Domestic Adventures

Diary of the Ninja Kids: Oops....it's May

2020-05-06T08:11:00.001-07:00

April 16th 2020

Today I woke up early at 4am but then fell back asleep. Then I had breakfast and then I realized it snowed a lot. I remembered that we got a new controller yesterday for the xbox. It looks really really really really cool--it is camouflaged. Also I got to do FaceTime with my teacher and she got to check in with me. Then I played a game with my brothers. Also I took a shower this morning again and it felt good to do in the morning. Then my cat Sasha and Professor were sleeping and they were so cute. Also my mom got a new printer and she set it up today. Then we had a delicious lunch we had lasagna soup and that was really good.

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja AKA Clark

April 20th 2020

Today we had bagels which is really good after that I did science in geography and we learned about animals and and stuff about animals. Then I did independent reading and I read weird but true and that was fun to read because I got to read it in the game room then I did Newsela and we got to learn about food in space and how trading foods is beneficial to astronauts. Then I had a break and I played with my brothers but while we were playing outside we found a snake and it was a gardener snake and we got to learn a little bit more about it and we also named the snake Viney. I got to learn how to tell a boy gardener snake and a girl gardener snake apart and Vining is a girl gardener snake because girl gardener snakes are longer and bulkier.

Peace out rabbit ninja AKA Clark

April 23rd 2020

Today I woke up and was reading a book and then I got up and have some breakfast which was cereal and then we got to finish the movie Armageddon and then I remember that last night we had a fire and the fire was super fun. Sad news, we had to throw Viney away because he was dead. Yesterday I made this really really cool paracord pouch it's just a little pockets made out of paracord and it can hold really cool things and it looks really cool. Yesterday was also Earth Day so we got a free day to learn about the Earth. We made recycled bird feeders. And I learned how to make a paracord Bola in a bowl of just three or more weights at the end of three strands of rope and a handle so you just throw it and then it would open up wrap-around whatever it hits and I made one of those out of paracord and it works really good I almost caught my cat, Sasha.

peace out rabbit ninja AKA Clark

April 27th 2020

Today I woke up and realize that I slept in which was fun because I I had lots of dreams and then I saw my brother's Kannon and Quinn playing Minecraft in the game room so I got to play Minecraft for a little while. Then I had an omelette for breakfast and that was delicious .After that I did Newsela and I learned about eels getting stuck in seals noses. Also yesterday I played Minecraft with my aunt Karly. then I played Four Square with my brother, mom and dadd. Then I did my cursive after that I got to have a piece of candy.

peace out rabbit ninja AKA Clark

April 20,2020

Today we found a garter snake and named it viny(vine-y). It was awesome.

Yesterday we pretty much chilled out and watched top chef, mythbusters,and forged in fire, I printed and cut some blades out while I watched Forged in Fire.

Peace,

raptor ninja

April 27, 2020

Today i woke up and played minecraft and did a battle with clark

In minecraft.

Then we started learning time and learned about animal classification.

Peace raptor ninja

April 28, 2020

Today I LOST A TOOTH AND ITS EXCITING BECAUSE I GET MONEY FROM THE TOOTH FAIRY.

I miss going on roller coasters. I love how exciting roller coasters are and I am sad the Elitches is not opened. I like watching videos of them but it is not the same as being on one.

Peace out,

raptor ninja.

Diary of the Ninja Kids: April 13-15th, 2020

2020-04-15T11:18:00.003-07:00

April 13th 2020

Today I woke up and remembered that yesterday was Easter and we got to do an egg hunt. That was really really fun and we got presents from our family. Then I had breakfast this morning and I had a cinnamon roll for breakfast. Then I found some extra paracord to play with so I made a little paracord person that looks really cool. Last night we also watch Pearl Harbor. Then today (Monday) I got to chat with my friends and play with my brothers. Since coronavirus is happening, I'm chatting with my friends online. I also drew while I was talking to my friends. For dinner tonight we're having pizza and I am really excited for that.

Peace Out,

Rabbit Ninja AKA Clark

April 13, 2020

Yesterday we did an Easter egg hunt and got prizes and stuff from the Easter Bunny.

Then we had breakfast and watched half of Pearl Harbor, Storks, and other stuff. We had Easter stuff for lunch, cassoulet and cherry pie for dinner and dessert. It snowed today so we just relaxed and had a nice day.

Peace,

Raptor Ninja AKA Kannon

April 14, 2020

Yesterday I woke up and watched tv and then we did learning learning time. We did science and geography, online learning, and independent reading.

We had hardboiled eggs and sandwiches for lunch, and we finished Pearl Harbor and Onward. Pearl Harbor was a pretty cool movie. I think I am going to read more books about it.

Peace,

Raptor Ninja AKA Kannon

April 14, 2020

Yesterday we watched Trolls World Tour and had rice krispy treats last night. The weather is still cold and snowy so we didn't play outside and we earned a new movie from our chore chart. Every time we get Chore Blackout (for doing all our chores) we get to watch a movie on demand.

My mom had a lot of calls and work to do yesterday so we did our learning time and then basically had free time to craft and play.

