could make valentine's day cards this year and we searched the internet for ideas.  Priority #1 - EASY to make, priority #2 - fun to give.  Hunter came up with his own idea.  He wanted to make a scratch-off card by melting crayon on the cards.  Sounded complicated - but I did find an "easier" alternative and it was a HUGE hit.  We "laminated" (clear tape) the heart on his cards, then used acrylic paint to cover the heart.  He had written a message saying "Go ask Hunter for _ candies!"  He did a bunch of 2's, 3's, and a few 4's - and had his bag of candy to give it everyone.  He even had a system to mark if they gotten their candy by tearing the corner of their card - what a planner.  

  

For Cole, Danny, and Skyler I did these picture ones and I thought they were adorable.  It wasn't really a card that they got to make - it ended up back on me - but they were easy so I enjoyed doing it...  even though I put it off till the night before as usual.  

Cole made a Valentine's game for his teacher - super sweet boy!

On Valentine's day I stopped at the local bakery after my gym time and got some doughnuts for the boys.  They loved them!

Then for dinner - Shayne and I had a romantic (ha, ha) dinner with the crew.  The boys helped set the table with the valentine's day decor (dollar store from last year), candles, sparkling cider, and we had the most scrumptious crepes with whipped cream and berries.  Of course, some were complaining as I was setting the table - but everyone figured out it was like eating dessert and no complaints while we ate.  

To top it off, Shayne brought home candied apples for everyone.  I got one too - and it was SOOOOOOO yummy.  We all slowly ate our apples over the next few days. 

 I love my boys - all 5 of them.  It was fun to shower them with a little extra love this Valentine's day!