Peace,

Raptor Ninja AKA Kannon

April 15th, 2020

Yesterday I watch the movie Trolls World Tour and I thought it was a really good movie. We also ate rainbow Rice Krispie treats that our mom made and those were delicious. Today I woke up and took a shower and that felt really good on my arm. I also watched an episode of "I Draw, You Cook" and while I was doing that I made a paracord wire thing. So it's just a piece of thick wire and I wrapped paracord around it and it looks really cool. Also, yesterday was a fun play day because our mom was on meetings all day. We still did our learning time but we also got to make stuff. I made a toy grappling hook that was really fun to play with. Then, I played with my cat professor and he was acting so funny.

Peace Out,

Rabbit Ninja AKA Clark

Delicious Cherry Pie

Quinn really liked the egg hunt

Indoor Easter Egg Hunt

Professor is a weird cat

My paracord toy

We did masks while we watched Pearl Harbor

Kannon made this garden bed out of old wood, Clark and Quinn painted it

Dying easter eggs

The box we made Professor

Diary of the Ninja Kids: April 163, 2020

2020-04-12T10:43:00.001-07:00

April 8, 2020

Today I woke up and was a little sad because yesterday we set up a tent in the backyard and I wasn't able to sleep in it. I know I haven't blogged in a while, so sorry. It was spring break and we have been busy. Anyways, today I woke up sad becuase I couldn't sleep in the tent. Then this morning me and my brother, Kannon, played a game. Then we played in the tent because it was still up. We had a lot of fun. After that we started science and geography and that was really fun. Then after that I had a little bit of free time but now I'm doing work and that's so far my day.

Last week we were on spring break and I didn't blog that week. The best part was on Monday, I got my cast off. I took an x-ray and they said I didn't have to go into a short cast. I just got a brace and that was really nice because I can finally take a shower. When I got the cast off my arm, it was disgusting and it was super dry and sensitive. I almost threw up. Also we started a new schedule so some learning time changed to different times now that my mom is working more and my dad is taking online classes.

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja AKA Clark

April 8,2020

One of my favorite things to do is to draw and watch tv stuff like forged in fire and ANW.

I like to craft swords and draw swords. Right now, I’m making a thing off of “If you were on Forged in Fire”. Forged in fire is a show where people have to make blades.

Peace out,

Raptor ninja.

April 9th 2020

Today I woke up but I didn't wake up in the house. I woke up outside because last night me and my big brother, Kannon, and Emma, my dog, slept outside in a tent. It was super fun!!!!!!!!!!!! So today me and my brother woke up outside and we just started playing with each other and then we went inside and have breakfast. I made eggs. After that we watched “Making It” which is a show about crafts and stuff. It's super cool and then after that I went to go play outside with my brother. Then my mom said it was geography and science. We learned about Hawaii, Washington, and Alaska. After that my mom showed me pictures of when she was young. Also yesterday I made a green paracord bracelet for myself and it looks really really cool. Also, since me and my brother, Kannon slept outside we had the idea of spending 24 hours in the tent. It is supposed to snow again, so maybe when it is warmer we can do a 24 hour challenge.

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja AKA Clark

Diary of the Ninja Kids: March 31 & April1, 2020

2020-04-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

March 30, 2020

Over the weekend I played baseball and Coloradopaly. Today we went to the park and played baseball. It was so fun!

After that we went home. I did cursive and geography, then snack and blogging, Then we are going do our school work and have outdoor time. I love playing games with my family and spending all this time together.

Peace out,

Raptor Ninja, AKA Kannon

April 1, 2020

Today is April Fool’s day. I woke up and went to my mom’s room and snuggled with Sasha, Emma, my mom and dad.

My biggest fear is coronavirus. We have to stay at home and that sucks, but I don’t mean sucks, I mean that I wish it was never here. I don't like it and it’s dangerous and it sucks. I try not to worry about it but deep down I worry about people I love getting sick and not being able to see them. My mom and dad are

Peace out,

Raptor Ninja, AKA Kannon

April 1st 2020

Today I woke up and I was the first person awake so I read Dogman and I finished it in one night. Then after that I realized it was a April Fool's Day I made a picture that says “April Fool’s” and has a little frog on it. I had some tape and paracord so I taped the paracord to the picture. Since we sleep on bunk beds, my bigger brother sleeps on the bottom bed. I lowered the paracord down into his face so when he woke up he would see the April Fool's card. Then everybody woke up and my parents watched the news and then I went to play outside after that breakfast was ready. Breakfast was delicious we had Dutch Babies. Yesterday, I made a little yarn stuffy. His name is Socktupus. He's blue and he's just an octopus but I want to call him Socktopus because he's really nice and soft. Then we did a workout to get our energy out. We did a Ninja Nation workout because my brothers and I love Ninja Warrior.

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja AKA Clark

Diary of the Ninja Kids: March 26, 2020

2020-03-26T15:08:00.004-07:00

March 26, 2020

Today I woke up and had breakfast which was toast and eggs. then I went to play outside with my brothers. When we got out there it was freezing so we stayed inside and did a warm-up instead of having to play outside. But when it finally warmed up we went to play Four Square in our driveway and it was super fun. I asked my mom when can we dissect a worm and she said that we need to use rubbing alcohol. Then we went on a walk and played I Spy. Last night was super fun because we had a fire pit and we roasted marshmallows. We got to look at all the stars and we found the big and Little Dipper and Orion's belt. We also got to see videos of the Aurora Borealis. Then we started off the day with science and learned about Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion.

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja AKA Clark

March 26, 2020

Today I'm feeling great because we went on a walk and we did some excercise for 30 minutes with PE with Joe on Youtube. We played four square before we went on a walk. After that we started learning time and we did science and learned about Newton's Laws of Motion.

After that we did cursive and blogging. Next we are diong snack, geograpy, workbooks,silent reading, then lunch and chores. My mom is working from home and has a lot of video calls and meetings today.

Peace peeps,

Raptor Ninja, AKA Kannon

Diary of the Ninja Kids: March 25, 2020

2020-03-25T13:34:00.003-07:00

March 25, 2020

Coronavirus sucks. We have “stay-at-home” orders in Denver now. I mean, I don’t mind being home. Homeschool is great. But I really wish we could go to Ninja Nation. I love Ninja Nation. It is a really cool gym where you can practice ninja skills. Something I rembered is that when we went to Ninja Nation in Lafayette for the first time. It was a blast even though I had blisters, it was still fun.

When we were there, I did an obstacle course and tried the salmon ladder even though I kept falling off and it was not going up. I also did walk the plank and the wingnuts and the warped wall. It was a blast until we left. That's when I felt like my nickname should be Raptor Ninja.

So yeah, I hope coronavirus goes away soon so we can go back to Ninja Nation.

Peace out,

The Raptor Ninja, AKA Kannon

March 25, 2020

Today I woke up and watched The Sandlot with my brother and my mom. It is one of our favorite movies. After that I went to go play baseball and even though I have a broken arm, I am still amazing at baseball because I hit two home runs with one arm and struck my brother out two times. After that we went to go pick up groceries and we had to wait for a long time for the people to bring the groceries to our car. Half of our stuff was missing from our order because of coronavirus. There was no flour, bleach, soap, chocolate chips, or cereal that we wanted.

Then we came home and we did a science experiment. The experiment was to find as many as bugs as you can and learn about them. Then we released them back into the wild and made posters to explain what we learned. My mom had a good idea to dissect an earthworm and I looked at some pictures and it looked disgusting but it sounds like so much fun. Maybe we will do that tomorrow.

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja AKA Clark

Diary of the Ninja Kids: March 24, 2020

2020-03-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

March 24, 2020

Today I woke up and had breakfast which was cereal. We went to the park and played kickball which was really fun. Today I want to learn more about space. I learned about gravity and how you weigh different amounts on planets depending on gravity. I weight 79 pounds on Earth which is like 288 pounds on Jupiter. Crazy! Last night I had a scary dream. We went to a dangerous restaurant and that dream scared me. If I were to go anywhere in the world and learn about it I would go to the jungles because there are many rare animals and insects. Maybe that is what I will learn tomorrow!

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja, AKA Clark

March 24, 2020

If I could go anywhere It would be to go to Ninja Nation because me and my brother could do parkour there. The reason I would go there is because I love doing parkour and hanging on stuff and doing the salmon ladder.

I wish we could go there right now.

I also wish we could go to North Dakota. We are supposed to be going next week for Spring Break but had to cancel because of coronavirus. I wish that we could still go and see Aunt Karly, Grandma and Grandpa. We were also supposed to see Mt. Rushmore. I hope that we will be able to see them this year. Maybe this summer?

Peace out,

The Raptor Ninja AKA Kannon

Diary of the Ninja Kids: March 23, 2020

2020-03-23T11:43:00.001-07:00

March 23, 2020

Today I woke up and I made a paracord monkey fist. I was super excited about the monkey fist. Then we had breakfast and I had eggs, toast, and pancakes. Then I watched something in my mom's room with my brothers while my parents did yoga. After that we went to the park and played tag but it wasn't a normal tag, it was a cartoon tag and I thought it was really fun. Then we came home and started learning time.

Today I think my biggest wish would be that I didn't have a broken arm because if I didn't break my arm then I could play baseball and be able to do all the fun things.

Three things that I am grateful for are: making a paracord monkey fist because it looks amazing. The second thing that I am grateful for is the pizza we had last night because the pizza was delicious. The last and final thing that I'm grateful for is that it's not so snowy because we are able to play outside instead of getting trapped inside.

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja AKA Clark .

March 23, 2020

My biggest wish is to be on American Ninja Warrior because I love doing parkour and hanging on stuff.

I wish that because I do a lot of stuff to be like a ninja and even though we can't play on the playground, I find a ton of stuff to ninja on, and I also want to be on ANW Jr, because that’s before ANW.

Peace out yo,

The Raptor ninja, AKA Kannon

Diary of the Ninja Kids: March 20, 2020

2020-03-20T18:00:00.003-07:00

March 20, 2020

The 3 things I love are 1: American Ninja Warrior 2: My dog, Emma 3: My Family.

I love American Ninja Warrior because I want to be an American Ninja Warrior one day. If that happens, I think that I should be the Raptor ninja. I love my dog, Emma, because she is the best dog in the world in my opinion. I love my family because my brothers are the best and I love my parents because they are the best.

Peace out

The Raptor Ninja AKA Kannon

March 20 2020

What I am grateful for:

Today I am grateful fo rmy paracord because I got to make an amazing monkey fist. I am grateful that we also got a kickball because we will be able to use it in the afternoons. I am also grateful for Emma because she is a cute dog. I am sooooo grateful that I was able to see third grade through video chatting today. I am also grateful that I got to play games with CJ via video chat too. I think today was a good day because we got a lot of freedom today. I am grateful I was able to get my kindle working again. I need to upload the kid version on my kindle because all that is on it is a romance novel. Literally. Weird.

Peace Out,

Rabbit Ninja, AKA Clark

Diary of the Ninja Kids: March 19, 2020

2020-03-19T11:37:00.004-07:00

March 19, 2020

Today I woke up and remembered one of my dreams and the dream was that I went into water and my cast got wet and fell off and that I broke my arm again.

There is a snowstorm happening in Colorado and I don’t like it. We can’t play outside and I can’t get my arm in my jacket with my cast and it delayed some packages we had coming. One of our packages was paracord and I am super bummed about it. It should be here by 9pm and I am excited because there are so many colors and I get to make Emma a collar. Paracord is everything. It is going to save our lives one day. Like if we needed to evacuate and go somewhere we could use paracord to block things, tie things, make bow and arrows, start fires, which is why I love paracord. It is amazing. It is one of the best things in the world. Paracord rules.

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja, AKA Clark.

March 19, 2020

Today I woke up and went on the computer for an hour and I got up out of bed and had breakfast and watched Ben-10 and after that we did a ninja workout and gonoodle.

I started playing with the trains today and I am feeling great and I learned that I could muliplication facts like 6 x 14. My teacher did a multples challenge, I got 14 multiplication facts in 1 minute.

If you are homeschooling, try not get distracted because if you get distracted you might get in trouble and it makes for extra work when you don’t pay attention. So stay focused. If you fight with your siblings, just try to make up and try to solve your problems. But you sjould always tell an adult if someone might get hurt. It is hard to share the space but try to have fun!

Peace out,

Raptor Ninja, AKA Kannnon

Diary of the Ninja Kids: March 18, 2020

2020-03-18T12:48:00.003-07:00

March 18, 2020

Today, I got up and went on the computer since my brothers were asleep in the living room. Once they were awake, we watched something until breakfast was ready. After that we had breakfast and then we went on a walk to the park. And then we washed our hands before we started to learn. I started with cursive handwriting, then I did my workbook, science and geography. We read about systems and learned how to read maps. We even made a map of our bedroom.

Last night we played charades and watched Heidi. Clark and Quinn fell asleep and my mom gave me the computer to fall asleep with. We also got to see the stars last night. Today I’m feeling great because the sun is out and it is beautiful outside.

Peace out yo,

The Raptor Ninja AKA Kannon

March 18, 2020

At 2 am this morning I woke up on the floor because I fell asleep there watching Heidi with my family last night. I saw my brother Quinn. I had a pickle and I fell asleep again at 2:52 am. Then at 7 everyone woke up and we had breakfast (two egg burritos and a hashbrown). Then we went on a walk and lots of fun because it was a nice day. Then we started learning time and we had cookies and milk for snack. We learned about maps and geography. We learned about the immune and urinary tract system (gross!) and I learned what a kidney is--I thought it was something in your knee but I was wrong!

We are good today because we started the morning off in a good way with walks and food. Don’t let anything stop you from having a good day. Things are tough right now with coronavirus and people might feel sad and feel like they can’t do much. But you can still have a good day and make the most of everyday. Play outside, read, make things, play games, spend time with your family, there are so many ways to make each day good. For example, my dad lost his job because of coronavirus but he doesn’t let that get him down. He talks to us about his school, what he is learning, does funny things, and plays things with us. So don’t let coronavirus get you down. Have a good day.

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja AKA Clark

Diary of the Ninja Kids: March 17, 2020

2020-03-18T12:47:00.002-07:00

March 17, 2020

Today I woke up and I watched TV and had breakfast. We also let our cat, Professor, in. Then we went on a walk to the baseball field with our dog, Emma, and threw a stick for her. When we got home we took our shoes off and Clark and I started the day off first by learning science. Next, I did my workbook and Clark did cursive. After that, we did geography. Clark is doing his workbook right now.

Right now coronavirus is happening and so far a lot of people have died but only 1 person has died in Colorado. Coronavirus is making Clark scared because he has anxiety. We also can’t go to school because of coronavirus. So we are homeschooling for right now.

I’m out,

Raptor Ninja, AKA Kannon

March 17, 2020

Today I woke up and was thinking about paracord because my mom is getting me a pack of paracord with lots of colors. The reason I’m excited is because I am making a collar for my dog, Emma!!!!! Then we did a ninja warm up. Then we went to the baseball field and threw a stick for Emma. Then we started learning time and learned about the scientific method. I also practiced cursive. Then we had a snack. After snack I did my workbook.Then I started typing about my day.

I am worried about coronavirus but homeschooling has helped me calm down about coronavirus because it is fun and takes my mind off it. My mom is a great teacher and I feel like I am learning a lot. My favorite part of the day is doing my workbooks and going for a walk with my family.

Peace out,

Rabbit Ninja, AKA Clark

Is this for real?

2020-03-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

We have been watching the COVID19 outbreak for months now. Having friends all around the world means that we are closely connected to current events around the world. We watched and gleaned advice from friends in China and slowly prepared for this to make it's way to the US. We lived in Seattle for nearly 9 years and when our friends started posting about the impact of the virus in the Emerald City, we took note. We knew this was coming, not a matter of if but when and how bad.

Fast forward, the past few weeks have been a blur. February 29, I woke up suddenly with a bad case of strep throat. Clark broke another arm. So in and out of the doctor's office we were, racing through life, balancing a full-time teaching job, Dale's college load, his work, kids homework, cooking, cleaning, paying bills, always feeling short on time. And then suddenly, time froze.

Dale woke up on March 6 with a fever and cough. I joked that maybe it was the COVID19. Then I woke up sick. On Monday, we messaged our doctor. "Hey, we have flu symptoms--fever, aches, chills, cough. The kids are all sick now too. What should we do?" She diagnosed us with the flu, prescribed Tamiflu and told us to stay in touch if we felt like it was getting worse. So we rested. We didn't have choice--we were all so tired and after 10 minutes of activity we felt like we had run a marathon. We still had a lingering fever that came and went and a stubborn cough. At one point, I thought we were going to need to go to the ER. My blood pressure was really high and oxygen saturation was below normal. Having a history of pneumonia, I was quite worried. I reached out to our doctor again: "We still are sick. Off again, on again fevers, and dry cough. Dale works in restaurants and has frequent contact with people that may be traveling, often headed to ski country. Should we be tested for COVID19?" The doctor said she wasn't even 100% sure what we have or what to do. She couldn't order a test for us because we aren't high risk, we don't have "known" direct contact, and there is a huge shortage of tests. But, cases in Colorado started rising, it was clear community spread was happening, so we self-quarantined until our symptoms were gone. I still don't know if it was just the flu, COVID19, or another virus. Regardless, we took precautions, stayed at home, and while we were at home recovering, it seemed the whole world turned upside down.

On Thursday, school districts across the country announced closure after closure. Our school announced closure until April. Tuesday, Denver ordered all restaurants and bars to close until May 11. Dale is laid off and in the queue for unemployment. I am homeschooling the kids and trying to teach/set up online learning for my class of 3rd graders. It all happened so fast and I wasn't even there to say goodbye to my students as we were still home sick. We are finally on the mend and finding a new normal. Our school is supposed to reopen in April, but seeing the long list of other schools and districts extend their closures, I am prepared for the long haul and trying to remain hopeful in this time of uncertainty. I feel very lucky that I have a stable job that is able to pay me while we are out, as I know this is not the case for so many. My heart is literally breaking as these are my friends, family, Dale's colleagues, student's families, and more.

So here we are. The busy and unbalanced life that we were living before COVID19, has suddenly stopped. We have had time to take walks, do yoga, bake, cook, and learn things we feel are important but haven't had time for. The kids are learning cursive, geography, and science on top of their normal reading and math. We play games, read books, take naps, and drink tea. In between parent phone calls and assigning learning activities to my students, I snuggle with Quinn, call a friend, or read. We are devastated and sending love, shine, prayers to all those who are impacted by this. We are also grateful that we have time to slow down, evaluate our values, interests, and deepen our connections with each other. We can complain about the privileges that have suddenly been stripped away. We can be worried or fearful about the future, how to pay bills, feed our families, and more. We can also remember that how you show up matters and your kids, spouses, friends, and family are all watching and are all here together. What is happening is not just happening to you---it is happening to the whole world. This is a time to remember that we are a community and we can help each other (from 4-6ft away, phone calls, or video chatting, of course). It is also a time to recenter ourselves and find gratitude for the little (and big) things.

A month ago I was worried about travel arrangements, spring break planning, job stuff, baseball sign ups, bills, savings, and more. Now, I worry about my older family members, immunocompromised friends. I worry about the world and how we will survive this next phase of uncertainty. As someone who loves watching every disaster movie, life feels very much like the beginning of a movie and we are just on the precipice of action. Is this for real? I only hope that we remember again, how you show up matters, and we will survive this as a better, stronger, more mindful world.

The kids are starting to practice typing skills by making a journal entry. I decided that I will also start putting it on here. Perhaps there are other 9-10 years olds out there that would like to share their experiences too. So stay tuned! Stay healthy, wash your hands, and let us know if you need anything!

Writer's Block

2020-02-18T16:26:00.000-08:00

I used to blog all the time. Writing for me is both cathartic and therapeutic. I always journaled as a kid and blogging became a way to both journal and keep our family in the loop of our adventures. Since my last blog in June of 2016, I have had a terrible case of writer's block: life.

Shortly after my last blog post, I started graduate school. While balancing a full time job, and teaching, my kids got older, my innocent baby became a toddler version of a natural disaster and is now almost in kindergarten. Sitting down to write, just became more and more of a chore. I have so many drafts of blogs that I wanted to publish but could never bring myself to finish. Since 2016, we said goodbye to my Papa who passed in 2017, followed a few weeks later by my Nana. Just when we thought we were getting over the grief and moving on, my Aunt Diana was diagnosed with brain cancer that ultimately claimed her life in June 2019. All this happened while trying to finish grad school, plan a move, and manage a family. Every time I tried to type my feelings, I was interrupted with chores, children, or a painful barrage of emotions that comes from grief.

The past 4 years have had so many joyful moments but were often clouded by my own depression that comes from losing beloved family members. I got my masters in 2017, moved to Denver in 2018, Dale started college last year, the kids have gone to summer camp, won awards, and are thriving in school. However, it was hard to see the good, when I felt so alone and isolated in my personal battle with grief. Yes, I posted many photos on Facebook and Instagram but it was not nearly as satisfying as writing. I favored the ease of posting a photograph and hiding behind pictures of happy kids rather than writing.

Alas, the time has come. Yesterday, in one of our many after dinner moments at the table, Clark asked us about journaling and whether I had a diary as a kid (valid 9 year old questions). As we chatted, I encouraged Clark to keep his own journal but told him if I had any advice, it was to write down the good moments too. My journals over the last 4 years are filled with a lot of negative, nonsensical rants. I wished that I had written more about the positive moments, like making backyard s'mores, playing cards in the car during an afternoon thunderstorm while camping, or about the conversations I used to have with my aunt laughing over cherished family memories. Again, I started blogging to journal and stay in touch with family. Over the years, I have appreciated being able to look back at my blogs and remember all of the amazing things that happened to us. I feel guilty that the last 4 years are blank and someday I will have to explain to the kids why I stopped writing down all our adventures. I know they will understand but I realized it was time to take my own advice and go back to blogging our family adventures again. So, here I am.

**In full transparency, I can't guarantee that I will ever be back to the weekly, sometimes daily routine, of blogging, and it might be another month before I sit down and write again. But at the least, here is a record of why my blog sat silent for so long and my own acceptance and acknowledgement of how grief swallowed part of me and my identity.

December 2019

January 2020

11 months old....and off to California!

2016-06-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Just a day after school, we packed our bags and jetted to California. We had a wonderful time with family and friends. The boys enjoyed getting spoiled by family and swimming in the California sunshine! We also went to Legoland and the boys experienced their FIRST roller coaster ride. It was hard to say goodbye but the fun continued when we got home as Dale's family came for a visit. The boys got to go on a little road trip, swim at hotel swimming pools and spend a day at the beach. Summer may have just begun but we have had a summer worth of fun already!

I also started graduated school and have so far loved all my classes (both online and in person) and am enjoying diving into learning. In between classes, we are swimming, playing at the park, and spending time with friends!

Quinn is also now walking! They may be baby steps but he is so proud of his accomplishment and claps everytime! He still has no teeth, but that doesn't interfere with his ability to eat--he is a garbage disposal! Quinn is still loving bananas and salmon!

We will celebrate Quinn's bday next Thursday with a little family celebration.....I can't believe he is almost 1!

On the plane!

So glad Gigi flew with us....Quinn didn't want to sit still!

By the water :)

Spending time my college friend, Lauren and her 10 month old, Aliyah

Quinn's first trip to the ocean....he was fearless!

The blueberry pie was a delicious and messy treat!

He learned a new face....#ducklips

Fun day at Mother's Beach!

We left Quinn at home with Gigi and went to Legoland!

The boys first roller coaster.....Clark was not a fan!!! Lol!

But he loved them by the end of the day!

My knights in shining armor :)

Breakfast at Schooner or Later

Papa came for a swim too :)

Saying goodbye to some awesome great-grandparents

Brazos River flooding from the sky

More flood pictures from the sky

Beach day in Galveston--the boys loved it!

Quinn is fearless in the water....oh boy!

Dale's dad, Dale, step-mom, Angela, and sister, Karly

Fun at the zoo!

We got drenched on our weekly hike!

We went to Sheldon State Park.

Space Center on Father's Day

We've been skyping with Papa daily because he is sick in the hospital. :(

Walking boy!!!!

10 months old

2016-06-24T09:35:00.002-07:00

Time is flying by! The end of the school year was hectic and crazy but we made it! Here is a look at what we did!

Superhero day at school!

Quinn got his first haircut!

Celebrated 10 months old by standing!

Hiking at the Houston Arboretum

Graduated from Kindergarten!

Graduated from Prek!

Teacher appreciation night at the Astros game!

9 months old!

2016-05-12T11:05:00.001-07:00

I am officially very bad at posting updates on everyone. With 3 kids and a full-time job, I hardly ever have time to sit down. But, alas, Quinn is 9 months old and its overdue for an update. We had a wonderful Easter with my aunt and uncle. We also spent a lot of time in our backyard, looking for the lizards and frogs, especially after the floods!

So what happened this month?

Kannon lost his first tooth! And then lost another the next day!
I had strep throat, twice!
We had our first night without the boys. Kannon and Clark went to my aunts and Quinn went to my moms so Dale and I could attend the Parker School Auction
We had lots of date nights, well spent playing trivia at our favorite place!
We had the historic "Tax Day" Flooding. We were stuck for a few hours, but thankfully no water in he house.
Dale's best friend from Seattle came to visit!
We also fostered some chicks for the weekend and had a blast playing with them!
We walked 1 mile to school one morning, just for fun.
Quinn had his 9 month appointment and is growing great, he is in the 50th percentile for both height and weight!

42 weeks in, 42 weeks out

Walk to School Day

Jarred came to visit

Flooding :(

Flooding.....still

My favorite chick, Seraphina

Japan Festival

Zoo Trip

Date morning...hike!

Quinn came to school!

Lost tooth!

Easter!

8 Months

2016-05-12T10:39:00.001-07:00

This month flew by as we were busy with school activities and enjoying our spring break! We had lots of activities at school, like Field Day and field trips to the rodeo. By the time Spring Break came around, I was exhausted! We went to visit my grandmother in Burnet, TX for Spring Break and we had a wonderful time exploring the caverns, the river, and the night sky. The boys really enjoyed their trip! Quinn is crawling on his feet, eating EVERYTHING, but especially eggs! Here are some pictures from the month :)

Hiking at Inks Lake State Park!

Road Trip!

Nothing like waking up to extra faces nearby

Spring Break!!

I loved this camel! He had a mustache!

7 Months Old!

2016-04-25T19:48:00.001-07:00

At 7 months old, Quinn has started scooting around attempting to crawl. He also loves to eat bananas and pasta and gives the best smiles. Quinn loves his brothers and always smiles biggest when they are around. I just can't believe how big he is getting!

We left the big kids at home with Gigi while we flew with Quinn to Washington D.C. for the 25th Anniversary Teach for America Summit. We loved touring D.C. but Quinn wasn't fond of the cold. He hated going outside and screamed during most of 9 mile daily walks. Our first day in D.C., we found a Safeway close to our hotel and loaded up on groceries. We stayed at a Residence Inn and had access to a kitchen, so we loved being able to buy groceries and cook for ourselves instead of spending money on dinners. We took a night walk to the National Mall and enjoyed the monuments lit up at night. The next day, we walked from our hotel to the Lincoln Memorial. We saw the White House, Washington Monument, Viet Nam memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and MLK JR memorial. We walked almost 12 miles this day during our sight-seeing. The next day, I had trainings and Dale and Quinn went to several museums and walking tours on their own. We had such a wonderful time seeing D.C. and can't wait to go back!

While we were in D.C. the boys stayed with Gigi. Kannon had his first violin perfomance and did great! They were very happy to have us come home even though they were spoiled by Gigi!

This month we also decided to go to Corpus Christi, TX for the weekend. We had such an incredible time on the trip and enjoyed splashing in the beach at National Seashore and playing in the sand. We were upgraded to a beautiful 2-bedroom suite and the boys enjoyed sleeping in their own room. We usually stay in Residence Inns by Mariott when we travel because they have a pool, free DELICIOUS breakfast, a kitchen for cooking (we like to bring our own food and cook) and great hospitality. This stay was one of our favorites because it also a fireplace, which we very much enjoyed! We also went to the Texas Aquarium and had a great time watching the dolphins and walking over to the nearby beach and USS Lexington.

6 Months old

2016-01-03T08:47:00.001-08:00

I can't believe this little guy is 6 months old!!! He has turned into such a little goof ball! He doesn't like bananas or applesauce and instead prefers savory dishes like lentils, sweet potatoes, black eyed peas etc. He also prefers his to jump in his jumparoo barefoot--it makes him smile when he gets the extra traction to jump. Quinn makes the funniest noises, especially in the morning. He has discovered how to sleep on his tummy with his face pressed into the cosleeper and head arched back. His big brothers make him laugh the hardest, especially Kannon. He has a pretty firm 7-8ish bedtime and will sleep until 7:30, waking up at 4 to nurse and cuddle under the covers. Quinn has also discovered he can do things with his hands--like take your glasses off or pull your lip down when you are trying to sleep! He is 100% goofy and totally loveable!

My winter break has flown by too fast. I've been home over 2 glorious weeks and tomorrow marks our first day back. We had a wonderful break. We went to my grandma's house in Burnet, TX where we had a mini reunion with my aunts and cousin. The boys had so much fun fishing, playing marbles, and hunting for pecans. Santa brought the kids new bikes and we were overwhelmed with all the awesome presents from family. We spent new years eve with my partner teacher and her husband, reveling in the new year with a good game of cards against humanity.

After months (I mean months of me going back and forth) of researching cell phones and plans, Dale and I traded in our burner, contract free, dinosaur phones for new Samsung s6 actives through At&t. They were running a buy one get one promotion that combined with a teacher discount and port line credit made it affordable for us to join the smart phone world. I love that I can do everything from my phone. Being as I still spend 2 hours of my day nursing, it's nice to read the news, check Facebook etc, all from my fingertips. The camera sealed the deal for me as it is practically comparable to my dslr with easy one touch uploads.

Our Christmas cards were late this year and in lieu of gifts we sent out handwritten letters. We are again so grateful to have family in our life, good health, and children to love. We wish you all a happy and prosperous new year!

5 months old

2016-01-03T08:12:00.002-08:00

We had so much family here for Thanksgiving and celebrated Quinn's 5 month old milestone. We didn't intend on starting solids until he was 6 months old but after he started reaching for a spoon it was unavoidable.

We had a lot of fun with our families. We went hiking, went to Zoolights, the aquarium and even saw a snake talk at Brazos Bend State Park. Quinn couldn't get enough extra love! He loved having all the extra arms to hold him!

4 months old

2015-11-17T19:06:00.001-08:00

Quinn is a whopping 15+ lbs. We celebrated so many birthdays this month! Clark is now 5, Kannon is 6, Dale is not telling how old he is, and we celebrated 7 years of marriage. And I chopped 10+ inches off my hair. Whew!!!

3 Months Old

2015-11-17T19:02:00.001-08:00

This is a little late but I am trying to catch up on all our milestones. At 3 months old Quinn is smiling and jabbering away. He is still the HAPPIEST baby we know! School is going great, but keeping us busy with all the afterschool activities and events. The boys still love their new school!

12 Weeks Old!

2015-09-22T15:58:00.001-07:00

I can't believe Quinn is 3 months old! He is growing like crazy and starting to feel more and more like a baby and less like a newborn. Quinn loves his big brothers who are constantly asking to hold him. He also loves to stand and smiles and coos every time he gets the chance. Dale and I had to go to a training in Fort Worth this weekend and Quinn delighted us by sleeping through the night! You can see a cute video of Kannon singing to Quinn here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLZ-qKQjvg0

School is going great. Again, I love teaching only reading and writing. I feel so much more focused and give my students the instruction they need to be successful. My partner teacher is wonderful and we have so much fun collaborating on projects together.

Kannon had his first violin lesson. Because our school is a fine arts magnet school, the kids get a weekly group lesson and weekly private lessons. Kannon is excited to play because the strings remind him of snakes......yes, his love of snakes is extreme right now.

Clark is loving school and making lots of friends. Clark used to cry every day when we went to school. Not any more! Now, he's usually the first one up and doesn't even say goodbye when we drop him off!

Dale was recently hired as the assistant manager of Tomfoolery Toys and Books, a local toy and book store. We are all so thrilled as it's only 2 miles from the house, offers daytime hours, and is totally stress-free and fun! The boys love that Dale is working in a toy store and have already started making a wish list :)

This Month's Big Milestones:

Quinn rolled over
Quinn slept through the night
Quinn loves to stand
We took our first trip to Ft. Worth
Kannon had his first violin lesson
Clark made his first best friend!
Dale started his new job
We've been on 6 hikes so far this month!

2 months old!

2015-09-03T17:28:00.001-07:00

So school started and my weekly updates were thrown out the window. Being a teacher and a mom to three kiddos is crazy! Fortunately, I have help! We wouldn't have survived last week if it wasn't for Dale cooking, packing lunches, cleaning the house, and watching Quinn! Dale is headed to Spokane next week for his sisters wedding which will leave me single parenting for 4 days. I am sure we will survive but we will miss him!

Kannon started Kindergarten and Clark is in PreK. Both of them LOOOOVE their new school. Even though they are busy each night with homework and projects, they love their new teachers and friends. Kannon has introduced himself to everyone as "Cobra" because his love of snakes his extreme. Clark is melting the hearts of all with his expansive vocabulary and dramatic attitude.

Quinn is 2 months old. He is still the perfect baby! He wakes up once a night to eat and sleeps extremely well by our bedside in a rocker. He smiles, coos, grabs things, and loves his big brothers. He is cloth diapered like his big brothers and is already growing out of his 3 month clothes. This boy weighs in at 12.5 lbs and 23 inches long. He is in the 55th percentile for weight and length and 91 percentile for his head (big brain, I'm sure!). After spending hours on the phone with insurance this week to resolve a glitch that left him uninsured, we were finally able to take him to the doctor. The nurses and pedi all swooned over his chunky little rolls. Quinn only cried a few minutes after his shots (he got 4) and continued to smile away!

School is going well. I LOVE my 2nd graders. I teach two groups in reading and writing. I love being able to focus on just reading and writing. It makes my job much more enjoyable and my students benefit from targeted instruction. My kiddos are a dream, although I sometimes miss the grit my old students had. My partner teacher is amazing and I am so lucky to have been paired with her because we practically share the same brain.

Overall, life with the kids is amazing! I love these little buggers....all 47 of them (2nd graders + my boys!)

Milestones:

Kannon started Kindergarten.
Clark started PreK
Quinn got 2 month shots and is cooing
Took a trip to Brazos Bend State Park (first official Texas hike)
Made zucchini noodles....delicious!

Yep, that's a wild alligator!

First official hike, Brazos Bend State Park

First day of Kindergarten

First day of PreK

My 2nd grade class

My first day of school!